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Samsung will update US Galaxy S III devices to Jelly Bean 'in the coming months'
The about screen on your US Samsung Galaxy S III may look a lot like the one above in the near future (albeit in English). Samsung has officially announced its intention to make an upgrade to Jelly Bean available to stateside versions of the company's flagship, though it left out one very important detail: the actual date. Instead, all we know at this point is that an upgrade to Android 4.1 will be offered OTA and via Kies sometime in the coming months. Why so vague? It's likely because Samsung is now at the mercy of each individual carrier to finish testing the new version of Android on the GS3 before unleashing it to the public. The refresh will deliver some TouchWiz-based enhancements like Blocking Mode, Easy Mode and a few new camera settings, as well as the usual suite of Jelly Bean improvements like Google Now and expandable notifications. Head below to check out the press release, which offers a more detailed list of what to expect.
LG outs Jelly Bean update itinerary (for the Korean market, anyway)
LG has released a schedule for the Optimus VU, VU II, G and LTE II to get Jelly Beaned with the latest Android 4.1.1 flavor -- at least in its home market, Korea. It'll start next month with the Optimus LTE II and continue in December with the Optimus G, a device we've pawed a number of times. The first quarter of 2013 will see refreshes for the Optimus VU and VU II, both 5-inch 4 x 3 aspect ratio models, the latter of which was only recently launched. There's no word on how that'll translate to stateside model upgrades, which of course depend on the vagaries of US carriers -- and we all know how that goes.
Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook gets updated with Ivy Bridge (updated)
File this under things we could've sworn happened already: Dell is updating its nine-month-old XPS 13 Ultrabook with third-generation Core (read: Ivy Bridge) processors. While the rest of the company's Win 8 lineup isn't shipping until October 26th now, the refreshed XPS 13 should already be live on Dell's site, with the same starting price of $1,000. Update: A previous version of this article reported that the XPS 13 would be available with a touchscreen. In fact, it will still be offered with non-touch-enabled panels only.
HTC: Jelly Bean rolling out to global One X and One S this month
Tucked away at the bottom of HTC's announcement of the One X+ is a pleasant piece of news that's sure to make One X and One S owners happy. Android 4.1, alongside HTC's Sense 4+ UI, is set to arrive on the devices at some point this month. As a disclaimer, this likely won't apply to AT&T's One X or T-Mobile's One S, since the refresh will likely take additional time to make its way through carrier testing -- HTC reps confirmed to us that the October timeframe is specifically for the global versions. Here's to hoping this doesn't mean we'll have to wait until the 31st to get our hands on Jelly Bean.
HP retools its Envy Phoenix h9 desktop, says the new version will go on sale October 26th
It was just a few months ago that HP refreshed its Envy Phoenix h9 desktop tower with Ivy Bridge processors, and now it's gone back to the drawing board to re-tool the design itself. In its latest incarnation, it has an "armor-plated" design and toolless hard disk bays that can support up to three drives. HP says it also fine-tuned the cable dressing to improve airflow and cooling performance. As ever, the machine will be offered with third-generation Intel Core processors and your choice of NVIDIA or AMD graphics. Solid-state drives are also an option. Curious? You'll have to wait until the Windows 8 launch on October 28th to get one. An odd move, if you ask us, since the h9 isn't a Win 8-optimized system, and the changes here appear to be purely hardware-related.
Inventory shortfalls suggest iMac refresh around the corner
Low iMac inventory numbers may suggest an upcoming refresh. If these screenshots from an Apple Authorized Service Provider who asked not to be identified are a true reflection of channel supply on current inventory, numbers are running low -- way low. Our AASP friend writes, "While putting in an order today we stumbled upon both our suppliers have no stock of 21- or 27-inch iMacs. One picture has an estimated ETA while the other shows all current models at zero stock. All four models look similar to the picture that displays the ETAs." Imminent refresh? We hope so, but you know what Betteridge's law says. Reports of a rapid release of new iMacs surfaced on September 7. %Gallery-165846%
Netflix for iPhone update adds 'continue watching' bar, more titles to home screen (video)
It's not just the Android side of things that's getting a little love from Netflix, the iPhone app just got a refresh too. The new design brings the mobile version much more inline with the tablet edition that got a revamp last December. The update brings with it the ability to resume watching shows, right from the top of the app view, along with the sliding rows of titles, and custom recommendations that you may be familiar with from other versions. The new interface gets the official walk-through in the video after the break, but as it's available now, you might just want to fondle the source link directly.
Engadget Giveaway: win one of three Nexus 7 units, courtesy of Poweramp!
If you read Engadget frequently, you're certainly no stranger to Google's Nexus 7 tablet that has captured our attention -- and our hearts. Poweramp, one of the highest-rated music players (and one of the most downloaded, from what we can tell) on the Android Play Store, is launching an update that offers Jelly Bean compatibility, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than to give away a trio of Jelly Bean-running Nexus tablets? Also, Poweramp offers a 15 day free trial, so it's definitely worth taking a look-see. Enjoy, and good luck!
Klipsch refreshes Quintet home theater system
We don't have too many bad words to say about Klipsch, so when we heard it was refreshing its Quintet home theater system, we listened up. The eponymous-ish five speaker system has been a mainstay of the Klipsch line since 1998, and this is the fifth (too many 5s?) iteration. The new goodies? This time 'round each speaker has a 90 degree by 90 degree "Tractrix" horn for expanded listening area and a new Linear Travel Suspension aimed at reducing distortion and improving dynamics -- new woofers have also been added. If the refresh sounds good, but you're wondering if it'll match your front room, you've only got a choice of a satin, brushed black finish. Already boxed your old system up? Then get ready to lay down $550 when it reaches your local store next month. Update: As pointed out by some people, despite mentioning in the PR, this is not strictly a 5.1 system
Google enables Play Store delta updates, helps you conserve precious data
At Google's developer conference, the company announced that it would soon offer the ability to download delta updates in its Play Store, and we're starting to see the promise fulfilled before our very eyes. These delta upgrades, which save time and bandwidth when updating larger apps by only downloading the actual changes (rather than the entire program), were spotted earlier by Android Police and verified by our staff. While it may seem like a minor feature, you'll likely be happy that you don't have to think twice about updating your graphically-intense games when you're not within range of a hotspot. Head below for a video showing the delta updates in action.
LG confirms Optimus 2X will indeed be updated to ICS... in Korea, at least
The LG Optimus 2X has been no stranger to controversy when it comes to firmware upgrades (for some variants, at least) so we didn't blink an eye when we heard LG Canada's proclamation that the dual-core device would forever remain on Gingerbread -- despite the company's previous statements to the contrary. It turns out, however, that the future of the Optimus 2X may not be all doom and gloom -- for Korea, anyway. The company's Korean branch sent out a tweet mentioning that the phone will indeed be updated to Android 4.0. Though the tweet itself appeared to be country-agnostic, we have reached out to LG reps and received official confirmation, telling us "for now, that tweet only refers to Korean availability." We still haven't heard any news about ICS coming to any of its global counterparts, but we imagine the healthy dev community will likely cook up a few happy options in a worst-case scenario.
Google gives mobile search a makeover for quick-answer queries
If you're looking for flight times, currency conversions, word definitions and more, you'll notice that Google has dressed up the responses in new, Now card type clothing. On top of being prettier, the look is designed to make the data easier to parse and also adds an interactive element -- letting you change a distance or unit when doing metric conversions, for example. Currently the refresh is limited to smartphone and tablet searches, but Google has promised to roll it out soon to desktop searches and international users. The change is part of an ever-evolving list of tweaks and updates to Mountain View's venerable search engine -- check the source for more info.
HTC Rezound finally ready to receive Android 4.0 update
Just a couple days short of its latest deadline, the HTC Rezound now appears to be ready to be knighted with Ice Cream Sandwich via an OTA update. Verizon has taken to its official site to publish upgrade instructions and benefits, indicating that the rollout has begun. Once your install is complete, you should find yourself gazing at Sense 3.6 and its many associated features. These types of refreshes usually take a couple weeks to reach its entire consumer base, so don't fret if your particular device doesn't ping you with a notification while you're jamming to your Beats today.
Samsung Galaxy S III recovers universal search box in OTA update to European handsets
Samsung promised -- and it's already delivered. Galaxy S III-toting Brits should wake up to yet another OTA update for their smartphone, which throws in some stability improvements alongside the returning universal search feature that polls your phone's entire contents for results. Users can check their settings menu for the lightweight 5MB download now.
AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket gets updated to ICS
The Galaxy Note isn't the only device on AT&T getting the precious upgrade to Android 4.0 today, as the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is jumping on the bandwagon. Sadly, it's not an OTA update, which means you'll need to get into the Kies client on your computer to get your refresh on. If you've never done an update this way, head to the source link for plenty of details on how to propel your device to the next level. [Thanks, Horst]
AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update coming tomorrow, offers Premium Suite
How much better will that Samsung Galaxy Note be when you have Ice Cream Sandwich on it? AT&T users are about to find out, as Samsung confirmed to us that the long-awaited upgrade will be knocking on their doors beginning tomorrow (with a few lucky testers getting it later today). As for the new features, the Galaxy Note's latest refresh won't offer anything we weren't already expecting: in addition to the standard suite of ICS features, it'll also come with the same Premium Suite we saw show up on the international Note a couple months ago. The new Suite offers some huge improvements in S-Memo and S-Note, as the latter is now integrated with Wolphram Alpha. Sadly, the software features we've seen highlighted in the Galaxy S III series (S-Beam, S-Voice, Smart Stay and so on) are nowhere to be found, but at least you'll have plenty of other new items to keep you occupied for a while. Update: Samsung's press release is out, so check it out below!
