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Motorola Xoom WiFi's Jelly Bean upgrade arriving for regular users
It looks like that test period was pretty short, as many Motorola Xoom WiFi owners who aren't in the select test group are reporting receiving OTA updates to Android 4.1.1 on their tablets. That makes the Xoom the first 10-inch tablet to see Jelly Bean, and the first around these parts officially rocking it without Nexus in the nametag. We've already seen a changelog so assuming you have one of the slates, it's probably time to mash that check for updates button. [Thanks, @fdiazreal]
Certified testers (and tweakers) get Jelly Bean for their Honeycomb-era Xoom WiFis
Considering that the Motorola Xoom WiFi was one of the first tabs to devour Ice Cream Sandwich, its plans to pop Android 4.1 Jelly Bean are hardly a surprise. While there's no official delivery date for the average user, certified testers who signed up for a pre-release won't have to wait -- it's just been pushed out to their devices. Of course, enterprising tinkerers can always get what they want as well, by installing it using a USB host cable or flashing a recovery file. If you're one of those brave souls, you'll score smoother performance, new search options and better keyboard -- but there may still be a few bugs before the full rollout happens. Also, if you were looking forward to finally having the update's Chrome pack-in, it missed the pre-release Jelly Bean bus and you'll have to stop at the Play store to grab it. Check out the more coverage link below for the gritty details on how to install the latest update.
Jelly Bean details spill for US Motorola Xoom WiFi
Rumor has it that Xoom WiFi owners in the US could soon be on the receiving end of yet another software update, though this time 'round it'd be a virtual jar full of that colorful and buttery smooth Android 4.1. According to a recent changelog received by Droid Life, the Jelly Bean refresh will bring a number of features previously seen on Google's Nexus 7 over to Moto's 10-inch slate -- some of which include an improved UI with the "smoothest version of Android," a new look for Mountain View's search, smarter overall keyboard and widgets that "work like magic." No word on when exactly we'll see the alleged build (JRO038) hit WiFi-only Xooms here in the States, but at least there's some tasteful hope for you.
Motorola Xoom WiFi now seeing Android 4.0.4 update over-the-air
We'd been told it was incoming, and come it has. Those still in possession of Motorola's Xoom WiFi tablet can now look forward to another bragging right: Android 4.0.4. According to Droid-Life, the new Ice Cream Sandwich update is rolling out right now to select owners over-the-air, with the new code bringing quicker screen rotation, a new setting to "immediately lock the screen," improvements on the camera and a few other minor advancements. Eager to get it yourself? Head to Settings > About tablet > System update, and be sure to let us know how it goes in comments below.
Motorola Xoom WiFi gets first official dibs on Android 4.0.4
Tales of leaked Android 4.0.4 builds have been told for months, and we've even heard whispers of 4.0.5 coming to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the very near future. We still haven't seen any official firmware rollouts of either version, until now. Owners of the Motorola Xoom WiFi should be getting their hands on an update to 4.0.4 -- also known as build IMM76 -- any time now. According to an email from Moto announcing the update, the latest refresh offers improved stability, quicker screen rotation, better phone number recognition, camera and image quality improvements, enhancements to Microsoft Exchange and even a new setting that lets you choose whether you want the power button to lock the device immediately or not. If you aren't seeing the update hit yet, Droid-Life has reported that the file is available for download thanks to XDA, but it appears that some users have experienced errors when attempting it. So if you're feeling adventurous and don't want to wait for the OTA download, feel free to give it a shot. You'll need to drag the file into a USB stick, plug it in using a USB host cable and boot your Xoom into stock recovery.
Motorola outs Android 4.0 upgrade schedule, adds Atrix 4G, Photon 4G and others to the ICS party list
Ever since the debut of Ice Cream Sandwich, the masses of Motorola owners have yearned to discover when (if?) their devices would receive Android's latest and greatest. Well, Moto's finally let the cat out of the bag, setting out domestic and global timelines for its tablets and phones to get Android 4.0. Xoom WiFi owners here in the states have been enjoying ICS for a month, and Family Edition owners can expect the same tasty treat in Q2 of this year. Folks with RAZRs (including the Chinese MT917 variant) or XT928 (the Chinese evolution of the Droid X) in areas outside the US will be getting ICS in Q2 as well. Atrix 4G, Atrix 2, and Photon 4G owners around the world will have to wait until Q3 of 2012 for theirs, as will Xoom 2 and Xyboard owners. Motorola's blog, Inside Motorola, states that the Bionic, Droid 4, RAZR Maxx, and Electrify will be getting in on the action, too, but its engineers have yet to set a date for their upgrades. Head on down to the source links below to take a gander at the good news yourself.
Oops! Motorola sold refurbished Xooms without deleting previous owners' data
Usually, when passwords and personal information are exposed, it's because someone hacked a company's not-so-secure system. Motorola, however, managed to put people's info at risk without such malfeasance when it failed to wipe the memory of a batch of refurbished Xooms. The tablets in question were sold by Woot.com between October and December of last year, and Moto is claiming that it made the mistake on only small number of slates. Of course, we don't know exactly how many Xooms were shipped with previous owners' data onboard, but we do know that the company is actively attempting to make amends. Moto's offering two years of Experian identification protection services to those whose info was exposed and owners of affected Xooms are getting a little something too. Just send the device back to Motorola on the company's dime -- where it'll be properly reset and sent back to you, along with a $100 American Express gift card for your efforts. Wondering if you're among the unlucky? Hit the PR after the break for more info, and those with Wooted Xooms can plug in their slate's serial number at the source link below to find out for sure.[Thanks, Scott]
Refresh Roundup: week of September 26, 2011
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 The top story this week revolves around the HTC Thunderbolt's long-awaited Gingerbread OTA update. It was finally rolling out, which was exciting news for owners of the device -- until it had to be pulled because of some rather significant bugs. The largest of them all was that voicemail notifications no longer worked properly; video chatting through Google Talk was also slightly messed up as well. No word on when we can expect to see it come back with those bugs fixed. [Droid-Life] Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt isn't the only phone falling victim to pulled revamps; the LG Optimus S on Sprint had its Gingerbread update kiboshed, though users have had two weeks to get it -- plenty of time for anyone to experience some of the bugs, which included the phone not charging, the SD card not being recognized when the phone's connected to the computer, no access to data services, and predictive text on the virtual keyboard stopped working. It's disappointing to see this happen so soon after the Kyocera Echo update went through a similar debacle. [SprintFeed] LG Optimus 3D: V10K firmware update, enables phone to convert OpenGL-capable 2D games into stereoscopic 3D. Note: this still runs Android 2.2.2, so we're still waiting for Gingerbread. [AndroidCentral] Motorola Xoom WiFi: Android 3.2.1 is beginning to roll out. [AndroidCentral] Dell Streak 7: Honeycomb update rolling out now to unspecified regions [AndroidCentral] Asus Eee Pad Transformer: Revamped to Android 3.2.1, adds other bug fixes [AndroidCommunity] Casio G'Zone Commando: Gingerbread rolling out now [Droid-Life] Motorola Droid 3: Minor maintenance refresh; enhances Google Talk with video chat support, several other fixes. [PhoneDog] T-Mobile Samsung Nexus S: OTA install (with option to manually install) to Android 2.3.6; doesn't appear to break tethering. [AndroidCentral] Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery The Android 2.3.5 ROM for the global Samsung Galaxy S II leaked early this week. [Pocketnow, SamFirmware] You can now download the Android 2.3.4 SBF for the Motorola Droid X2, courtesy of XDA. [Droid-Life] If you have a Sony Ericsson Xperia-branded device from 2010 or 2011, CyanogenMod7 support will most likely come included as part of an upcoming update. Ten Xperia devices will be added, though a timeframe for release wasn't announced. Check here to see if your device made the list. [XperiaBlog] Other platforms Check here to see if your phone is ready to receive Windows Phone Mango. The ultra-rare AT&T HP Pre 3 just received an OTA update to 2.2.3.2207, right after a new webOS Doctor became available for the same refresh. [PreCentral] Refreshes we covered this week Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update now rolling out How to force Mango to your phone right away Samsung Taylor receiving Mango?
Motorola Xoom sees Android 3.2 update, FCC-approved LTE module
Looks like a bona fide twofer when it comes to Xoom news this afternoon. Just as soon as we heard that Android 3.2 was rolling out to select Xoom WiFi tablets (as in, be patient if yours is still stuck on the current build), in flies an FCC approval for the long-awaited LTE module. As for the former, build number HTJ85B is bringing a new zoom feature to the world's first Honeycomb slate, and as for the latter... well, that one's pretty self-explanatory. We heard back in April that the update was delayed until an undisclosed time in the summer, and now it's looking like early adopters won't be waiting much longer. Do let us know in comments if you see either, won't you? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
WiFi-only Motorola Xoom won't have Movies right away, Canadian Xooms getting SD support someday
If you're the proud owner of a Motorola Xoom, you will get Android 3.1, but we're afraid the timing and features included in that update may depend on where you reside and which one you bought. For instance, while both Verizon 3G and WiFi-only Xooms in the United States are seeing the latest Honeycomb slowly trickle in right now, Motorola says that the WiFi version won't have movie rentals available immediately after the update. What's more, though the new hotness doesn't seem to bring microSD card support to US devices, Motorola says that Canadian models will get that exact functionality "soon." What if you don't live in North America at all? We're afraid we can't tell you.
