Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve got mixed news for those who were wondering just where Sony’s Jelly Bean updates were headed. The good? Sony has narrowed down its upgrade schedule for the Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V to the middle of 2013’s first quarter, or roughly February. Just about every other reasonably capable 2012 model is also getting an upgrade once Sony has narrowed down the timetable, ranging from the Xperia S through to the Xperia ion and Xperia go. Brace yourself for the dark side of the news, however: not a single 2011 Xperia phone will make the Jelly Bean leap, no matter how quick or recent it might be. The company was “not able to guarantee” the experience the devices would have with the newer OS, we’re told. While we know that some older phones would have been borderline at best, that cutoff won’t be pleasant for anyone whose Xperia Arc S is already out of the Android upgrade loop after less than a year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony

Sony to start Xperia upgrades to Jelly Bean by mid-Q1, rules out all 2011 phones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re on Verizon and don’t feel like racking up your plastic when you buy Play store apps or content, the carrier will soon give you the option of putting it on your phone bill, according to a recent Google tweet. Mountain View’s had the option for a while now, with T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T having already jumped on the app-billing bandwagon, which left Verizon as the final major to climb aboard. Other than saying that you’ll be able to bill apps and music that way, details are scant — but considering Big Red’s whopping Android lineup, it’s about time.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon

Google to Verizon Android users: carrier billing coming to Play store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A recent leaked T-Mobile roadmap showed a Huawei Summit handset that we suspected was “possibly Android-flavored,” and now that the device has arrived in the carrier’s shop, we’re still not certain. It’s a basic phone, to be sure, with a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display, 3.2-megapixel rear camera, GPS, Swype keyboard, WiFi, Bluetooth and HSPA+ network support. What’s not clear is the OS, which T-Mob cryptically lists as “proprietary,” but appears to at least have Android underpinnings, judging by the phone’s manual (and the fact that it’s rocking Swype). Hopefully, that won’t incur the wrath of Mountain View, but if you need a basic $50 phone and don’t care about Android-this or Open Handset Alliance-that, check the source.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Huawei Summit hits T-Mobile for $50 sporting faux-Android duds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Isn’t it better when we work together? British carriers think so. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have officially created a non-exclusive joint venture, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, that should speed up the deployment of 800MHz LTE by keeping Freeview over-the-air TV signals clear of interference while the partners bring their low-frequency 4G online. Previously, the networks were bound to form an equivalent company called MitCo that wouldn’t have been active until after the 800MHz auction, preventing companies from getting their wireless houses in order until they’d already made a commitment. There’s also a competitive angle involved to go with the cooperative work, as you might imagine: with EE’s 1,800MHz LTE poised to go live on October 30th, choosing infighting over assistance would only help widen the frontrunner’s lead. Whether DMSL represents altruism or pragmatism, we’ll appreciate knowing that the hurdles to a catch-up in UK 4G will be more those of the technical reality than the usual political maneuvering.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

UK carriers form alliance to speed up 800MHz LTE rollout, let us enjoy our Freeview TV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung was shy about saying just what processor lurked inside the Galaxy S III mini, which only really told us that there wasn’t an Exynos inside. The chip’s creator isn’t content to leave the origins a secret, however: that’s an ST-Ericsson NovaThor ModAp sitting inside. The combo includes both the dual-core 1GHz processor and the cellular modem on the same chip die, helping Samsung fulfill the “mini” side of the equation while keeping the costs down. We’re certainly no strangers to the NovaThor line after experiencing it in Sony’s equally tiny Xperia P and Xperia U. Knowing what’s inside might not allay concerns that Samsung is straining to milk the Galaxy S III brand name for all it’s worth, but at least you’ll know what to expect for performance if you don’t go full-size.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III mini confirmed using ST-Ericsson’s NovaThor ModAp chip

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S III mini confirmed using ST-Ericsson’s NovaThor ModAp chip originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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