Motorola ICS UI review: this isn't the Blur we used to know
More Info Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich review Which devices have been updated to Ice Cream Sandwich? Motorola Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR Maxx Android 4.0 update incoming Ah, what a difference a couple years can make. After earning notoriety for is frustrating MotoBlur skin, the manufacturer has made strides on the Android user interface front. Its next attempt, known by many as "BlueBlur," was a far better experience, if only because the original user interface could hardly get any worse. These modest improvements aside, though, we've always wondered how the company would make its mark on Android 4.0, a newer version of the OS that ushered in a major redesign. Would Motorola once again choose a heavy, proprietary skin, or would it be more heavily influenced by its new Google overlords and develop a UI more in line with stock Ice Cream Sandwich? Unfortunately, Motorola kept us waiting in suspense longer than any other major OEM: Samsung, HTC, Sony and (gasp!) even LG have already started shipping devices loaded with skinned versions of ICS. But while Motorola popped the update onto one specific tablet earlier this year, it only managed to push test copies of Ice Cream Sandwich to a handful of Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR Maxx devices before Jelly Bean was announced. Even now, we still haven't seen how the now-antiquated firmware will look on new Motorola handsets (though we hopefully will find out with the upcoming Atrix HD, RAZR HD or Photon Q). We have to wonder if the drawn-out acquisition process put the outfit in an awkward holding pattern, preventing it from cranking out fresh handsets and accompanying firmware updates. So is HelloMoto making a grand entrance by being the last to show up to the Ice Cream Sandwich social? What makes Ice Cream Blurwich tick? We'll take you through the major elements of the user interface to give you a sense of what to expect when your Motorola phone is ready to make the jump.
Nokia N9 updated to MeeGo PR1.3, boasts 1,000 improvements
MeeGo isn't quite dead, and Nokia N9 users are getting another update pushed to their phone to prove it. PR1.3, a firmware refresh that's been in the works at least since 1.2 was released a few months ago, has finally been made official. But this is no simple bug fix -- the latest version of MeeGo offers an impressive 1,000 "quality improvements, including mail, Facebook and Twitter." According to Nokia's official support page, the update will also provide several network and connectivity enhancements. The 203MB OTA download is now beginning to roll out, starting with unbranded devices and branching out from there. Continue past the break for the full statement from Nokia. Update: We'll give a hat tip out to our commenters, who clued us in on a forum thread that discusses many of these "quality improvements." It appears that a large number of them are indeed bug fixes. Some of the actual boosts involve camera feature enhancements, higher volume, NFC fixes, better video decoding and more precise copy and paste [thanks BertrandsBox!] We also initially experienced sluggish behavior on the new update, but a factory reset seemed to resolve the concern. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
ICS officially available for AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II beginning tomorrow
While it's true a few lucky AT&T Galaxy S II owners were able to get their hands on the official upgrade to Android 4.0 just a matter of days ago, the company wasn't ready to push it out to the masses quite just yet. The initial tests must've gone as well as hoped, however, because AT&T will be ready to make ICS publicly available tomorrow to anyone willing to go through Kies to grab it. Indeed, the one drawback to this wonderful news is the fact that ICS doesn't just come to you... you need to go to it. As in, no over-the-air capabilities. The silver lining to that, though, is that this may actually work out better for anyone that feels better off sticking with the tried-and-true Gingerbread TouchWiz experience. On a sidenote, AT&T also reaffirmed its commitment to bringing the next version of Android to more devices this summer, but refused to specify which ones we can look forward to. Head below (or check out the source link) to learn how to grab the update.
Google+ adds profile updates, learns from the competition
Your Google+ profile has just been given some convenient upgrades, in a bid to make it a little friendlier to anyone used to another social network. You're now able to post to your feed directly from your profile page, which now packs the same share box as the Google+ hub. You'll also be able to refresh the look of your profile with some new stock cover photos and galleries, while any new photos added will be automatically resized and (vertically) adjustable in their new home. Any new cover photos will also be stored in their own gallery at full size. The updates, a result of feedback from its users, have now rolled out across the whole network. Presumably, automated facial tagging is still on Google's shopping list.
