The firmware leaked, and now support PDFs seem to indicate that the DROID Incredible will begin getting its Android 2.2 update – officially — starting tomorrow. There is a laundry-list of improvements listed, which include: Flash Player 10.1, 720p video recording, Wi-Fi 802.11n support, 3G mobile hotspot, and more. Hit the read link to jump over to Verizon’s site and grab the PDFs for yourself. Thanks to those who pointed this out in the comments.

Read

It looks like shipped-roms is at it once again. The site has just posted a full DROID Incredible Android 2.2 build Rom Upgrade Utility (RUU) exe file. The firmware has radio 2.15.00 07.28 and is ready and waiting for all of you with access to the a machine running Windows. If you’ve been anxiously waiting to get Froyo on your DROID Incredible, here is your unofficial chance. We’re going to flash this onto one of our DIs and report back with the findings. Let us know if you have any success!

UPDATE: We got the firmware all installed. Visually there aren’t many changes to the devices UI however… Flash 10.1 and 3G Mobile Hotspot capabilities are pre-loaded with this firmware build, Google’s Voice Actions were not pre-installed but are available in the Android Market, and the signal-meter issue (meaning the signal-meter only showing one bar when it has ample service) still seems to be there.

UPDATE 2: Put a quick video together… it’s after the break.

[Via Droid-Life, Android Central]

Read

Chinese website ifanr has been kind enough to snap several non-blurry candids of the 7-inch Samsung tablet known as the Galaxy Tab. The device is pictured running Android 2.2, although no build number was listed, and other specs reported by the website include: 1024 x 600 AMOLED display (they didn’t say “Super AMOLED,” but we’re assuming it will be), PowerVR SGX 540 graphics processor, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera, front-facing VGA camera, 3G (no bands listed), GPS, and Wi-Fi b/g/n. The device also appears to use some sort of 30-pin proprietary connector (similar to the Dell Streak and Apple iDevices). What do you think of the GalTab? More images after the break.

Read

A Chinese website by the name of 911sniper has released the alleged specs of several HTC handsets. The three handsets in question are the HTC Bee, Lexikon, and Spark. As reported… The Bee is an Android 2.2 device with a 3.2-inch screen, 5 megapixel camera (with flash), 528 MHz processor, and HTC’s Sense UI. The Lexikon is another Android 2.2 device with an 800 MHz processor, 3.8-inch WVGA display, QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera, and 512 MB of RAM. The Spark is a Windows Phone 7 device with GSM 2G and 3G radios, 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 2.7-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera and 512 MB of ROM. The device prognostications are not accompanied by any tangible evidence (images, videos, etc.), but do have several Excel-like spec sheets. As with all rumors, we’re a little skeptical. For example, the Spark WP7 device lists the buttons on the handset, and includes a “Send Key” and an “End/Power Key.” The Windows Phone 7 guidelines call for three buttons on the front of the phone (Back, Home, and Search), so unless HTC is trying something new — namely, putting the Power/End and Send buttons on the side of the phone — we’re not sure the report is one-hundred percent accurate. We’ve got 911sniper’s specification crib sheets for you after the bounce. Let us know what you think.

Read

At Google’s media event today, the search giant unveiled enhanced Voice Actions for their Android mobile operating system. Voice actions allow you to preform certain functions on your device just by using verbal commands. Voice Actions include:

• send text to [contact] [message]
• listen to [artist/song/album]
• call [business]
• call [contact]
• send email to [contact] [message]
• go to [website]
• note to self [note]
• navigate to [location/business name]
• directions to [location/business name]
• map of [location]

The implementation of the new feature looks really, really slick. We’ve got a video after the bounce of Google showing off just how powerful the new enhanced Voice Actions can be. If you have an Android phone running version 2.2 hit up the Android market and download Voice Search and the Google Search Widget. Let us know what you think of the new features!

Read

It appears that U.S. Cellular has become quite smitten with the “Androids” these days. Today, the company announced that the HTC Desire will be available to its customers in stores and online on August 27. The Desire will join four other Android-powered smartphones in the US Cellular line-up, including the Samsung Acclaim and the Samsung Galaxy S, which will arrive in October. “For us, it’s not just about delivering this array of cutting-edge phones that our customers want and deserve […] We love making our customer’s lives easier”, said Edward Perez, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Operations for US Cellular. This phone is being released with Android 2.1, while Froyo (Android 2.2) is already available on several competing devices. Cutting-edge?  We say maybe not, but we still think it’s a pretty solid device.

Read

If you’re one of those people who just couldn’t wait for the official build of Android 2.2 to drop on your HTC EVO 4G, and updated a little early with an unofficial patch, an HTC sanctioned OS update is ready to go! As promised, HTC has started to push out Android 2.2 (version 3.26.562.6) to EVO handsets that were updated with the unofficial 2.2 update (3.26.561.3) sometime in the last few weeks. The update is over-the-air, if you’re rocking a build that isn’t exactly “street legal,” head on over to System Updates on your device and ask your EVO to fetch you the new goodies.

