Samsung has been working tirelessly to compete with Apple's iPhone, and while that work is certainly paying off, the company isn't resting yet. Samsung's Galaxy Note II "phablet" and Galaxy SIII smartphone will receive updates to Android 4.2 in the first quarter of 2013, according to SamMobile.

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The world's largest maker of smartphones, Samsung continues to build on the success its had in 2012 with the Galaxy SIII smartphone, and Note 2 "phablet." Samsung announced the company sold more than 3 million of its Galaxy Note II smartphones in the first 37 days the device was on the market.

Many Samsung fans had merely been waiting for an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. If Samsung really does offer an update in early 2013, the company would likely be buying some priceless goodwill with its customers.

Samsung will begin releasing Android 4.2 in "Q1 2013," according to a tip from an insider who spoke with SamMobile. The Galaxy SIII and Galaxy Note II will be the first of the company's devices to receive the update.

Q1 2013 runs from January to March, but expect the update to roll out closer to the end of Q1 2013, because the Galaxy SIII is still in the process of being upgraded to Android 4.1.1, says SamMobile.

Samsung's Galaxy Note and Galaxy SII could also be in store for an Android 4.1.2 update, great news for users with those older models of the company's hugely successful devices.

Android 4.2 was just announced by Google last week, and while the new edition isn't a complete overhaul, it does offer some intriguing new features to users.

Android 4.2

"The latest version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.2-the simplest and smartest version of Android yet. Starting with the camera, we've reinvented the photo experience with Photo Sphere, which lets you capture images that are literally larger than life. Snap shots up, down and in every direction to create stunning 360-degree immersive experiences that you can share on Google+ with friends and family-or you can add your Photo Sphere to Google Maps for the world to see," said Google in a press release on its official blog.

"Android 4.2 brings other great goodies like Gesture Typing, which lets you glide your finger over the letters you want to type on the keyboard-it makes typing fast, fun and a whole lot simpler. Android 4.2 also adds support for wireless display so you can wirelessly watch movies, YouTube videos and play games right on your Miracast-compatible HDTV. Just connect a wireless display adapter to any HDMI-enabled TV to mirror what's on your screen quickly and easily."

Other improvements include Daydream, which "lets your Android device display useful and delightful information when idle or docked. Show off your photo albums, get the latest news from Google Currents, and more."

Android also improved one-touch entry into notifications. "Android has always put you in control when it comes to staying notified and connected. Just swipe down from the top of the screen to see all your notifications in one place. Late for a meeting or missed a call? Take action in an instant directly from the notifications shade."

Android promises an even smoother display experience than what was offered in 4.1. "We put Android under a microscope, making everything feel fast, fluid, and smooth. With buttery graphics and silky transitions, moving between home screens and switching between apps is effortless, like turning pages in a book."

"More reactive and uniform touch responses mean you can almost feel the pixels beneath as your finger moves across the screen. Jelly Bean makes your Android device even more responsive by boosting your device's CPU instantly when you touch the screen, and turns it down when you don't need it to improve battery life."

Android 4.2 takes full advantage of NFC technology. "With Android Beam on Jelly Bean you can now easily share your photos and videos with just a simple tap, in addition to sharing contacts, web pages, YouTube videos, directions, and apps. Just touch two NFC-enabled Android devices back-to-back, then tap to beam whatever's on the screen to your friend."

"Google Now brings you the information you need, when and where you need it, before you even ask. Google Now tells you today's weather before you start your day, or when the next train will arrive as you're standing on the platform. With the latest version, you can see popular photo spots nearby, track packages easily, get information about upcoming movies, and much more."

Android has also caught up to the iPhone's voice-guided Siri feature.

"Android also lets you search the web with your voice, and it's convenient for getting quick answers on the fly. It speaks back to you and is powered by the Knowledge Graph, bringing you a precise answer if it knows it, and precisely ranked search results, so you can always find out more."

"The keyboard can anticipate and predict the next word, so you can finish entire sentences just by selecting suggested words. Power through your messages like never before. Android's dictionaries are now more accurate and relevant. With improved text-to-speech capabilities, voice typing on Android is even better. It works even when you don't have a data connection, so you can type with your voice everywhere you go."