By Stephen Schenck

Google’s been decorating its Mountain View campus for years with statues depicting the major Android releases; we’ve seen a giant gingerbread man, a huge honeycomb, and last fall an ice cream sandwich in the shape of Andy the Android joined them all. With Google I/O getting underway this this week, expectations have been high that the company will soon announce Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. That’s seeming more likely than ever now, as Google’s been spotted adding a container full of enormous jelly beans to its lawn decorations.

Google’s been teasing the Jelly Bean name for months now, putting out a giant bowl of the candies at its MWC booth, and most recently letting it slip out in order confirmations for the Galaxy Nexus.

If we’re to believe what we saw in that GNex incident, Android 4.1 could be set to make its debut on that model, rather than come to a brand-new device first. Frankly, that’s such a departure from the norm that it’s a bit hard to believe, but with any luck, Google will clear everything up this week.

When Google erected its Ice Cream Sandwich statue, it was only six days until it made its announcement of Android 4.0 and the Galaxy Nexus. Google I/O runs from June 27 through June 29, so we may have an even shorter wait in store for us this time around.

Update: That pile of jelly beans looks a whole lot better when assembled into Andy form:

Source: Google
Via: MobileSyrup