OtaUpdate
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NASA patched Curiosity rover's autofocus problem over the air
Pardon me while I say something that might not be entirely popular: Software updates are pretty awesome. Maybe not so much for game consoles, but, I digress because the Curiosity rover recently received a patch that improved the autofocus of its "ChemCam" telescope. Over the air. On Mars. Before the update, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory would take nine pictures of a subject (each at a different focus) to get one usable close-up image of any of the Red Planet's rocks and soils, and send them back home. Same goes for any sample analyses the laser was doing. The problem is that for those analyses to be anywhere remotely useful, the telescope projecting said laser needs to be in focus and the workaround in place wasn't very efficient.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (WiFi) owners in the UK receiving Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean nourishment
It may not be the newest circa 10-inch slate Samsung's got to offer, but the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is still a good way from retirement. As part of its promise to upgrade a whole bunch of devices to Jelly Bean, Sammy has started pushing the OTA Android 4.1.1 update to Tab 2 10.1 bearers in the UK (try Kies if you haven't received a notification). For now, it appears to be a local rollout for the WiFi-only model, but if it's conforming to the staggered nature of most Android updates, other countries and versions should also find their melting OS re-sweetened in the near future.
OTA Jelly Bean 4.1.1 update arrives on Galaxy Note 10.1 in Germany
Live in Germany, own a Galaxy Note 10.1 and need a Jelly Bean-based sugar fix? You're in luck, as the Android 4.1.1 update Samsung promised back in September has touched-down in Deutschland. The 300MB OTA update brings with it several improvements, including greater multitasking and S-Pen functionality, new Quick Commands and the Paper Artist app from the Galaxy Note II. It might be an isolated release, but for all those still waiting, take it as a good indication your update isn't far off.
Verizon iPhone 5 update fixes mobile data use on WiFi bug
Verizon customers received an unexpected bonus when they opted for the latest iPhone, but in an unfortunate case of carrier Karma, the necessary sacrifice was their mobile data. An update has been issued to fix a Verizon-specific bug which, "under certain circumstances," used cellular data when connected to WiFi. To plug the potential leak, you'll need to head to the About screen in the phone's Settings, General menu, where you should find a update prompt. Install, then -- importantly -- reboot, and if "Verizon 13.1" shows as your carrier in that same About tab, you know you're safe. We'd also recommend checking your data allowance with crossed fingers -- for what use is LTE if you've already hit your monthly cap?
Samsung rolling Jelly Bean out across most of its smartphone, tablet lineup 'soon'
Now that Samsung has commenced beaming Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OTA toward deserving Galaxy S III customers, it's announced a raft of other devices set to receive the buttery OS in the near future. On the list are the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy Music, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy mini II and Galaxy S Duos. That should bring a bit of extra speed and smoothness to those devices, along with Google Now for search and Samsung's own flourishes from the latest TouchWiz UX. As for the rest of us, there's more than one way to skin a Smartphone -- or avoid skinning one, as the case may be.
First official Jelly Bean OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S III lands in Poland
The long-awaited roll-out appears to have commenced, with lucky GS III owners in Poland being among the first to get an early official taste of Android 4.1.1. If you hadn't heard, the update will bring a host of subtle yet powerful improvements, including Google Now for anticipating search queries, smooth UI improvements from Project Butter, as well as some Samsung extras already seen on the Galaxy Note II, such as a resizable Pop-up play screen. Hopefully this means the update will soon be sent on its merry way to GS IIIs in other parts of the Old World, and maybe at some point -- dare we suggest it -- those in the US too.
Curiosity survives brain transplant, prepares for first drive
If you thought your OTA update took too long, how about four days? That's how long the Curiosity "brain transplant" took, and is now finally complete. This now means that the main computers have switched over from landing mode, to surface mode -- and thus we hope -- meaning the rover's good to go. That said, it's still a painfully slow process, with Curiosity's wheels likely remaining steadfastly motionless for at least another week -- and even then we're looking at a trip of just a few meters. When it comes to interplanetary travel, though, slow and steady definitely wins the race -- in the meantime, you can soak up the view.
NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars
Think it's nifty when your carrier deigns to provide your smartphone with that long awaited OTA update? That's nothing. Over the weekend, NASA's Curiosity rover will be receiving its first long-distance OTA update -- all the way out there on Mars. The goal is to transition both redundant main computers from software suited for landing the vehicle to software optimized for surface exploration -- such as driving, obstacle avoidance and using the robotic arm. NASA calls it a "brain transplant" and points out that the software was actually uploaded during the flight from Earth. Now can someone please enable OTA downloads for the human brain? We'd really like to know kung fu. PR after the break.
ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed
We've been regularly poking the "Check Update" button on our PadFone since the release of our epic review, and just as promised, today ASUS has finally delivered the hybrid device's first OTA update. While the release notes have yet to pop up, we can see that the system firmware on our Taiwanese model's been upgraded to IML74K.CHT_PadFone-9.18.8.41_CHT_9.1.15-0, which has eliminated some of the bugs that we had reported to ASUS. For instance, the missing change-keyboard button in ASUS' Chinese handwriting input method has been reinstated, and trace input in ASUS' English keyboard is now working properly. Sadly, the "A" and "L" keys are still easy to miss -- we're accustomed to their larger sensitive areas on the native Android keyboard, so we shall stick to that for the time being. Also sent along is the camera firmware's update which brings the version number up to f09951, and consequently we're no longer getting an erroneous "no GPS signal" message in the camera app. Last but not least, the PadFone Station's firmware is now at version p40, but we've yet to notice any difference. Until we get the update log, don't be afraid to drop us a note in the comments if you spot anything else new. Update: We almost forgot to mention that the PadFone's already out in Singapore, and our pals over at Engadget Spanish reported earlier today that it's also heading to tiendas españolas next month. Likewise for Italy, according to Notebook Italia. Update 2: It turns out ASUS has also thrown in a solution for the Dynamic Switching compatibility issue, but we've yet to see a change log materialize a week after we received this update. If you have a PadFone, head over to Settings and under "ASUS Customised Setting" you can now add apps to a dynamic display switch list. While most of our apps now work fine with this, some of the core apps like Play Store, Gmail, YouTube and Maps are absent on the list, and the recent apps list still gets wiped clean after each switch. That said, this is already a huge improvement.
Verizon starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Motorola Xoom 4G owners
Boom. Just as we'd heard a few days ago, and after weeks of being whispered, Verizon's finally started the process of rolling out the long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update to the Xoom 4G LTE crowd. Inside the near 108MB file are a slew of new features that are likely to make owners of the Moto slate quite content, some of which include: improvements in LTE connectivity, an overall speedier browser, the ability to resize widgets, a fresh editor within the photo gallery application and a new lock screen-based camera launcher. That's not it, however, the changelog also notes more enhancements on the text input, spell-checking and mobile hotspot departments -- all while promising a better device stability to "limit the number of resets." The update should be hitting your Big Red Xoom anytime now, but if you're not willing to wait it out, then pay the more coverage link a visit to check how to grab it manually.
Samsung Galaxy Note Ice Cream Sandwich update begins rolling out now!
Samsung has begun quietly rolling out the long-desired Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy Note. When it arrives, it'll add the latest edition of Google's OS and the "Premium Suite" full of stylus S-pen friendly apps like S Note, Shape Match and My Story to your 5.3-inch phablet. The company is yet to confirm the launch, but several European users are already on the ICS bandwagon, with others expected to join soon -- but let's be honest, it's gonna feel like decades until that blessed notification pops up. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Kindle Touch update adds Europe-friendly languages, landscape mode
April 27th is nearly upon us, heralding the arrival of the Kindle Touch in Europe. Before that happens, Amazon's pushed out a software update packed with language support for the continent, landscape mode and text-to-speech, amongst others. You can manually download version 5.1.0 now or wait for the over-WiFi update in a couple of weeks. Pre-orders for the device are open as we speak, the WiFi-only model costing £109 / €129, the 3G edition costing £169 / €189.
