Samsung Epic 4G Gingerbread update is now rolling out
The words “Epic” and “Sprint” are typically involved in sentences that also include “delayed” and “update,” but if you’ve been holding out for Gingerbread on your Epic 4G, today’s the day. Sprint has just confirmed that Android 2.3 is rolling out to those handsets, bringing an upgrade of the Google OS, audible Sprint Airave notifications when answering a call, Bluetooth headset sound improvements and “fully visible date on device lock screen.” The software version should show as S:D700.0.5S.EI22, and it’ll be pushed out in stages throughout the next ten days. Let us know how the update’s going for you if you’re one of the lucky ones.
[Thanks, Charles]
Samsung Epic 4G Gingerbread update is now rolling out originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Epic 4G Touch review
If you haven’t heard about the Samsung Galaxy S II by now, you’re definitely tardy to the party. But as the proverbial saying goes, it’s better late than never, right? The Galaxy S, its predecessor with myriad chassis selections and carrier variants, is still selling like hotcakes all over the world, and the sequel is no lightweight (figuratively) either — selling three million units in 55 days only seems to be rivaled by a company based out of Cupertino — and for good reason. We gave the unlocked version high marks for its excellent performance, gorgeous display and top-of-the-line camera, so it was only natural that we’d spend the next four months wondering when we’d see the powerhouse make it Stateside.
Don’t get us wrong — we’ve seen our fair share of unlocked Galaxy S II devices proudly shown off in the US (most of them from our own editors, admittedly) because it’s already available at full retail (roughly $650-700) from multiple vendors. However, the Samsung Epic 4G Touch is the first to be offered at a subsidized cost in return for a two-year commitment, and it won’t be the last as AT&T and T-Mobile pull up the rear with their own styles of the same handset. So how does the landmark phone stand up to not only the test of time but several carrier-specific design changes? Are Sprint customers getting a “tainted” version of Sammy’s flagship Android device? These questions have been pondered for months, and we finally have the answers if you keep on reading.
Gallery: Samsung Epic 4G Touch gallery
Continue reading Samsung Epic 4G Touch review
Samsung Epic 4G Touch review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2011 edition
Shopping for a new smartphone is an exciting and arduous experience. It holds the promise of something better and the fear of a two-year commitment. For gadget enthusiasts, it also involves pouring over specs and reviews, and fretting over what’s coming out in the near-term. As we publish this buyer’s guide, we face potential upheavals in the mobile space. Samsung’s Galaxy S II lineup will arrive at three major US carriers, the next iPhone perpetually looms in the distance, and a new generation of Windows Phone handsets is close upon us. You might ask, “Why would anyone buy a smartphone today, when something better is coming tomorrow?” Friends, that’s the blessing and curse of the mobile world — there’s always something better coming. You can’t wait forever, though, and if you want to purchase a smartphone today, we’re here to make the process easier and help you make an informed decision.
While our choices are sometimes contentious, they’re backed with experience that you can rely upon. If you’re looking to make a quick decision without much effort, you can rest assured that our selections won’t steer you wrong. Still, we encourage you to educate yourself before you decide on a smartphone that best fits your needs. Our Primed series is an excellent place to start, where you can learn about dual-core processors and mobile displays. As always, you’re encouraged to share your own experience in the comments, and we hope you have fun listing your own favorites, too. Just remember that we have an $80 ceiling for our budget selections. Compared to our previous buyer’s guide, Samsung has begun to lose ground, and while Android maintains dominance, it’s found some unexpected competition. Curious to see how it played out? Read on, as we round up the best smartphones of the day.
Continue reading Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2011 edition
Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2011 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Epic 4G Touch available for pre-order on Wirefly, early adopters get a $50 price break
There’s nothing new whatsoever about high-demand phones becoming available for preorder, but it’s not every day that you get a discount for being the first kid on the block to get one. As if there’s any concern about pushing inventory of the Samsung Epic 4G Touch — Sprint’s variant of the Galaxy S II — Wirefly is making the phone even more enticing by slashing $50 off the cost, bringing it down to $150 when signing up for a two-year agreement. Doing the math a different way, lighter on the checkbook plus a Samsung Galaxy S II equals happiness. Head to the source link to check out the deal.
