The Android TV Launcher. Photo: Google

Google’s new Android TV Launcher is now available through the Play Store, allowing the search giant to deliver new features and improvements more easily. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to download and install it on unsupported devices, though.

Ever wonder why it takes most Android phones ages to get the latest version of the OS?

Well, a recent infographic from HTC sheds some light on the anatomy of an Android update — detailing all the steps involved from the pre-announcement PDF through the finished version arriving on your phone.

Google Now is by far one of the coolest features introduced in Android 4.1, and it just got better. A recent update to the Google Search app for Android 4.1+ brings a few new cards and voice actions to an already fabulous app. Holiday travelers and Google+ users will especially appreciate it.

TomTom has updates its popular Navigator app with support for a slew of newer Android handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S III and Google Nexus 4. Sadly, version 1.0 of TomTom’s app has only been compatible with 480 pixel-wide displays, which isn’t good for devices like the GS III. Now that version 1.1 is out, the app fully supports more than 200 Android devices on the market with resolutions ranging from 800 x 480 to 1280 x 800.

Another big addition is the ability to store offline maps onto your handset’s microSD card to conserve storage on the device itself. You can even download maps in the background while you’re not using the app.

HTC managed to give virtually no information in their update on the progress of Jelly Bean as it pertains to previously released devices. Every mobile scapegoat word known in the industry was used: internal testing, carrier expectations, performance, connectivity and platform stability, carrier partners, actively reviewing, optimal user experience, localization, partner approvals, etc…