Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie Based On Linux 3.8 Kernel? Google Developing From Newly Released Source Code

Reports from Phoronix suggest the “experimental” public source code from Linux will be the framework for Android’s next OS.

While Google engineers are reportedly developing the modifications for a stable Android build with in the Linux 3.8 kernel repository, the tech company won’t be getting rid of old builds just yet. Previous Linux kernels will continue to be used on popular Android devices.

Key Lime Pie’s predecessor, Jelly Bean, is based on the Linux 3.0 kernel, with the Android 4.2.2 update for the Google Nexus 4 being released just days ago, which was based on the Linux 3.4 kernel.

Several phones such as the AT&T HTC One XL, Motorola DROID 4, Motorola DROID 3, Motorola DROID RAZR and Motorola DROID Bionic, as well as the Sprint Galaxy Nexus and the GSM Motorola RAZR, are expected to receive the Linux 3.4 based Android 4.2.2 update, according to Phandroid.

As for Android 5.0, the OS is expected to release alongside the rumored Motorola X smartphone, which many believe will also be unveiled at Google I/O. If so, it will be the first device powered by a Linux 3.8 kernel derived Android build. However, rumors also suggest that the Motorola X could be the same device as another smartphone highly speculated about, Google's Nexus 5.

Press Blue suggests the elusive phone may be Google’s attempt to work with Motorola since it acquired the company in May 2012, suggesting that whatever the phone is called, it may be a Motorola-manufactured phone with a Google Nexus name or some other newfangled combination of the two companies.

Nevertheless, it is highly likely that Key Lime Pie will be granted a dynamic flagship phone to introduce the new Android operating system.

Google is known for coinciding OS unveilings with phone unveilings as it did with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in 2011. The extremely popular phone was notably powered by an OS based on the Linux 3.0.31 kernel.