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Android Jelly Bean isn't a gigantic, innovative leap forward; Google acknowledges this by bumping the version number only slightly.
It's a bit like Apple's move from Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 to Snow Leopard 10.6 on the desktop: An operating system overhaul that tunes up what's under the hood rather than attempting to dazzle users with a volume of new features.
We liked
Hokey name aside, "Project Butter" delivers the goods. Android is now fast, fluid and ready to go toe-to-toe with Apple on performance and features.
If this were the only new feature offered by Jelly Bean, it would be significant enough to justify the update, let alone consider an upgrade to a new handset that takes maximum advantage of it.
Notifications have always been one area where Android excelled over iOS, and the tweaks made in Jelly Bean only further widen that gap.
We're also big fans of mobile Chrome and very glad to see it's now the default browser.
We disliked
We don't actually dislike Google Now – it's a fascinating addition that promises to get better with time.
As it exists today, the feature is clearly intended for city dwellers more than suburbanites, so we'd like to see Google offer additional functionality to the millions living beyond city limits.
For all of its enhancements, Jelly Bean is still behind the times when it comes to the security of lost or stolen devices.
In addition to lacking remote features such as wipe or lock, Google has yet to offer something akin to Apple's Find My iPhone, which helps users locate a missing device.
Sure, there are alternatives available in Google Play, but they're more likely to be ignored by casual users there.
Verdict
This bit of nitpicking aside, Android Jelly Bean is strictly a win-win situation for those who can install it.
While time will tell if this tasty treat can ultimately remedy the platform's larger fragmentation problem, manufacturers and carriers have less reason than ever to load up devices with their own UI enhancements.
Android Jelly Bean is a thing of beauty, and should be a nice boost for Google's own Nexus-branded hardware. For those who have been on the fence, you'll definitely want to give Jelly Bean a look – this could be the version to finally sway you into Mountain View's camp.
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