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Baidu custom ROM for Nexus S swaps Google's apps for Baidu's own, gets few fans in Mountain View
The Nexus S was supposed to be the definition of Google's perfect phone circa late 2010, so we can't imagine that too many at the Googleplex are enthused with the potential impact of a new custom ROM from Baidu. China's search giant has replaced many of the stock Google apps in Android 4.0 with its own examples, ranging from media players through to navigation. Google will take some consolation from knowing that the firmware can't be pushed out over the air and has to be sideloaded over USB. All the same, with plans from Baidu to expand to other Android 4.0 devices, we can't help but think Google faces a minor Kindle Fire effect where it's cut out from its own ecosystem.
GameStop to offer Android tablet and smartphone trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade
If you've been looking for a reason to replace your aging device with something a tad more contemporary, your local pawnshop GameStop is happy to oblige. According to Gadget Experts, the games retailer is looking to bolster its Android offerings with Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nexus S and Samsung Infuse 4G trade-ins at select GameStops this summer, expanding to all locations by the end of the year. Have a device that's not on this short list? Don't worry, Gadget Experts says the firm plans to fill out its touchable trade-in inventory with more devices in the future. So, what's a Galaxy Tab worth to gaming's favorite pawn star? We'll let you know when GameStop drops the official details.
Samsung 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.
Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 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!
Sprint announces ICS for the Nexus S 4G, official download now available
To all the broken-hearted owners of the Nexus S 4G waiting for their chance to play with an official build of Ice Cream Sandwich: wait no longer. Sprint announced in a forum post (and subsequently on Twitter) that it's finally ready to unleash Android 4.0.4 to the anxious masses -- not just the adventurous souls willing to try out the leaked version last weekend. If you own this phone, we're guessing you're no longer reading this post. But, if you are, go check to see if your update is available. Do it. [Thanks, Brent]
Android 4.0.4 leaked for Nexus S 4G, lets Sprint users join ICS party
Well, that didn't take long. Sprint may not have opened its own icebox just yet, but thanks to a BriefMobile source, Nexus S 4G owners can snag themselves Ice Cream Sandwich anyway. While there have been previous efforts, BriefMobile says the leak contains the full, official ICS update, which will be delivered to handsets OTA shortly. Of course, if you can't wait the site has full installation instructions. Hit the source link below to get started.
Android 4.0.4 rolls out to HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus and GSM Nexus S
Let's just say you have an HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus (I9250) or a UMTS / GSM Nexus S (I9020). It may behoove you, then, to begin frantically checking your phone to see if any updates are available, because Google has taken to its favorite social network to announce that Android 4.0.4 is rolling out to these devices as well as the Motorola Xoom WiFi, as we reported earlier. This news comes nearly two weeks after we learned from our sources that the Nexus S update was nigh at hand, and only hours after the AOSP became available. This is incredibly exciting for anyone who wasn't able to download ICS on their Nexus S before the update was pulled, and equally thrilling for owners that have been using the version Google disowned since this past December. Heck, it's jubilant enough to make any fan of firmware updates shout with glee. Ready for the asterisk? It's not rolling out to the CDMA counterparts... at least, not yet. It's hard to say what that really means. Are the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and Sprint Nexus S 4G being considered second-class citizens, demoted to as lengthy a wait as the droves of other Gingerbread devices? We're reaching out for word on when (or if) we can expect the refresh to hit these handsets, but Mountain View's lips are shut in the meantime. [image courtesy Mirzet Kadic]
Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks
Own a Nexus S or Nexus S 4G? Wondering when you'll finally get to enjoy a tasty bite of Ice Cream Sandwich? One of our trusted sources has confirmed that Google is not abandoning you, and that an official Android 4.0 update for last year's Nexus is expected to drop in the next few weeks -- for reals this time. We'll keep you posted as we find out more, but for now there's always the DIY route if you're rocking the AWS model.
Refresh Roundup: week of March 5th, 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!
AT&T connected Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S get Android Market Google Wallet installs
So far, Google Wallet has its official US availability on NFC-compatible handsets limited by unfriendly carriers with their own mobile payment services in mind, but it appears that is no longer the case for Nexus handsets with AT&T SIMs inserted. Droid-Life reported the app is available in the market for AT&T-SIM'd HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus phones, which we were able to confirm on our own device (over any connection, as long as the AT&T card is in, switching back to a T-Mobile SIM made it disappear from the market again, although of course the app still worked). We also found it was available on our Nexus S under the same conditions, however that official blessing did not extend to the NFC-compatible Galaxy S II Skyrocket or Galaxy S II Global we tried. Interestingly, Droid-Life has also noticed easy access downloads for VZW Nexus that are rooted with their bootloaders unlocked, and of course there's still always another way to get it.
Google sticks Nexus S ICS update back in the freezer
Eager to get your Nexus S all sticky with an Ice Cream Sandwich update? Google's saying not so fast, at least for some Nexus S owners. Google community manager Paul Wilcox responded to queries on the mobile support forum, explaining: If you received an update notification a little while ago but the update isn't currently available for your phone, this is likely the result of Google pausing the update in your area while we monitor feedback. The Android 4.0 update is continuing to roll out around the world so your phone will receive another update notification when it's available again in your region. Apparently the update is continuing to download for some users, but in some cases it won't install, though Wilcox says that this is "a different scenario." We've reached out to Mountain View for an update, but let us know about your experience in the comments.
