Tech giant Google has released the latest Android mobile operating system (OS) usage data, revealing which version of the platform is doing duty on users’ smartphones and tablets. These figures were compiled from data Google collected during a two week period that ended on 1 August 2013.

Android Jelly Bean (Android 4.1 - 4.3) continues to ascend to new usage heights, after having dethroned the long serving king of the Android hill, Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3 - 2.3.7), as the number one used version last month. Jelly Bean now powers four out of every ten (40.5%) Android-running mobile devices, up from 37.9% in July, whilst Gingerbread’s share slips from 34.1% to 33.1%.   

Android silverbacks continue to hang around

In these final weeks of winter, the demand for Android Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3 - 4.0.4) remains low, with this version of the mobile platform laying claim to a 22.5% usage share (down from 23.3%).

The sticky, tablet loving Honeycomb (Android 3.2) refuses to be completely put out to pasture, running on 0.1% of Android-powered devices. Honeycomb’s fellow Android veterans, Froyo (Android 2.2), Donut (Android 1.6) and Eclair (Android 2.1) possesses a 2.5%, 0.1% and 1.2% respective Android usage stake.   

Source: Google’s Android Developer website

In related news, Google-owned Motorola Mobility recently unveiled its newest flagship smartphone dubbed the Moto X.