Read

If you are an original DROID owner keep your eyes peeled for the much anticipated Android 2.2 update. Our inbox is filled with reports from users who have already been notified that the OTA update is waiting at the ready. If you are a future DROID 2 owner, you can head on over to verizonwireless.com and order yourself the new hotness starting today (as in right now). Go get em’! DROIIIID.

Read

Earlier today, a blog named 247windowsphone.com brought you video of a leaked HTC Windows Phone 7 handset, and now a blog (cleverly named) 247android.com has brought us a video of the HTC Desire HD. The Desire HD has a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display and a very familiar EVO-ish look about it. The blog lists other specs for the device as: an 8 megapixel camera (we can see a dual-LED flash), 1 GHz Qualcomm processor, 720p video recording, SRS surround sound, and Android 2.2. Hit the jump, have a look, and let us know what you think… is this HTC’s GSM equivalent of the EVO?

[Via Engadget]

Read

Yesterday afternoon, a Motorola employee named Matt dropped this little nugget in the company’s official forums:

Some Droid X users are experiencing an issue using Exchange 2003 email. Though the email is arriving on the Droid X, no notifications are appearing. A fix for this will be included in the upgrade to Android 2.2 scheduled for deployment by early September.

The post is the closest thing to an official date released by Motorola; up until now the software update has been coming “soon” or “this summer.” Anybody disappointed by the September timeline? Anyone seeing the Exchange 2003 issue Matt goes on to mention in the post?

Read

The Motorola DROID is scheduled to get a much anticipated update to the Android 2.2 operating system sometime this week. However, one of the features that Android 2.2 users enjoy, mobile hotspot creation, will not be available to original DROID loyalists. Speaking to Engadget, Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney said that the first DROID, “doesn’t have [the] hardware to support the mobile hotspot.” What do you think DROID owners? Do you think your DROID is missing some hardware, or do you think think Verizon wants you to buy some new hardware? Also, we’re curious… how many of you currently use a mobile hotspot/tethering on your cell phone?

Read

It is officially official. Sprint has announced that it will be “the first wireless carrier to bring Android 2.2 to customers [...] beginning Tuesday, Aug. 3.” Yesterday, leaked slides indicated that August 3rd was Sprint’s targeted go-live date, but a post on the company’s blog has made the date official. Go ahead EVO 4G owners, feel free to gloat in the comments. We’ve got the full post linked up for you.

Read

HTC has released a statement to let all those Europeans owning an unlocked HTC Desire know that they will start getting Android 2.2 this weekend. The update will have the latest version of HTC’s Sense UI, improved 720p video capture mode, iTunes integration, and its enhanced Caller ID. For American owners waiting for their cone of Froyo, this is just further proof that HTC has Android 2.2, complete with Sense, ready to rock… it’s only a matter of time now! We’ve got the full statement after the break.

The Android 2.2 (FroYo) update for HTC Desire will start rolling out across Europe this weekend. As well as including the complete set of Android 2.2 features, the update will contain a few special additions of our own through the latest iteration of HTC Sense. The update will provide 720p video capture, HTC’s App Share widget, as well as our enhanced HTC Caller ID, and improved multi-language keyboard. Also, through the update, HTC Sync will allow HTC Desire users to sync their music with iTunes.

HTC Desire users will be notified that the over-the-air update is available to download when their phone automatically checks for software updates. The update won’t delete any of the phone’s content. However, due to the size of the update, we would advise using a WiFi connection to download it wherever possible to avoid additional data charges.

This update will initially roll out to unlocked HTC Desire handsets. Operator specific versions of the update are undergoing testing and we expect to make them available in several weeks’ time.

Engadget is reporting that HTC EVO 4G owners may be getting Android Deuce Deuce as soon as this weekend. The blog received a whole heap of Sprint corporate slides that detail a launch plan; the plan includes an official announcement scheduled for tomorrow and code rollout beginning on August 1st. The slides also detail tons of improvements made to the phone’s software, some of which include: improved 720p video recording, Flash 10.1 support, 4-point orientation rotation, alpha-numeric pins for device unlock, and the ability to use the LED-flash as a flashlight. Who’s excited?

Read

We thought it might be a good time to try and take the collective smartphone OS pulse of the BGR community. The question we are posing to you today: What smartphone operating system update are you most looking forward to? Now, your answer can be the OS that your phone currently uses, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re an Android user, but the BlackBerry 6 buzz excites you, feel free to give RIM a nod. iPhone user intrigued by Froyo? Go ahead, give Android a vote… we won’t judge. Let us know which OS you think has the most buzz!

This post is part of Samsung’s Mobile Trends content series. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Samsung or its partners.