Samsung Behold II fails to fulfill Android 2.0 promise, jilted users contemplating lawsuit (video)

When Samsung launched its Behold II with Android 1.5 on board, it made something of a big deal about the fact the handset will be upgradeable to version 2.0 when that software became available. Such a big deal that it even put the promise of an OTA update into a promo video — a video that subsequently got yanked as the company realized it wasn’t going to be able to stick to its word. Well, that evidence has now been tracked down (see it after the break), and all those buyers who were left with a Cupcake in lieu of a promised Eclair have hardly forgotten about it either. Samsung’s position varies between the boilerplate “we don’t have a future release date,” to a stone cold “the SGH-T939 will never qualify for the Android 2X update,” depending on which rep you speak to. The disappointed users have therefore resorted to putting a petition together, which asks that either a refund, replacement Android 2.x handset, or a real update be provided to them, and concludes that “legal action will be taken” if Samsung fails them. That’s not exactly unreasonable , given the unfulfilled expectation — Samsung, what say you?

[Thanks, Yitzhak]

Continue reading Samsung Behold II fails to fulfill Android 2.0 promise, jilted users contemplating lawsuit (video)

Samsung Behold II fails to fulfill Android 2.0 promise, jilted users contemplating lawsuit (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Dash software update adds USB playback by month’s end

Looks like Sony will be dishing out a new software update to Dash owners shortly. The first over-the-air update for Sony’s Personal Internet Viewer is expected to arrive at the end of the month carrying a number of usability and feature enhancements according to a Sony email sent to Dash owners. These include MP3 playback and picture viewing off USB, a full-screen app theme, and enhanced alarm functionality like adjustable snooze duration and one-touch alarm dismissal. Sony’s also promising new themes and additional internet radio options in a June update. Too bad Sony can’t deliver the device a battery and faster processor OTA but hey, free software is free. See the full contents of the Sony email after the break.

[Thanks Doug S.]

Continue reading Sony Dash software update adds USB playback by month’s end

Sony Dash software update adds USB playback by month’s end originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia updates N900 to version 1.2 in UK, closes door on MeeGo

You’ve overclocked it and hacked it to run OS X and Android, now you can return your N900 to its native Maemo 5 OS with the launch of a version 1.2 software update. The V10.2010.19-1 bump now available in the UK (global on Wednesday) packs several enhancements including face-to-face video calling, improved Ovi Maps, and a better email experience with bundled Facebook IM Chat and the ability to accept or decline event invitations from the inbox. You’ll also see a number of new games when the Ovi Store switches over on Thursday.

And after much speculation, Nokia’s also admitting that MeeGo will not be officially supported on the N900 once the Intel / Nokia OS is device ready. Nokia will continue to support the core Maemo OS, however, as demonstrated by today’s update. Regardless, we’re sure that the N900’s active fan-base will deliver a MeeGo update outside of official channels, especially since the N900 is already being used as a platform for ARM-based MeeGo development.

[Thanks, Pasu]

Nokia updates N900 to version 1.2 in UK, closes door on MeeGo originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 03:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC: ‘most phones’ launched in 2010 will get Android 2.2

Now that Froyo has gone official, HTC has hurried to reassure customers that most of its 2010 phone catalog will indeed be riding Android 2.2 before the year is through. Prodded on the subject by Pocket-lint, the company has replied that it’s starting out with the Desire and Incredible and working through other “hotly anticipated new phones,” which should sound a reassuring note for prospective Evo 4G owners. A full list will be provided as we get closer to release, but don’t wait with bated breath just yet, current indications are that the software upgrade will be coming in the second half of the year. By which time we’ll all probably have a taste for Gingerbread.

HTC: ‘most phones’ launched in 2010 will get Android 2.2 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint’s Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade

Assuming you resisted the temptation to either root your Hero or update it with the recently leaked 2.1 firmware, this is your very first chance to finally slap a dash of Android future on your senescent device. Sprint has at long last made the update available, though it isn’t quite yet ready to download from its site. Fear not, the good folks behind the yellow network have put together a guide on upgrading through your phone and we’ll link up the download as soon as it’s ready for consumption. Time to start enjoying that Google Maps Navigation magic and all the other goodies constituting Eclair‘s delectable filling.

