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Apr

[Updated: Now With Changelog] Google Maps 5.3.1 Arrives Without A Changelog Or: How Google Maps Got More 1-Star Ratings In A Day Than Ever Before

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

When developers release updates to their apps without listing the changes, normally about half of the Market comments turn sour, especially considering Google added the changelog feature into the core of the Market a few months ago. When Google itself does it to one of the flagship products... let's just say things are not pretty.

Version 5.3.1 of Google Maps arrived a few hours ago without a single mention of any novelties or bug fixes. The result? Pages upon pages of 1-star reviews - in fact, there are so many of them that I gave up clicking after page 40.

So, kids, if you're thinking of releasing an update without telling the mob what's new, be prepared for the consequences, no matter how undeserved (especially if all these will end up being nothing more than bug fixes).

Apr

Google Makes Android More Attractive For Google Apps Users With New Remote Capabilities

Posted by Nate Kimmey in Applications, News

Just another step in Google's efforts to make Android more appealing to businesses - an update to the Google Apps Device Policy application has added three new features to make your Android device more secure:

Remote Location: Any Android 2.2+ device can be located remotely via GPS or by making it ring. The PIN or password can also be remotely reset.
Data Encryption: Android 3.0 introduced data encryption, and now Google Apps users have the ability to encrypt this data remotely as long as the App Device Policy is already installed on the device.
Google Apps Lookup: An entirely new app, Google Apps Lookup allows Apps users to find contact info for anybody in the Google Apps Global Address List.

Apr

PowerAMP Updated With App To SD, Dolby/SRS Support, Open API For Developers

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, Development, News

The popular Android music player PowerAMP received an update this morning with new features and numerous bug fixes. Take a look at the change log below:

New:
- PowerAMP now has open API for 3rd party developers. Please check PowerAMP site for reference, samples, and complete Widget Pack sources
- PowerAMP now can be moved to SD card. You can still use PowerAMP widgets if you install PowerAMP Standard Widget Pack
- added Dolby/SRS support for HTC Desire HD (and few other HTC phones with Dolby/SRS) (Equalizer => DHD button)
- added song number/total counter (Settings => Look And Feel Tweaks => Show Track Counter)
- auto-advance option for queue (Settings => Auto-Advance Settings)
- PowerAMP now re-shuffles lists on repeat
- playlist/queue reordering can be now toggled on/off via special icon in list headers
- PowerAMP now shows embed lyrics from tags in its Album Art area.

Apr

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide Finally Sees The Froyo (Android 2.2.1) Update, Sets HTC's Servers On Fire

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Froyo 2.2, HTC, myTouch Slide (Espresso), News, T-Mobile

MT3G Slide owners, you won't believe your eyes today. April Fool's has passed, and T-Mobile is not trolling you - the Froyo update is indeed available for the poor younger brother of the original myTouch 3G which already received Froyo almost 6 months ago. Don't let the name fool you, as there are, apparently, quite a few differences between the 2 devices - enough to tie up the release for such a long time.

The update is not over-the-air (OTA) - you will have to download it from HTC's servers, which are coincidentally on fire right now, barely pushing out the file at 6-7 KB/s.

Mar

Breaking: Download Leaked DROID 2 Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) Update

Posted by David Ruddock in Development, Droid 2, Gingerbread 2.3, Motorola, News, Tips & Tutorials

TeamBlackHat has publicly released a leaked official Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) software update build for the Motorola DROID 2. To install the update, you must have the DROID 2 Bootstrapper by Koush. Instructions and download links below:

Installing Firmware
1. Download this file from the TBH app or download below
2. Use Bootstrap to get your phone into recovery.
3. Create a backup (This is not compatible with new firmware)
4. Install the Firmware using recovery

In Recovery

1. select install zip from sdcard
2. choose zip from sdcard
3. navigate to teamblackhat folder
4. select the file you downloaded
5.

Mar

Breaking: Download Leaked DROID X Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) Update

Posted by David Ruddock in Development, Droid X (Shadow), Gingerbread 2.3, Motorola, News, Tips & Tutorials

TeamBlackHat has publicly released a leaked official Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) software update build for the Motorola DROID X. To install the update, you must have the DROID X Bootstrapper by Koush. Instructions and download links below:

Installing Firmware
1. Download this file from the TBH app or one of the mirrors below
2. Use Bootstrap to get your phone into recovery.
3. Create a backup (This is not compatible with new firmware)
4. Install the Firmware using recovery

In Recovery:

1. select install zip from sdcard
2. choose zip from sdcard
3. navigate to teamblackhat folder
4. select the file you downloaded

5.

Mar

HTC DROID Incredible May Be Getting Gingerbread (Android 2.3) In June

Posted by David Ruddock in Gingerbread 2.3, HTC, Incredible

Droid-life just dropped an exciting informational tidbit for Incredible owners to mull over: the device may be getting the Gingerbread bump some at the end of the second quarter. The upgrade to 2.3 will entail all of the optimizations made to the Android OS since Froyo's release almost a year ago, and hopefully will provide Incredible owners with the newest version of HTC's Sense UI.

The tip came via an email from an HTC rep in response to a customer's help ticket:

Dear Thomas,

I will be happy to assist with your software update inquiry. Indeed the Incredible is going to get 2.3 Gingerbread and we expect to be ready to release it with Verizon before the end of the second quarter of this year.

Mar

Official Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) ROM Leaked For Samsung Galaxy S I9000

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Galaxy S, Gingerbread 2.3, News, Samsung

You might want to take a seat for this one: an early Gingerbread build has leaked for the Samsung Galaxy S I9000, and is now available for download. The file first landed in the hands of one Tricky103, and shortly thereafter was downloaded from Samsung's internal database and uploaded to a public mirror courtesy of iammodo.

Installation instructions are ~~virtually non-existent in the post, so you should probably know your way around modding already before attempting this~~ (update) turns out installation instructions aren't there because it's super simple: just use the three button combo to flash the new ROM.

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

Sony Ericsson To Update Xperia X10 To Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) - But Not For Everybody

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Gingerbread 2.3, News, Sony Ericsson, Xperia X10 (es209ra)

They may have publicly stated that the Xperia X10 wouldn't be receiving further Android updates just a few months ago, but it looks like Sony Ericsson has had a change of heart: they now say the phone will receive an update to Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) sometime in late Q2 or early Q3. You can apparently thank the Xperia PLAY, arc, and neo, as the company says similarities in development of these devices has made it easier to bring the update to the X10.

Unfortunately, there's a catch - the update will only be available for "generic trade kits." In other words: