Google has just released the launch of its latest Android 4.1 OS at Google I/O. As with its previous Android launches, Google erected a giant statue, which represents the various “code names” of all of its Operating System (OS) launches. This time around, it’s a statue of a jelly bean that now sits outside of Google HQ. Android users will remember previous versions, including: Cupcake, Ice Cream Sandwich and Froyo. The release of Andorid 4.1 marks the next update of the OS with a plethora of updates that will excite users.

What to Expect from the Latest Android

The latest OS, Android 4.1, is the “fastest version yet with a ton of improvements,” said Hugo Barra, director of product management with Android. Text input is better and the “keyboard learns intelligently over time,” he told the crowd.

They also boasted the OS has a better user interface, a much more interactive notification system, better search and a “Siri” competitor.

Perhaps one of its major features is Google Now, which according to cnet, “tries to anticipate what a person needs to know at any given moment.”

It’s Time to Google Now

Google Now, which operates when triggered by swiping from the bottom of the screen, draws on data entered from calendar, location and search history, to automatically present what a device thinks is information the user needs to know, says Barra. “Google Now figures out when you commute from home to work and back, tells you how long your commute takes usually, and give you a faster route if there’s lot of traffic. On public transit, if you’re on the platform at a subway, Google tells you when the next bus or train will arrive.”

The entire platform seems to take your offline life to provide you with the necessary online tools to be a more efficient person. Do you think this can be the OS to takeover iOS, or does Android still have a long way to go?