Hasta La Gadget!

Rejoice all ye owners of the GSM version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus because not only is it time for an Android software update, it’s coming the easy way, too – right over the air. All you’ll have to do is go into your settings and hit the software update button inside your device info near the bottom of your setting list and bam! There it is, ready to bring you up to an ever-so-slightly changed user interface.

This update brought on homescreen flip-flopping for the Nexus 7 – turning on to its side for some landscape action at long last. This update for the Galaxy Nexus brings with it the ability to expand notifications with a single finger as well as a collection of bug fixes as per usual. While it’s clear that this update is necessary for all Galaxy Nexus users, it’s not entirely clear what it fixes other than that notifications bonus bit.

With this sort of update comes a wave of misunderstanding on how Android updates happen, starting here with Verizon users who will, inevitably, ask when their update is set to hit the plate. As it were, Galaxy Nexus updates coming to the 4G LTE Verizon version of the device do not come regularly, and we’re unaware of when the 4.1.2 update will be hitting said phone. It’s not the most ideal situation, but as Verizon’s build for the device is not exactly the same as the GSM version shown above, more work must be done before a software update can be pushed.

This update now exists on the Galaxy Nexus GSM iteration and the ASUS-made Google Nexus 7 tablet. It’s a 15.1 MB download and will be coming to your device automatically, so just hit the snooze button for now! Meanwhile also prepare yourself for some hot vanilla Android action with the LG Nexus 4, the next-in-line for Google’s fabulous stripped-down line of devices showing their best-of look at Android, straight from the lab.

Galaxy Nexus Android 4.1.2 appears in over-the-air update is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re thinking about picking up the brand new quad-core powerhouse by the name of LG Optimus G in the near future, you’re in for a treat – LG has just released their update schedule for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the G is up for upgrade! Unfortunately for you if you’re picking up the device inside the USA, you won’t necessarily see the upgrade so soon as the Korean version which will be grabbing 4.1 in December. Here in the USA we’re more than likely still going to have to wait several more months while a lovely collection of LG devices overseas see their tasty treats delivered inside 2012.

In addition to the Optimus G, the Optimus LTE II will also be getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean inside December 2012. The Optimus Vu and Optimus Vu II will be grabbing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean inside the first quarter of 2013. These devices have been on the market only a very short while, with the first Vu being here in the USA as the LG Intuition on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

The Jelly Bean upgrade will more than likely hit each of the devices that have been mentioned here in due time inside the USA. It doesn’t mean they’ll be here soon, and it’s not a definite guarantee just because the international version of the phones we’re seeing here have it, but it’s certainly a good sign. WIth the Optimus G right around the corner here in the USA we’re more than pumped up that it’s nearly ready for an upgrade right out of the gate!

Stay tuned for more LG Optimus G news from us very, very soon here on SlashGear, reviews are also right around the corner. Be sure to let us know if you’ve got any questions or concerns about the device so we can give you as full a review as you could possibly desire!

[via Android Community]

LG Jelly Bean upgrade schedule hits Optimus G early is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re Toshiba, what do you do when you’re looking to goose interest in the Excite 10 tablet? Roll out a quick follow up, of course. Accordingly, the FCC has just recently cleared a refreshed tablet, the AT300SE, that the Bluetooth SIG suggests will be called the Excite 10SE in North America. As shown, it’s a European-spec WiFi model that gives away little by itself. It’s when we combine this with the Bluetooth listing and speed tests that a clearer picture of the upgrade emerges — there’s been an AT300SE in GLBenchmark’s performance charts that we’ve seen running Jelly Bean (unavailable to current Excites) on top of what looks to be the familiar 1,280 x 800 display and 1.3GHz Tegra 3. While there may be other surprises lurking in areas the tests can’t reach, the documents point to a quick nip-and-tuck from Toshiba to keep tablet sales afloat rather than a full overhaul.

Filed under: Tablets

Toshiba Excite 10SE / AT300SE gets caught visiting the FCC, may tout Jelly Bean originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The next Nexus family device set to be released by Google and LG appears to have been revealed essentially top to bottom by a man with a prototype. This LG Nexus device being a prototype shown off by the Onliner lends quite a bit of detail as far as how this device will look and feel, but does not send out final details insomuch as it’s working with software that’s already out on the market and does not seem to be performing as it would have to in benchmark tests of several types. This review of the device release today is therefor a look at the ideation process behind Google and LG’s collaboration.

