Android and Me » android updates

Verizon announces software update for five Motorola devices

Nick Gray — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:33:07 +0000

Verizon and Motorola have announced software updates for the DROID Bionic, DROID XYBOARD 10.1 and 8.2, DROID RAZR and RAZR Maxx. The updates mainly deliver much needed bug fixes and battery improvements to the three phones, but the XYBOARD tablets are being equipped with global roaming capabilities.

In order to enable the GSM 3G connection, the XYBOARDs will need two separate updates. The first update will enable global roaming while the second update (which will be pushed out within two weeks of the first) will update the SIM card.

Verizon’s announcement claims that the software update for the DROID Bionic, DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX are being pushed out right now. If you have not already received an update notification on your phone, go to Settings > About Phone > System Update. Let us know how the update goes and if you notice any significant system stability and improved battery life.

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 10.1 & 8.2 software update highlights

Enhanced browser performance to improve scrolling.
Improved Touch Response that includes Stylus enhancements.
Maintain data connection when switching between Wi-Fi and the Verizon 3G and 4G LTE networks.
Successfully connect to 4G LTE network and see the 4G LTE indicator.
Device is now capable of Global Roaming.
Keyboard function supported in docking station.

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 10.1/8.2 update details

Motorola DROID RAZR/Maxx software update highlights

Improved data throughput performance in low-signal 4G environments
Improved Battery life when using Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) Bluetooth® headsets
Improved device stability when moving between home screen panels
When performing an Over the Air (OTA) update, the display will correctly show the remaining download time.
Favorite Contacts widget has been updated

Motorola DROID RAZR/Maxx update details

Motorola DROID Bionic software update highlights

Receive text message alerts while on voice calls without voice call interruption
Improved audio while streaming video to a TV using the HDMI connection.
Improvements in device stability to prevent black screen lockups, camera multi-shot lockups, idle resets, multimedia dock lockups
Data connectivity and stability improvements.
Improvements in battery life.

Motorola DROID Bionic update details

Show Press Release

Verizon Wireless will soon start pushing a software update for the DROID XYBOARD 10.1 and XYBOARD 8.2 tablets. The update will enhance browser performance, touch response and prepare the XYBOARD for global roaming. The global roaming feature will be added in a two step process. This software update will add the global support to the hardware and a second over the air update will be pushed soon after to update the SIM card and make the tablet Global Ready. The second software update will be pushed within two weeks of receiving the first update. Once the second update is completed, customers will be able to take their XYBOARD tablets overseas and use data in over 205 countries, and more than 150 of those with 3G speeds.

Customers who have signed up for e-mail alerts will receive an email notification after the second update alerting them that the tablet is Global Ready. Before traveling outside the United States, customer will need to power on the tablet and establish a data connection on the Verizon Wireless network for 15 minutes to ensure the update takes effect and also enroll in a Global Data Plan that fits their travel needs at www.verizonwireless.com/global.

Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/droidxyboard10.1support and www.verizonwireless.com/droidxyboard8.2support for more information about the update and download instructions.

Verizon Wireless has begun pushing a software update to the DROID BIONIC, DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola. The update enhances data connectivity, access to V CAST Apps and more. Customers can visitwww.verizonwireless.com/droidrazrsupport and www.verizonwireless.com/droidbionicsupport for more information about the update and download instructions. DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX Customers can download the update by going to Settings > About Phone > System Update on their DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX.

Samsung Galaxy S owners might be treated with a “value pack” instead of Android 4.0

Taylor Wimberly — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:30:24 +0000

Last week we learned that the Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab might not receive a software update to Android 4.0, but then the company decided to take a second look at the situation after customers cried out. Details are still scarce, but reports are coming from Korea that Samsung might choose to compromise and offer the estimated 20 million Galaxy S owners a “value pack” that would include new features from Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung’s value pack is said to include improvements to multitasking, faster browsing speeeds, new homescreen widgets, and upgrades to the camera software. Specific Android 4.0 features like Android Beam and Face Unlock are also said to be in the works.

The Galaxy S originally launched with Android 2.1 (Eclair) and Samsung provided two major updates to Android 2.2 (Froyo) and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Since the Nexus S already received an update to Android 4.0, it appears the Galaxy S has the hardware to run the latest version, but storage limitations would not allow the full TouchWiz experience that customers are accustomed to.

It’s unfortunate that Samsung might not upgrade these millions of devices to the latest version of Android, but at least they are still offering to support them with continued software updates. Hackers will still be able to flash custom Android 4.0 ROMs if they choose and the average customer will soon be eligible for an upgrade, as the original Galaxy S will be 2 years old next summer.

