Hasta La Gadget!

Bad news for those that plan on using a flash card with their 3DS — if Nintendo detects that you’ve been dabbing with one, the company might send a firmware update that could possibly brick your system. According to GoNintendo, Japanese retailer Enterking posted a warning message on their site, suggesting that your system might be unbootable after a software update if Nintendo detects you’ve been using an R4. Enterking is not buying used 3DSs that have a history of using an illegal cartridge — a transparent indication that it’s not taking any chances here. We can’t know for sure if Nintendo will dish out said update or how Enterking might tell — however, Nintendo did issue this statement to Eurogamer in response to their story on the topic:

“We do not discuss product security details (for obvious reasons), nor can we discuss the details of countermeasures available in the Nintendo 3DS system. Nintendo 3DS has the most up-to-date technology. The security has been designed to protect both the creative works in the software and to protect the Nintendo 3DS hardware system itself.

Nintendo, like most companies, takes a palpable stance against piracy. We recommend that those fortunate enough to own a 3DS stay away from the flash cards altogether, just in case.

Update: Flash cards aren’t illegal to use per se — homebrew, anyone? — although certain countries have banned them from import and sale, and their widespread use for illegal activity makes them a dubious proposition quite often.

Nintendo can remotely brick your 3DS after flash card use? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Eurogamer  |  GoNintendo  | Email this | Comments

Man, talk about a flustercuck. After missing a cycle with its mobile phone strategy, the last thing Microsoft needed was a support fiasco related to its very first Windows Phone 7 software update. But after re-releasing a patched software update meant to solve the update issues seen by some Samsung owners, we’re now seeing reports of a new issue on Twitter and in a variety of support forums and blog comments. At the moment, there’s no clear fix to the dilemma characterized by a wonderfully descriptive “error code 800705B4.” Unfortunately, what solves the problem for some (reboots, removing apps, freeing up space on the handset) doesn’t work for others. Microsoft’s official Windows Phone 7 Support Twitter account has responded to one frustrated customer saying, “We are aware of the error code are are looking into it right now,” telling another to hold off on the update while MS investigates. Funny thing is, this minor WP7 update wasn’t meant to do anything except prepare phones for the first feature update scheduled for early March. Not funny ha ha.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Updated Windows Phone 7 update isn’t updating some Samsung phones for March update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Windows Phone Thoughts  |  Microsoft Answers  | Email this | Comments

We’re guessing that most of our readers pounced on the official Android 2.3.3 update just as soon as the links lit up last week. But if you did dawdle, don’t dally… the latest Gingerbread update is now rolling out over-the-air. Unfortunately, the update also broke Google Voice on our N1 — something that we fixed by downloading and installing an old GV.apk and then updating to the latest version in Market per instructions found in Google’s support forum left by others suffering from the same issue. Hit up the More Coverage link for details.

[Thanks, Tony]

Nexus One Android 2.3.3 update arrives OTA, breaks Google Voice for some originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

If you bought the new iPod nano to wear as a watch, well, more power to you. However, if you’re a music junkie and purchased the PMP to actually consume media, you might be interested to know that Apple isn’t only updating the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The company has just put out the first software update for the 6th generation nano, 1.1, which allows you to actually turn off the device — nope, before this update there was no way of actually powering the thing down. In addition, you can now pause or play your music with the sleep/wake button. Sadly, that’s about all this new software does. When will Apple make the nano cool for your wrist? The future looks bleak, friends.

Apple pushes software update for new iPod nano, still makes an iffy wristwatch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Yahoo!  |  Apple  | Email this | Comments

Your Nexus One is a second-class citizen no more: Today, Google’s rolling out Android 2.3.3 to both its premier smartphones. The latest build, still referred to as Gingerbread, brings even more NFC goodies than foretold, as the Nexus S will soon be able to write (not just read) rewritable NFC tags as well as act as a glorified NFC tag itself. (You can see both possibilities in the three screenshots above.) What’s more, Google tells us Android 2.3.3 will fix the random reboots that have plagued the Nexus S as of late, and offers other random bugfixes as well. You’ll find the whole kit and kaboodle streaming to your phones over the air during the next few weeks to come.

Update: We’re also hearing that integrated Facebook contacts will be treated differently in Android 2.3.3 — we’ve reached out to Google for more information.

Update 2: Here’s the deal with regards to Facebook.

Nexus S and Nexus One get Android Gingerbread 2.3.3, fixes random reboots and writes NFC tags originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments