Your smartphone and / or tablet is just
begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at
tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Official Android updates Motorola Droid Bionic: A maintenance release known as build 5.9.902 found its way to testers this week. It includes security patches, removes the pre-loaded VCast Music app and replaces it with Amazon MP3 instead and makes a few small changes to the Terms and Conditions. [Droid-Life ] Samsung Galaxy Note: A small update, it adds new features and enhancements to the Note, such as a number row on its stock Android keyboard, "one hand operation" mode which shrinks the keyboard and dialpad for better one-handed access, optimized screen brightness and a new torch widget on the home screen. [the::unwired ] Samsung Epic 4G: A new minor refresh adds a security update and a speaker feedback fix, and removes Qik and Asphalt 5 from its list of pre-loaded apps. We have a feeling that the security update involves the removal of Carrier IQ, as we saw on the HTC EVO 4G earlier. [AndroidPolice ] Samsung Epic 4G Touch: An update to remove CIQ should be ready for download before the end of the month. [SprintFeed ] HTC EVO Design 4G: Minor refresh, much like the Epic 4G, which involves a security update, battery life improvements, 3LM access for Enterprise users and an updated Peep client. Again, the security update most likely means CIQ is gone. [AndroidPolice ] HTC Desire HD (Telus): Android 2.3.5, which offers Sense 3.0, is now rolling out. [AndroidCentral ] Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery HTC: Bootloader Unlock support has been added for the original Droid Incredible, Desire Z, ChaCha, Aria, Status and G2 (T-Mobile). [Twitter , Droid-Life ] Other platforms Nokia N950: The PR 1.2 firmware update intended for the Nokia N9 is first being released to developers using the N950 to undergo testing. This likely means we're about four to six weeks away from it being available for the N9. [Nokia ] Refreshes we covered this week
<a href="http://gdgt.com/motorola/droid/bionic/">
Motorola
DROID Bionic
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/motorola/droid/bionic/" title="Motorola DROID Bionic reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 21
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
4.3 inches
Internal memory
16 GB
Carriers (US)
Verizon / Alltel
Dimensions
5.02 x 2.63 x 0.43 in
Weight
5.57 oz
Released
2011-09-08
see all specs →
8.1 average user rating
Reception and call quality
8.9
Display
8.8
Battery life
5.8
Camera
7.2
Ease of use
8.2
Design and form factor
7.9
Portability (size / weight)
8.7
Media support
9
Durability
8
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
8.7
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/samsung/galaxy/note/">
Samsung
Galaxy Note
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/samsung/galaxy/note/" title="Samsung Galaxy Note reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 82
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Ice Cream Sandwich [4.0])
Screen size
5.3 inches
Internal memory
16 GB
Carriers (US)
AT&T
Dimensions
5.78 x 3.27 x 0.38 in
Weight
6.28 oz
Released
2012-02-18
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8.9 average user rating
Reception and call quality
9
Display
9.7
Battery life
8
Camera
8.6
Ease of use
8.5
Design and form factor
8.8
Portability (size / weight)
8.3
Media support
9.4
Durability
8.5
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
9
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$425.00
+ tax & shipping
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/desire/hd/">
HTC
Desire HD
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/desire/hd/" title="HTC Desire HD reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 42
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
4.3 inches
Internal memory
1.5 GB
Camera
8 megapixels
Dimensions
4.84 x 2.68 x 11.8 in
Weight
5.78 oz
Released
2011-10-25
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7.9 average user rating
Reception and call quality
8
Display
8.3
Battery life
4.3
Camera
7.5
Ease of use
8.2
Design and form factor
8.1
Portability (size / weight)
7.4
Media support
8.4
Durability
7.6
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
8.4
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Displaying prices for model:
Brown
Telus-Brown
$280.10
+ tax & shipping
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/evo/4g/">
HTC
EVO 4G
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/evo/4g/" title="HTC EVO 4G reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 84
</a>
Prices
Dimensions
4.8 x 2.6 x 0.5 in
Weight
6 oz
Released
2010-06-04
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8.4 average user rating
Reception and call quality
8.4
Display
8.7
Battery life
5.3
Camera
7.5
Ease of use
8.1
Design and form factor
8.8
Portability (size / weight)
8.2
Media support
8.8
Durability
8.7
