Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Update Goes Live in UK

If you own an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S3 in the UK, then an update to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) is available now to download.

Google announced Android Jelly Bean way back in June, but only now, four months later has the flagship Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S3, is getting the update in the UK.

Unlike Apple which sees adoption of a new version of iOS rise quickly, according to Google's own numbers, only 1.8 percent of smartphone and tablet users have Jelly Bean installed. The issue of fragmentation is a big one for Google.

The issue is highlighted further by the fact that this update is only available for unlocked versions of the Galaxy S3, with those tied to a particular network, such as O2, Three, EE, Vodafone etc, having to wait for their specific carrier to push out the update after they have tested it themselves.

The update measures a rather larger 284MB which means downloading over a Wi-Fi connection is advisable. After downloading, you will need to reboot your system while the update installs and optimises the apps you have installed on your phone.

Among the main updates to Android with Jelly Bean is the addition of Google Now, a tool which will bring all you most relevant information in one easy-to-digest place. On the Galaxy S3, Google Now is accessed by long-holding the home button and then tapping on the middle of three icons which show up.

To see if you have the update available go to the Settings menu, click on About Device right at the bottom of the menu and then manually check for any updates.