Hasta La Gadget!

Beating the man at his own game on Monday, a federal judge from the Eastern District of New York denied the US government’s application asking Verizon Wireless to hand over 113 days of customer location data. Washington has long debated whether or not the Constitution protects modern day communications that include a third party (like cell phone conversations supported by a carrier company), and non-conversational meta data (like cellular GPS location data). Some say that buying a cell phone and using a carrier’s services waives one’s privacy rights in that data, while others claim we have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such info under the Fourth Amendment. In making his decision, Judge Nicholas Garaufis held that “the fiction that the vast majority of the American population consents to warrantless government access to the records of a significant share of their movements by ‘choosing’ to carry a cell phone must be rejected.”

As communications tech continues to change, these questions will likely be revisited. That’s why Judge Garaufis went on to say that “in light of drastic developments in technology, the Fourth Amendment doctrine must evolve to preserve cell-phone user’s reasonable expectation of privacy in cumulative cell-site-location records.” Get the full opinion by clicking the source below.

New York judge denies government warrant for Verizon location data originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Ars Technica  |  Archive.org  | Email this | Comments

Watch out AT&T and Verizon, it looks like there’s an iPhone 5 hat-trick coming this fall. WSJ is reporting that the Apple smartphone will hit Sprint at the same time as those other two networks, bringing a well-needed boost to the carrier’s shares in afternoon trading. We’ve heard mixed reports about an expected release date, but Wall Street Journal sources “familiar with the matter” are claiming that the phone will ship in mid-October. One source also stated that Sprint will begin carrying the iPhone 4 at the same time — presumably with a price drop in tow. Adding Sprint’s 52 million subscribers to the mix could bring the iPhone within reach of customers currently locked into contracts, family plans or corporate agreements with Sprint, making the move a huge win for both companies.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone 5 coming to Sprint, other carriers in mid-October? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

You’ve probably already read about the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that affected the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, and now we’re hearing reports that the quake brought down some landline and cell phone service in New York, along with other cities on the East Coast. We’ve been unable to place calls in New York City using AT&T and Sprint smartphones, as well as office landlines. Are you experiencing issues as well? Let us know in the comments.

Update: Service seems to have been restored in New York City.

Update 2: Verizon Wireless has released the following statement on Twitter: “Seeing no reports of damage to our wireless network. There was some network congestion in the East after tremors. Continuing to monitor.”

Update 3: T-Mobile was feeling left out and sent us an email: “T-Mobile’s network is experiencing higher call volumes in all areas and counties affected by the earthquake. If customers are experiencing temporary difficultly placing calls due to network congestion, we advise them to use SMS or E-Mail until call volumes return to normal.”

East Coast earthquake brings down cell phone, landline service (update: restored) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Verizon Wireless (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Not content to rest on its milestone-achieving laurels, Verizon’s trek towards an America blanketed in 4G continues to plow ahead. Hot on the heels of the operator’s last expansion, comes another 15 markets that get to surf along at blazing wireless speeds. Launching on September 15th in the western areas of the US, Big Red plans to flip the LTE switch on in the likes of Reno, Nevada; Moorhead, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; Iowa City, Iowa; Canton, Lima and Mansfield Ohio; three counties in California and five additional markets in Illinois. At this pace, it looks like VZW might just hit that promised 185 million mark by year’s end. Be sure to hit the source below for the full pressers.

Verizon Wireless’ LTE expansion keeps on trucking, 15 new markets on September 15th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Verizon News Center  | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments