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HTC begins testing Gingerbread update for Desire

HTC announced today that testing has already begun on the HTC Desire's Gingerbread update. The news comes less than two weeks after HTC promised a stripped-down version of Android 2.3 would indeed arrive.

Readers may recall the recent dust-up when HTC claimed that due to size constraints it would be unable to deliver both Gingerbread and the HTC Sense user interface. The company quickly reversed its statement after a consumer outcry. It's not known for certain how this update will look nor what had to be shelved in order to get it to fit properly.

According to … Read more

Rumor: Verizon unhappy with Moto Gingerbread updates

According to unconfirmed reports, Verizon is unhappy with recent Gingerbread updates coming out of the Motorola camp. A source close to Droid Life has advised that the carrier is rejecting all current Android 2.3 updates from the handset maker over a growing list of bugs stemming from the recent Droid X update.

Users are reporting problems with random rebooting, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, and a general loss of functionality. Indeed, a quick glance in the Motorola support forums confirms that these are not isolated incidents, and that many of them happened prior to the 2.3 update.

Perhaps it's not a coincidence then that a Gingerbread update for the Droid 2 Global that was expected a few weeks back has yet to come. What's more, a very small number of Droid Pro users were found to have received a Gingerbread update back in late May. Though this is generally a precursor to a large-scale rollout, virtually nothing has happened in the month since.

As of today, neither Verizon nor Motorola has made any statements on the matter. While I wouldn't look for Verizon to say anything public on the subject, Moto may take to its forums to address the problems. The company has a decent track record for acknowledging and forecasting software updates, even as it pertains to shortcomings. In the meantime, a new team of developers is said to be working on Android 2.3 for the Droid X and other Verizon devices. … Read more

Rumored Thunderbolt update to include Skype video calling

The HTC Thunderbolt may have a new software update on the way and, unlike the last time around, it should be packed with features.

AndroidAndMe is reporting that an Android 2.3.4 update is set to arrive June 30 with a number of notable additions, including Skype video functionality, Google Talk video chat, and the Amazon Appstore. What's more, the update will also include Verizon Phone Finder, Download Manager, and a newer version (2.1) of HTC's Sense UI.

Looking at the purported update sheet, I don't see much in the way of bug fixes or … Read more

HTC Desire to lose some apps for Gingerbread update

HTC Desire owners had a slight scare this week when HTC stated via its U.K. Facebook page that the popular smartphone would not get an Android 2.3 Gingerbread update.

Considering the Desire is barely a year old, the news came as a surprise to users, and, as one would imagine, the comments in the Facebook thread were not overly pleasant. Even U.K. wireless carrier Three was caught off guard by the statement and apologized to its subscribers.

HTC retracted the statement later and said the Desire will get a Gingerbread update, but it will need to "… Read more

Gingerbread update now available for HTC Evo Shift 4G

Sprint announced today that it will begin rolling out an over-the-air update on June 20 to deliver Android 2.3 Gingerbread to the HTC Evo Shift 4G. However, anxious owners can download the update now.

Instructions for manual download are posted on Sprint's Community site, but it basically requires that you go to the Settings menu on your phone, navigate to System updates, and then initiate the HTC software update. If you're fine to wait, you'll receive a notification on your phone when the over-the-air update is available and ready to download.

In addition to Gingerbread, the … Read more

HTC Evo 4G getting Gingerbread on June 6

We're loving the recent push of Android 2.3 Gingerbread updates, and the latest group to get a sweet taste of the Gingerbread will be HTC Evo 4G owners.

Sprint announced this morning that it will begin rolling out an over-the-air update on June 6 to deliver the latest software release. As usual, the update will come in batches and users will receive a notification on their smartphones to let them know when the update is ready for download.

However, if you simply can't wait, there will be a manual download option starting June 3, where you can … Read more

Motorola Atrix next in line for Gingerbread update?

It appears AT&T's Motorola Atrix 4G might be next in line to receive Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Tech site BriefMobile has scored an alleged copy of the update, which claims it's full of new features, including application grouping, downloads management, and a retooled user experience.

According to BriefMobile's information, the revamped user interface feels less like Motoblur and more like the Motorola Droid X's Gingerbread update. Another noteworthy feature is the ability to download apps from outside of the Android Market. As you may know already, AT&T recently changed its stance on this topic, beginning with the Infuse 4G.

BriefMobile anticipates a June or July release for the Atrix update and expects it to have a build number along the lines of 4.5.XX. The AT&T smartphone recently saw an update that enabled support for the HSUPA+ network, but it didn't play nice with select banking apps. For those affected, Motorola has since made a minor update available.

Since we're on the subject of Motorola software updates, readers should be reminded that Verizon's Droid X is now seeing its Gingerbread update. Many of the features here look to similar to those found in the 2.3 that's apparently headed to the Atrix 4G. … Read more

Android issues reportedly to delay Acer A100 tablet

Compatibility problems between Android 3.0 and Acer's 7-inch Iconia A100 tablet will reportedly delay the launch of the new tablet, according to a story in DigiTimes.

Originally set to start selling the new tablet by May or June, Acer is now rescheduling the launch to an August-September time frame.

Since Android 3.0 Honeycomb was designed specifically for larger-screen tablets, Acer has discovered a variety of apps in the new OS that are incompatible with 7-inch screens, claims DigiTimes, citing industry sources. On its end, Google is reportedly trying to fix other issues, also putting a crimp in … Read more

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to ship with Honeycomb 3.1

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet will come out of the box with the latest version of Android Honeycomb 3.1.

A Wi-Fi-only edition of Galaxy Tab 10.1 is due to hit the consumer market on June 8. The 16GB version is expected to cost $499, while the 32GB version will run $599.

As the first upgrade to Honeycomb, Android 3.1 offers several fixes and well as improvements to the browser, Gmail, and other features. Nvidia's outspoken CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, who has criticized earlier versions of Android--even pointing to certain shortcomings in Honeycomb 3.0--has … Read more

Droid X to see Gingerbread on May 27

Motorola and Verizon Wireless are expected to deploy Android 2.3 to the Droid X on Friday, May 27. The Gingerbread update is rather sizable at 112MB, but it comes with a host of new features and enhancements including a new download manager app, application grouping, and an updated user interface (see our Samsung Nexus S review for the full Gingerbread features). Additionally, it should be easier to enter numbers and symbols, copy and paste text, and manage contacts.

In addition to the typical stability and general performance tweaks, Verizon has also improved upon the calendar, camera, and e-mail functions. … Read more