Let us know if you are still holding onto a Samsung Vibrant, Captivate, Epic 4G, or Fascinate. Are you satisfied with a possible “value pack” software upgrade?

Update: As pointed out by several readers, xda-developers has another translation of a Korean report that says the “value pack” might still be considered ICS-lite. We await official confirmation.

Sony Ericsson: Ice Cream Sandwich rollout will start in March/April 2012

Alberto Vildosola — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:44:04 +0000

You have to give it to Sony Ericsson, they really want you to know that they care about updating their Android phones. The company has been bombarding us with new information about its Ice Cream Sandwich rollout ever since Google dropped the source code a few weeks ago — from giving us a detailed description of how the updating process works to even releasing an alpha ROM based on Ice Cream Sandwich.

Today, the device manufacturer has dropped yet another piece of information related to Android 4.0. The company has narrowed down its update schedule from “in the future” to “between March and May”. More specifically, Sony Ericsson will split its ICS rollout into two groups, with the first group receiving the update around late March or early April. The devices included in the first group are:

Xperia Arc S
Xperia Neo V
Xperia Ray

Then between the end of April and beginning of May, the following devices will receive the update:

Xperia Arc
Xperia Play
Xperia Neo
Xperia Mini
Xperia Mini Pro
Xperia Active
Live with Walkman

Sony Ericsson has also said that not all devices of the same model will receive the update at the same time. Since the actual OTA update to the device is up to the carriers, and we all know how fast those are. The update will be available via 3G and WiFi — says Sony Ericsson — and also via a tethered option. Lastly, the company has promised to keep its users up to date on the progress they make by uploading videos of the new version as they work on it. So keep an eye out for those in the near future.

Even though March is still a few months away, all you Xperia owners out there are now lucky enough to know exactly when your ICS update will arrive. Which is more than we can say about most Android users out there.

HTC reveals first wave of devices to get Android 4.0 in early 2012

Taylor Wimberly — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:56:28 +0000

Curious if your device will be receiving an update to Android 4.0 anytime soon? HTC just announced through Facebook the “first wave” of phones that will see upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich in early 2012. Only eight models are listed right now, but HTC is continuing to assess their product portfolio, so more devices should be coming soon.

HTC phones that will receive Android 4.0 upgrades include:

HTC Vivid
HTC Sensation
HTC Sensation XL
HTC Sensation XE
HTC Rezound
HTC EVO 3D
HTC EVO Design 4G
HTC Amaze 4G

A quick review of the list shows these are all newer devices released in 2011 with either a Snapdragon S2 or Snapdragon S3 processor. Google already said that aging devices like the Nexus One with a Snapdragon S1 processor were “too old” to be upgraded, so don’t get your hopes up if you have the original HTC EVO 4G that features similar specs.

We don’t know exactly when these upgrades will be available from HTC, but Motorola set the bar at six weeks after Google releases the source code for Android 4.0. That should happen a couple weeks after the Galaxy Nexus hits stores in November, so look to February for the first upgrades to Android 4.0.

Did your HTC phone make the list?

Android 4.0 should work on “any 2.3 device,” but don’t hold your breath waiting on an update

Taylor Wimberly — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:04:28 +0000

I know what you’re thinking right about now. Android 4.0 looks pretty damn awesome, but when is that update going to hit my phone? I asked this question to Andy Rubin earlier this year at Google IO, and his response was pretty straight forward. He told us that most of the current generation of Android devices would be able to support Ice Cream Sandwich, but it’s always up to the carriers on which devices actually get updated.

At tonight’s Android 4.0 event, Tim Stevens of Engadget asked Google the same question and got a similar response. Google’s Gabe Cohen said that the Nexus S would definitely get Android 4.0 and that he thinks most devices currently on Android 2.3 Gingerbread or higher could eventually see an update. Gabe went on to say that Google is “currently in the process of releasing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S. Theoretically [it] should work for any 2.3 device.”

We don’t know when Google will release the actual source code for Android 4.0, but it should be shortly after the Galaxy Nexus hits store shelves in November. This likely means that we won’t see any official updates to Android 4.0 until 2012.

So right now there’s no way to tell which devices will receive Android 4.0 (outside of the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S), but I have a feeling the race is on among the carriers to see who can get their update out first.

If your phone already has Android 2.3 and it was a popular device, chances are good that you will eventually see an update. But if you’re still stuck with Android 2.2 (or an older version) or have a device that flopped and didn’t receive much support, then don’t get your hopes up.

