EVO 4G starts getting Android 2.2 update over the air


We’ve just gotten a deluge of tips that EVO 4Gs are starting to get blessed with the official update to Froyo — a few hours prior to the promised August 3 rollout — so if you’ve got one handy, you’re going to want to start checking it right this second. Seriously, now that it’s got a trick flashlight app included in ROM, what could you possibly be waiting for? On a related note, if you happened to apply that early update that HTC posted and pulled late last week, the company’s working on a fix so that you aren’t out of the over-the-air update loop and promises to “get back” in “the coming days.”

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

EVO 4G starts getting Android 2.2 update over the air originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon says original Droid ‘doesn’t have the hardware’ to support a mobile hotspot

This is the week that the original Droid will be getting the Android 2.2 update, but it looks like that update won’t be bringing two of the most oft-requested features: tethering and a mobile hotspot. Why’s that? While tethering seems to be simply due to a lack of an app that “isn’t part of this update,” the mobile hotspot issue is a bit more curious — Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney says that the Droid “doesn’t have [the] hardware to support a mobile hotspot.” No further explanation than that, but we have a sneaking suspicion that Motorola and Verizon aren’t passing over the feature because of a lack of hardware, but because of too much hardware — namely, the Droid 2 and Droid X.

Correction: It’s Verizon making this claim, not Motorola.

Verizon says original Droid ‘doesn’t have the hardware’ to support a mobile hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVO 4G’s Froyo firmware was available for download, manual install (update)

Like we said, you don’t have to wait until August 3rd to get your Android 2.2 Froyo update for the EVO 4G. You can grab the update file right now from HTC’s servers (via source link). All you gotta do then is move the file to the root directory of your SD card, boot the phone into recovery mode (hold the “up” button while the phone is turning on), and select apply update from the associated .zip file — you might also have to rename the file “update.zip” and expect a few other variations in the instructions, user depending. Too much thought process for Friday evening? Feel free to take a crack at it tomorrow, or simply wait for Sprint to give your phone the head’s up next week.

Update: HTC just shot us a message to clarify that this is not the final ROM version and that the company is strongly recommending not to install this. Additionally, a request has been put in to remove the file from the server, so if you still want to try at your own risk, better download now while it’s still available.

Update 2: … and now it’s gone. We’re sure crafty internet users can still find the file lingering elsewhere, but you won’t be getting it from HTC’s servers this weekend. You know the old saying, ye who snoozes, something something, tough luck.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

EVO 4G’s Froyo firmware was available for download, manual install (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid getting Android 2.2 next week (update)

We’ve just been dropped a brief note from Verizon that the original Droid will be getting the full Froyo treatment at some point next week. Considering the brevity of the announcement, it’s entirely possible that this was thrown together in response to Sprint’s EVO news — but who cares? The more Android 2.2, the better, right? No official word on other Droid variants — most of which are likely going to see Froyo updates soon — but we’ll be keeping our ears firmly planted to the ground.

Update: Want to know just how extensive your Droid makeover might be? Hit up the full Verizon PDF guide to Android 2.2 on Droid at our more coverage link. [Thanks, Sgenius]

Motorola Droid getting Android 2.2 next week (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Evo to Get Android 2.2 Upgrade Next Week

HTC’s Evo 4G phone will become the first device (after Google’s Nexus One) to get an upgrade to Android 2.2 Froyo, the latest version of the Android operating system.

Sprint will begin pushing out the upgrade to Evo users starting Tuesday, August 3. All Evo users will have Android 2.2 by the middle of the month, says the wireless carrier.

The upgrade will offer features such as voice dialing over Bluetooth, the ability to store apps on the external memory card and browser improvements including a faster JavaScript engine and Flash support.

Sprint launched the Evo in June with version 2.1 of the Android OS. The phone has become a best seller for Sprint and HTC.

Sprint’s move is also likely to put pressure on Motorola and Verizon to get the Droid upgraded to Android 2.2 as soon as possible. Earlier reports have suggested that the Droid’s 2.2 upgrade is expected in “late summer.”

For Evo users, the upgrade will be pushed over-the-air to the device and automatically installed. Those who can’t wait will have the option to manually download it. Customers can access the update through their phone under the Settings Menu > System Updates > HTC Software Update.

