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Refresh Roundup: week of August 13th, 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!
Motorola Droid RAZR HD guides slip out to the web, pop the hype balloon (video)
Not that we were on pins and needles wondering what Motorola's September 5th event would contain, but what vestige of mystery was left may just have been sapped away. A quartet of Motorola tutorial videos newly uncovered by YouTube user revowii walk users through the unannounced XT926, better known in unofficial circles as the Droid RAZR HD. It's all about the looks in this leak: other than the conspicuous link to Verizon, what's mostly validated here is the expected use of a customized Android 4.0 with on-screen navigation keys, much like the Atrix HD in AT&T's corner of the universe. Earlier murmurings have the Droid RAZR HD carrying the same Snapdragon S4, 720p screen and LTE as well, which could leave the CDMA voice network, NFC and possibly increased storage as the only real differences. We'll know the full truth in about two weeks' time, but those who don't mind a peek into the possible future can hop past the story break to indulge in some video time traveling.
Custom ROM brings Android 4.0.4 to the Desire HD, does what HTC wouldn't
HTC wasn't too popular when they denied Desire HD owners a hearty mouthful of Ice Cream Sandwich, but as usual, the community over at XDA Developers has stepped up to make it happen. Despite HTC claiming various technical issues as barriers for the upgrade, Team Blackout's Android 4.0.4 build (aka Blackout ICS Incredible) is said to work perfectly on the device. The complete ROM is based on an ICS build for the Incredible S, and it requires you sacrifice your data in a full wipe before you can enjoy that Sense 3.6 UI. However, if you've got the knowledge to take advantage of this gift, you probably know how to backup all those bytes anyway. Hungry? Then head over to the source for your desirable dessert.
Sony starts pushing Android 4.0 update to Xperia P owners, Xperia U and more coming soon
Sony has been steadily deploying its Android 4.0 updates, but it's been leaving some of its newest phones out of the loop. Consider the Xperia P back in the groove: its upgrade is rolling out over the course of a few weeks, starting today. As always, the exact timing will depend on the carrier and country, and some owners may have to download the update the archaic, wired way instead of through the air. Should the Xperia P deployment still leave your device out of the running, Sony keenly points out that the Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola are next on deck to receive a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich. About the only question left is when Android 4.1 will reach any Xperia models, although we're really just thankful to have much of Sony's current lineup on the same page.
Acer Liquid Gallant Solo makes brief cameo, Android 4.0 smartphone lives up to its name
Just last month, Acer's Liquid Gallant Duo teased itself for preorder on the Expansys website, which promised to be an affordable Android 4.0 smartphone for those in need of dual-SIM capabilities. Now, a slightly less capable handset -- the Liquid Gallant Solo -- has reared its head, and as you might expect, it's a single SIM affair. Other than this omission, however, the Solo offers much of the same specs as before, which includes a single-core 1GHz MediaTek MT6575 SoC, a 4.3-inch qHD display, a 5-megapixel camera and a 1,500mAh battery. Similarly, the phone also features 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a microSD expansion slot. In terms of connectivity, users can expect quadband GSM and 3G support on 2100 / 900MHz networks. Like the Liquid Gallant Duo, the Solo's public presence was short-lived, as the user manual (linked below) has since been pulled from Acer's website. Its price also remains a bit of a mystery, but given the dual-SIM exclusion, it seems a safe bet that the Solo will retail for less than the £149 ($230) price of the more capable Duo. Hopefully we're not far off from a more official debut.
Fujitsu's Stylistic M532 quad-core tablet ships to the US with toughened body, dash of security
Fujitsu's Stylistic M532 has had a protracted development process that saw it appear on our radar as early as January; imagine our surprise after it ships to the US with barely more than a knock on the door. Now that it's here, it looks to be on the sunnier side of average for an Android 4.0 slate. A quad 1.4GHz Tegra 3, a 1,280 x 800 display and 32GB of built-in space won't rock our world in mid-2012, but the rough-and-ready among us will likely appreciate the military-spec abuse tolerances and a year-long subscription to Absolute CompuTrace theft tracking, just in case it's pilfered from an open bag. Fujitsu's obstacles? Apart from not having much of a cachet in the tablet arena, the company also has to convince buyers that the extra safeguards are worth a $549 price -- for those who treat their tablets more delicately, there are a few tempting alternatives.