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) comes to GSM / UMTS Nexus S starting today
You heard right -- Google itself has just affirmed on its own social networking branch that Android 4.0 will begin to hit GSM / UMTS (sorry, Sprint users!) Nexus S devices over the coming month, with the luckiest few to get it today. Outside of that, there's no more specific time table to be had, but if you're able to suck it down in the coming hours, definitely sound off on the improvements in comments below. Update: Looks like the package is available to download and install (at your own risk, of course) for Nexus S, AWS version (T-Mobile compatible). Huzzah!
Google employees now testing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S, claim it's delicious
Damn them. As it turns out, Google employees are the lucky guinea pigs for testing Android 4.0 on the Nexus S, and Mountain View's minions have now begun crowing about their superiority. On the up side, this means that all users of Google's former prodigy are one step closer to receiving the official version of Ice Cream Sandwich onto their devices. The company hopes its employees will discover any lingering foul tastes before delivering its frozen treat onto the unwashed masses, although early reports suggest they're digging the flavors. Of course, if you just can't wait -- and hey, we haven't -- there's always custom ROMs to fill the void.
Nexus One denied Ice Cream Sandwich, becomes official relic of Android's yesteryears
If you're still clinging fast to Google's first ever Nexus device, now might be the time to start eyeing an upgrade. While the search giant's solidly confirmed an Ice Cream Sandwich destiny for owners of its penultimate Android flagship, the Nexus S, the same cannot be said for its HTC-made progenitor. It's not as though Mountain View's lost any love for its game-changing dev phone, rather that handset's 2010 guts just aren't up to snuff for the 4.0 polish. Besides, there are plenty of other more attractive and able-bodied smartphones to help you through the mourning process.
Nexus S port of Ice Cream Sandwich is available, if you can stand some rough edges
Why wait to get an official bite of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich when you can load it on your Nexus S right now? After a quick tease a few days ago, an early preview is available to all thanks to a few hard working developers, although beezy's post on Android Central warns you may have to live without WiFi and Bluetooth for the time being. His build is only tested on the Sprint Nexus S 4G, although concurrent work posted at XDA-Developers should give 3G Nexus S owners a shot at the port as well. As usual with these early tester ROMs YMMV, but those who enjoy life on the bleeding edge can hit the source links for more info. [Thanks, Dan]
Brand Table concept revolutionizes fast food, NFC still won't make it good for you (video)
Jersey girls and boys can now tap and pay their way around, but for the Garden State's myriad of malls, cash'll still have to do. Not so for the Ozzies Down Under who may soon never have to leave the comfort of food court chairs -- if they're packing a Nexus S, that is. Designed as a concept by University of Sydney start-up SDigital, special coaster-like "brand stickers" affixed to eatery "brand tables" would relay fast-food menus to mobile phones via NFC. Hungry, hungry humans would then make their selections, order up and receive a vibrating notification when the food's ready. It's a contactless payment solution not unlike the QkR platform MasterCard demoed for us last month. And given our ever-increasing crawl towards the bleak adult baby form factor of our potential Wall-E futures, we'd say this tech's right around the public release corner. Head on past the break for a video demo of the tukkis-numbing, Foodcourtia tech.
Ice Cream Sandwich already unofficially ported, Nexus S 4G gets first dibs
Well, that was fast. Just two days (barely) after the Android 4.0 SDK was released, a resourceful dev claims to already have the code up and running on a handset that isn't the Galaxy Nexus. Android Central forum user Breezy is working on delivering a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich to the Nexus S 4G. It's already pretty clear that particular handset will be getting the upgrade at some point, but we know how impatient you can be. Breezy hasn't released his ROM just yet, because there's still some bugs to work out -- like the non-functioning WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular data and the wonky touchscreen. So, while you wait for him to get the kinks ironed out, enjoy the additional photo after the break, which sports the same alternate orange theme.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs. Galaxy S II, Nexus One and Nexus S (macro hands-on)
Guess who posed for a family gathering here in Hong Kong? From left to right, we've got the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S II, Nexus One and Nexus S. The panels on all of these guys are stunning, but we're finding it mighty difficult to choose a favorite between the Galaxy Nexus and the GSII. Have a look at some close-ups in the gallery below, and a typical home video just after the break. %Gallery-136939%
Google confirms Nexus S will get Ice Cream Sandwich -- for real this time (Gingerbread devices, too)
Okay, so we've already seen Ice Cream Sandwich running on the Nexus S, but that was decidedly... unofficial. We've just heard straight from Google's Gabe Cohen that the Nexus S will definitely be getting ICS. In fact, both he and Matias Duarte think most Gingerbread devices will see an upgrade, saying: "Currently in the process for releasing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S. Theoretically should work for any 2.3 device." It's hardly a surprise and there's no specific word on timing just yet, but hopefully it won't take long to move that vanilla Android device up to something with a breaded exterior. Update: We also asked about whether the Nexus One is getting some ICS love, but there's no clear plan just yet.
Developers get Google Wallet on original Nexus S, squares wiping your phone with $10
Previously the exclusive phone-swiping domain of Sprint's Nexus S 4G, it now seems possible to get the wonders of Google wallet on its decidedly 3G predecessor. However, it's not an operation for the faint-hearted. If the words Cyanogen, full wipe, flash and kernel resemble white noise, it's probably worth waiting for an official release. See how the forum members at XDA Developers got their NFC wallet fix at the link below. [Thanks, John]
