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Refresh Roundup: week of December 10th, 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!
Zachary Lutz12.16.2012Refresh Roundup: week of October 22nd, 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!
Zachary Lutz10.28.2012ITC rules that Samsung violates four Apple patents covering design, touch
The back and forth continues. US International Trade Commission Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender has made an initial ruling that some Samsung's devices violate four Apple patents, including one iPhone design patent (the one you see above) and three software patents. Apple didn't manage a clean sweep, as Samsung was cleared of treading on two more patents, but the verdict still carries the all-too-familiar potential for a trade ban if the ITC maintains the findings in its final review. It's bleak news for the Korean company, which faced an initial loss to Apple at the ITC just last month -- even though large swaths of the mostly Android-based Galaxy phones and tablets in the dispute have long since left the market, an upheld verdict gives Samsung one less bargaining chip in a protracted legal war.
Jon Fingas10.24.2012Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 joins the ICS party with Android 4.0.4 update
If 8.9 was the number of inches you required from your Samsung Galaxy tab, you may have been a little frustrated at the general lack of much expected ICS updates. Especially as many of your Galaxy cohorts had already received theirs. Well, wait no more, as the download is finally here in the US. As you might expect it's 4.0.4, and it apparently comes with a new -- and many say better -- version of TouchWiz. Better slide that finger down about 8.7-inches across the screen, and dig up those update settings then.
James Trew08.29.2012T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus getting ICS today; Springboard update coming tomorrow
Our calendars no longer say July, but we'll forgive T-Mobile (and its partners) for a month-long delay. As expected, albeit a little late, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus for T-Mob can now be updated to Android 4.0 via the download in the source link. Moreover, the Springboard slate will get an Ice Cream Sandwich update of its own via an over-the-air push that starts tomorrow. Looking for more intel on either? Give those links below a tap.
Darren Murph08.14.2012ICS coming to Samsung Galaxy Tabs 10.1, 8.9, 7.7 and 7.0 Plus starting in July
Ice Cream Sandwich has been in the cards for Samsung's older Galaxy Tabs for a while, but impatient owners can soon wind down their foot tapping: the rollout date is indeed on the horizon. According to SamMobile, Android 4.0 will make its way to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9, Tab 7.7 and Tab 7.0 beginning in July. Yes, that's next month -- though the site clarifies that most devices will see the switchover in August. If you've held out this long, what's a month or so more, right?
Sarah Silbert06.20.2012Samsung details Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades for American carriers
Samsung has published a list detailing which carrier variants of its phones and tablets will be blessed with Android Ice Cream Sandwich. While Sprint's Nexus S 4G is already enjoying the latest Android OS, the update will also arrive on the Now Network's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. From Verizon, both the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 will get the upgrade, accompanied by the WiFi variants of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the Galaxy Tab 8.9. On AT&T, ICS is confirmed for its Galaxy S II, the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Galaxy Note, Captivate Glide, Nexus S and Galaxy Tab 8.9. T-Mobile customers, however, lack a similarly breathless list of upgradable hardware, instead Samsung says it will aim to upgrade "eligible devices" in the coming months and will "provide updates as we have additional details to share." Which all sounds like those updates aren't coming to Big Magenta any time soon. Samsung vows to update the list with more details as they arrive, which is available at the source below.
Mat Smith04.24.2012How would you change the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9?
We like to think of HWYC as the counterpoint to IRL, focused on your experiences of using these gadgets on a daily basis. What annoying little issues do you wish the company had ironed out before shipping? Is there anything you like about the device you want to share with people? This week we want your opinions on Samsung's Galaxy Tab 8.9 -- the niche offering for people unable to decide between the 10.1, 7.7 or the 7-inch versions of the same. When we reviewed it, we found it to be virtually indistinguishable to its larger sibling: it was 10 percent smaller and 10 percent cheaper, and that was about it. But is that the whole story? Now you've had a few months to stew over your purchase, how have you found it? If Samsung was hawkishly watching the comments below, what would you say? How would you change it?
Daniel Cooper02.26.2012Samsung's Learning Hub demonstrates a commitment to education, profits
Samsung's R&D department has been working overtime as it strives to break the idea it copies wholesale ideas from its competition. Yesterday we heard word about its planned new cloud service and today it's announced that it'll be unveiling a unique education-focused app for Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and 10.1. Learning Hub will provide free materials from 30 major educational establishments from elementary schools through to universities, although there's no word on what certificates you'll be able to earn at the end of your course. The program will expand to other devices in the Galaxy family later on, once the company's done showing off the software at MWC.
Daniel Cooper02.22.2012LTE-equipped Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets European approval
LTE isn't quite as wide spread in the Old World as it is over here in the western hemisphere but, as many European countries race to get their 4G deployed, top notch devices are already starting to roll in. The GT-P7320, better known as the Galaxy Tab 8.9, just passed through the Global Certification Forum, bound for unspecified EU nation. This particular model supports both HSPA on the 900MHz and 2100MHz bands, and LTE over 800MHz and 2.6GHz. Carrier, release date, price -- pretty much everything about the device's debut is a mystery at this point. But, with Mobile World Congress just a couple of weeks away, we're sure it won't hold on to its secrets for long.
