Sony Xperia Z Android 4.2.2, JellyBean Powered Google Edition Coming Soon

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Monday, June 10, 2013

Sony will release an Android 4.2.2, JellyBean powered Google Edition version of the Xperia Z smartphone in the near future.

The device could feature Android 4.3, if Google launches the software before this new variant of the Xperia Z is released.

The Google Edition will feature the same hardware as the original version along with an IP57 certification that confirms that it will be both water and dust proof. The smartphone is expected to cost around $599 and will most likely launch sometime next month.

The HTC One Android 4.2.2, JellyBean Google Edition will be released on June 26.

The smartphone was announced by the CEO of Google Chrome and Android, Sundar Pichai, at the end of last week on the stage of the D11 conference in Los Angeles. The device will run Android 4.2.2 AOSP.

This version of the HTC One will feature the same specifications as the original model. It will be available unlocked in the Google Play Store on June 26. The 32GB version will cost $599, making it $50 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition.

HTC apparently plans on manufacturing around 1 percent of the sales of the current One model, according to a Pocket-link report. Judging from the latest global sales figures of the smartphone, that will be only 50,000 units. HTC wants to test the waters first before it decides to go with a bigger rollout of the pure Android HTC One, according to the website's sources.

Google will release its pure Android version of the Galaxy S4 later on this year, according to another announcement made by Sundar Pichai.

The Galaxy S4 Google Edition is expected to hit stores in June and will eliminate Samsung's TouchWiz OEM from the smartphone, replacing it with a pure Android layout, comparable to what is found on the Nexus line of smartphones and tablets.