Tag Archives: Android4.1.2

Refresh Roundup: week of June 24th, 2013

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Refresh Roundup week of June 24th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z review: the company’s best Android tablet yet

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z review: Sony releases its best Android tablet yet

It wasn't all that long ago that every month offered up yet another Android tablet for review. While Samsung is still producing plenty, the output of Google-powered slabs has generally slowed, replaced by a steady stream of Windows 8 / RT hardware often from the very same manufacturers that were once all about Android. Sony continues to be pretty discriminating with its launches, however: until now it's released only three Google-powered tablets. The first was the Tablet S, followed by the clamshell Tablet P and the Xperia Tablet S, which improved on the original with a thinner build and improved specifications.

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Then there's this, the Xperia Tablet Z. It arrives with a completely new design, although it should be familiar to anyone who's already seen Sony's Xperia Z smartphone. It features the same "OmniBalance" look, uniform thickness and straight edges. The display's resolution has been bumped up to 1,900 x 1,200, while the tablet runs Android 4.1.2 on a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro, with 2GB and 16GB of built-in storage -- all the while weighing in below 18 ounces (1.13 pounds). Like the Sony Xperia Z smartphone, there's also water and dust protection, which makes it a relatively unique property in the tablet market. But priced at $499 and up against the iPad and the pin-sharp Nexus 10, is there enough here to protect itself against the tablet competition? Join us after the break to find out.

Gallery: Sony Xperia Tablet Z review

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Sony Xperia SP review: lights, camera, performance

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Sony Xperia SP review lights, camera, performance

Sony's Xperia Z took the company into the big leagues this year: the company finally has a handset that turns heads and can compete with the established Galaxy and One brands. The Z and its plainer ZL variant weren't the only bullets in the Xperia revolver for 2013, though. Back in March, the company announced the Xperia SP and Xperia L handsets to fall in line behind its flagship. While the L is undoubtedly targeted at the low end of the Android spectrum, the Xperia SP sits in a strange middle ground, with a 720p display and internals that rival the flagships of 2012. It's not some kind of Xperia S and P fusion, either. The design is vastly different from the sum of its moniker, although the transparent element that defined those devices makes a comeback here.

And thus, with intrigue, we must put the Xperia through its paces the Engadget way. Is it just another Android handset put out so there's something with the Sony name available at a lower price point than the Z? Is there anything other than a transparent piece of plastic to set it apart from the plethora of other touchscreen rectangles that live in the shadow of their top-tier peers? Instead of pondering the answers to those questions yourself, save time by heading past the break for our full review.

Gallery: Sony Xperia SP review

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Verizon releases substantial Galaxy Note II update, improves Multi Window support

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Verizon preps substantial update for Galaxy Note II, improves multiwindow support

Alongside a bump up to Android 4.1.2, Verizon's Galaxy Note II update (which is apparently rolling out now) adds plenty of improvements and features. As well as fixing several bugs with its calendar and email apps, the refresh adds Multi Window support to some key players, including Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Kindle and Google Maps -- a feature that was there from the start on the global model. There's also a new notification panel editing menu within settings and Samsung's Smart Switch app to speed up migrating content from your old device to another, although whether you'd need that when you're updating your own Note II is a good question.

Another bullet-point caught our attention too. Tucked away at the end of the change log issued by Verizon is, would you believe it, the removal of one of its preloaded apps. Shopping app Zappos gets dropped during the update.

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Source: Verizon

AT&T’s Galaxy Note getting Jelly Bean via Kies on May 3rd

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DNP

After watching its international counterpart make the jump to Jelly Bean, Ma Bell's version of the original Galaxy Note is finally scheduled to receive its due. Starting on Thursday, Samsung's Kies servers will begin offering Android 4.1.2 to AT&T customers rocking the smartphone / tablet hybrid. While the update brings a host of new features, the main course is the introduction of Popup capabilities for notes, video and browsing. Surprisingly absent from AT&T's changelog is a mention of Google Now, which is typically embedded in devices running Jelly Bean. We'll reach out to the carrier for clarity on this missing item, but in the meantime classic Note owners, prepare to bid Ice Cream Sandwich adieu.

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Via: Android Police

Source: AT&T

LG Optimus G on AT&T starts seeing Android 4.1.2 updates (update: official)

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DNP AT&T's LG Optimus G Jelly Bean update

Last month, Sprint served up a dose of Jelly Bean for its variant of LG's Optimus G, and today it appears that AT&T is following suit. We've received a flurry of tips and screenshots like the one above denoting that Ma Bell is slowly starting to trickle out Android 4.1.2 to its Optimus G owners. Seeking confirmation, we've reached out to AT&T and will provide an update of our own once we receive official word on the matter. Until then, if you're rocking an Optimus G on Big Blue's network, now might be the time to manually check your device for new software.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: It's official -- the Jelly Bean rollout has begun on Big Blue's network. Along with the usual upgrades associated with the OS, AT&T's over-the-air patch enables Isis mobile payments for those who happen to live in Austin or Salt Lake City.

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Refresh Roundup: week of March 4th, 2013

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Refresh Roundup week of March 4th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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!

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LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 4.1.2

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LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 412

Today's been a good day for smartphone updates. In addition to the One X on AT&T and the Droid RAZR on Verizon both receiving bumps to Jelly Bean, Sprint is giving another reason to smile with an update to Android 4.1.2 for the Optimus G. Along with the usual set of improvements such as Google Now, Chrome replaces the default Android browser in this release, and users will also find improved voice search and a new camera app. Additionally, users of alternative launchers will be glad to know that system widgets can be now be installed without root access. All in all, it's high time that this top shelf smartphone made the leap into the world of Jelly Bean, so go ahead and grab the OTA update today.

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Via: Sprint (Twitter)

Source: Sprint

Galaxy Note II vulnerability lets attackers (briefly) access home screen apps (video)

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Galaxy Note II vulnerability lets attackers briefly access home screen apps video

A security flaw discovered by Terence Eden on the Galaxy Note II with Android 4.1.2 may make that device less secure than you think when it's locked by a code or other method. He discovered that the homescreen can be accessed, albeit it just for a split second, by pressing the "Emergency Call" icon, then the ICE button and finally pressing the physical home key for several seconds. While brief, it's still enough time to click on any of your homescreen apps, which normally wouldn't present a problem since access goes away when the home page disappears again. However, if one of your apps is a "direct dial" widget, for instance, a call can actually be placed by a hacker, and many other programs that perform an action at launch could also leave the device vulnerable. We've confirmed the flaw on our own handsets and the individual who discovered it says that after reporting it five days ago, Samsung has yet to respond. We've reached out to the Korean company ourselves and will let you know about any further developments.

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Via: @Whatleydude (Twitter)

Source: Terence Eden (blog)

Huawei Ascend P2 flaunts svelte profile in more leaked shots

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Huawei Ascend P2 flaunts svelte profile in more leaked shots

As MWC draws near, it's not surprising to see an increase in leaks, and today we bring you a few more pictures of Huawei's Ascend P2, which recently made a cameo in some unofficial product shots. The 4.7-inch full HD handset is expected to feature Android 4.1.2, a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor (developed in house), 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (plus microSD), a 13MP shooter and a 2200mAh battery. Slotting below the 5-inch Ascend D2 and 6.1-inch Ascend Mate we saw at CES, the Ascend P2 is rumored to be less than 6.45mm thick with Nexus 4-like on-screen buttons. Of course, since the FCC is unlikely to certify such a svelte device, it's likely we'll see a tweaked version of this phone if it ever makes it to the US -- then again, it looks thicker to us in the pictures. Pricing is supposedly targeting the 3,000 Yuan mark ($480), unsubsidized. Guess we'll find out more in Barcelona, right? Hit the break for a couple more images.

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Via: M.I.C. Gadget

Source: QQ Tech