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Refresh Roundup: week of December 5, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. 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 from 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!
Mobile Miscellany: week of November 21, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of November 21, 2011: Bell Canada is getting a couple new LG devices: the entry-level LG Eclypse, coming December 2nd, is a QWERTY device with Gingerbread [PocketNow], and the high-end LG Optimus LTE, which offers a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, HD display, 1,830mAh battery, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front-facing cam, is available now. The Optimus LTE is available for $150 with a three-year commitment. [AndroidCentral] MetroPCS announced the availability of the HTC Wildfire S sometime this week. You'll be able to grab one for $180 with no contract attached. [Unwired View] T-Mobile is getting its Galaxy S II in white, so why not the Skyrocket on AT&T? A few press images of the device's new hue have leaked out. [PocketNow] Verizon's message app just got a refresh which now offers support for SMS / MMS syncing between your phone and tablet. Both devices have to be attached to the same WiFi network, however. [AndroidCentral] Verizon's rolling out LTE to another selection of cities on December 15. [PhoneScoop] User Agent Profiles outed the Sony Ericsson Arc HD (previously known as the Nozomi), amongst other unknown devices. [Android Community] It appears that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 may be coming to T-Mobile, according to leaked marketing materials. [PocketNow] Cincinnati Bell just launched the BlackBerry Torch 9810 for $200 with a two-year commitment and after $50 mail-in rebate. [BusinessWire]
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: smartphones
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Jack Frost nipping at your phone and you need a new one? We know it can be difficult to decide on a smartphone to add to your holiday wish list, but if you're going to be hitting up all of the New Year's Eve parties, you don't want to be using something that's too embarrassing to take out of your pocket. This season offers a lot of tempting options: Ice Cream Sandwich, Windows Phone Mango and iPhone 4S are all worth drinking a lot of eggnog over. Unfortunately, there are so many tantalizing possibilities that we aren't able to include every single handset, but we've whittled it down to a mere nine devices that we think even Old Man Winter would enjoy. Join us after the break to help ring in the holiday cheer.Note: Prices are subject to change. Amazon, for instance, is holding a week-long holiday sale (from November 21st to 28th) in which almost every smartphone is a penny.
Virgin Mobile announces LG Optimus Slider, sneakily postpones data throttling until 2012
Virgin Mobile was originally intending to celebrate the new month by flipping the switch on throttled data, but it decided to push those plans back and announce a couple new phones instead. The prepaid carrier announced the upcoming launch of the LG Optimus Slider (note: it's not the Optimus Note) and the HTC Wildfire S in October and, in the same press release, nonchalantly mentioned that it would delay reducing throughput speeds for heavy users until sometime next year. No word on why this came about, but we'll take good news whenever we can get it. The LG Optimus Slider is an Android 2.3 device with a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 3.2MP camera and 1,500mAh battery, and will be available online beginning October 16th for $200 and in Sprint stores October 30th. The HTC Wildfire S will show up in silver at Best Buy and in white at Radio Shack starting October 23rd, and can be yours for $200 as well. We can imagine which announcement you're most excited for. Check out both press releases in their glory after the break.
HTC Hero S coming to US Cellular next month alongside Wildfire S and Flyer
Guess what's officially on its way to US Cellular in October? The headline probably gave you a pretty good clue -- it's the HTC Hero S. And it's not coming alone: apparently the new device is big enough to warrant its very own entourage. Its brethren, the Wildfire S and Flyer, will both waltz into stores at roughly the same time. The Gingerbread-running Hero S will offer a 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 CPU, 4-inch qHD (960 x 540) display, a 1,520mAh battery and a 5MP CMOS rear camera accompanied by a 1.3MP front-facing cam. Add it to the lineup next to the Motorola Electrify, and we'd say the carrier's got some good options for the getting. The Hero S will be available sometime next month for $200 after $100 mail-in rebate, while the Wildfire S (which will come in grey and purple) will go for $80 after rebate and the Flyer can be yours for $400 -- once again, after rebate. Head below to find the full press release.
HTC Wildfire S now available on T-Mobile, can be yours for $80
It's August 3rd -- do you know where your HTC Wildfire S is? That's right, it's taking up its own share of real estate on T-Mobile's website, ready for you to hit that fancy "add to cart" button. The eency-weency Android handset, true 'nuff to its word, came out right on schedule for $80 on a two-year commitment. And here's what you'll get for those hard-earned green rectangles stuffed in your wallet: Android 2.3, a 3.2-inch HVGA display, 512MB RAM, a Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz CPU, and a 5 megapixel camera. If the package -- and price -- are right, make your way to the source link and push through some of that fun paperwork.
T-Mobile's You Fix gives budget-minded Brits a new approach to pay-as-you-go
If you're a Londoner who's struggling to live within your means, T-Mobile is hoping its latest You Fix plans are the solution to your budgetary woes. The Magenta-clad carrier's UK arm promotes You Fix as the ultimate hybrid of pay monthly and pay-as-you-go. Customers sign a 12 month commitment to one of three plans that range between £15.50 ($25) and £26 ($42) per month, and the most expensive plan brings 300 minutes and texts. Once the allotment is met, consumers can top off their accounts based on T-Mobile's traditional PAYG rates, or bide their time until the new month rolls around. Additionally, You Fix'ers may choose between one of seven free add-ons each month, including options to add data or unlimited texts. Subsidized phones are also on the menu, with the BlackBerry Curve 8520, HTC Wildfire S, and Samsung Galaxy Gio leading the pack. Looking to save a few quid? Check the full schedule of plans in the PR beyond the break.
HTC Wildfire S swaggers CDMA bands at FCC
True to its namesake, the Wildfire S is preparing to blaze across our native prairies without abandon. After gaining the FCC's nod of acceptance for use on our 1900 / 850MHz HSPA bands -- followed by T-Mobile's official announcement -- the fun-sized candybar has received FCC approval for igniting our CDMA networks. A leaked roadmap suggests the Gingerbread treat is destined for US Cellular in October, but don't be surprised if the little guy appears at Cricket, MetroPCS, Virgin Mobile, and the like. Even Verizon could benefit from the Wildfire S, seeing that the Motorola Citrus is downright sour. Just promise not to name it the Droid Burn, okay?
T-Mobile makes HTC Wildfire S official, available August 3rd for $80
True to earlier reports, the HTC Wildfire S finally has a home at T-Mobile. The carrier-phone relationship was formalized today as the magenta-colored mobile provider announced its availability on August 3rd. The device -- code-named Marvel -- will be $80 with two-year commitment and after $50 mail-in rebate. It has all the amenities we expected, including Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), a 3.2-inch HVGA display, 512MB RAM, a Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz CPU, and a 5 megapixel shooter. You'll be able to get the phone in white or black; the only other differences in the new version appear to be the Swype keyboard and the inclusion of AWS bands. If you desire a handset that'll ease the pain on the thin wallet in your pocket, you have only a week to wait.
HTC Wildfire S heads to T-Mobile, won't break your budget
Were you disappointed to see the HTC Wildfire S pass through the FCC sporting AT&T-friendly bands, but no apparent magenta love? Well, chin up ol' chum, because a leaked spec sheet over on TmoNews shows T-Mobile's branding all over the budget-friendly phone. The 3.2-inch Android handset will ship with Gingerbread out of the box and, of course, that Sense 2.1 overlay you either love, or love to hate. There's also a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and 512MB of on-board memory. And pay no attention to the apparent PR slip-up above, while there is a UMTS 850 / 1900 variant, we have the FCC filing to prove this little guy's packing AWS 1700 / 2100 bands. Expect to see Tmo's gal pal hocking this tiny wonder sometime soon.
HTC Wildfire S review
Following the commercial success (and technical disappointment) of the original Wildfire -- which featured a miserly 528MHz CPU and QVGA display -- HTC has returned with the Wildfire S ($290). Like the Desire S and Incredible S, the company is sticking to its formula of providing incremental updates to stay competitive for 2011. Not only is this little one sporting improved hardware, but this time it's strutting around with Gingerbread. Will this be HTC's budget-line breakthrough, or will it fall face first into the land of mobile misfits? For the answer, check out the full review after the break.
HTC Wildfire S earns top marks with FCC, supports AT&T compatible 3G
HTC's newly announced Wildfire S -- or model number PG76110 -- just finished pinballing its way through the FCC's labs, coming out the other side with 1900 / 850MHz dual-band HSPA. As a quick refresher, this phone was launched at MWC this year and features a 3.2-inch display, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 3.0, and runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Considering how many handsets are still shipping with Froyo, we expect this combination of Google's newest OS, HTC's Sense UI V3.0, plus an affordable price point to make the Wildfire S a popular device when it finally hits these shores. Of course, before you get all giddy, we'd like to remind you that while the Wildfire S does support the right 3G bands for AT&T, there's no guarantee it'll end up there.
HTC Wildfire S hits Carphone Warehouse in UK, free with contract
UK readers on a budget can finally toss that Treo (gently, please) and head over to Carphone Warehouse to snag HTC's Wildfire S. The low-end Android device just popped up on the distributor's website, and the phone is appropriately priced at £0.00 with a two-year contract on Orange UK. Plans start at £20 (about $33) with 250MB of data, 100 anytime minutes and unlimited texts -- an extra £5 ups that to 300 minutes and 500MB of data, which nets you a reasonable amount of talk time, assuming you can stay within the limits of that pesky data cap. No word on when the budget 'droid will be available from Orange's website or in stores, but Carphone is showing that these are in stock, so if you've been holding out for a higher-res Wildfire before making the jump to Android, get ready to have your world rocked. [Thanks, Jay]
HTC Incredible S, Desire S, and Wildfire S video hands-on
Okay, by now you've likely seen most if not all of HTC's monstrous MWC 2011 launch (HTC Incredible S, Desire S, and Wildfire S), but we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't complete the video tours. Sadly the HTC Salsa and ChaCha weren't ready to play just yet -- the software isn't quite ready for primetime -- so they had to remain behind a safe layer of glass. We did, however, get a quick overview of each of the S devices mentioned above and have some pretty galleries of them, too. So enjoy the show. %Gallery-116704% %Gallery-116698% %Gallery-116703%