Motorola Xoom WiFi to get Android 3.1 update within the 'next several weeks' (update: now)
Google said yesterday that the new limited edition Galaxy Tab 10.1 would be getting updated to Android 3.1 in the next couple of weeks, and it looks like it will be a similar situation with the WiFi-only Xoom. Motorola has just announced that it will receive the update "within the next several weeks." It also reaffirmed that the Verizon 3G Xoom is rolling out over the air this week, so you should be receiving it soon if you haven't already. Full press release is after the break. Update: Judging from the official Motorola support forum, it seems like a few lucky individuals may have already received the update on their WiFi-only Xoom. 3G Xoom users now also have another option besides waiting for the OTA update -- they can install it manually, as explained by Android Total. Update 2: Motorola's officially announced that the Xoom WiFi will start getting Android 3.1 right now, though it'll roll out "in phases" so don't be bummed if you don't see yours quite yet. [Thanks, Jake E.]
Sprint starts selling Motorola Xoom WiFi (not WiMAX) May 8th for $600
We've gotten multiple clandestine clues that Sprint would sell the Xoom -- a calendar entry here, an accessory there -- but there was nary a confirming peep from the Now Network itself. Until today, when it announced that it would join the legion of retailers peddling the Wi-Fi version of Motorola's tablet for $599.99 on May 8th. That's right, the carrier will start selling folks the sweet Honeycomb slate soon enough, but a Xoom sans Sprint cellular data is a bit of a letdown. One question, Mr. Hesse, when will we get one with WiMAX? PR's after the break.
Verizon rumored to sell a 16 GB Motorola Xoom 4G LTE
There are a number of possible reasons why Verizon may be about to sell a 16 GB version of the Motorola Xoom 4G LTE Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Perhaps they sold so many of the earlier Wi-Fi only and 32 GB models that they couldn't resist; perhaps consumer demand was so strong they simply had to give in; or perhaps they sold both of the earlier samples they had in stock, and now there's a space on the shelf they have to fill with something (I joke, I joke). Electronista has speculation that it'll cost around US$700 or less, which seems a little on the "hmm, I'll think about it" side of affordable -- but then it is a 4G tablet. Rather, it will be as soon as the part necessary to make it work on the 4G network becomes available. Will this be the iPad-beater for which Motorola, presumably, is hoping? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. [Via Electronista]
Motorola Xoom WiFi hitting Canada next month (update: $599, available for pre-order)
There's still no word on a price or exact release date, but Motorola has just confirmed that the WiFi-only version of its Xoom Honeycomb tablet will be available in Canada sometime in April -- or "early April," according to the Financial Post. The 3G version will then follow at some point "mid-year," although details on it are unfortunately even lighter still, with no indication of carrier support just yet. Head on past the break for the full press release. Update: As pointed out by commenter Roberto V, the device is now already available for pre-order at both Best Buy and Future Shop. It runs the same $599.99 it does in the US, and is expected to ship on April 8th. Interestingly, Telus has also confirmed that it will be carrying the WiFi-only Xoom, but it's made no mention of the 3G version.
Motorola Xoom WiFi now available for pre-order
Motorola didn't say when pre-orders for the WiFi-only Xoom would be available when it finally announced the device yesterday, but some retailers have now stepped in and answered that question. You can currently pre-order the device from Amazon, Staples and Costco, with other participating retailers presumably set to follow shortly. In case you missed the news, the Xoom WiFi will run you $599 for the one and only 32GB version, and it will be available on March 27th. Staples will apparently be shipping them out on March 25th to ensure you get it on launch day (if you pre-order before March 23rd), while Costco says it will only begin shipping on April 1st -- it's throwing in a free gel case to make up for it, though. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola makes WiFi-only Xoom official: $599 on March 27th
Sanjay Jha and various leaks already told us as much, but here's the official word: the WiFi-only Motorola Xoom is launching on March 27th for $599. Retail availability will be truly widespread, with Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Staples and Walmart all offering up the Honeycomb tablet. Other than the omission of the 3G and 4G radios of the original Xoom, you're basically looking at an identical hardware package. That includes a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, and a 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution.
WiFi-only Motorola Xoom appears at Sam's Club, bearing $539 price?
You might have seen Motorola's WiFi-only Xoom popping up at European e-tailers, but it's reportedly flying the red, white and blue today, having materialized at Sam's Club in the good ol' USA. Droid-Life stumbled upon several snapshots of these Xoom Wi-Fi vouchers, with a $539 price tag hanging above their heads -- plenty cheaper than a cellular Xoom, and also slightly more affordable than a similarly specced iPad 2. Of course, Sam's Club deals in wholesale merchandise, and even should this price be accurate the tablet may not be widely available at the same rate, so don't count out $599 as the Xoom Wi-Fi's MSRP. Meanwhile, let us know if you manage to find and ring one up at the register, eh? [Thanks, Michael]
