The Samsung Galaxy S4 got a pure, stock Android version with the Google Edition, and it seems the HTC One could be next in line.

Google announced a Google Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 at its I/O 2013 conference last week, basically stripping away all of Samsung's extra apps and features to leave the handset with a basic, unadulterated stock Android software.

While HTC announced no official plans for a Google Edition of its new HTC One flagship smartphone, influential HTC developer LlabTooFeR apparently has big news. The developer claims to have inside knowledge that a HTC One running stock Android software will make its debut before the end of summer.

Just like all HTC smartphones running on Android, the HTC One adds the company's own user interface - HTC Sense - on top of the basic stock Android software. HTC Sense adds various features such as a home screen that shows huge pictures based on different feeds such as news or users' social networks and other. While those features are quite neat, many prefer the pure Android experience, without any overlay or embellishment.

Those extra features HTC Sense adds also take up more space on the handset and uses more of the phone's processing power to keep them running. Samsung recently faced a firestorm of criticism for flooding half the 16GB Galaxy S4's advertised memory with firmware and extra firmware, but the Google Edition will ditch all overlays.

Before the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition was announced, the only way one could get a pure, unadulterated Android experience straight out of the box was with Google's own Nexus 4 made by LG. Now that Google announced the new version of the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One is reportedly due to follow soon, things are about to change.

Bottom line, some people like the full package, with all the extras and overlays, while others prefer a pure, stock Android software on their handsets. Having more options is always better, and now the HTC One may join the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the Google Edition path. There's no exact launch date or price for now, but stay tuned for updates as more details surface.