Forget About Android 4.0! Google Exec Hints Android 5.0 Will Launch In Fall Of 2012

[Jailani]

Android is force that will not be stopped. Google’s Andy Rubin
announced yesterday that there are 850,000 daily Android activations,
excluding devices like the Kindle Fire that don’t use Google services.
Now, even though only one handset is currently sold with Ice Cream
Sandwich, Jelly Bean might launch later this year.

Speaking to Computerworld, Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of
engineering for mobile at Google, suggested Android 5.0 will launch in
the fall. He stated “In general, the Android release cadence is one
major release a year with some maintenance releases that are
substantial still.” Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, launched in
November 2011 and it seems that Google is set to release the next
version around the same time this year. Fragmentation much?

This is actually the second rumor in as many weeks concerning Android
5.0. Digitimes reported two weeks ago that Jelly Bean would launch in
the second quarter of 2012 primarily to assist in Google’s tablet
movement.

This move, if it does happen, shows the stark contrast between Google
and Apple. Google is trying to outpace Apple, with team of mighty
engineers churning out innovations and updates on a pre-set schedule.
However, this schedule is seemingly not on the same pace as handset
makers which often move at a much more strategic pace.

Apple controls both the hardware and the software and can better time
and coordinate launches based on the market’s needs.

Ice Cream Sandwich is still in its very early stages of life. Only the
Galaxy Nexus is sold with the operating system. Hell, most flagship
handsets from late 2011 won’t even get Android 4.0 until late spring
or early summer — just months before Android 5.0 is said to launch.

Google might argue that this is its target strategy. It’s giving
consumers and handset makers choices, they could say. But it’s still
wacky. Instead of blindly pumping out major revisions every year, how
about delegating some engineering might to assist makers in
transitioning between Android platforms? That’s pro-consumer.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/28/forget-about-android-4-0-google-exec-hints-android-5-0-will-launch-in-fall-of-2012/