Samsung Epic 4G Touch available for pre-order on Wirefly, early adopters get a $50 price break originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Samsung Galaxy S II logs confirm NFC support for AT&T, none for Sprint
What’s the point of investing $100 million in a mobile payment system if you don’t have the goods to back it up? AT&T may be adopting this philosophy, beginning with the Galaxy S II. With the aid of eagle-eyed Android dev François Simond, we conducted an extended analysis of Ma Bell’s latest gem and discovered it’s rife with NFC. In addition to containing kernel drivers and a pre-installed APK, the system files also indicate the device is running in a mode named NDEF — short for NFC Data Exchange Format. We haven’t been able to determine if the handset will be capable of making payments, but the presence of Near-Field Communications in the Galaxy S II is definitely a good sign. T-Mobile is keeping a tight lid on its variant for the moment, preventing us from getting an in-depth look, but FCC filings confirm it will contain NFC as well.
As for the third handset announced last night, the Epic 4G Touch contains no mention of NFC. Upon further analysis, we uncovered something else potentially more disturbing: it’s using the same WiMAX module (cmc732) as the Samsung Nexus S 4G, a handset that was plagued with performance issues when it was originally released (those concerns were eventually resolved in a later update). In this case, it’s hard to tell if that means we’ll relive the painful experience once again, or if it will come with improved firmware to ensure it doesn’t take the same path as its 4G brother. We’re starting to unravel the mysteries, folks, and will continue to fill you in as we learn more. If you’re considering one of these three lovely models, will these discoveries sway your decision in a particular direction?
[Thanks, François Simond]
Samsung Galaxy S II logs confirm NFC support for AT&T, none for Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video)
If you’ve been wondering just when you’ll be able to get Europe’s hottest smartphone from last year, wonder no more: tonight the Samsung Galaxy S II was formally (and finally) announced for US release. Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T all will be receiving variants, with the first two getting a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the AT&T unit being stuck with the same 4.3-inch display as the earlier GS II. In fact, the AT&T model looks indistinguishable from the European version that we compared it against, while the other two look a bit different.
Sprint’s model, aka the Epic 4G Touch, has that larger 4.5-inch screen, plus a slightly more rounded profile than the AT&T model. The T-Mobile version, meanwhile, is the most rounded of the three, but otherwise we were hard-pressed to find any differences between ‘em, as you can see in the video below. All are powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processors, 16GB of storage, eight megapixel webcams on the back, batteries that are said to be at least 10 percent larger than the previous version, and “4G” wireless — either in the form of HSPA+ or WiMAX.
Only Sprint has announced formal pricing and availability, September 16th for $199, while the others will be available in the always ambiguous “soon.”
Update: We got curious about those battery sizes and popped the backs off the two phones that we could get our hands on. The AT&T model has the exact same battery size as the European Galaxy S II (6.11Wh), while the Sprint version is indeed about 10 percent larger (6.66Wh). We presume the T-Mob one is bigger too, but that’s locked up. In a box.
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II T-Mobile
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II AT&T
Continue reading Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video)
Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Epic 4G Touch training docs leaked, likely to have 4.5-inch display?
Like many other highly-anticipated product announcements, a few bits of information have leaked out mere hours prior to tonight’s reveal of the Samsung Galaxy S II. This time, we have a new piece of 411 about the Epic 4G Touch, Sprint’s weapon of choice. According to leaked training documents that surfaced today, it appears the device will match the Hercules in screen size, receiving a healthy bump up to a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. True or not, we don’t have much longer to wait before Sammy lets us in on all of the secrets these three Galaxy S II models have been keeping for so long.
Samsung Epic 4G Touch training docs leaked, likely to have 4.5-inch display? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Refresh Roundup: week of August 15, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. 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 from 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!
Official Android updates
- The HTC EVO 3D is now ready for a maintenance fix called 2.08.651.2, which offers some nice improvements like allowing more Sprint bloatware to be uninstallable by the user, contact transfer via bluetooth, fixes for the lock screen occasionally freezing, and GPS enhancements. This update is available through a manual install. [via SprintFeed]
- Speaking of the HTC EVO 3D, the bootloader unlock tool is now ready for your enjoyment on the company’s fancy new dev site.