Samsung Galaxy S III bootloader for Verizon can now be unlocked: take that, Big Red (update: video)
If you're hot and bothered by the Galaxy S III on Verizon and have a burning desire to get your grubby little mitts on some custom ROMs and kernels, then rejoice, because you'll no longer have to plunk down $600 on the Developer Edition to partake in the fun. That's right, the encrypted bootloader of Big Red's Galaxy S III has now been unlocked. If you're wanting to partake in the fun, you'll find the requisite utility and a complete list of instructions over at xda-developers. As is, you'll need either Linux or OS X to carry out the dirty work, though workarounds for Windows users are possible. Be sure to do a bit of soul-searching before pulling the trigger, however, as any future updates pose the risk of bricking your device. That said, if you dive straight into the world of custom ROMs, it'll be much less of an issue. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Hit the break for a video that shows the process of unlocking the bootloader on Verizon's Galaxy S III. [Special thanks to Adam Outler and François Simond]
Motorola's Atrix HD LTE hits Bell Canada for $50 on a three-year contract
Canadians who need a new LTE handset, and can make things last, can now get Motorola's Atrix HD LTE from Bell for just $50. The catch? You'll be yoking yourself in matrimony to a whopping 36-month deal, a period longer than most celebrity marriages. The 4.5-inch handset is clad in a Kevlar body and comes with Ice Cream Sandwich, so as long as you're not in the habit of flinging phones against walls, you should be okay.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 getting its Jelly Bean on later this year
Need a Jelly Bean surface to drag your S-Pen across? Worry not, while the Galaxy Note 10.1 won't be packing Android 4.1 right out of the box, Samsung is assuring consumers that the tablet will be getting the OS upgrade later this year, a fact the company reiterated during today's press conference. Until then, it's TouchWized Ice Cream Sandwich for you early adopters.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review
More Info Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 preview (video) Samsung rumored to tweak Galaxy Note 10.1 inside and out Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 coming worldwide this month, UI shown off on YouTube Consider it the fallout from a decade-plus of reality TV, but our made-by-the-masses approach has expanded into new territory: technology R&D. Or so Samsung's very public handling of the Galaxy Note 10.1 would have us believe. Thrust into an American Idol-like spotlight at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the still-unfinished slate, a follow-up to the pen-enabled Galaxy Note phone, was forced to perform for hordes of skeptical insiders. Sure, there was raw talent on display and we could see the promise of this 10-inch contender (we said as much in our exhaustive preview), but it was also clear the company was testing consumer waters, fishing for a vote of confidence before continuing down the development track. Does this make Samsung's latest flagship the Kelly Clarkson of the tablet category? It's an apt analogy, if you think about it: Kelly wants to be country, the Note 10.1 wants to be a pro-designer tool, but neither are allowed. Why? Well, simply put, products sell better when they're made more palatable for a wider range of tastes. Which is why the company used MWC to gauge popular opinion before molding its untested product into something wth a broader appeal. Ultimately, that meant a drastic makeover: since MWC, the Note 10.1 has received a slot for that S-Pen, streamlined software, a quad-core Exynos 4 chip and two storage configurations: 16GB / 32GB, priced at $499 and $549, respectively. So it now has more horsepower under the hood, that much is assured, but is that chip enough to boost the Note 10.1's mass appeal? Will savvy shoppers be able to forgive that relatively low-res 1,280 x 800 display? Will its Wacom digitizer elevate this slate past its more generic Android and iOS rivals? Or will that feature hamper its widespread appeal, attracting mainly creative professionals? Meet us after the break to see if the Note 10.1 can succeed as the multitasking everyman's go-to tablet.%Gallery-162350%
SwiftKey 3.0.1 brings new themes, languages and bug fixes
Rejoice, Android keyboard enthusiasts! SwiftKey announced today that it's pushing out an update to its popular virtual keyboard that brings new themes, languages and bug fixes. Version 3.0.1 incorporates two new summer themes -- Sky blue and Fuchsia -- and bumps the language count to 44 with the addition of Malay and Urdu. The keyboard now also supports continuous dictation with Google voice typing on Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. Most important, however, are a plethora of tweaks, performance improvements and bug fixes designed to further improve the SwiftKey user experience. We've been using the update for a few hours now on AT&T's red Galaxy S III and it definitely makes our favorite Android virtual keyboard even better. Hit the break for screenshots of the new themes plus the full PR.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 launches stateside August 16th starting at $499
If you didn't see this one coming from a mile away, then it's clear you haven't been paying much attention. After countless leaks and even an early August availability from online retailers, Samsung's ready to make its S-Pen slate, the Galaxy Note 10.1, official for the U.S. market. The TouchWiz-skinned Android tablet is set to hit retail shelves tomorrow, August 16th, and will be offered up in 16GB and 32GB WiFi-only configurations priced at $499 and $549, respectively. For the money, you're getting an ICS tab outfitted with a 10-inch 1,280 x 800 TFT LCD display, quad-core Exynos 4 CPU clocked at 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, microSD storage expandable to 64GB, 1.9-megapixel front-facing / 5-megapixel rear cameras and a 7,000mAh battery. The device, first introduced this past February at Mobile World Congress, stands apart from its capacitive rivals thanks primarily to the addition of a Wacom-like digitizer panel optimized for the company's handwriting recognition software and a slew of stylus-specific, pre-loaded apps, like Adobe's Photoshop Touch and Samsung's own S Note. Prospective owners will be able to choose from two neutral launch colors, grey and white, when it goes on sale this Thursday.
