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New Android Jelly Bean factory images now available for Nexus S models
It's been nearly two months since Google quietly posted that initial batch of Jelly Bean images for its ever-growing family of Nexus handsets. And while today a few members of the pack are being left out, those with a Nexus S (save for the Korean version) or its 4G flavor can now grab the refreshed Android 4.1.1 images (JRO03L, JRO03R) straight from Mountain View's developer site. You'll find all the necessary download links at the source below, and you can be sure we'll let you know as soon as the rest become available.
Sprint sending Jelly Bean to Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G tomorrow?
We haven't heard much from the Now Network about upgrading its handsets with some Jelly Bean goodness, but see that picture up there? That leaked screenshot says that Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G owners on Sprint will be getting Android 4.1 on September 6th, which is tomorrow. So celebrate, Sprint customers -- if accurate, that means that your Nexi will be the first stateside CDMA phones enjoying Mountain View's latest buttery smooth mobile OS. Let's just hope Big Red follows suit with a final release for its Nexus owners sometime soon. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Nexus S 4G regains AOSP status, Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners left hanging
It wasn't just Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners who were hurt when Google dropped Android Open Source Project support for CDMA models -- officially, Nexus S 4G users had to depend on carrier-approved builds as well. At least one of those software dramas is coming to a close, as AOSP Technical Lead Jean-Baptiste Queru has just confirmed that the Nexus S 4G once again has a full AOSP build. Problems surrounding the phone have been sorted out to give it full CDMA voice and WiMAX-based 4G data while keeping true to Google's original, easily modifiable vision. The download is available right away for the Nexus S 4G faithful, but Queru has dashed any immediate hopes of this being the prelude to its Galaxy Nexus counterpart; the camera, GPS and NFC currently wouldn't work on Verizon's model, even if the cellular components checked out.
Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!
Refresh Roundup: week of April 9th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!
Sprint announces ICS for the Nexus S 4G, official download now available
To all the broken-hearted owners of the Nexus S 4G waiting for their chance to play with an official build of Ice Cream Sandwich: wait no longer. Sprint announced in a forum post (and subsequently on Twitter) that it's finally ready to unleash Android 4.0.4 to the anxious masses -- not just the adventurous souls willing to try out the leaked version last weekend. If you own this phone, we're guessing you're no longer reading this post. But, if you are, go check to see if your update is available. Do it. [Thanks, Brent]
Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks
Own a Nexus S or Nexus S 4G? Wondering when you'll finally get to enjoy a tasty bite of Ice Cream Sandwich? One of our trusted sources has confirmed that Google is not abandoning you, and that an official Android 4.0 update for last year's Nexus is expected to drop in the next few weeks -- for reals this time. We'll keep you posted as we find out more, but for now there's always the DIY route if you're rocking the AWS model.
Refresh Roundup: week of January 30, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!
Mobile Miscellany: week of January 30th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This week, we've spotted a leaked Android 4.0.4 ROM for the Nexus S 4G, and we've also come across a price and release date for the Droid 4. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride. Let's explore the "best of the rest" for this week of January 30th, 2012.
Nexus S port of Ice Cream Sandwich is available, if you can stand some rough edges
Why wait to get an official bite of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich when you can load it on your Nexus S right now? After a quick tease a few days ago, an early preview is available to all thanks to a few hard working developers, although beezy's post on Android Central warns you may have to live without WiFi and Bluetooth for the time being. His build is only tested on the Sprint Nexus S 4G, although concurrent work posted at XDA-Developers should give 3G Nexus S owners a shot at the port as well. As usual with these early tester ROMs YMMV, but those who enjoy life on the bleeding edge can hit the source links for more info. [Thanks, Dan]
Ice Cream Sandwich already unofficially ported, Nexus S 4G gets first dibs
Well, that was fast. Just two days (barely) after the Android 4.0 SDK was released, a resourceful dev claims to already have the code up and running on a handset that isn't the Galaxy Nexus. Android Central forum user Breezy is working on delivering a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich to the Nexus S 4G. It's already pretty clear that particular handset will be getting the upgrade at some point, but we know how impatient you can be. Breezy hasn't released his ROM just yet, because there's still some bugs to work out -- like the non-functioning WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular data and the wonky touchscreen. So, while you wait for him to get the kinks ironed out, enjoy the additional photo after the break, which sports the same alternate orange theme.