ASUS rolls out firmware update to UK Transformer Primes (update: US, too)
Less than 48 hours after teasing us with promises of upcoming "awesome new features," ASUS is now delivering the refresh to Transformer Primes in the UK. Via its Euro Facebook page, the Taiwanese outfit has announced that all TF201 owners in the United Kingdom can expect to see the OTA update anytime now. With the fresh ICS version, you'll be able to tinker with notifications in the lockscreen, connect to Ethernet via USB (adapter not included) as well as get support for wireless ad hoc mode. Unfortunately, TF101 owners will have to exercise some patience, as ASUS says the update for the elder Transformer is still in the works. Update: According to folks in the comments (and our own Transformer Prime's notification pop-ups) the update is now rolling out stateside. [Thanks, Noah]
BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 now ready for download
After touring the exhibition circuit for what seems like an eternity, PlayBook OS 2.0 is finally ready to settle down and make itself available for download. Check for updates via Settings on your tablet and you should see it sitting there, wearing last season's fashions but nevertheless looking every inch the major OTA update that it is. Expect improvements like native email, calendar and contacts, integration with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, some newfangled Bridge functions, and access to the first crop of Android apps in BB App World. You'll find more details in the PR after the break and how-to demos at the More Coverage link. Enjoy!
Eee Pad Transformer to receive Ice Cream Sandwich after January 12th, ASUS confirms
ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer is about to get a healthy scoop of Ice Cream Sandwich. The company's UK branch confirmed the news today on its Facebook page, announcing that its original tablet-netbook hybrid device will make the jump to Android 4.0 sometime after January 12th. That date, as you may recall, is when the Transformer Prime is slated to receive the update, though ASUS has yet to confirm a specific date for the predecessor's update, saying only that it'll roll out "ASAP." As always, we'll be sure to let you know when we hear more.
XDA dev provides means to block Nook Tablet OTA updates
Worried that an OTA update will put a crimp in your Nook Tablet modding activities? Then you may want to follow the lead of xda-developers member Indirect, who has managed to tweak the tablet to block all OTA updates and kindly provided the means for you to do the same. That involves installing a few files on your device (another method is also available that involve tweaking some files), but Indirect says that the process "holds no risk," and that it won't prevent you from buying books from Barnes & Noble. Complete details can be found at the source link below.
Kindle Fire's 6.2.1 update breaks root, disables SuperOneClick utility
Just when you thought it was safe to root your Kindle Fire with a single click, Amazon has clamped down on homebrewing enthusiasts. The company has begun pushing out an update for the $199 tablet that breaks the root, disabling the SuperOneClick utility in the process. If you've rooted your tablet and are still running a version of the Amazon-flavored Gingerbread, you're susceptible to the update any time you're connected to a WiFi network. However, if you've already made the leap to another version of Android, such as CM7, you can bypass this and any future software updates. There are some improvements with 6.2.1 though, as smoother scrolling, password protected WiFi use and the ability to remove recently used items from the home screen carousel are among the upgrades. If you're looking to read up on the issue before taking action, roll up your sleeves and hit the links below. [Thanks, Brad]
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]
Galaxy Nexus OTA update quietly rolls out, addresses volume bug
Google, as promised, has begun rolling out an OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, in response to a curious volume bug affecting many European users. According to Android Central, "several" Nexus users have reported receiving the update, bundled in a package that weighs a little less than 1MB. Early reports indicate that the refresh only addresses the volume issue, though it appears to be rolling out on a piecemeal basis. If you've already updated, let us know how it's treating you in the comments, below. [Thanks, Shaun]
Sprint issues OTA fix for HTC Android handset vulnerability
Earlier this month, we found out that after a software update HTC's Android handsets had a serious security flaw -- any app could gain access to user data, including recent GPS locations, SMS data, phone numbers, and system logs. To its credit, HTC responded quickly to the security issue, and now an OTA update with the fix is going out to those on the Now Network. Sprint users with an EVO 4G, 3D, Shift 4G, Design 4G or View 4G can get the download, as can Wildfire S owners. The patch available now for a manual download, and more info on the fix can be found at the source below. [Thanks, Korey]
