Google has changed the way it measures the amount of active users of each of the Android platform iterations, resulting in more accurate figures for Android distribution.
The search engine giant used to calculate the numbers according to check-ins to the Google servers, but now the distribution is monitored by devices visiting the Google Play Store.
“The new device dashboards are based on the devices of users who visit the Google Play Store (rather than devices that have checked-in to Google servers.),” Google writes on the Android Developers Google+ page. “As a result, the dashboards more accurately reflect the users most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem --- and thus most likely to download and use your apps.”
The updated pie chart shows that the newest Android Jelly Bean OS, both 4.1 and 4.2 versions, has reached a 25 per cent marketshare. In March, using the old system, Jelly Bean had only made its way to 16.5 per cent of devices.
Although Jelly Bean figures are climbing, the 2010 Android 3.2 Gingerbread platform still has the largest userbase with nearly 40 per cent of users. Ice Cream Sandwich falls somewhere between Jelly Bean and Gingerbread, with just over 29 per cent of Android users opting to use the OS.
From the figures alone it isn’t clear whether the change in numbers for Jelly Bean users is due to adoption, especially with new Android handsets like the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z appearing on the market.
Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie Rumours
Google has updated its Android distribution analysis system just a month before its Google I/O in May. The search engine giant has a history of announcing a new Android OS at each of its annual developers’ conferences, so the updated system could be in time for the Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie announcement.
Of course, not much is known about the next Android OS apart from its codename Key Lime Pie, tipped by a doodle posted on Google+ by an employee. We only have to wait until May to potentially see what Google has in store for Android 5.0.