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
8.9
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$164.95
+ tax & shipping
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/evo/design-4g/">
HTC
EVO Design 4G
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/evo/design-4g/" title="HTC EVO Design 4G reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 2
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
4 inches
Internal memory
4 GB
Carriers (US)
Sprint-Nextel
Dimensions
4.8 x 2.4 x 0.47 in
Weight
5.22 oz
Released
2011-10-23
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4.5 average user rating
Reception and call quality
4
Display
7
Battery life
3
Camera
7
Ease of use
6
Design and form factor
5
Portability (size / weight)
8
Media support
7
Durability
5
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
6
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/desire-z/">
HTC
Desire Z
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/desire-z/" title="HTC Desire Z reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 39
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
3.7 inches
Internal memory
4 GB
Camera
5 megapixels
Dimensions
4.69 x 2.38 x 0.56 in
Weight
6.35 oz
Discontinued
2011-06-06
see all specs →
8.2 average user rating
Reception and call quality
8.6
Display
8.2
Battery life
6.5
Camera
6.3
Ease of use
8.5
Design and form factor
8.7
Portability (size / weight)
7.6
Media support
8.8
Durability
8.6
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
9.1
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Displaying prices for model:
Silver
$166.99
+ tax & shipping
Buy now
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/chacha/">
HTC
ChaCha
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/htc/chacha/" title="HTC ChaCha reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 2
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
2.6 inches
Camera
5 megapixels
Talk time
2G (up to 7.5 hours), 3G (up to 6.67 hours)
Dimensions
4.5 x 2.54 x 0.42 in
Weight
4.37 oz
Released
2011-06-26
see all specs →
7.5 average user rating
Reception and call quality
7
Display
8
Battery life
8
Camera
6
Ease of use
7
Design and form factor
9
Portability (size / weight)
9
Media support
6
Durability
8
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
6
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Displaying prices for model:
White
Purple
Black
Status-White
$109.22
+ tax & shipping
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/nokia/n9/">
Nokia
N9
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/nokia/n9/" title="Nokia N9 reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 28
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Other - Linux-based
Screen size
3.9 inches
Internal memory
16 GB
Camera
8 megapixels
Dimensions
4.58 x 2.41 x 0.48 in
Weight
4.76 oz
Released
2011-09-29
see all specs →
8.8 average user rating
Reception and call quality
9
Display
9.4
Battery life
8.4
Camera
9
Ease of use
9.6
Design and form factor
9.9
Portability (size / weight)
9.8
Media support
8.6
Durability
9.3
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
6.1
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Displaying prices for model:
16GB-Black
16GB-Blue
16GB-Pink
64GB-Black
$239.99
+ tax & shipping
Buy now
<a href="http://gdgt.com/nokia/n950/">
Nokia
N950
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/nokia/n950/" title="Nokia N950 reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 6
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Other - Linux-based
Screen size
3.9 inches
Internal memory
8.5 GB
Camera
12 megapixels
Dimensions
4.33 x 1.89 x 0.51 in
Released
2011-06-21
see all specs →
8.5 average user rating
Reception and call quality
7.3
Display
7.3
Battery life
5.3
Camera
6.8
Ease of use
10
Design and form factor
10
Portability (size / weight)
8.3
Media support
9
Durability
8
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
6.7
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<a href="http://gdgt.com/samsung/galaxy/s/ii-epic-4g-touch/">
Samsung
Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch
</a>
Key specs
<a href="http://gdgt.com/samsung/galaxy/s/ii-epic-4g-touch/" title="Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch reviews" target="_blank">
Reviews • 21
</a>
Prices
Type
Smartphone
Operating system
Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
Screen size
4.52 inches
Internal memory
16 GB
Camera
8 megapixels
Carriers (US)
Sprint-Nextel
Dimensions
5.11 x 2.74 x 0.38 in
Weight
4.6 oz
see all specs →
8.8 average user rating
Reception and call quality
8.1
Display
9.7
Battery life
7.6
Camera
8.7
Ease of use
8.8
Design and form factor
9
Portability (size / weight)
9.1
Media support
9
Durability
8.4
Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
8.9
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Displaying prices for model:
Silver
Black
White
FREE
on contract
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