Terrence O'Brien02.13.2012Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets a taste of homemade Ice Cream Sandwich (video)
So we know that Google's latest and greatest OS is headed to the Galaxy Tab 8.9 at some undefined point in 2012. But Samsung's promise of a future update just isn't enough to sate the appetites of a certain enterprising subset of Android users. With their hunger for Ice Cream Sandwich guiding their hands, a trio of XDA members decided to whip up a homebrew version of 4.03 for their Sammy tabs. While the bootable builds, of which there are now three, are far from complete, an update over on the site's dedicated forum notes that Bluetooth, GPS, hardware acceleration and the accelerometer are now functioning, with efforts continuing to enable WiFi. If you were hoping to sample a slice of these early ROMs, you're out of luck -- the group's decided to refrain from offering downloads until the ports are complete. Think you can hold out for the unofficial goods? Then check out the source below to keep up with the project's progress and, while you're at it, skip on past the break for a brief video demo.
Joseph Volpe12.23.2011iLuv outs iSM524 ArtStation Pro, 'world's first' Galaxy Tab compatible audio dock
If you've been in the market for a Galaxy Tab friendly audio dock, your wait could be over. iLuv has debuted it's iSM524 for your Samsung Android slate, calling it "the world's first and only audio docking station" for the Galaxy tablet fam. Equipped with the company's jAura Sound technology, the dock's arm rotates for portrait or landscape viewing modes and tilts so you can get the best possible angle for catching up on that Boardwalk Empire season finale. You'll also find an IR remote and a 3.5mm auxiliary input to boot. iLuv promises that this ArtStation will play nicely with the entire Galaxy Tab family, but you can find out for yourself later this month if you're willing to drop $149. So whether you're sporting the 10.1 or the 7.0 plus, hit the gallery below for a closer look or check out the PR after the break for all the details. %Gallery-141641%
Billy Steele12.12.2011LTE Galaxy Tab 8.9 coming to AT&T on November 20th for $480
With all this fancy LTE rolling out across AT&T's network, the carrier clearly needs an equally fancy tablet to take advantage of its 4G (not faux-G) speeds. Enter the Galaxy Tab 8.9. Samsung's mid-sized Honeycomb slate is coming to Ma Bell packing an upgraded 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a radio capable of connecting to its latest Long Term Evolution markets. There's nothing terribly surprising here, it's more or less the same TouchWiz-sporting tablet we reviewed earlier this month, though you'll only get a 16GB storage option. The 4G LTE edition of the 8.9 will be landing on November 20th for $480 -- with a two year contract, of course. As an added bonus, you can get a free Galaxy S II or Galaxy S II Skyrocket as part of a limited time promotional offer. Check out the PR after the break for all the fine print.
Terrence O'Brien11.14.2011Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review
What is the optimal size for a modern-day tablet? Is it 10 inches? Is it seven? Or, is it something smaller, like the economy-sized smartphone that is the Galaxy Note? We can't say for sure, but we surely can say that Samsung is as much in the dark as we are. Like a gadgety Goldilocks traipsing between an endless sea of options, that company seems completely unable to make up its mind, splitting niches into sub-niches and then cleaving those in twain again with a seemingly endless array of fractionally different tablets. Today we're looking at the Galaxy Tab 8.9. This powerful slate exists because, apparently, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is too big and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is too small. Is the $449 8.9 just right, then? Read on to find out. %Gallery-138970%
Tim Stevens11.10.2011Galaxy Tab 8.9 hits pre-order, ships October 2nd in US; Galaxy Player 5.0 and 4.0 shipping October 16th
Hot on the heels of a UK release, Samsung has just announced that its long-awaited (and long-delayed) Galaxy Player 4.0 ($229) and 5.0 ($269) will be available for pre-order starting September 27th, with US availability pegged for October 16th. Oddly enough, Samsung gave no reason behind the once-spring, now-autumn pushback, but at least we can finally stop wondering and instead start enjoying the spoils of an (almost) Galaxy Note-sans-phone. (Not like we haven't heard a similar tune before). All that aside, the Player 5.0 and 4.0 weigh in at 6.4 and 4.2 ounces, respectively, and both are powered by Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread); other specs include 802.11b/g/n, WVGA Super Clear LCDs (800 x 480), Bluetooth 3.0, 8GB of onboard storage, a microSD expansion slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, voice recorder, mini-USB connectivity, front and rear cameras and support for Sammy's Media Hub content service. The big fellow gets a 2,500mAh battery, whereas its little(r) brother is equipped with a 1,200mAh cell. (Psst... you can catch our hands-on with these here and here.) Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is available for pre-sale right now, with shipments to hit retail on October 2nd. You'll be laying down $469 for the 16GB model, while a doubling of capacity will run you $100 more. Need a refresher on this one, too? How's about a WXGA (1,280 x 800) touchpanel, dual-core T250S processor, 6,100mAh battery, sub-one pound weight, DLNA compatibility, a 3 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, integrated Swype / Polaris Office and even a few amenities for those in the enterprise -- things like full support for Exchange ActiveSync (v14), on-device encryption, Cisco VPN, Sybase MDM and WebEx support. Best of all, the inbuilt FindMyMobile service allows users to track their lost / stolen Tab 8.9 down on a map as it moves, remotely lock the device to prevent unauthorized access and delete personal information stored on the device. Head on past the break for the full release.
Darren Murph09.26.2011Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi gets US pricing, 16GB model starts at $469
Samsung's latest Android Tab has already gotten the in-box hands-on treatment from the blue shirts at Best Buy, but now we have official word on pricing for the 8.9-inch WiFi-only model, set to hit stores as soon as Thursday. Willing to settle for the 16GB flavor? Get ready to hand over $469 to take one of these slim slates home, or pull out another Benjamin to double capacity to 32 gigs -- that beefed-up model will run you $569. You'll also get Android 3.1 Honeycomb with "the freedom of TouchWiz," a 3 megapixel camera on the rear with 2MPs up front, and a dual-core 1GHz processor. Check out our Tab 8.9 hands-on, or hit up the source link for the full feature rundown from Sammy. [Thanks, Kevin]
Zach Honig09.19.2011Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi shipments arrive at Best Buy, will go on sale this week
See that there? That's a Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi, and after months on end of mystery, it seems as if the wait to procure one in the US of A is just about over. Shipments are arriving at Best Buy stores across the nation, and according to our sources, they'll be stocked and ready for purchase starting September 22nd. We're still waiting to hear back on a retail price, but those who'd like to hazard a guess can extrapolate from those UK figures. So, did your Tuesday plans just get made? Update: Select stores may be ushering them out on the 22nd, while others will be force to wait until the 25th. As for pricing? It's "listed" at $399.99, but we've certainly seen Best Buy placeholders be wrong before. Update 2: Samsung chimed in with official pricing. The 16GB model will sell for $469, with the 32GB flavor costing $100 more.
Darren Murph09.19.2011Creative Zen X-Fi3 hands-on (video)
This tiny thing in our hands above is the latest PMP from Creative. Portability is clearly the thing here -- the Zen X-Fi3 is extremely tiny and light. It has a little color screen on it, as well, but don't get too excited on that front -- unfortunately the player doesn't sport a touchscreen, so you've got to use the controls on the bezel, which aren't particularly responsive. The interface, fittingly, is also pretty barebones on that front, offering the basic sort of scroll-through menus that defined music players for years. The highlight of the device -- aside from its exceedingly small size -- is its Bluetooth transfer capabilities. The X-Fi3 keeps with the company's commitment to audio fidelity, thanks to the apt-X codec, which supposedly offers audio quality similar to a wired connection when streaming. On that front, the device also handles FLAC files. The player will run €99 and €140 for the 8GB and 16GB versions, here in Germany. It should be going on sale in the middle of this month.%Gallery-132510%
Brian Heater09.02.2011Samsung's Galaxy Tab 8.9 goes LTE for T-Mobile at IFA
What secret could this Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 hold? Check out the little LTE logo hiding out on the back of the device. Yep, T-Mobile's aggressively magenta-ed out IFA booth was showcasing this beauty, as a way of showing off the European carrier's blazing LTE speeds. Hardware, it seems, was incidental to the company's demos -- but boy howdy do we care. The T-Mobile reps didn't offer up much in the way of information on that front (in fact, they mostly tried to move us along to the next LTE-capable device for more speed demos), but the company's paperwork highlights the device's 32GB capacity, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and Android 3.2 operating system. The hardware itself should prove quite familiar to anyone who's ever spent time with a Galaxy Tab -- same brilliant glossy screen, same smooth plastic back. Not much is available, so far as pricing and availability, though the T-Mobile representative that we spoke with believes the thing will be hitting the network in Q4. Update: AndroidOS.in is reporting that the Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE will hit German airwaves in December. [Thanks, TMO_lover] %Gallery-132518%
Brian Heater09.02.2011Bell prepping its LTE network, Samsung Galaxy S II LTE and Tab 8.9 to be offered at launch?
We've known that Bell's intended to make the jump to LTE for nearly three years, but the Canadian carrier has kept incredibly silent about when or how it was going to leap. If we're to believe an unnamed source, that silence may be soon coming to an end: supposedly the company will be launching its 4G network "soon" and is rumored to have a phone and a tablet prepped for launch right away. The suspected devices? None other than the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy Tab 8.9. If this happens sometime in the fall, such a move would put Bell in the running to become the second carrier in Canada to adopt the next-gen standard -- Telus and Sasktel are expected to upgrade next year -- which gives advocates of choice some wonderful things to look forward to over the next twelve months. [Thanks, Doug]
Brad Molen09.01.2011