HTC, LG, Motorola, RIM, Samsung and Sony Ericsson to add Isis NFC tech in future phones
Stacking the lineup against Google Wallet, manufacturers HTC, LG, Motorola, RIM, Samsung and Sony Ericsson have been drafted by team Isis, agreeing to implement its NFC technology standard into future phone offerings. By garnering multi-manufacturer support, the joint AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon venture is pulling a power move against Mountain View's offering -- currently only functional on Sprint's Nexus S 4G (although that's almost certainly bound to change). Finally gearing up for battle, the crew recently pumped $100 million into the initiative, helping to win support from the aforementioned hardware heavy hitters. For those who aren't ready to buy a new phone just to jump on the NFC bandwagon, Isis says it's working with DeviceFidelity to add the functionality to older models as well. The more devices that have the technology, the better the chance we'll be ditching our leather wallets for the mobile variety. Or so they say. Check out the full PR after the break.
IRL: WildBlue satellite internet, international charging, a flashing habit and failing to get work done on an iPad
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It's been a whirlwind two weeks of sitting inside concept cars, soaking up details about the PlayStation Vita and getting acquainted with Windows 8, and now that it's all wound down, we're getting back to the business of griping about gadgets we already own. This week, Darren dresses down the satellite service we used to hit posts in the wilderness, Tim takes a breather after a year of jet-setting, Joseph carries on his flashing streak and as for Joe, well, let's just say his honeymoon with the iPad has come to a sudden, unproductive end.
Engadget giveaway: win one of five Nexus S 4G phones with $1,000 Google Wallet credit!
We're pretty excited about Google Wallet, but the service is currently only available for Nexus S 4G phone owners, leaving most of you waiting for broader implementation. Well, how would you like to skip the line, getting to test it out on a Nexus S 4G of your very own? Google has supplied us with five phones to give away -- the company is even throwing in $1,000 (yes, one THOUSAND dollars) of prepaid credit to help fund those first few dozen taps. There's one catch: you'll need to use your Nexus S 4G with a Sprint plan, though the carrier is throwing in one month of demo service to get you started. Check out our in-depth preview for a detailed look at the service, and simply leave a comment after the break to be entered to win -- after checking that you meet the entry requirements, of course.
A week with Google Wallet (video)
Contactless payments have been something of a curiosity in the credit card industry. MasterCard's PayPass has been around for the better part of a decade, but merchants and banks alike seem hesitant to adopt the technology required to make the system work, and inconsistent implementation adds to the confusion -- particularly for customers. Google's new mobile phone-based Wallet service has the potential to transform the technology from its current status as a transaction turkey, to a future as a checkout champion. But will it work? We spent a week with a Wallet-enabled Nexus S 4G, using the device to pay whenever we encountered a MasterCard PayPass terminal. Unfortunately, that wasn't often enough, limiting us to just a handful of transactions in the first week. Still, with Google just beginning to roll out the service and only a limited selection of launch partners ready to go, it's impossible to deliver a complete verdict just yet. Jump past the break for an inside look at Google Wallet, including a video of the service in action, and a brief look at what the world of contactless payments may look like in the future.%Gallery-130759%
MasterCard demos Google Wallet, QkR platform for mobile payments
You've most likely heard plenty about NFC-capable smartphones, but little in the way of actual real-world uses for the chip. Well, MasterCard's looking to change all of that, and throw in a few innovations of its own courtesy of its in-house R&D labs and Google. Shown off at an event today, the company demoed the Google Wallet application we first learned about back in May -- which is gearing up for an official launch sometime "soon." Running on Sprint's Nexus S 4G -- with a planned expansion to multiple devices -- users can connect a Citi MasterCard account to the service, and tap-to-pay at any retail location outfitted with a PayPass station. The transactions take place as instantaneously as you'd expect, with spending alerts notated automatically in-app, as well as via text message. If you're the paranoid type or just a spendthrift, the app offers plenty of options to set spending limits, approve / block purchases via category (i.e. dining, entertainment) and enable alerts for overseas activity. Currently, the Google Wallet service is Android-only, and that's probably a direct result of the AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile backed mobile payment rival, ISIS. But the company's also got one eye fixed squarely on the future -- scheming up alternate implementations for payment on-the-go through its MasterCard Labs division. Focusing on its QkR platform (an obvious play on QR codes), these concepts ranged from television audio signals encoded with purchase data, audible to a phone running the QkR app, or fast-food tabletops embedded with NFC and QR codes that'll allow customers to scan for coupons, order remotely and apply the discount -- all without leaving their seats. The most interesting use of the new platform, however, had nothing to do with mobile phone use and everything to do with an Xbox Kinect. Utilizing the gesture recognition tech, items could be selected on-screen by holding your hand over an item and navigating through the checkout process. We know, yet another great proof-of-concept, but tuck away that cynicism for a second -- a company representative confided to us that soft-pilot testing of QkR is already underway, with an official announcement slated in the next two weeks. And don't worry about it being a Google OS-only affair, QkR's been tested across iOS, Windows Phone Mango and even BlackBerry. Whether or not the innovative payment system'll launch with all of these mobile OS on-board wasn't clear, but we were assured there'd be at least two partners on board. Jump past the break to get a close-up view of our hands-on with the future of payment. %Gallery-133981%
