Android 2.3 update: When’s it coming to my phone?
Android 2.3 has been announced by Google, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be getting it on your current handset tomorrow. These things take time with manufacturers and operators having to decide whether they want to support the new version of the operating system.
Manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, and LG all having to wade through the new features released by Google and determine whether or not they want to bring those new features to older handsets, or just focus on bringing them to new handsets.
Even if they do say the big “Yes”, the operators then get to have their say, suggesting that if you’ve got an older Android smartphone you could be in for a wait. How long a wait is what we aim to answer here.
As we find out about Android 2.3 updates we will add those details below.
HTC Nexus One Android 2.3 update
Launched at the beginning of January 2010, Google has confirmed this will be getting the Android 2.3 update in the “next few weeks”, when it announced Android 2.3 on the 6 December.(15/12/10)
Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update
The official line is that Samsung is still mulling over whether or not to update the Samsung Galaxy S to Android 2.3.(15/12/10)
LG Optimus One Android 2.3 update
Although it initially said that it wouldn’t be bringing the new OS to current handsets, LG has since backtracked on that announcement (made on Facebook). Like Samsung, LG’s official line is that it is still evaluating whether or not to update the operating system from Android 2.2 to Android 2.3.(15/12/10)
HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD, and HTC Legend Android 2.3 updates
“We are excited about the OS update coming for Android”, a spokesperson for the manufacturer has told Pocket-lint. “And while HTC will definitely have some phones running this OS, we do not have a specific timeframe for new phones or updates at this time. Please stay tuned for more details”. (15/12/10)
Motorola Milestone 2 Android 2.3 update
The Motorola Defy is only just about to get updated from Android 2.1 to Android 2.2 so unlikely to get an update soon, while Motorola isn’t yet in a position to confirm whether the Milestone 2 will be getting an update from Android 2.2 to Android 2.3. (15/12/10)
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
The X8 has just received the Android 2.2 update, but there’s no official word from Sony Ericsson on its Xperia range of smartphones at this time (15/12/10)
Orange San Francisco Android 2.3 update
Orange’s official line is that it doesn’t currently know whether the phone, which currently sports Android 2.1, will be getting an update or not, with Orange telling Pocket-lint that it normally takes a couple of weeks to determine these things after the official announcement has been made from Google. (15/12/10)
HTC tablet release date set for 2011 CEO declares
Smartphone powerhouse HTC is to take on the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab next year as the company’s CEO hints towards a 2011 HTC tablet arrival.
In an interview with mobilebusinessbriefing.com HTC CEO Peter Chou tantalisingly declared: “[Customers] may want Windows or Android; or they may want big screen or small screen, they may want keyboard or tablet; HTC will let the consumer decide.”
Remaining tight-lipped about an expected arrival date or confirmed specifications for the expected HTC tablet, Chou instead turned focus to the company’s future in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) handsets that offer a faster mobile network connection than current 3G of GSM systems. US network providers Verizon and MetroPCS currently offer such 4G LTE networks although the service is restricted to major cities at present.
With much rumour and speculation surrounding a 4G compatible Apple iPhone 4, expected to hit the Verizon network early in the New Year, Chou was keen to add: We think that the US mobile operators will be taking the lead and pushing 4G LTE in the US market… We are working on LTE devices for next year.”
Meizu M9 christens site launch with full specs list
Meizu CEO Jack Wong has been teasing the M9 handset for some time now, and if we’re not mistaken, the official site just went live with a full list of specs to boot. As promised, there’s a 3.5-inch 960 x 640 resolution screen (reportedly the Sharp ASV display), and we’re also apparently looking at a 1GHz S5PC110 processor (just like the Samsung Galaxy S), Android 2.2, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, A-GPS, 802.11b/g/n, microSDHC, a removable 1370mAH lithium-polymer battery, and support for (drumroll, please) GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA,and HSUPA. Too good to be true? Word on the street is this very phone will be available December 25th in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, and will expand to the rest of China days later. We’ll believe it when we see it.
Windows Phone 7 said to be getting major 'Mango' update in August or September
We’d already heard that Windows Phone 7 is set to get an update of some sort early next year — possiblycoinciding with Mobile World Congress in February — but ZD Net’s Mary Jo Foley is now reporting that an even bigger update could be following in August or September. According to her sources, the update is codenamed “Mango,” and it will effectively amount to Windows Phone 7.5, which she says might even be the actual name when it’s released. That update will apparently bring Silverlight runtime and HTML5 support to the OS, along with Far Eastern language support, and some other unspecified features and functionality. It will also presumably be the most significant update until Windows Phone 8, which Foley says is codenamed “Apollo,” and is on track for a release in late 2012.
Asus Eee Note review
There’s no doubt that ebook readers have become a hit, especially the Amazon Kindle, but most of the ebook readers are fairly limited as to what you can use them for beyond what they’ve been designed to do. Enter the Asus Eee Note, not an ebook reader, not a tablet, not a PDA either for that matter, but something of a fusion of them all. The Eee Note has a fairly large 8-inch greyscale display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and on top of the screen sits a Wacom digitiser. A digitiser is a type of touchscreen, but unlike your average touchscreen, a digitiser is pressure sensitive and requires the use of a special stylus.
