Refresh Roundup: week of August 6th, 2012

Refresh Roundup week of August 6th, 2012

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!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of August 6th, 2012

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Refresh Roundup: week of August 6th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google posts Android 4.1 Jelly Bean images for Nexus devices, modders rejoice

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on Google Nexus S

If you're the sort to get a little too adventurous with CyanogenMod 10 or other custom ROMs, Google just gave you a crutch. Android 4.1.1 factory images are now available for every Nexus device that can currently get a taste of Jelly Bean: the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and the expected Nexus 7. While it's not a complete safety net, the gesture will let dedicated modders flash their phones and tablets knowing that they can almost always jump back to the pure OS if someone's definition of "alpha build" is a little too rough. CDMA users are unfortunately left out of the loop; let's just hope they're brought up to speed before too long.

[Thanks, Vince]

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Google posts Android 4.1 Jelly Bean images for Nexus devices, modders rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Security expert shows that Android and Nokia NFC can be hacked — under certain conditions

DNP Security expert shows that Android and Nokia NFC can be hacked  under certain conditions

A research consultant has revealed to Ars Technica that he can force NFC-equipped Android and Nokia phones to run malicious code in several ways -- but only with specific devices and constraints. The first violation used the near-field Google Beam function, but only affected certain NFC phones running ICS or Jelly Bean. This could allow an evildoer to send a malicious website to an unsuspecting victim to possibly compromise their data. The next exploit was limited to a Gingerbread-equipped Google Nexus S, since later Android releases patched the bugs necessary for the hack. It allowed a so-called tag to access the NFC functions in the OS, and with a little more legwork could offer up access to more malicious programs. The final invasion was made on the Meego-powered Nokia N9, which the expert controlled by Bluetooth, using NFC -- as long as the dupe overrode the defaults and enabled that function. If so, a hacker could dial out from the phone, send messages or upload and download files, depending on which security settings were enabled. Fortunately, exact hardware and software combinations aside, nefarious types would still have to be within an inch or two of your phone to enable their NFC box of tricks. Take a look at the source for the full interview.

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Security expert shows that Android and Nokia NFC can be hacked -- under certain conditions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jelly Bean now available to Nexus S via OTA download, we coat our phones in more sugar

Carriers begin feeding Jelly Bean to Nexus S, we coat our phones in more sugar

It's already possible to force Android 4.1 onto your Nexus S without much trouble, but for those of you that prefer life on easy street, then kick up those heels: many carriers have now made Jelly Bean available for OTA installation. The good news comes from Google itself, which has listed T-Mobile, Three, Rogers and Vodafone among the carriers. It doesn't stop there, however, as MobileSyrup also reports that Mobilicity and Wind users are also receiving a similar bit of Android 4.1 love. We've confirmed the rollout here in the US with T-Mobile, where the 114MB download is currently only available for download via WiFi. Seeing that it's Friday night, seems like a perfect opportunity to take Google Now for a spin, no?

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Jelly Bean now available to Nexus S via OTA download, we coat our phones in more sugar originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Central, Mobile Syrup  |  sourceNexus (Google+)  | Email this | Comments

Got a GSM Nexus S and some flash skills? Get your Jelly Bean today

Got a GSM Nexus S and some flash skills Get your Jelly Bean today

While many Nexus S owners are still hanging on for their bit of tooth-rot, folks in other places have already started receiving OTA Jelly Bean updates. If you can't wait, and if you own a GSM Nexus S (either I9020T or I9023), then you can find the full and official ROM file linked up at the XDA thread below. For the time being, if you have a Sprint Nexus 4G then you'll unfortunately just have to chew on something else.

[Thanks, Onel]

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Got a GSM Nexus S and some flash skills? Get your Jelly Bean today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus S on Vodafone Australia won’t get Jelly Bean today after all

Nexus S on Vodafone Australia won't be getting Jelly Bean today after all

Continuing this morning's Jelly Bean soap opera, we've just heard that Nexus S owners on Vodafone Australia won't be getting their pioneering update today -- despite the fact that only 24 hours have elapsed since the carrier said the roll-out was on its way. According to the carrier's official blog, the update has been delayed because Android 4.1 "does not meet all Australian regulatory requirements related to emergency calls." Ouch. On the other hand, that sounds eminently fixable.

