inspire - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Jun

CyanogenMod 7.1 Release Candidate 1 Available Now For Most Supported Devices

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Development, Gingerbread 2.3, Tips & Tutorials

This article deals with a couple of advanced topics. If you’re unfamiliar with some of the terms, hit up our primers here:

Rooting Explained + Top 5 Benefits Of Rooting
Top Android Apps Every Rooted User Should Know About: Part 1 (Apps 1-8),Part 2 (Apps 9-16), Part 3 (Apps 17-25)
Custom ROMs Explained And Why You Want Them
How To Flash A Custom ROM To Your Android Phone With ROM Manager + Full Backup & Restore
So You Want To Know About Bootloaders, Encryption, Signing, And Locking?

The latest version of Android's most popular custom ROM, CyanogenMod, is now available for most of the officially supported Android phones on the CyanogenMod device list.

Apr

HTC Inspire 4G OTA Update Is Live, Includes HSUPA

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), News

We've been talking an awful lot about the Motorola Atrix 4G's HSUPA update lately, but don't think that we've forgotten that the HTC Inspire 4G suffers from the same problem. I guess HTC hasn't forgotten either, because the OTA update that fixes this very issue is now live.

The update includes a couple of other fixes as well, mainly where email is concerned. After the update, email setup should be much easier, and Hotmail, Live, and MSN email should auto-configure.

You can can see if this update is available on your device in the Settings>About Phone menu. Once you've got it, run a couple of speed tests and let us know how it goes.

Mar

AT&T Confirms That The Atrix And The Inspire Will Receive HSUPA-Enabling Updates In April

Posted by Nate Kimmey in AT&T, Atrix 4G (Olympus), News

Motorola Atrix and HTC Inspire owners have had good reason to be upset with AT&T's "4G" network - due to the fact that HSUPA wasn't enabled on either of the two devices, users have been plagued with unbearably low upload speeds, and the announcement of an upcoming Atrix update that ignores the problem didn't seem like a good sign. Fortunately, AT&T has used its Facebook page to confirm that software updates enabling normal upload speeds are in the works and are expected to roll out some time in April.

AT&T also dropped some good news regarding the Samsung Infuse: the handset will launch with HSUPA already enabled, so nobody will have to wait for an update from Samsung there.

Mar

[Updated] Did AT&T Just (Sort Of) Address Capped Uploads On Atrix And Inspire?

Posted by Will Shanklin in AT&T, News, Rumors

Update: In response to a Better Business Bureau complaint against AT&T for capping upload speeds, the wireless carrier has acknowledged that HSUPA is not currently available and insists that customers "will continue to have a world class experience" (obviously dismissing the fact that some customers' experiences are far from world class).

AT&T points out that the speeds were not "capped," but are simply not HSUPA-capable. While this does accurately reflect that the carrier was not intentionally throttling data speeds, it seems to only distract from the fact that, on the customer's end, the result is the same.

They say they are currently in the process of testing HSUPA, which will enable high-speed uploads that many customers were led to believe they would have from the beginning.

Feb

HTC Desire HD, Desire Z, Incredible S Set To Join The Gingerbread Club, But...

Posted by David Ruddock in Desire HD (Ace), Desire Z (Vision), EVO Shift 4G (Speedy), G2 (Vision), Gingerbread 2.3, HTC, Incredible S (Vivo), Merge, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha)

SlashGear has confirmed with HTC today that the Desire HD, Desire Z, and Incredible S (along with the standard Desire) will be receiving the bump to Gingerbread some time in the second quarter of this year. But, there's a potential caveat: US phones might not be included.

It remains unknown if HTC was also referring to carrier-branded versions of the aforementioned devices in its statement, and if it was, if those devices would be receiving updates at the same time as their unlocked, HTC-branded siblings. Phones in this category include the HTC Thunderbolt and Inspire 4G (both based on the Desire HD), as well as T-Mobile's G2, the EVO Shift 4G, and possibly the HTC Merge (all based on the Desire Z).

Feb

[Review] HTC Inspire 4G: A Pretty Face Only Gets You So Far

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), Phone Reviews, Reviews, Videos

Last Updated: February 8th, 2012

About this time last week, I first started playing with our Inspire 4G review unit. And at first blush, I admittedly found myself enamored with this phone. Unfortunately, it was a love that started to splinter as the days went on, and the more I used it, the more I noticed just how unfinished some parts of this phone can feel. Overall, the Inspire is a good phone with the potential to be great, and I'll talk about what's holding it back (software, connectivity) further on in the review.

Don't let that statement deter you from considering purchasing it, though, because at $99 (or $60 on Amazon), the Inspire 4G is a steal of a deal if you're looking for a reasonably priced 4G smartphone.

Feb

[Video] HTC Inspire 4G Hands-On: First Look At AT&T's First 4G Phone

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, HTC, Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), Videos

Yesterday afternoon I unboxed an HTC Inspire 4G, the first Sense UI-equipped smartphone I've used. And let me say right now: I'm impressed. The interface has very little lag, is quite nice to look at, and very informative on the Inspire's large 4.3" LCD display. Anyway, I'll just direct you to my video hands-on:

Our full review of the Inspire 4G will be making its way to you next week, so be on the lookout.

Feb

HTC Inspire 4G To Start Inspiring February 13th On AT&T For $99

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), News

The first of AT&T's entourage of Androids for 2011 has had its release date and pricing set in stone. The Inspire 4G, essentially an AT&T version of the Thunderbolt, will be dropping on February 13th for 99 bucks on contract or upgrade pricing. And for a double-digit price, the Inspire 4G is packing some respectable specs.

4.3" SLCD display
1GHz single-core processor
HSPA+ connectivity (AT&T's first stab at "4G")
8MP Rear camera
768MB RAM
Android 2.2 w/ HTC Sense 2.0 (the "new" Sense)

What remains unknown is whether or not AT&T will charge a premium fee for access to its HSPA+ "4G." Given the fact that AT&T has made explicit its plans to eventually roll out true LTE 4G in Q4 2011, it might serve their publicity machine better to keep data plan rates as they are until that time.