The advantage of this over a capacitive or resistive touchscreen is that it’s far more accurate. Asus claims an accuracy of 0.4mm when holding the pen vertically, although it’s not quite as accurate at an angle. This brings us to the primary function of the Eee Note: it is a digital notepad. This might sound dull and somewhat out of touch with modern technology, but it can actually be rather quite handy. There are no less than 42 templates available ranging from college ruled paper, to advanced options such as pie charts and various calendars. It’s also possible to insert pictures into the notes and these can be taken by the built-in 2-megapixel camera.
Microsoft to show off a slew of tablets at CES
Who knew that the collective noun for a group of tablets was a “slew”?
Not us, but that’s the word that The New York Times has gone with when it describes just how many slate devices Microsoft will be showing off at CES in January.
The report quotes a number of people “familiar with Microsoft’s plans” and indicates that Mr Excitable himself, Steve Ballmer, will take to the stage to demo Windows devices from the likes of Dell and Samsung.
There’s even a suggestion that the shiny headed CEO will give us a sneak peak of some devices running Windows 8. Oooooh (that right there is genuine intrigue people).
The new tablet-like devices are said to have the iPad in their sights, although with an extended reach.
“The company believes there is a huge market for business people who want to enjoy a slate for reading newspapers and magazines and then work on Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint while doing work”. said a NYT source.
The Samsung one is described as being “similar in size and shape to the Apple iPad, although it is not as thin. It also includes a unique and slick keyboard that slides out from below for easy typing”.
Now we’ve heard rumours about a slider QWERTY Samsung slate before, but it has so far been mentioned in the same breath as Android. Could it be that it will be making the jump to the good ship Windows?
The devices are said to run Windows 7 in landscape mode, but with a new “layered-interface” when you swivel the machine into portrait. Oooooh – again, genuine intrigue.
Windows tablets are often talked up and Ballmer even promised himself that we’d see some before Christmas. But, so far, the only big player to come to the market with one is HP with the business-aimed Slate 500, although we have also seen efforts from the likes of ViewSonic and Tega.
Could CES 2011 really be the big launch pad for mainstream Windows tablets?
We hope so, because with rumours of the iPad 2 heating up, and Honeycomb bringing Android into a more comfortable tablet space, next year could be an exciting one in the tablet market.
Google Voice app now supports iPad and iPod touch, brings Click2Call
So, how exactly does a voice app work on devices without any cellular ties? Glad you asked! Google has just updated the iOS Google Voice app to include support for the iPod touch and iPad, but neither of them can make cellular calls directly. Instead, you can use the app to initiate GVoice calls with a nearby phone. The process is known as Click2Call — users simply click any ‘Call’ button within the app and then choose which of their phones they want to ring. It’s probably more time consuming than just grabbing your phone from the start, but hey, there it is. In other news, the app now disables text forwarding when you enable Push Notifications (to avoid double alerts), and there’s a new Do Not Disturb option in the Settings tab for those who’d prefer to disconnect. Hit the iTunes link below to get your download on, and let us know how things shake out in comments.
Download and install the new Android Market on your rooted 2.2+ device
Been dying to try out the new Android Market, announced last week? If so, we’ve got a package here you might like. Available for download is the new Android Market version 2.2.6, and we’re going to tell you how to install it, as well as how to get rid of it if it causes you problems. As always, TalkAndroid cannot be held liable for any damage you may do to your device, as you will be messing with some base system files, but if you’re ready to don your geek hat, hit the break for a full set of instructions.
Requirements: You will need your device to be rooted, as well as running a ROM that is based on 2.2 or above. You will also need root access to the file system. We will be showing you how to do this with Root Explorer, which is a $2.50 app, but well worth the cost. I use it just about every day. Read more 
Google Latitude available now for iPhone
Google has gone all official with its Latitude app for the iPhone although the app did appear, albeit briefly, in the App Store last week.
It seems that we’re supposed to actually be seeing it now though, with a Google blog post being published to mark the release.
Google Latitude has been available to Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile users for a while now, but this is the first time that Apple-phone owners have been able to opt in to the location-based platform.
“Since launching last year, Latitude’s focus has always been on one goal: make it simple to stay in touch with friends and family by sharing where you are with each other,” said Chris Lambert, software engineer on the Google Latitude Team.
“Simple setup. Simple sharing without fumbling for your phone. Now, you can use Latitude on your iPhone just like the more than 9 million people actively using it.”
With Google Latitude on your iPhone you’ll be able to see where you Latitude opted-in buddies are, show off where you are and contact your pals from within the app.
The app supports multi-tasking too, so you’ll be able to leave it running in the background (even in standby mode) and your location will still be available for others to see.
HTC EVO Shift 4G (Knight / Speedy) gets leaked picture, January 9th release date?
We’ll warn you that we have nothing but the word of an alleged Sprint employee that this is the real deal, but we don’t know what else it could be — if it walks like a duck and quacks like an EVO with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, we’re inclined to believe it’s the HTC EVO Shift 4G. Factor in the noticeable lack of front-facing camera, silver trackpad and those throwback flat keys, and we’re even willing to forgive those hastily penciled watermarks on the keyboard and on top of the clearly ‘shopped screen. Even if this shot is legit, we haven’t seen the full device yet — it sure looks like this Knight is wearing a suit ofplastic armor around the edges.
In possibly related news, Android Central nabbed an alleged screenshot of a Sprint database showing an “HTC A7373” handset coming to Sprint on January 9th, and while one Russian e-tailer seems to think that codename refers to the GSM-friendly Desire Z, we have to imagine a Knight / Speedy / EVO Shift release is far more likely than a T-Mobile G2 redux on Sprint’s CDMA frequenci
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