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Motorola Xyboard WiFi, Verizon 4G models get Android 4.0 updates
If you've embraced Motorola's vision of tablets warmly enough to have picked up a Xyboard 8.2 or 10.1, your loyalty is being rewarded. Both the WiFi versions and Verizon's Droid Xyboard variants should be receiving their Android 4.0 updates starting now, with everyone onboard over the course of the weeks ahead. Don't anticipate a Droid RAZR-style visual revamp: much like Google's regular jump from Android 3.2 to 4.0, the changes involve subtler components like the improved built-in browser and Face Unlock. The release is no Jelly Bean update, but we'd still call it a big step forward for fans of sharply-angled slabs.
Sony starts pushing Android 4.0 update to Xperia P owners, Xperia U and more coming soon
Sony has been steadily deploying its Android 4.0 updates, but it's been leaving some of its newest phones out of the loop. Consider the Xperia P back in the groove: its upgrade is rolling out over the course of a few weeks, starting today. As always, the exact timing will depend on the carrier and country, and some owners may have to download the update the archaic, wired way instead of through the air. Should the Xperia P deployment still leave your device out of the running, Sony keenly points out that the Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola are next on deck to receive a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich. About the only question left is when Android 4.1 will reach any Xperia models, although we're really just thankful to have much of Sony's current lineup on the same page.
Motorola starts Android 4.0 upgrades for international RAZR owners
Motorola may have pushed some of its earliest Android 4.0 updates to the Verizon-centric Droid RAZR, but it hasn't forgotten those who call the international, HSPA-based RAZR (the XT910) their own: the phone's first wave of over-the-air upgrades to the new OS should be rolling out now, going by GSMArena's tips. Who exactly is getting the upgrade isn't obvious, although at least one owner on Tesco's network has the visual evidence to suggest the UK is part of the first batch. We can vouch that at least a few Canadian RAZRs are still making do with Android 2.3. Never mind the unconfirmed claims of carrier-related delays for the update, though -- we're just glad that both Americans and the rest of the world will likely be on the same page before too long.
OTA Update Center encourages PC-free upgrades for custom Android ROMs
Over-the-air firmware updates are mainstays for most smartphone platforms, but custom ROM builders have rarely had such a luxury, even with Android. The OTA Update Center wants to shoulder that noble burden. Along with simply hosting the updates to prevent outrageous bandwidth bills, the Center enables everything an Android ROM creator might need, such as update checks, on-device firmware flashing and wiping either a cache or all user data for the more dramatic upgrades. In practice, the real perk is the cost: it's free to use, so everyone from hobbyists to seasoned teams can take advantage. While the list of those either using or planning to use the OTAUC isn't public, we're hoping it leads to a few more experimental builds of CyanogenMod and other ROMs that can now get the same tender loving care as the official code.
Aereo doubles DVR space to 80 hours for early adopters
Were you so entranced by Aereo's approach to over-the-air TV broadcasting that you signed up even while the legal battles were just getting started? You're likely being rewarded for your trust. The company has confirmed with GigaOM that New Yorkers who subscribed in the "earliest days" will have their cloud DVR storage doubled to 80 hours -- no limited period, no extra charge. There should likewise be some improved tools for overseeing all that extra space in the near future, although just what that might entail is left to the imagination. We won't fret about it much: given the service's still-tentative existence, any upgrades are icing on the cake for customers.
Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced
Tired of plugging your Lumia 900 into your PC or Mac in order to apply software updates? Tough luck -- you'll still be doing it while future buyers snack on Windows Phone 8. Harshness aside, Microsoft made clear at today's Windows Phone Summit that all WP8 updates will be delivered over the air, with an available program to give "registered enthusiasts" early access prior to broad consumer pushes. The real kicker, however, is this line: "Devices are supported with updates for at least 18 months." For those keeping count, the Lumia 900 shipped here in the US on April 8th. Two months later, it's already confirmed that the flagship WP7 handset in America won't get Windows Phone 8. We'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you just how poorly an identical promise from Google went over in May of 2011. You may remember Andy Rubin confessing that an 18 month Android update program was being put into place at Google I/O 2011, and here we are -- halfway through 2012 -- and we've still heard zero details on how that's being policed. Pardon our skepticism, but we'll need to see it to believe it. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog!
