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Refresh Roundup: week of March 12th, 2012

Zachary Lutz
Updated ·5 min read

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!



Official Android updates

  • T-Mobile G-Slate: The Magenta-branded tablet from LG was updated to version 10p this week, which brought a host of security fixes, USB game controller support and a fix for the Android Market. A new version of the baseband software (V909-V10p) is also on board. [Android Central]

  • ASUS Transformer TF101: Fresh off its update to Ice Cream Sandwich, the original Transformer has been updated to version 9.2.1.17. It brings a new round of bug fixes to the tablet, but unfortunately, there's no change log to reveal exactly what's been remedied. [Mobile Syrup]

  • Motorola Droid Pro: Verizon gave its Droid Pro handset a bit of lovin' this week. The new update, 4.7.3.XT610, resolves an issue that'd caused the device to power on automatically and is also said to bring improvements to the OTA update process. The refresh brings support for the Wireless Alerting System and also solves a nasty bug that'd lock up the phone after a mere press of the spacebar -- our sympathies to anyone who had to suffer through that one. [Ubergizmo]

  • T-Mobile myTouch 4G and myTouch 4G Slide: T-Mobile began rolling out updates for the myTouch 4G on March 15th, and similarly, its QWERTY-slider counterpart will be receiving a similar outpouring of goodwill tomorrow. In each case, the software is based on Android 2.3.4 and brings security fixes. Unique to the myTouch 4G Slide, it'll be receiving improvements to WiFi Calling, the Genius button and its Netflix app. [TmoNews]

  • Motorola Droid X2: The list of changes is relatively short for this dual-core smartphone, but software version 1.3.418.MB870 will bring support for the Wireless Alerting System, include Google security patches and will preload both Verizon Video and VZ Navigator 3D City -- awesome, guys, just keep piling it on. [MobileBurn]

  • Vizio Tablet (VTAB1008): Did you happen to snatch up a tablet from America's low-price television leader? If so, good news -- your Honeycomb update finally has arrived. Owners will now be treated to Android 3.2.1 along with V.I.A. Plus 2.0. [Thanks, Miguel] [Android Central]

Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery

  • ReloadedICS: If you'd like to bring a bit more personalization to your custom Android 4.0 ROM, be sure to check out ReloadedICS. Most notably, it adds a new and customizable set of toggles to the status drawer, which includes the ability to easily change the screen's brightness. Users will also find a number of new options for the system clock and a horizontal layout for recent apps. The flashable ZIP can be applied to any deodexed Ice Cream Sandwich ROM. [Android Community]

  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus (LTE): A new mod for the Galaxy Nexus LTE was released that's designed to make your phone's interface appear more tablet-like. Users will find flashable ZIP files for a number of custom ROMs that are available for the Verizon handset. Support for the HSPA+ version of the Galaxy Nexus is said to be in the works. [RootzWiki]

  • HTC One S: Following in the footsteps of the One X, a root method now exists for HTC's mid-range handset. Appropriately enough, this exploit also comes courtesy of MoDaCo. [Android Community]

  • HTC Rezound: Looking to give your Rezound a taste of the bleeding edge? A pre-release version of HTC's ROM for this handset has appeared in the wild and can be yours to play with. Users may choose from a stock version of the ROM, or a version that's pre-rooted for your convenience. [xda-developers forum]

Other platforms

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9810: T-Mobile began pushing out Blackberry 7.1 OS to both of these handsets this week. In either case, the updates add support for voice calls over WiFi, along with hotspot and tethering functionality. [Electronista]

Refreshes we covered this week