Sprint says the change to the firmware will not wipe personal data such as contacts, apps, settings and photos — but it’s always a good idea to back up your device before performing a firmware upgrade, just in case.

See Also:

Photo: (Mike Saechang/Flickr)


EVO 4G’s Froyo features detailed in pictures, car dock coming in September?

We’re not far from seeing this big update in the flesh, but in the meanwhile, EVO 4G owners (and fans) might be interested to take a closer look at the features they’ll be getting once it arrives. HTC appears to have put surprising effort into rendering a lifelike torch for its Flashlight app, while app sharing (seen after the break) is a neat addition — and don’t worry, devs, it only works on items that aren’t copy protected. We’re also being told that the update has car dock-specific functionality, which will match up with a dock release somewhere around the second week of September. Has everyone decided what dark things they plan on illuminating with their EVO’s LED once this thing goes live?

Continue reading EVO 4G’s Froyo features detailed in pictures, car dock coming in September?

EVO 4G’s Froyo features detailed in pictures, car dock coming in September? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin’ it real fake: TESO LPAD runs ‘MeGoo’ or ‘Andriod’ on Moorestown

Chinese company TESO has an unrequited love for all things Apple. Not that it cares, we’re sure it’s doing just fine on the grey market with its KIRFy Cupertino crafts. But maybe it’s time for this Shenzhen cloner to go mainstream with what’s purported to be a 9.7-inch tablet running “MeGoo” (a MeeGo typo, certainly) or “Andriod2.2” (that’d be Froyo) OSes on a 14-mm thick LPAD powered by Intel’s newest 1.9GHz Z600-series Moorestown processor. Of course, it’s a hell of a lot easier to list specs on paper than it is to ship highly spec’d product. And given TESO’s inability to correctly copy the names of its choosen operating systems onto a sheet of paper, what hope is there of it cloning the user experience of a class-leading tablet?

Keepin’ it real fake: TESO LPAD runs ‘MeGoo’ or ‘Andriod’ on Moorestown originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung confirms Galaxy S will get Froyo in September

Samsung confirms Galaxy S will get Froyo in September

Wondering when the Galaxy S will be getting its own cup full of Froyo, the 2.2 build that every Google handset is screaming for? Samsung promised that an update would be coming not long after release, and now courtesy of the company’s official UK Twitter feed we know it’s due in September. At least, Samsung is saying it’s coming in September. That company has shattered our little hearts before with its broken promises, and we’d sure hate to see it happen again.

Samsung confirms Galaxy S will get Froyo in September originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend

We’ve just heard directly from HTC regarding that hotly anticipated upgrade to Android 2.2: it’s happening this weekend for lucky Euroland owners of the Desire. Provided your Sense-laden 3.7-incher is not carrier-locked, you should be receiving your serving of Froyo by the end of the week, together with a new 720p video mode and iTunes sync for your music. HTC is also throwing in its App Share widget that it first introduced with the Wildfire, along with its smart Caller ID feature. Very nice, though it’s quite a shame that operator-specific versions of the update are still stuck in testing and are expected “in several weeks’ time.” Ah well, guess that’ll teach us to buy our gear unlocked.

Continue reading Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend

Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVO 4G’s Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!)

We’re not certain that this date is going to hold — things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment — but we’re at least hopeful to see some internal Sprint communication that they’re trying to get the EVO 4G updated to Froyo as soon as tomorrow, July 30. It’d be the perfect way to kick off the weekend, wouldn’t it? Turns out this is no mere 2.2 upgrade, though — they’re making a bunch of changes, too, including a host of new preloaded widgets, a flashlight mode for the camera’s LED flash, light-assisted 720p video, and “improvement” to the quality of said video capture (something we specifically complained about in our review). Unfortunately, it looks like the hotspot hack might be sealed off with this update, but that really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. As we said, we’re hopefully the date sticks, because Sprint has identified it as a “high priority for competitive reasons” — in other words, these guys must be feeling the Droid heat — but the PR is apparently going to identify the week of August 1 as the first push, so the devices getting the OTA tomorrow might just be a very small, select group to ensure that nothing spectacularly bad happens. We’re pulling for you, EVO owners.

Update: It’s been made official! Notifications will go out starting August 3, but Sprint’s doing something extremely cool by allowing eager users to opt-in early and grab the download at their choosing. Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading EVO 4G’s Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!)

EVO 4G’s Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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