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Refresh Roundup: week of October 1st, 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!

Official Android updates
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II: Samsung has released an update for the international Note II that allows users to display two separate apps on the screen simultaneously. Users can accomplish the trick with a long-press of the back button, although the list of supported apps is rather limited. The update also brings a new version of the baseband software and brings Google Chrome to the mix. [Android Central]

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7: Verizon Wireless has announced its Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update for the mid-size Sammy tablet. In addition to the new OS, users will find enhanced email search options, support for email read and delivery receipts, a redesigned gallery app and customizable quick response messages. [Phandroid]

  • Pantech Burst and Element: An update to Ice Cream Sandwich is now available for this tablet and smartphone duo at AT&T. You'll find the requisite files from the manufacturer, although a Windows PC is listed as mandatory for the installation. [Phandroid]

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1: Reports are abound of a software maintenance release for Samsung's latest tablet that's said to bring better compatibility with 64GB microSD cards and resolve various user interface glitches. [Android Central]

  • Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G: It had been promised ever since the phone's debut, but Ice Cream Sandwich is now available for this T-Mobile handset in the form of Android 4.0.4. The update is available either over-the-air or via Samsung Kies, and also brings improvements to the mobile hotspot and email components. [Android Police]

Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Refreshes we covered this week