Recent history has shown us that Sprint normally does the best with Android software updates and AT&T is the worst, but this is a clean slate and every carrier now has the opportunity to impress us again. Which carrier do you think will be the first to get out an Android 4.o update?

Could a “Droid loyalty program” provide peace of mind with guaranteed hardware and software updates?

Taylor Wimberly — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:57:16 +0000

If a wireless carrier offered guaranteed hardware and software updates for your Android device would you be more likely to sign a 2-year service contract? Verizon might be headed in that direction if we are to believe a tip from Kellen B. of Droid-Life who says a “Droid loyalty program” is in the works.

Earlier this year Google and most of the major handset makers and carriers announced an Android update alliance that would guarantee software updates for 18 months after a device was released. We haven’t heard anything since about the program, but it is believed that Google will reveal more details with the release of Ice Cream Sandwich.

If Verizon were to marry guaranteed software updates with a hardware upgrade program similar to Best Buy’s Buy Back program, they might lure in all the early adopters that love to have the latest hardware but worry about their device being outdated months after their purchase.

I’m a fan of the no-contract model and that’s why I’m still a T-Mobile customer, but the idea of always having the latest Android experience guaranteed combined with Verizon’s 4G LTE network might persuade me to sign my name on the dotted line.

What kind of “Android loyalty” program would you like to see your carrier offer?

Updates, or lack thereof, on the Android Update Alliance

Justin Shapcott — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:52:08 +0000

At this year’s Google I/O to much excitement in the crowd (and, no doubt, the thousands watching online), Google announced the Android Update Alliance. This partnership between Google, manufacturers and carriers set the noble goal of keeping Android devices updated in a timely manner for a duration of at least eighteen months.

Details were scarce at the time of the announcement, however. We were given a list of the companies involved in the partnership and little else about how the Alliance would go about its business. Unfortunately, in the past three months not much has changed on this front.

Things we still don’t know about the Android Update Alliance:

Is Google working with the manufacturers and carriers to get these updates out the door? Or is Google merely setting forth a guideline and expecting adherence?
Are devices released before this announcement that are still within this eighteen month update time frame intended to be a part of this agreement?
Are there any guidelines relating to how long it should take for devices to receive an update after a new version of Android is released?
Are minor version updates (which often include important security fixes) intended to be released as part of this agreement?
Who determines if a device is capable of receiving an upgrade?

We have seen a lot of devices getting updates lately, so we can reasonably assume that the Alliance is, in fact, doing what it has set out to do… for the most part. There are a number of devices released early this year that are still running outdated versions of Android. Some are even being released now with outdated versions. Perhaps the answers to the above questions can shine some light on the situation.

Report Card

Not content with merely estimating how the various carriers and manufacturers were doing with their updates, we set out to determine the actual update status of each phone available from the participants in the Alliance. We gathered details about each device and its current version (including some devices from carriers and manufacturers that are not part of the Alliance) for comparison. Some devices included in the Alliance are no longer being sold by carriers (but most are still within their 18 month time-frame). In order to visualize our findings, we’ve built a few charts to share with you.

The first gives an overview of the number of phones running 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 grouped according to their manufacturer:

And then we determined which phones from each manufacturer were getting updates:

We could see it’s kind of a mixed bag when it comes to updating devices that were already out at the time of the announcement. For instance, the oldest phone available for purchase (the HTC EVO 4G) has been able to jump from 2.1 to 2.3, and the HTC MyTouch 3G Slide, which is around the same age, has only taken one step up from 2.1 to 2.2 so far. Of those manufacturers participating in the Alliance, HTC has been the most successful in updating their preexisting devices. LG, Motorola and Samsung have some work to do here.

On the bright side, though, the majority of devices released after the announcement have been launched with some form of Gingerbread. At the front of the pack are HTC and Sony Ericsson; all their newest devices are on the latest and greatest. Motorola and Samsung have launched a few devices on older versions, but this may be due to them being lower-end. In other cases, the carrier didn’t request the latest version.

When looking on the carrier side, only Sprint in the US and Vodafone in Europe are currently carrying more up-to-date than out-of-date devices. AT&T has promised to update all their 2011 lineup, so expect their numbers to change soon. T-Mobile and Verizon aren’t really making the grade so far, but we’re still hoping they’ll turn that around.

Of course, a lot of these stats hinge on the answers to the above questions about the scope of the agreement. If the expectation is indeed that all devices within their eighteen month window will be updated, then it boils down to what the expected time frame to release updates is. It has been over three months since Google I/O and the announcement of the Android Update Alliance, and while we are seeing movement in the right direction, we’re not quite there yet.