Live from Samsung's 'Meet the new way' event in New York City!
It's just about time to "meet the new way." Samsung's sketch-heavy invitation clearly points to some type of pen-input device, and given the timing of the event and the fact that plenty of tablets have already been sold across the pond, we're expecting the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be outed properly... again. Judging from reports earlier this month, there will be plenty of new features (and color options) to be demoed since our last in-depth look at the evolving device, so expect a fairly packed show, complete with the typical Samsung fanfare. The event kicks off at 11AM ET, so stay tuned right here for the play-by-play from NYC.
Dropbox Android preview shows off video thumbnails and Nexus 7 UI, yearns for your approval
It appears that Dropbox is also tweaking its Android app to better suit the Nexus 7 and Jelly Bean. The cloud storage outfit made a recent build (2.1.8.6 to be exact) of its mobile software available for download as a sneak preview of sorts. A few fortunate subscribers got first dibs, but you can grab a look for yourself at the improvements. The tweaks include video thumbnails, improved video playback on both ICS and Jelly Bean, a Nexus 7-friendly UI and the ability to open Dropbox files directly from other applications. If you're jonesin' for a look, visit the source link below to do just that.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 packing 4G LTE comes to Verizon on August 17th
Verizon subscribers jonesing for a 7-inch LTE tablet won't have to consider springing for the pricey Galaxy Tab 7.7 any longer. The carrier just revealed plans to offer up a 4G-equipped (and previously hinted) version of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 starting on August 17th. There's no revolution under the hood outside of the cellular link: it's still toting Android 4.0, the rear 3.2-megapixel and front VGA cameras, a (slightly faster) 1.2GHz dual-core chip and a somewhat thin 8GB of built-in memory. At the $350 contract-free asking price, however, the tinier Galaxy Tab is low-hanging fruit for data lovers.
Sony Xperia S gets a Dark Silver wardrobe, no release date
If you're the media-hungry type sold on Sony's first smartphone in the post-Ericsson era but felt the standard black or white color choices didn't quite fit your style, how about something in between? Sony's outed a new color for its Xperia S, "Dark Silver" -- although we'd say it's closer to grey than the precious metal moniker suggests. There are no changes to anything but the plastic here, so you'll still be getting the same Ice Cream Sandwich device with an impressive display. If you're planning an upgrade soon and the Dark Silver edition is floating your boat, we're sorry to say availability info is absent from Sony's reveal, but we would expect the option to find its way to retailers before too long.
LG confirms Optimus 2X will indeed be updated to ICS... in Korea, at least
The LG Optimus 2X has been no stranger to controversy when it comes to firmware upgrades (for some variants, at least) so we didn't blink an eye when we heard LG Canada's proclamation that the dual-core device would forever remain on Gingerbread -- despite the company's previous statements to the contrary. It turns out, however, that the future of the Optimus 2X may not be all doom and gloom -- for Korea, anyway. The company's Korean branch sent out a tweet mentioning that the phone will indeed be updated to Android 4.0. Though the tweet itself appeared to be country-agnostic, we have reached out to LG reps and received official confirmation, telling us "for now, that tweet only refers to Korean availability." We still haven't heard any news about ICS coming to any of its global counterparts, but we imagine the healthy dev community will likely cook up a few happy options in a worst-case scenario.
T-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.
Phones4U now accepting pre-orders for LG's Optimus 4X HD, first 50 gets Cheryl Cole tickets
Do you like the look of LG's Optimus 4X HD and the soulful stylings of Geordie songstress Cheryl Cole? Phones4U can satisfy your twin passions by offering the first 50 pre-order customers a pair of tickets to see the former Ms. Tweedy perform live at the LG Arena. Those further back in the queue (or who preferred Nicola) will have to settle for LG's flagship handset, packing a 4.7-inch display and NVDIA's Tegra 3, clocked to 1.5GHz. Pre-orders kick off today, and the handset (and tickets, if you're quick) can be in your grubby paws from August 27th, setting you back £26 each and every month.
Motorola Droid 4's Android 4.0 upgrade clears Verizon hurdles, brings global roaming soon (update: starts today)
The Droid 4's update to Android 4.0 has been in the making for long enough that we'd started to wonder if someone in the QA department had a grudge against keyboards. Verizon just proved that there's still plenty of QWERTY love to go around by posting a document, and starting a soak test, that gives the OS upgrade a rubber stamp. Motorola's messaging phone is getting more than just a new software layer with this upgrade: the Android 4.0.4 release will switch on global roaming for those willing to pay Verizon for access abroad. Camera quality should get a quiet lift in the process, while the rest of the phone is getting a proper polish as well. Verizon hasn't mentioned just when we'll see that update notification flit past our screens, but the carrier's tendency to push updates days after notices like these could see Droid 4 owners treated to Android 4.0 well before August wraps up. Update: Apparently, "soon" means "today" for Verizon: over-the-air updates should already be rolling out to Droid 4 owners as part of a phased process.
