Hasta La Gadget!

It’s August 21st, which equates to good news for hopeful buyers of the Samsung Conquer 4G. The latest device cranking out the WiMAX is available for a Benjamin starting today, both online and at Sprint stores. As a refresher, the Conquer brings a 1GHz CPU with Android 2.3.4 and 512MB of RAM, and does so using a 3.5-inch HVGA display. So no more rumors, no more Blurrycam shots, and definitely no more presales — it’s time for the real deal, if you’re so inclined to make the two-year commitment.

Samsung Conquer 4G now ready for your purchase on Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. 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 from 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!

Official Android updates

• The HTC EVO 3D is now ready for a maintenance fix called 2.08.651.2, which offers some nice improvements like allowing more Sprint bloatware to be uninstallable by the user, contact transfer via bluetooth, fixes for the lock screen occasionally freezing, and GPS enhancements. This update is available through a manual install. [via SprintFeed]
• Speaking of the HTC EVO 3D, the bootloader unlock tool is now ready for your enjoyment on the company’s fancy new dev site.
• Android 2.3.4 is finally rolling out on T-Mobile’s HTC Sensation 4G, and all users should receive the OTA update by the end of September at the latest. Aside from the standard 2.3.4 enhancements, Sensation 4G owners can also expect better battery life, additional software stability, extra touchscreen responsiveness, and improved “device reboots.” Curiously, the refresh also promises better screen and photo resolution. All in all, this is the kind of firmware boost we love to see. (Thanks, Anonymous) [via TmoNews]
• If you’re using a Samsung Fascinate 3G on Telus, you’ll be interested to know that you may now have Gingerbread bestowed upon your device. It’ll involve a manual install using Samsung Kies, so go to the website to get all the instructions. [via MobileSyrup]
• The five people enjoying their Motorola Flipside can finally be treated to Android 2.2. Yes, that’s Froyo. Go here to get the update manually. [via AndroidCentral]
• Some Motorola Droid X users complained about bugs after its bump up to Gingerbread, which should be resolved by installing version 4.5.602. It’s a simple maintenance fix that throws in a couple additional enhancements at the same time. [via AndroidCentral]
• HTC Droid Incredible is inching closer to getting upgraded to Android 2.3.4, according to the support page Verizon recently set up on its site. [via Droid-Life]
• In time for today’s launch, Samsung has released the source code for the Conquer 4G. Devs, head here to download it — you’ll know what to do after that. [via Android Police]
• For everyone who chooses to get the Conquer 4G, it’s supposedly set to receive a device security enhancement today as well, according to some leaked screenshots. [via SprintFeed]

Unofficial Android updates/custom ROMs/misc hackery

• This was fast — the same bug fix update for the Droid X that we mentioned above has already been rooted. Go to the via for the full details on how to get it. As always, diving into these types of processes are more advanced, and you should follow the instructions to the letter. [via Droid-Life]
• The MIUI custom ROM is starting to gain a lot of momentum in the Android community, and if you’re interested in checking it out on your device without going through the hassle of installing the full version (let alone rooting your phone or buying a MIUI-supported phone), an XDA developer has created a clone of the MIUI launcher and has made an APK available for your downloading pleasure. The via has a large screenshot gallery to check out. [via AddictiveTips]
• We’ve seen a lot of leaked Gingerbread ROMs surface for the HTC Thunderbolt, but this time an “official” update has made its ways to the Android dev world. It’s been told that this is not yet the final build, so it’s bound to get even better with time. Still, the impatient users may want to get this as soon as possible. [via RootzWiki and AndroidCentral]
• Another build of Gingerbread, EH06, has leaked for the Samsung Epic 4G. [via AndroidCentral]
• The HTC EVO 4G update to Android 2.3 can now be rooted, courtesy of Revolutionary. [via AndroidCentral]

Refresh Roundup: week of August 15, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Still waiting to get your affordable Android tablet on? You’ve got a little over a week to go, but here attempting to tide you over is a montage of the Andy Pad Pro. First made official in July (alongside a video of its lesser sibling), the Gingerbread tablet still rocks a 1.2GHz Cortex A8, a “powerful 3D GPU” and 1080p HDMI output. And at £179 (or about $290) the 7-inch capacitive slate won’t break the bank. Ready to see it and its more affordable brother shred through a bevy of Android games? You know the drill: hop on past the break, bud.

Continue reading Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video)

Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week on the Gadget Lab podcast, the crew talks about big news for Google, big news for Motorola and a tablet company attempting to reinvent itself with two new device offerings.

Product reviews editor Michael Calore and staff writer Mike Isaac kick off the show with the week’s biggest news; Google’s proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings. What are the implications for other hardware companies? Will the FTC allow the deal to go through? What will Android look now that Google has control of hardware, unlike before? It’s a huge development in the world of mobile, and the two Mikes attempt to cover some of the angles.

Next up on the show, staff writer Christina Bonnington drops by to talk about her experience with the new Android tablet from Fusion Garage, the Grid 10. It’s the the company’s hopeful follow up to its first huge failure of an Android slate, the Joo Joo tablet. Christina’s first take was generally positive, but Fusion Garage has a lot to prove after the Joo Joo.

You might note the conspicuous absence of any talk of HP’s bombshell news of discontinuing its TouchPad and smartphone products. Don’t worry, we didn’t miss it. We filmed the podcast the day before HP’s announcement, so we’ll likely get to webOS discussion. For follow-up coverage, check out staff writer Tim Carmody’s take on what the news means for HP in the future.

Like the show? You can also get the Gadget Lab video podcast via iTunes, or if you don’t want to be distracted by our unholy on-camera talent, check out the Gadget Lab audio podcast. Prefer RSS? You can subscribe to the Gadget Lab video or audio podcast feeds.

Or listen to the audio below:

Gadget Lab audio podcast #122

http://downloads.wired.com/podcasts/assets/gadgetlabaudio/GadgetLabAudio0122.mp3

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