- Android 2.3.4 is finally rolling out on T-Mobile’s HTC Sensation 4G, and all users should receive the OTA update by the end of September at the latest. Aside from the standard 2.3.4 enhancements, Sensation 4G owners can also expect better battery life, additional software stability, extra touchscreen responsiveness, and improved “device reboots.” Curiously, the refresh also promises better screen and photo resolution. All in all, this is the kind of firmware boost we love to see. (Thanks, Anonymous) [via TmoNews]
- If you’re using a Samsung Fascinate 3G on Telus, you’ll be interested to know that you may now have Gingerbread bestowed upon your device. It’ll involve a manual install using Samsung Kies, so go to the website to get all the instructions. [via MobileSyrup]
- The five people enjoying their Motorola Flipside can finally be treated to Android 2.2. Yes, that’s Froyo. Go here to get the update manually. [via AndroidCentral]
- Some Motorola Droid X users complained about bugs after its bump up to Gingerbread, which should be resolved by installing version 4.5.602. It’s a simple maintenance fix that throws in a couple additional enhancements at the same time. [via AndroidCentral]
- HTC Droid Incredible is inching closer to getting upgraded to Android 2.3.4, according to the support page Verizon recently set up on its site. [via Droid-Life]
- In time for today’s launch, Samsung has released the source code for the Conquer 4G. Devs, head here to download it — you’ll know what to do after that. [via Android Police]
- For everyone who chooses to get the Conquer 4G, it’s supposedly set to receive a device security enhancement today as well, according to some leaked screenshots. [via SprintFeed]
Unofficial Android updates/custom ROMs/misc hackery
- This was fast — the same bug fix update for the Droid X that we mentioned above has already been rooted. Go to the via for the full details on how to get it. As always, diving into these types of processes are more advanced, and you should follow the instructions to the letter. [via Droid-Life]
- The MIUI custom ROM is starting to gain a lot of momentum in the Android community, and if you’re interested in checking it out on your device without going through the hassle of installing the full version (let alone rooting your phone or buying a MIUI-supported phone), an XDA developer has created a clone of the MIUI launcher and has made an APK available for your downloading pleasure. The via has a large screenshot gallery to check out. [via AddictiveTips]
- We’ve seen a lot of leaked Gingerbread ROMs surface for the HTC Thunderbolt, but this time an “official” update has made its ways to the Android dev world. It’s been told that this is not yet the final build, so it’s bound to get even better with time. Still, the impatient users may want to get this as soon as possible. [via RootzWiki and AndroidCentral]
- Another build of Gingerbread, EH06, has leaked for the Samsung Epic 4G. [via AndroidCentral]
- The HTC EVO 4G update to Android 2.3 can now be rooted, courtesy of Revolutionary. [via AndroidCentral]
Refresh Roundup: week of August 15, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sprint’s 2011 Q3 roadmap leaks, gives a glimpse of our smartphone future?
Sprint finally released its much-anticipated Evo 3D into the wild today, but it turns out that’s not the only good news for fans of the Now Network. Courtesy of This is my next, we’ve got some tasty tidbits regarding Sprint’s forthcoming phone lineup for Q3 of this year. Apparently, we can expect to see the successor to Samsung’s Epic 4G, the Epic 2, sporting a 4-inch display, a single-core 1.2GHz Hummingbird processor, and an 8-megapixel shooter. There’s also an unnamed 4G device from Sammy in the works, which our gadget senses tell us may be Sprint’s version of the Galaxy S II, the Within. Not a fan of little green bots? Not to worry, because RIM is bringing its Bold Touch and Monaco handsets to the carrier, plus a push-to-talk BlackBerry, too. Well played, Mr. Hesse — with all these fancy new phones in the works, might this be the summer of Sprint?
Sprint’s 2011 Q3 roadmap leaks, gives a glimpse of our smartphone future? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Engadget Investigates: Samsung Nexus S 4G WiMAX performance issues
In Engadget Investigates, we explore major issues, working with tech manufacturers and service providers to improve your experience with the gadgets we’ve all come to depend on. If you’d like us to look into an issue, please send us a tip, including “Investigate” in the subject line.
Samsung’s highly-anticipated Nexus S 4G joined the WiMAX family this month, pairing Google’s popular Nexus handset with Sprint’s 4G network. But with the honeymoon over, customers have noticed that the Gingerbread device isn’t living up to Sprint’s former flagship mates, such as the Epic 4G, with last year’s model besting the new guy on both speed and network reception tests. Customers also noticed issues with battery life, though so far we’ve found it to be consistent with other WiMAX smartphones. We took both out for a stroll around New York City, and on a quick weekend getaway to Miami Beach, and we’re sorry to report that we’ve confirmed your fears about performance. Sprint and Google have confirmed that they’re looking into the performance issues, and we hope they can patch things up with some over-the-air update therapy, but in the meantime, jump past the break to see what we found.
Continue reading Engadget Investigates: Samsung Nexus S 4G WiMAX performance issues
Engadget Investigates: Samsung Nexus S 4G WiMAX performance issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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