Jelly Bean: is it really as smooth as butter? [Poll]
When Google announced Android 4.1 they introduced a very intriguing feature. That feature would be called Project Butter and it would attempt to bring the smoothest experience we’ve had for Android yet. Using hardware acceleration, increased frame rates, and several more optimization measures Google promised an experience that was as smooth as butter — you can see how its name came about.
But is it really butter? Does this update really bring a substantial change in the feel of the operating system? I, for one, didn’t have such a smooth experience with my first use of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Things seemed smooth at first but eventually got bogged down. I immediately thought of the gentlemen in those ads citing that one famous line: “I can’t believe it’s not butter!”
But I refused to believe this was what to expect with so many other people raving about it. I must admit that I was on an early stock ROM built from source when I first tried it, and things likely weren’t perfect. Fast forward to some point last week and I decided to flash an updated version.
My stance has changed and I’ve taken a complete 180 degree turn: yes, this is butter. Butter personified. It’s still not quite as smooth as Windows Phone and iOS, but for Android and its unfortunate limitations due to being run inside virtual machines this definitely impresses. I must ask, though: do any of you feel the same?
Is Project Butter everything you’d hoped and expected it to be or does your device not seem to benefit from it for whatever reason? Do you think this is a permanent solution to fix the smoothness and fluidity of Android or will Google need to do more than work around current limitations of the Dalvik virtual machine? Let’s hear your thoughts in the poll below.
[polldaddy poll=6411012]