Refresh Roundup: week of August 26th, 2013
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
Sony Xperia S, Xperia SL and Xperia Acro S: Sony has revealed an Android 4.1-based maintenance release for this trio of smartphones, which brings improved white balance and smoother 1080p video capture, improved battery life and better support for Exchange Active Sync. You'll also find the ability to launch Google Now by long-pressing the home button. The update is now rolling out, with its arrival time depending on region and carrier. [Sony]
HTC One X and One X+: Continuing its European rollout, an update to Android 4.2.2 and Sense 5 is now available to One X users within the UK. [Android Central]
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0: Android 4.2.2 is now available within the UK for the WiFi version of this tablet, which follows availability for the HSPA+ version in other parts of Europe. [Thanks, Matthew]
Sony Xperia Z Ultra: New software for this sizable smartphone brings a keyboard that's optimized for one-handed typing, a new look for the email app and an updated version of X-Reality for Mobile, which is said to improve photo and video quality. [Android Community]
Sony Xperia Tablet Z: Android 4.2.2 is now available for the WiFi versions (SGP311 / SGP312) of this tablet, which follows the recent update for the LTE version. In addition to support for 64GB microSD cards, you'll find the virtual navigation buttons are now centered and the notification bar is now at the top of the screen. [Xperia Guide]
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
HTC One: A pre-release build of Android 4.3 for the One has been used as the basis for a custom ROM known as MaximusHD, which now sits at version 12.1. The new software is said to perform better than the current stock release, and you'll also find the ability to add your own music to Zoe Share clips. [Phandroid]
Nexus 7 (2013): SomethingExplosive 1.2.2 is now available, which brings a handful of tweaks such as superuser, USB tethering and an extended power menu to an Android 4.3 ROM that's built from AOSP source. [xda-developers]
Other platforms
HTC 8X and 8S: Windows Phone 8 GDR 2 is now available from Bell Mobility and Rogers in Canada, and Verizon Wireless in the US. [MobileSyrup, WPCentral]