What do you guys think about the lack of information on the Android Update Alliance? What do you think is a reasonable timeline for updating? If you want to see the massive list of versions for almost every Android phone, check out the epic listing below:

Updates: Gingerbread for Droid 2 ready to roll, Evo 4G maintenance update coming

Dustin Earley — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:00:46 +0000

Two big updates for two very popular devices are in the works right now, nearly ready to grace handsets across the country.

The first update waiting to be sent out is the much anticipated Gingerbread OTA for the Droid 2. Coming in at 106MB, software number 4.5.601 includes a lot more than your average jump to Android 2.3. Among the normal spiced cookie enhancements, you’ll find added security, a customizable dock, improved copy-paste functionality, a download manager app and more. There’s a ton of improvements and big fixes tucked into the update as well. For a full list of improvements and features, check out the images in the gallery below. You can expect to see the update hitting Droid 2 handsets some time in the near future. ^[1]

The next update, scheduled to hit devices in the next 1-2 weeks, is a maintenance patch for the HTC Evo 4G. Evo users shouldn’t expect to see any more big updates for their device, but a few more bug fixes like this may be in store. Software version 4.53.651.1 for the Evo will include:

Integrated voice recognition accuracy with voice search and voice-to-text
Image size issue with contact transfer over bluetooth resolved
Images cut off in Picasa issue fixed
Group contacts not in alphabetical order issue resolved
Out of memory, Unable to send SMS error fixed

It’s been noted that users trying to manually active the update may receive an error message stating that there is no update available. Sprint has informed Evo owners to be patient and check again later, or wait for the update to automatically hit your device. ^[2]

Should you receive either update a little early, be sure to share your experiences in the comments below.

References

DroidLife ↩
Sprint ↩

Regional carrier declares independence from slow manufacturer updates

Clark Wimberly — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:16:26 +0000

Alright, so we might be a few days late on this story, but considering today is the 4th of July, we’ll go ahead and call it perfect timing. Cincinnati Bell has released instructions on updating its Motorola Milestone XT720 to stock Froyo. Apparently tired of waiting for Motorola, the regional carrier has posted a guide for rooting your device and installing stock Android 2.2. The update isn’t officially sanctioned by Motorola, and doing so will void your manufacturer warranty. It sounds like C-Bell’s got your back, though, offering to exchange phones themselves:

This upgrade is certified by Cincinnati Bell and is not a Motorola OEM certified upgrade. All warranty exchanges will need to be completed through Cincinnati Bell and not through the manufacturer, Motorola. The device received in a warranty exchange will not have Android 2.2 upgrade and will require you to complete another software update. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not attempt.Cincinnati BellMilestone Froyo update guide

Along with Froyo’s performance boost, the Milestone is now also capable of enabling apps to SD and portable hotspots. The biggest draw, however, might be the complete removal of MOTOBLOAT. Shutting down a phone running a custom manufacturer add-on and booting up to a stock build is always a moment of pure joy.

While we know a huge portion of our audience roots and flashes phones daily, it’s still really cool to see such encouragement coming from a carrier. All of us probably know a user or two who bought a phone on contract and is now stuck with an old build of Android (and most of them seem to comment here, haha), but we’re curious to know what you think about this plan of action.

If a carrier gets left hanging with an outdated device should they encourage the average user to root/flash their phone? Do you hope other carriers take Cincinnati Bell’s lead here? Sound off in the comments!

Gingerbread source code released, let the race to Android 2.3 updates begin

Taylor Wimberly — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:39:56 +0000

Early this afternoon, Google began pushing the source code for Gingerbread to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This means all the code for Android 2.3 is now public and device manufacturers and carriers can begin to port it to their devices.

During the last round of Android 2.2 updates, Sprint and HTC were the first to deliver a software upgrade when they pushed it out to the EVO nearly six weeks after its release.

Sprint stated in an internal memo that Android updates were a “high priority for competitive reasons”, so we expect they might be the first carrier to release an update to Android 2.3. Verizon was also close behind with an update for the original Droid, so look for them to deliver as well.

An Android engineer has said that “Gingerbread migration should be less painful for device developers” so hopefully the first round of updates comes a little sooner. However, based on recent history we don’t expect to see any over-the-air updates till February at the earliest.

Every time we talk about software updates, we also have to mention Samsung. All of their Galaxy S phones are still on Android 2.1 and we have no idea when any updates are coming. A few test builds have leaked out, but it could still be a couple months till most of their phones are updated to Android 2.2.

Which carrier and handset maker do you think will deliver the first update to Android 2.3? If I was a betting man, I’d place my money on Sprint and HTC.

[Photograph by Candy Caldwell]