Android Advice & Tutorials
Welcome to Android Advice and Tutorials.
Subscribe to our RSS Feed Follow Android Advice on Twitter Follow Android Advice on Facebook Find Android Advice on Google Plus Find Android Advice on YouTube Find Android Advice on Pinterest

Xoom Family Edition Android 4.0.4 Update

The Motorola Xoom Family Edition is finally getting the update to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The update started rolling out in the U.S. a couple days ago and has now made its way through all of the devices we own. This update previously hit the European version of the Family Edition Xoom early last month.

If you haven’t already received the update to your Xoom then you can manually check for the update via “settings -> about tablet -> system updates”. You will get a popup there asking if you want to check and of course you will tap “Check Now”. Once it finds the update be patient as the update is around 130MB and can take a few minutes depending on your WiFi speed. Once completed you will then be asked if you want to install the update, go ahead but at this point you can walk away for a while because it will take a good fifteen minutes to complete.

If you want to see the process before updating or are having issues with the update and want to see what it should look like then watch the video below. The video does however speed through the long waits so expect a longer wait time for your installation to complete.

htc one x android 4.1 jelly bean update

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has started rolling out to the International version of the HTC One X. We have verified the update throughout Europe and Asia after originally starting in Taiwan. This update is only hitting the Tegra 3 powered devices, which of course is all international versions (non-US).

This new software update to the HTC One X will bring its Android version to 4.1 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 4+ (the latest version of Sense). Some of the new features include SMS forwarding, an updated gallery, and password protection for message inbox. Also with HTC Sense 4+ there is said to be a massive 10 percent increase in performance from Google’s Project Butter improvement. There will of course also be your other standard Jelly Bean features that all devices with the update can expect.

With this currently being an update for only the International versions of the popular HTC One X the US is left out for now. There is no date set to get the Android 4.1 update on the US version of the One X although we can assume with no big road blocks from carriers we will see the update in the US within a few weeks.

ASUS confirms Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Updates

Since Android is an open source operating system its difficult to get updates as soon as a new version is released. The latest version of Android is version 4.1 Jelly Bean and is currently only available on a few devices although ASUS is working on updates to their devices that can support it. ASUS officially made a statement on their Facebook page to let users know their intentions with the update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean:

“We are pleased to announce that we will be updating many of our tablet products to Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. The ASUS Transformer Pad, ASUS Transformer Pad Prime and ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity are all scheduled to receive an update to Jelly Bean in the coming months.”

Since the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update will require more processing power than its little brother Ice Cream Sandwich not all ASUS devices will get the update. ASUS has made it clear that they will be looking into the limitations on a per device basis and will update all of them they can with the new OS:

“We are still investigating Jelly Bean updates for other devices, but we are not in a position to confirm whether any other products will be eligible for an update at the moment.”

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has many enhancements over its last version as well as some great new features like Google Now which is Google’s version of the popular Siri on newer Apple devices. Almost all Android devices that have been announced this year will see this update although only HTC and ASUS have confirmed that the updates are on their way.

HTC Droid Incredible Android 4.1 Ice Cream Sandwich Update

If you still have an HTC Droid Incredible S then your wait is finally over, the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update is now rolling out. You should see the OTA (over the air) update on your Incredible S within the next few days. This update will bring your HTC Droid Incredible S to Android version 4.0.4 and Sense 3.6. Of course as always be sure that your battery is at 50% or better before updating and you will also need at least 250MB of free space on the device.

Currently the update is only available for the GSM version of the Droid Incredible S. While we should see it rolling out to all other devices shortly its in the process of Verizon adding their bloatware. If your in a hurry and don’t have a GSM Incredible S you will likely not have to wait long for the update to be ported for everyone else to use.

Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich Update

Those of you with a Droid RAZR or RAZR MAXX who have been patiently waiting for the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update will not have to wait much longer. The Android 4.0 update for the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX have already started rolling out to testers bringing the software version to 6.16.211 and the Android OS to version 4.0.4. Motorola promised the update to hit the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX by the end of June and with almost 2 weeks left they will likely hit their date.

Verizon has already sent out text message notifications to RAZR and RAZR MAXX owners to give them a heads up about the upcoming update. With both Verizon and Motorola letting everyone know about the update and testers already getting it average users are likely to see the update within a week assuming there are no major bugs during testing.

Google Nexus Android 4.1 TabletThere have been more than one source mention the announcement of an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to Android version 4.1 at the end of this month. Google I/O will be June 27th and this is when we are expected to hear more on the update.

What we do know about Google I/O is that this is when the Nexus Tablet is to be unveiled and possibly released as soon as early July. The Google Nexus tablet will be a 7 inch powerhouse said to hold NVIDIA’s KAI quad-core processor and price out at $200. With Kindle Fire sales down this may all but halt Amazon’s sales of the once popular 7 inch tablet.

As we get more information on the release of Android 4.1 and the Nexus tablet we will be sure to let you know.

Transformer TF101 ICS Update 9.2.1.24

ASUS has released an update to their ASUS Transformer TF101 today to add Face Unlock and a few other features. This update to the ASUS Transformer TF101 that has already been running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich brings its software to version 9.2.1.24 and adds functionality and improves system stability.

ASUS Transformer TF101 9.2.1.24 Update Features:

Verizon Xperia Play Android 2.3.4 Update

Verizon has released an update to their version of the Xperia Play bringing it to software version 4.02.E.0.57. Before you get too excited this is an Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update and not Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The update will bring some updated bloatware and camera improvements. See below for full feature list from the 4.02.E.0.57 update.

Verizon Xperia Play Android 2.3.4 Update Features:

It doesn’t look like Android 4 ICS is in the plans for Verizon to release to the device although you can hold your breath if you’d like. Let us know if you have received the update and what you think of it.

While we don’t have much information on the new Droid 3 update, we do know that soak testing is about to start due to MFN emails being sent to Droid 3 users. The Motorola Feedback Network has been sending out emails to Droid 3 users asking them to participate in the test and try out an early preview of the new software release to provide feedback.

We do know that the update is not Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich although are curious as to what Motorola has in store for the Droid 3. We also know that the Droid 3 will not get an official update to Ice Cream Sandwich since its not included in Verizon’s update list released just the other day. When we have information on what the update will include we will keep you informed.

Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Motorola Droid 3 on Verizon to participate in an early preview of a new software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Droid 3, please excuse and ignore this email.

Click this link to take a short enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners’ Forums to be included. The registration window is can close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible.

This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites.

Thanks — please understand that start times are always fluid. We ask for your patience if you register but don’t hear from us right away.

Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

DROID X 4.5.621.MB810.Verizon.en.US Update

The Droid X has started its soak testing phase meaning if all goes well the update will hit devices OTA (over the air) in about a week. This update is not Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich but does fix many of the bugs the device has had since its update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The update will bring the Droid X up to software version 4.5.621.MB810.Verizon.en.US.

Motorola Droid X Update Features:

Judging by the number of updates this device should feel new when you get it. Let us know how your Droid X runs after the update and we hope for all the Droid X users out there that it doesn’t bring more bugs than it fixes.

Viewsonic G-Tab Android Tablet

Only days after Verizon announced that the Gingerbread update would be available to the 7 inch Gtab it has began. If you own the 7 inch GTab and haven’t already received the OTA (over the air) update you can check manually. To manually check for the GTab Android 2.3 Gingerbread update press “Menu -> Settings -> About Tablet -> System Updates.

This update will bring your GTab to version 1800.E104. Keep in mind that even if you don’t see it yet manually checking that these updates tend to push out in phases and may take a day or so to get.

GTab Android 2.3 Gingerbread Update Features: