HP TouchPad gets its first OTA update: webOS 3.0.2 brings performance enhancements, untold joy

It’s hitting the airwaves a few hours later than promised, but HP’s TouchPad finally has the long-awaited webOS update that early adopters have been clamoring for. Wondering what webOS 3.0.2 brings to the multi-touch table? Aside from performance and reliability enhancements, it also adds “improved functionality to several core webOS apps,” most of which are direct responses to user feedback. Indeed, “hundreds” of improvements are promised, including bolstered scrolling within the email app, the ability to set your wallpaper from photos in the Photos app, Just Type searching within Calendar and improved autocorrection of contractions. Yeah, seriously. A more detailed changelog awaits you after the break, and you can let us know if your bell has been rung down in comments below.

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HP TouchPad gets its first OTA update: webOS 3.0.2 brings performance enhancements, untold joy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Official HP Palm Blog, Palm (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update now rolling out, may brick (update: rollout pause)

Kyocera may have jumped the gun yesterday with word of the Echo’s Gingerbread destiny, but today those Android 2.3.4 goods have been made official. Rolling out to users in the next few weeks, the OTA update adds Google’s latest OS refinements to the dual-screened phone, as well as a new Downloads app, Swype 3.0 and power-saving Eco Mode. Impatient owners can always forego the wait for a carrier-pushed upgrade and pull it themselves, but a word of caution: commenters over on AndroidCentral’s forums are claiming this update bricks phones. We’ve reached out to Sprint for comment on the matter and while the company is aware of the issue, no official statement has been made. So, go ahead and start downloading, or not?

Update: We’ve confirmed with Sprint that there is indeed an issue, and that its product team is “troubleshooting the issue and [has] suspended the update until further notice.” Here’s hoping things get going soon, with the sailing being a bit smoother the second go ’round.

Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update now rolling out, may brick (update: rollout pause) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSprint, AndroidCentral forums  | Email this | Comments

Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update bringing WiFi calling, NFC support? (update: sadly not)

Um, okay? Hot on the heels of rumors that Kyocera’s Echo would see its first major Android update on August 1st, in flies an updated page over at the company’s own website detailing the impending changes. Unless someone at Kyocera’s pulling a fast one, it looks as if the imminent Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) update will bring a downright staggering list of new features, making an already unique handset capable of even rarer feats. Interest piqued? We’re told that the refresh will provide pinch-to-zoom support in the browser, gallery, Maps and Sprint Navigation, an improved downloads app and an upgrade to the Swype 3.0 virtual keypad, with Tap Correction and Horizontal Word Choice list.

But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg — the real kicker is the addition of “internet calling over WiFi” as well as “an NFC reader to interact with posters, advertisements, products, etc.” You heard right, WiFi calling and a previously unmentioned NFC chip — hopefully of the UMA variety, rather than just SIP. As of now, the only major US carrier to support WiFi calling is T-Mobile, and neither Sprint nor Kyocera have mentioned any secretive Near Field Communications module to us. The luckiest of the early adopters should see their over-the-air update swing through as soon as a half-hour, so be sure to let us know if this all proves true in comments below. Naturally, we’ll be watching for the update on our own set and updating accordingly.

Update: Bah, humbug! A Kyocera rep contacted Brief Mobile and explained that the feature page shown here went up prematurely, and that the WiFi calling and NFC support in particular weren’t supposed to be listed. Consider our hopes dashed, and our dreams crushed.

[Thanks, Brain_ReCall]

Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update bringing WiFi calling, NFC support? (update: sadly not) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceKyocera  | Email this | Comments

Gingerbread comes to T-Mobile G2x, users feel loved again

Dost our eyes deceive us, or are genuine, bona fide Gingerbread updates for the T-Mobile G2x taking to the airwaves? We’re inclined to believe the latter, since the T-Mobile support site announced that the OTA download is now underway. The rollout begins less than a day after the refresh became available as a manual install via the LG Updater Tool. As if this isn’t enough proof already, our inboxes have been flooded by G2x users who’ve personally witnessed Hades freeze over on their handset. Haven’t seen it show up on yours yet? Fret not, getting these updates out to everyone takes time. But if you were an eager beaver who managed to beef your phone up with Android 2.3.3 manually, go ahead and relax; grab a lemonade, dust off the ol’ hammock, and enjoy the rest of the summer afternoon free of (virtual) bugs.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gingerbread comes to T-Mobile G2x, users feel loved again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TmoNews  |  sourceT-Mobile  | Email this | Comments

Apple releases iOS 4.3.5, inches towards iOS 5

Less than ten days after iOS 4.3.4 parachuted in to fix that nasty PDF exploit, Apple’s gone and dropped another. So what’ll Cupertino’s latest fix today? Build 8L1 — or 8E600 on 4.2.10 if you’re rocking CDMA — apparently nixes a vulnerability with “certificate validation,” or you know, Apple’s just really fond of keeping all you hackers on your toes. Either way, time to fire up iTunes, unless of course, you’re already living in the future.