The photographs above and below appear very much to be showing an LG device based on their recently revealed LG Optimus G, a device with a quad-core processor from Qualcomm and a massive camera. The USA versions of the Optimus G have two different cameras, one model with a 13 megapixel camera, the other with an 8 megapixel camera. This LG Nexus device quite likely has an 8 megapixel camera, this assessment based on the apparent size of the module compared to the G and our understanding of how Google advances their Nexus line one step at a time – aka they wouldn’t skip 8 and go right to 13.

The Galaxy Nexus, a Samsung device, surprised the masses last year with a release that included a 5 megapixel camera. We expect that this LG device – if indeed it does pan out – will include an 8 megapixel camera at least. This prototype carries with it the code LG E960 as well as the name “Mako”. It’s also been suggested that this device is code-named LG Nexus 4.

The LG Nexus 4 name comes from the idea that it is the 4th major Nexus smartphone on the market – or will be in the near future. The prototype review we’re seeing today shows the device to be extremely similar to the Galaxy Nexus in size and shape with a slightly more flat front and back, a glittery sort of back panel not unlike the Optimus G, and a front panel with glass that curves downward near its edges.

The display is shown here to be an IPS LCD and has the same amount of pixels that the Galaxy Nexus had at 720 x 1280 across a 4.7-inch panel. The image you’re seeing below shows the device next to the iPhone 5, that device having a 4-inch panel, both devices apparently showing the same wallpaper to make it clear which is the brighter and the sharper of the two. We do not know if the reviewer here made both devices hit their maximum brightness.

Keep your eyes peeled for a real look at this device as it leaves its prototype stages and brings on the next generation of Google’s Vanilla-flavored Android system. We’re expecting a very clean version of whatever Google has to offer next for Android with no carrier additions. What we’re suspecting, in addition to this, is a worldwide release – or something close to it – with Google’s own Google Play store online offering up the device for sale for everyone all at once.

We shall see soon, and very soon, if the rumors are correct!

[Thanks Gene for the tip!]

LG Nexus Prototype detailed in full is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When word first started trickling out that Samsung planned to make a mini version of the Galaxy S III, it had the air of plausibility — we’ve heard from many a person about the too-large size of that phone for their hands. Then, a press invitation confirmed that “something small” was in the works, and finally mobile chief JK Shin confirmed that a smartphone of that name would be announced today in Frankfurt, Germany.

Now Samsung’s spilled all the beans, and revealed the new Galaxy S III mini, a slightly paler version of its bigger brother in specs as well as screen size. Our own short time with the phone certainly revealed that its pushing all the same “inspired by nature” buttons of the original Galaxy S III (and the Galaxy Note II), with the same exact rounded pebble shape and layout. The German marketing rep we spoke to said his company’s research found that users wanted the same phone design as the 4.8-inch Galaxy S III, but in a smaller form factor — to more easily fit smaller hands and pockets. Samsung said those folks don’t necessarily need or want the most powerful phone they can get their hands on and are content to have mid-level specs — so the mini carries a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, a 4-inch, WVGA AMOLED screen and 32GB max of memory.

It remains to be seen if those specs will dilute the Galaxy S brand, but in any event, we found the phone certainly doesn’t cramp our regular-sized hands like its older brother can (let alone the Note II), and the comfortable shape of the original works even better in a mini size. The button placement is identical to the larger handset, and the phone will come out of the box with nearly identical Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean functionality — with the added Samsung TouchWiz twist, of course. That includes new niceties like the multi-screen option, and a brief play with the phone shows the same butter factor, even with the lesser dual-core processor. So might this mini-me Galaxy S III model sway you over to the Samsung Galaxy family if you disdain the giant screen of its predecessor? Check out the gallery below to see how the size compares with the rest of the family, and a hands-on video and interview with Samsung Germany rep Mario Winter, both after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III mini pops up, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S III mini pops up, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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