Update: It’s now available direct from HTC’s website, as well as Sprint’s own site. Thanks, all!

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Sprint’s Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video)

Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3 (slowly), tells you how (video)

Sony’s disabling of Linux on the PS3 has made many people very angry, some more so than others, but for an enthusiast named madshaun1984 it was something of a call to arms. He didn’t file a lawsuit or whine about it in forums — oh no. He sat down to get XBMC working and has succeeded, albeit slowly. Right now the CellSDK that this build relies upon is not up to snuff performance-wise, so just scrolling through media is somewhat less than fun and you can forget about playing it. But, the hope is to improve that and to turn the PS3 into a proper media-streaming Linux box… so long as you don’t update the firmware, anyway. Full instructions on how to do this are at the source link, but be prepared to spend the better part of an afternoon at it if you want to try yourself. For those not ready for that kind of commitment (or anyone who already has the latest firmware) you can just enjoy the video proof after the break.

Continue reading Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video)

Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 May 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint’s HTC Hero leaks out

Okay, so the Moment’s Android 2.1 upgrade is official — great. But what about the Sense-powered Hero? There’s no firsthand word just yet other than the promise of a Q2 release, but there is a firsthand ROM (seemingly) floating around that gives us hope we’ll here something from Hesse and crew any day now. Oh, yeah, and there is the cool part about being able to just grab the binary now and get your upgrade on without waiting, if you’re as brave and impatient as we tend to be around here. Let us know how it goes, folks.

[Thanks, Divyam]

Android 2.1 upgrade for Sprint’s HTC Hero leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Moment gets Android 2.1 update from Sprint, Hero users promised to be next

Hey, hey — what do you know? If you’re a Samsung Moment owner on Sprint, you know exactly how glorious it feels to have and hold Android 2.1, which Sprint has confirmed to be rolling out to handsets as we speak. Notably, a tweet on the matter has the carrier promising that Hero owners will be “next” to see the same update, but sadly a time line wasn’t given. Enjoy and hang tight, respectively.

Samsung Moment gets Android 2.1 update from Sprint, Hero users promised to be next originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Moment update to Android 2.1 available at long last?

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Sure, it’s been leaked already — but is Moment-gate 2010 finally about to draw to a close? Quite possibly, because folks running the firmware update executable found on Sprint’s site are apparently ending up with a phone powered by Android 2.1 when all is said and done. Considering the fact that the Moment runs stock Android, the update feels long overdue — but Eclair updates are still pretty hard to come by no matter what kind of phone you’re using, so we’re just delighted to see it finally happen. Moment owners: can you do us a solid and check this out (assuming you’re brave enough) and let us know how it goes in comments?

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Samsung Moment update to Android 2.1 available at long last? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s HTC Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 any time now

We’d been hearing rumors lately that HTC’s Droid Eris — a phone that has never quite made it out from under the Droid’s shadow — is in the midst of being discontinued by Verizon, but the imminent launch of an Android 2.1 update might just buy it a new lease on life. In fact, the update makes this phone just about the first Hero variant anywhere in the world to be graced with an upgrade to Google’s latest and greatest stuff, beating Sprint’s version thanks to a string of delays that have pushed it out to some unidentified period in the second quarter. We’ve yet to see any reports of folks actually receiving the update notification on their devices, but Verizon’s official support Twitter account is tweeting about the upgrade — which should fix numerous bugs on top of the hotly-anticipated Eclair boost — so we’d expect it to start hitting the wild shortly. Keep us on top of your experiences in comments, won’t you?

[Thanks, Richard]

Update: Verizon has now posted the PDF changelog for your perusal while you wait. Thanks, Michael V.!

Verizon’s HTC Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 any time now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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