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: fall 2011 edition
Shopping for a new smartphone is an exciting and arduous experience. It holds the promise of something better and the fear of a two-year commitment. For gadget enthusiasts, it also involves pouring over specs and reviews, and fretting over what's coming out in the near-term. As we publish this buyer's guide, we face potential upheavals in the mobile space. Samsung's Galaxy S II lineup will arrive at three major US carriers, the next iPhone perpetually looms in the distance, and a new generation of Windows Phone handsets is close upon us. You might ask, "Why would anyone buy a smartphone today, when something better is coming tomorrow?" Friends, that's the blessing and curse of the mobile world -- there's always something better coming. You can't wait forever, though, and if you want to purchase a smartphone today, we're here to make the process easier and help you make an informed decision. While our choices are sometimes contentious, they're backed with experience that you can rely upon. If you're looking to make a quick decision without much effort, you can rest assured that our selections won't steer you wrong. Still, we encourage you to educate yourself before you decide on a smartphone that best fits your needs. Our Primed series is an excellent place to start, where you can learn about dual-core processors and mobile displays. As always, you're encouraged to share your own experience in the comments, and we hope you have fun listing your own favorites, too. Just remember that we have an $80 ceiling for our budget selections. Compared to our previous buyer's guide, Samsung has begun to lose ground, and while Android maintains dominance, it's found some unexpected competition. Curious to see how it played out? Read on, as we round up the best smartphones of the day.
Mild-mannered RadioShack employee outs Google Wallet's launch date?
Okay, there's a possibility that our growing anxiousness for Google Wallet is distorting our perceptions. Or, perhaps we're merely days from its debut. Let's put it this way: new information from RadioShack suggests the retailer will begin accepting Google Wallet transactions on September 1st. While this fundamentally means that NFC readers will be in place -- which isn't earth-shattering news -- The Shack is one of Google Wallet's launch partners, and it seems the company is priming its employees for the revolution late next week. Like Fox Mulder, we want to believe. Worst case scenario, we now have proof that Google's launch partners are gearing up for its arrival. Hey, we're looking forward to handing over our phones to complete strangers. Aren't you? Update: We're hearing this is more likely just another retailer ramping up for a launch later in the month, so don't get too eager for something shocking to happen on 9/1. Also, of course you don't need to hand over your phone to use Google Wallet. Customer-facing NFC readers mean it can stay very much on your person and out of the hands of sure-handed, dashing, and handsome retail workers. [Thanks, Abed]
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: smartphones
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're tapping away on our smartphones -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Now more than ever, collegiate studies require a wide variety of devices to help you get that prized "A." The thirst for knowledge you so desperately seek can strike at any time, and you're not always going to have that desktop or laptop nearby to find the answer to a burning question. Perhaps you just need to hurl birds at pigs for a while to blow off your stress. Whatever the case, you'll need something to help you study, store (and edit) all of your important term papers, keep you in touch with classmates or family, and everything in-between. What better way to get all of that than with a smartphone? We've picked nine respectable candidates that can help you through your upcoming semester -- three for each budget level. Oh, and while you're looking, we're giving away $3,000 worth of essential back to school gear to 15 lucky readers, and you can be one of them by simply leaving a comment below! So, which phones are most likely to help you get smart? Head past the break to find out.
Sprint readies Nexus S 4G update with improved WiMAX performance, we go hands-on (video)
How would you feel about a little Android 2.3.5 (!) action on that Nexus S 4G of yours? What about some WiMAX performance improvements? You should be getting all that plus WiFi connectivity and speakerphone quality tweaks, along with TTY support on Monday July 25th, which is when Sprint is expected to begin rolling out an OTA update for Samsung's pure Gingerbread handset. We were given an exclusive first look at the new software, and while it's still being finalized, we tested it side-by-side with the original, and our results show a welcome increase in 4G speeds across the board. As you may remember, we observed repeatable WiMAX performance issues with the old software, so this update is excellent news indeed. The amount of improvement will likely depend on your locale, but even in signal-challenged San Francisco and New York we noticed the difference right away -- so kudos to Google, Samsung, and Sprint for addressing this. We also experienced performance in-line with our Epic 4G -- the benchmark device used for our initial testing with the previous firmware version. Take a look at our gallery below, and peek at our hands-on video after the break.%Gallery-127956% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