NimbleTV streams cable content to 'any' device, launching 'in the next few months'
With services like Aereo TV taking a similar streaming approach -- and getting sued in the process -- NimbleTV won't have an easy road ahead, but the outfit's willing to take its chances. The startup plans to launch its subscription-based offering to the public within the next few months, allowing future users to stream cable content to unspecified devices at any time and from anywhere on the globe -- all thanks to Nimble's cloud-based software. However, unlike some of its competitors, NimbleTV will give customers the ability to select channel packages based on personal preferences, though that'll depend heavily on the TV providers going along for the ride. While the service will only be available in the US and India at first, the company does plan a broader launch at some point in the future. No word yet on how pricing will play out, but there is a NYC-only beta (just as Aereo did) which you can join now by giving the source below a quick click.
Londoners mourn as teletext goes dark, a victim of the DTV transition
Despite the many advantages of digital broadcast television, the transition is separating Europeans from a reliable source of information known as teletext. Citizens of London are the latest to experience the loss, as analog signals in the region were switched off just yesterday. Ceefax, a service of the BBC, has provided millions of Britons with news, sports, weather, television listings, subtitles and games for the past 38 years, and is now accessible only in Kent, Sussex, north-east England and Northern Ireland. Soon, it may cease to exist altogether. Seen as a precursor to the internet, teletext is a free service that's heavily rooted in analog PAL signals, where small packets of data are sent in the vertical blanking interval, which is otherwise unnoticed by viewers. Because the information is broadcast, users were never subject to network congestion, and only needed to wait a brief moment for their desired page to be transmitted -- more advanced televisions even cached this information locally. As part of the airwaves, the service is naturally free, and in that sense, it lacks a suitable replacement. As with all progress, however, there are casualties, and teletext was an unfortunate bystander. Those who cherished the service can take a moment to relive the memories in the links below.
Aereo TV broadcast-streaming service launching today... in NYC
Despite getting served by a mighty squad of TV networks, Aereo's keeping its original plans of launching on March 14th. However, the broadcast-streaming service will only be available to folks living in the Big Apple -- at least for now. If you're unfamiliar with the startup's offerings, $12 a month gets you all major network and local TV channels on any Cupertino-born device (iPad, iPhone, MacBook Pro, etc) and Roku boxes, though with HTML5 support you can tune in on most anything with Safari as the browser. Meanwhile, native support for the green robot army is said to be "coming soon." Aeroe's letting all newcomers in on a 90-day day free trial, so those of you in the land of bridges and tunnels can head over to the source link below.
Aereo puts TV antennas in the cloud, streams OTA broadcasts on the internet
We've all heard about SlingBox, that nifty bit of kit that lets you stream your cable or satellite television to the mobile device of your choice, and now a new company called Aereo aims to provide a similar service for OTA broadcast television. The service costs $12 dollars a month and will launch March 14th, but is only available to folks in New York City through Aereo's HTML5-powered website. It'll stream all the major networks, and also offers a cloud-based DVR service on the internet-connected device of your choosing, whether it's a media streamer, phone, tablet or TV. Aereo's powered by large devices containing tons of tiny, dime-sized TV antennas connected to the cloud, with individual antennas corresponding to individual users -- giving each the ability to tune into one channel at a time. Intrigued as much as we are? Learn all about Aereo's new service at the source link below.
Lenovo confirms ICS for ThinkPad Tablet, gives us more reason to look forward to spring
Love your ThinkPad Tablet, but hate staring at its somewhat outdated operating system? Great news! Your stylus-friendly slate will be getting a heaping helping of Ice Cream Sandwich come spring, according to Lenovo. As part of the company's commitment to "future proofing" its devices, the update will begin hitting the tablet over-the-air in May. The Android upgrade will bring with it browser enhancements, voice input, face unlock and general frozen deliciousness.
OTA Honeycomb update rolling out to wealthy HTC Flyer owners
You see that? It's a screenshot from a 32GB 3G + WiFi model of HTC's 7-inch Flyer that's suddenly updated to Honeycomb 3.2 without so much as a note from its mother. A tipster to the French site HTC Hub has revealed that the update (version 3.55.405.1) weighs in at 210MB and updated over the air, but so far no-one with a cheaper 16GB WiFi-only edition has been able to replicate the experience. Either the company is staggering the roll out of Google's tablet-optimized software, or it's only interested in looking after the high-rollers. Update: HTC just confirmed over on Facebook that the GSM 3G version of the Flyer gets the Honeycomb update today, the update for WiFi-only users is "coming soon." [Thanks, Bruno]
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?
Acer starts rolling out Android 3.1 update for the Iconia Tab A500
Almost on schedule, Acer has started pushing out an update for its Iconia Tab A500 that will upgrade the 10-inch slate to Android 3.1. If you'll recall, the update actually leaked late last month, but would have required folks to take the risk of flashing their tablets. As is often the case, it's unclear how long the roll-out will last, so don't be crestfallen if you can't enjoy those resizeable widgets just yet. For those of you who did wake up to an update, have at it -- and do tell us how it goes.
Sprint updates Samsung Galaxy Tab to Gingerbread, gets over post-holiday blues
Samsung Galaxy Tab owners in the US have been anxiously waiting for their prized possession to get an update to Honeycomb and its tablet-optimized wonders, only to be warmly greeted by crickets for months. Fortunately, as we reported last week, Sprint's taken the first step in the right direction by bumping its Tab up to Gingerbread and throwing in a few standard maintenance fixes at the same time. The new build, also known as "GINGERBREAD.EF17," will be sent out OTA in stages; the deed should be done for every Tab on the Now Network over the next four days. To see if your tablet is ready to get its refresh on, go into settings, choose "About My Galaxy Tab," and select "system updates." Be sure to set aside five minutes for Gingerbread to download and install on your device, and you'll be good to go. It's no Android 3.1, of course, but at least Sprint's one step ahead of the pack.
Sprint updating the Samsung Galaxy Tab with Gingerbread on July 5
It's hard out there for a Samsung Galaxy Tab owner, watching Honeycomb slates hit the market by the bushel, with a lucky few stepping up to Android 3.1 and its resizeable widgets. Sprint, at least, is still giving the 'ol Tab some love -- according to an anonymous tipster, the Now Network will push out an update to Gingerbread, something Tab owners overseas have already been enjoying. The upgrade's expected to roll out starting July 5th, and will include not just Android 2.3, but a step up to HID Bluetooth as well. Oh, and while it's at it, Sprint will also release a fix for a bug in the Samsung Transform that has interfered with PRL and data profile updates. Sounds like as fine a way as any to beat the post-holiday weekend blues.
Acer Iconia Tab A500 to get Android 3.1 on 5th of July, at least in Deutschland
The Iconia Tab A500, Acer's "better choice" tablet, is set to join the ranks of Android 3.1 slates on the 5th of July, according to the company's German Facebook page. That's a little later than the June timeframe we'd initially been promised, but the precision of giving an actual date this time around inspires confidence that the OTA goodies will indeed be delivered. So far, we've only seen Acer announce this news on its German portal, so please keep your optimism in cautious gear if you reside outside the Bundesrepublik. The only certain Android update is the one that's already on your device.
EVO Shift 4G owners start manually upgrading to Gingerbread
Right on schedule, EVO Shift 4G owners should be able to step on up to Android 2.3. Yesterday, an anonymous tipster gave us a heads up that the upgrade was nigh, and indeed, we're seeing reports that people are manually downloading the update, which includes not just Gingerbread, but Swype, a downloads application, and a fix for apps that haven't been able to stream media. In fact, we've heard some folks say they received the update last night, when we had heard it was scheduled to drop today. If for some reason you want to wait until Sprint pushes the update to you, that should happen on Monday. As always, proceed with caution and let us know how it goes. [Thanks, Jeff]
HTC Flyer quietly gets over-the-air software update, promises to 'improve system performance'
No, it's not an upgrade to Honeycomb, but the HTC Flyer is getting some tweaks nonetheless. Over the weekend, owners of the 7-inch tablet should have seen a prompt for an over-the-air update making the vague promise to "improve system performance." We're naturally all kinds of curious, particularly given that the battery life and overall performance were already pretty solid. Flyer owners, are you noticing any differences? Do tell.
Apple turns iOS 'PC Free' with OTA updates and wireless sync
Love your iPhone, but hate all of the PC-based tethering it entails? Apple has some good news: the company is taking its "post-PC" stance a step further, letting you activate your smartphone straight out of the box without syncing it to a computer. Also big news is the addition of over-the-air updates, which will let you receive changes without plugging the handset in. And some big news for music fans: users will be able to sync their iTunes libraries over WiFi connections with the update. %Gallery-125446%
