Global variants of the HTC One X have enjoyed the good graces of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) for a few months now, but it appears that the AT&T model is finally ready to get in on the action. The carrier’s firmware update will feature the usual Jelly Bean trimmings along with a new countdown timer for the front-facing camera, ISIS support and AT&T apps like DriveMode, Locker and Messages. Check the source for all the info.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T
Source: AT&T
Sony’s major Mobile World Congress product reveal turned out to be the very same slate it had already taken the wraps off of this past January in Japan: the Xperia Tablet Z. Now that the 10-inch Android tablet’s been officially announced for global availability, it’s time for it to start trickling out to market and (surprise, surprise) Japan’s getting first dibs. Starting March 9th, NTT DoCoMo will begin accepting pre-orders for the LTE-enabled tablet (in black or white) with a general launch date set for March 22nd. There doesn’t seem to be any indication of pricing as of yet, but we’ve seen figures that indicate this region-specific Xperia Tablet Z could retail for around ¥85,470 (about $900 USD). If you like what Sony’s done with this waterproof, Jelly Bean tablet and you live in the Land of the Rising Sun, well then you know what to do. For everyone else around the globe, there’s always the vague promise of a Q2 launch to cling to.
Via: Xperia blog
Source: NTT DoCoMo (Translated)
What a difference a month makes. When we last checked in early February, Gingerbread was still the most commonly used major version of Google’s mobile OS despite having launched all the way back in 2010. As of the start of March, there’s a different story to tell: variants of Android 4 are at last more popular, collectively representing 45.1 percent of active use versus Gingerbread’s 44.2 percent. Most of those on the newer OS are still using the 2011-era Ice Cream Sandwich, although we have good news again when Jelly Bean has grown to represent 16.5 percent of current users. There’s a long distance to go before any one version of Android 4 surpasses Gingerbread, but the gap is closing fast.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: Phandroid
Source: Android Developers Dashboard
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!
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Google has just provided a veritable boon to Android devs and custom ROM makers. The Mountain View company has recently uploaded the latest Android 4.2.2 binaries to the Nexus device download page for all AOSP-supported Nexus gear: the Nexus 4, the Nexus 7 WiFi, the Nexus 7 3G, the Nexus 10, the global version of the Galaxy Nexus and its Verizon equivalent. This also means that the AOSP (Android Open Source Project binaries) finally exist for the Nexus 7 3G and the Nexus 4, which had been missing from previous updates. If you’ve been on the hunt for the latest and greatest drivers for your wares, go ahead and download the binary of your choice from the source below and get to updating it before a certain green pie update comes along.
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Developers
LG is about to kick its currently slow, worldwide Optimus G deployment into high gear. Right in time for Mobile World Congress, the company has confirmed that its late 2012 flagship is about to reach Europe. Sweden gets first crack at the Optimus G before February is over, while at least France, Germany and Italy are next in line. Every European version will ship with the Jelly Bean update LG promised for new launches back in late January. It adds more than just obvious Android 4.1 features like Google Now and rich notifications: there’s a wider variety of QSlide-friendly apps, better status bar controls and small perks like Privacy Keeper for calls and Safety Care live support. We’re still waiting for Jelly Bean to hit the US, but Europeans (and envious Americans) can see what they’ll get by watching the video after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Based on this morning’s leak, you already knew that LG’s smartphone lineup was about to become more diversified, but now we’re able to share concrete details of the Optimus F5 and F7, which will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress. As the naming scheme suggests, the Optimus F7 is the larger of the two with a 4.7-inch (312ppi) True HD IPS display, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, an 8-megapixel primary camera, 2GB RAM and a 2,540mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Optimus F5 will be targeted at those who prefer a more compact smartphone, as it wields a 4.3-inch (256ppi) IPS display, a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel primary camera, 1GB RAM and a 2,150mAh battery.
Common among both devices are Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), support for LG’s QSlide and Live Zooming software features, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter, 8GB built-in storage, microSD support and LTE connectivity. The Optimus F5 will come to market first in Europe during the second quarter, which is to be followed by the Optimus F7 “in select markets.” Sadly, pricing has yet to be announced for either smartphone. For those curious, we’ve included the complete list of known specs after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, LG
Source: LG
It’s been a long time coming, but Android 4.1.2 has finally arrived for the phone that began the whole “is it a phone, or is it a tablet?” quandary: the original international Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000. The Jelly Bean update brings a number of improvements to the OG Note, with a brand new Nature UX that brings it a little closer to the Note sequel in terms of look and feel. It’ll also get features like Multi-Window, Page Buddy, Smart Rotation and of course, Google Now. As usual, the update will roll out in phases depending on your country or carrier and is available via Kies or over the air.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Sammobile
Not ready to hand over Rs 21,500 (about $400) for a Samsung Galaxy Grand in India? Xolo seems to be counting on it, at least according to the company’s comprehensive PowerPoint — the vehicle of choice for this week’s A1000 smartphone launch. The Rs 14,999 (about $275) Jelly Bean handset packs specs similar to those offered with the Samsung flavor, such as an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.2MP shooter on the front, a dual-core 1GHz MT 6577 processor, one gig of RAM and a 2,100 mAh battery pack. Both smartphones include 5-inch displays, though the A1000 offers a 720p IPS panel, compared to an 800 x 480 TFT display on the Galaxy. There’s 4GB of built-in storage (expandable to 32GB), Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n and compatibility with 900/1800MHz GSM bands, along with 2100MHz HSPA. Sound like a perfect fit? Folks in India should be able to pick one up beginning today.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Xolo
Google Now holds a place for artwork, but it hasn’t had much visual variety outside of major cities — there’s only so many times you can see a generic mountain landscape before boredom sets in. To our (admittedly mild) relief, Google has quietly spiced up the area for certain users. At least some of us running Jelly Bean now see an optimized version of the latest Google Doodle while we’re busy dictating a search. Not everyone who’s technically capable is seeing the Doodle at this stage, so don’t be disheartened if there’s still a generic backdrop. If the daily image becomes more ubiquitous, though, we’ll have an extra reason to come back to Google Now for more than just weather or sports scores.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Android Central
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