Even as it announced the imminent launch of Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, the majority of users are still running Gingerbread, which is three major releases behind. According to , just 7 percent are running the current version, Ice Cream Sandwich, which launched last October.

That means apps that tap into the latest innovations in the OS aren't available to most Android users. It also means developers, the lifeblood of the platform, are forced to test their apps across multiple devices and multiple versions of the OS.

So when Google's Hugo Barra announced a "platform developer kit" during the opening keynote at I/O this week, the news was greeted with applause. The PDK will provide Android phone makers with a preview version of upcoming Android releases, making it easier for them to get the latest software in their new phones.

Currently, Google completes work on an OS update and then shares it with chip and phone makers, who make sure it works with their hardware and tune it for their needs. Carriers then sell the devices to consumers.

The PDK will provide chip and phone makers with a release of the Android update earlier in the process, before it's finalized. That will allow them to start their development work sooner and get the software into consumers' hands more quickly when it's finished, according to Google.