Update: Turns out you can still (tether) jailbreak with redSn0w. Peep the more coverage link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Apple releases iOS 4.3.5, inches towards iOS 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacRumors  |  sourceApple (4.3.5), (4.2.10)  | Email this | Comments

Charlie Miller finds MacBook battery security hole, plans to fill with Caulkgun

Those batteries have probably met a worse fate than the white MacBook line they came from. According to Forbes, Charlie Miller’s managed to render seven of them useless after gaining total access to their micro-controllers’ firmware via a security hole. Evidently, the Li-ion packs for the line of lappies — including Airs and Pros — are accessible with two passwords he dug up from an ’09 software update. Chuck mentions that someone could “use them to do something really bad,” including faulting charge-levels and thermal read-outs to possibly even making them explode. He also thinks hard-to-spot malware could be installed directly within the battery, repeatedly infecting a computer unless removed. Come August, he’ll reportedly be detailing the vulnerability at the Black Hat security conference along with a fix he’s dubbed Caulkgun, which only has the mild side-effect of locking-out updates by Apple. Worth being safe these days, though. Right? Full story in the links below.

Charlie Miller finds MacBook battery security hole, plans to fill with Caulkgun originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceForbes  | Email this | Comments

Dell Venue Pro firmware update silences WiFi woes (update: delayed)

We wouldn’t say it was delivered with lightning speed, but Dell’s firmware update for the Venue Pro is at least on schedule. The outfit’s Lionel Menchaca tweeted that the refresh, which brings a fix for a WiFi lockup issue (among others), “starts rolling out today for T-Mobile customers in the US + all other customers outside the US.” Unfortunately for AT&T customers sporting this pro phone, it looks like you’ll be left in the firmware lurch a bit longer — there’s been no mention of a similar update for Ma Bell.

Update: It looks like someone spoke too soon. Lionel Menchaca’s taken to Twitter yet again to update us on the state of this update, and it appears T-Mo Venue Pro users are going to have to wait until next week for the refresh — it is, however, already available to unlocked devices. Considering how long we’ve waited, what’s another week? Right?

Dell Venue Pro firmware update silences WiFi woes (update: delayed) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLionelatDell (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Dell Venue Pro firmware update silences WiFi woes

We wouldn’t say it was delivered with lightning speed, but Dell’s firmware update for the Venue Pro is at least on schedule. The outfit’s Lionel Menchaca tweeted that the refresh, which brings a fix for a WiFi lockup issue (among others), “starts rolling out today for T-Mobile customers in the US + all other customers outside the US.” Unfortunately for AT&T customers sporting this pro phone, it looks like you’ll be left in the firmware lurch a bit longer — there’s been no mention of a similar update for Ma Bell.

Dell Venue Pro firmware update silences WiFi woes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLionelatDell (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears

Hey there, high roller. If you splurged on Cowon‘s beautiful, profoundly expensive D3 Plenue, you’ve probably wondered when you’d get an upgrade from Android 2.1. Well, that day is today, as the company’s released an updated, Gingerbread-based firmware. The new code adds some miscellaneous new features – a sleep timer for the music app, some more music search options, and VoIP – and ought to improve system stability. It also promises better touch responsiveness, which we hope alleviates the sluggishness that made the little PMP so difficult to use. If similar frustration with your D3 rendered it an elegant paperweight, glide over to the source link to see if the update soothes your pain.

[Thanks, Stefan]

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Anythingbutipod  |  sourceCowon  | Email this | Comments

Intel to owners of failed SSD 320s: we’re ‘aware of the customer sightings’

We can imagine few things more horrible than booting up your new 600GB SSD and seeing a reported capacity of 8MB. That’s exactly the situation reported by users of Intel‘s SSD 320 series for over a month on the company’s support forums, as well as on Amazon reviews. One disappointed (to say the least) user describes that very scenario, and he’s not alone. According to several forum members, the problem seems firmware related and shouldn’t require a recall, while Intel says it’s “aware of the customer sightings.” Short on meaningful details, the statement promises an update is coming with more information — bite-sized consolation for the owners of byte-sized drives.

Intel to owners of failed SSD 320s: we’re ‘aware of the customer sightings’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Register  |  sourceIntel  | Email this | Comments