[Thanks, Daniel]

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Nexus S on Vodafone Australia won't get Jelly Bean today after all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AusDroid  |  sourceVodafone Australia  | Email this | Comments

Vodafone Australia promises Nexus S Jelly Bean upgrade on July 19th

While Google hasn't said when it will be bringing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to devices other than the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, a blog post from Vodafone Australia has revealed a date for the update on the Nexus S. Vodafone's chart says Google's rollout taking its Nexus S from 4.0.4 to 4.1 is scheduled for 1PM AEST (11PM ET by our reckoning) on July 19th, at the same time updates are getting pushed for other devices (the original Galaxy S, for example, is getting the Value Pack update), even while its Galaxy Nexus JB update is still apparently under testing. That difference should be enough to tell you this doesn't necessarily mean anything is on the way in other territories, but Nexus S owners should probably stay on alert for updates all the same.

[Thanks, Onel]

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Vodafone Australia promises Nexus S Jelly Bean upgrade on July 19th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baidu custom ROM for Nexus S swaps Google’s apps for Baidu’s own, gets few fans in Mountain View

Baidu custom ROM for Nexus S swaps Google's apps for Baidu's own, gets few fans in Mountain View

The Nexus S was supposed to be the definition of Google's perfect phone circa late 2010, so we can't imagine that too many at the Googleplex are enthused with the potential impact of a new custom ROM from Baidu. China's search giant has replaced many of the stock Google apps in Android 4.0 with its own examples, ranging from media players through to navigation. Google will take some consolation from knowing that the firmware can't be pushed out over the air and has to be sideloaded over USB. All the same, with plans from Baidu to expand to other Android 4.0 devices, we can't help but think Google faces a minor Kindle Fire effect where it's cut out from its own ecosystem.

Baidu custom ROM for Nexus S swaps Google's apps for Baidu's own, gets few fans in Mountain View originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web Asia  |  sourceBaidu  | Email this | Comments

GameStop to offer Android tablet and smartphone trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade

GameStop to offer Android slab trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade

If you've been looking for a reason to replace your aging device with something a tad more contemporary, your local pawnshop GameStop is happy to oblige. According to Gadget Experts, the games retailer is looking to bolster its Android offerings with Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nexus S and Samsung Infuse 4G trade-ins at select GameStops this summer, expanding to all locations by the end of the year. Have a device that's not on this short list? Don't worry, Gadget Experts says the firm plans to fill out its touchable trade-in inventory with more devices in the future. So, what's a Galaxy Tab worth to gaming's favorite pawn star? We'll let you know when GameStop drops the official details.

GameStop to offer Android tablet and smartphone trade-ins, give you another excuse to upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Technobuffalo  |  sourceGadget Experts  | Email this | Comments

Samsung details Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades for American carriers

Samsung details Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades for American carriers

Samsung has published a list detailing which carrier variants of its phones and tablets will be blessed with Android Ice Cream Sandwich. While Sprint's Nexus S 4G is already enjoying the latest Android OS, the update will also arrive on the Now Network's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. From Verizon, both the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 will get the upgrade, accompanied by the WiFi variants of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the Galaxy Tab 8.9.

On AT&T, ICS is confirmed for its Galaxy S II, the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Galaxy Note, Captivate Glide, Nexus S and Galaxy Tab 8.9. T-Mobile customers, however, lack a similarly breathless list of upgradable hardware, instead Samsung says it will aim to upgrade "eligible devices" in the coming months and will "provide updates as we have additional details to share." Which all sounds like those updates aren't coming to Big Magenta any time soon. Samsung vows to update the list with more details as they arrive, which is available at the source below.

Samsung details Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades for American carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceSamsung  | Email this | Comments