Verizon Galaxy S3 Android 4.1.2 Update Leaks Ahead of Release

While many Samsung Galaxy S3 owners around the world already have access to the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update, Galaxy S3 owners in the U.S. are still without the update or its promised Premium Suite. Today though, the Verizon Galaxy S3 Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update has leaked for the first time ahead of its release.

Read: Galaxy S3 Android 4.1.2 Update Missing in U.S..

Last week, we pointed out that while many Galaxy S3 owners are currently enjoying the Android 4.1.2 update and Samsung’s Premium Suite of software, Galaxy S3 owners in the U.S. are still without the update. That hasn’t changed today but a new leak has given hope to those that are using the Verizon Galaxy S3.

A Galaxy S3 Android 4.1.2 leak on XDA-Developers forum, courtesy of Droid-Life, is now available to those using the Verizon version of the popular smartphone. However, it’s not all good news. It appears that the update doesn’t have the Premium Suite of features including the Multi-Window View feature, one of the most anticipated amongst Galaxy S3 owners.

It’s not clear if that is because it’s an early build of the software or if it’s because Verizon is going to keep the features out of the reach of Galaxy S3 owners. The latter would certainly be odd but given the carrier, it’s not out of the question.

The leak appears to have been built on January 19th and unfortunately, it doesn’t offer any clues to the final software’s whereabouts. Indeed, the leak is a good sign that something is on the way, but it still could be many weeks before users in the United States see the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean software roll out.

And in particular, Verizon Galaxy S3 owners. Verizon is typically last to major Android updates and it wouldn’t be surprising to see AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile beat Verizon to the punch, even with the emergence of the leak.

The Android 4.1.2 update for the Galaxy S3 includes a number of new features including:

• Page Buddy – When a user plugs in headphones the Galaxy S III will bring up a page with the music player.
• Contextual Menu – When looking at apps, sort by most frequently used apps.
• Contextual Tag – Tag the weather, date and place a photo is taken right after snapping it.
• Multi Window – Use two apps at once, just like on the Galaxy Note 2, to enjoy multiple apps at once.
• Auto Share Shot Pairing with NFC – Quickly share photos with Auto Shot Share to other Galaxy S III and S-Beam devices.
• Reader Mode – Control the text size of the web browser and tap on a page to share.
• Facebook Lock Ticker – View a Facebook News Feed on the Galaxy S III lock screen.
• Paper Artist – Turn your photos into a pop-artist sketch.
• Low Light Camera Shot – Take better photos in low light without the flash.
• Best Face – Take multiple photos of a group and pick the best face for each person in the group. See how Best Face works.
• Easy Mode – Sets five most often used widgets on the home screen to make using a smartphone simpler for new users.
• Sound Balance – Adjust the sound between left or right in headphones.
• Setup Wizard – View an accessibility menu after turning the phone on.
• Easy Snap – The Galaxy S III tells you how many faces it finds in a photo.

And while this leak may be missing these features, owners are hopeful that Verizon and the other U.S. carriers include these features on board.