Android Central international round-up - July 14, 2012

Google’s Nexus 7 tablet is almost upon us, and although most of us are still waiting for the much-anticipated device to arrive, we’ve had plenty to keep us occupied in the way of international Android news.

Just as Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is arriving, Samsung is going on something of an upgrade spree, bringing the previous version, Ice Cream Sandwich, to a slew of older Gingerbread phone and Honeycomb tablets. Among the devices getting updated this week were the Wifi and 3G Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, as well as various flavors of Galaxy Note and Galaxy S II.

And Samsung’s launch of the 2GB, quad-core, LTE-connected Galaxy S III in its home territory of South Korea was reportedly met with record day-one sales of 50,000 units across the three main Korean carriers. That’s apparently more than double the Galaxy S II’s first-day sales, and five times the initial sales of the original Galaxy S.

British carrier O2 saw a mass outage affecting up to a third of its customer base on Wednesday and Thursday. The problem, caused by a glitch in the software which registers customers’ handsets on to the network, lasted for around 24 hours, during which time affected O2 users were unable to access the carrier’s voice or data services. The bug was dealt with by lunchtime BST on Thursday, and everyone affected by it should now be able to use their phones again.

Check out a selection of the biggest international Android stories from the past seven days below. If you’ve got news, be sure to tip us at the usual address.

Special features:

• Why we don't need another version of Android this year
• The best Android phone you can buy, as of July 2012
• Acer Iconia Tab A700 review

News:

• Android 4.0.4 lands for Canadian Galaxy S III's
• BBC launches official Olympic Games app
• Google Maps launches walking directions for 44 African countries
• Advanced gaming smartphone coming from ZTE next week
• O2 confirms UK-wide network problems
• O2 UK network restores after 24 hours downtime for some customers
• Android 4.0.4 arrives for international Galaxy Note, has a few tricks up its sleeves
• Record first-day sales for Korean Galaxy S III
• Huawei Ascend D1 goes on sale in China, Russia next month
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus ICS updates begin
• Sony launches Xperia Unleashed campaign, win stuff by finding tiny bots
• Android 4.0.4 lands on Galaxy S II in some territories
• British High Court rules in favor of Samsung in Apple trade dress case
• Canadian retailers taking Nexus 7 pre-orders

AT&T switches up international roaming plans

You pay for convenience, they say, and there's nothing more convenient in the smartphone world than being able to step off a plane in a foreign country and your phone just works. No swapping SIM cards, no mucking about with APN settings. Today, AT&T announced a new set of international roaming plans that go into effect on June 1. They are as follows:

• 120 MB of data for $30 a month
• 300 MB of data for $60 a month
• 800 MB of data for $120 a month

And if you go over your allotment, it'll cost you another $30 for another 120 MB of data. 

By comparison, AT&T currently (for the next 24 hours anyway) has a 125 MB plan for $49.99, a 275 MB plan for $99, and an 800 MB plan for $199. The 50 MB, $24.99 plan is about to be dropped, but that's not really something you should have been considering anyway, given how data-hungry phones are these days.

Source: AT&T

International HTC a x gets minor bugs corrections in new OTA

According to reports of the forum, the unlocked, international x a HTC (which ' s the a swing Tegra 3 instead of Snapdragon S4) received another live small update this morning, bringing the device up to version 1.29.401.11. This ' smaller than some OTAs X a s back, according to the first reports and only 14 MB fixed issues with flickering screen and USB storage, terrible Wifi disconnect bug is apparently.

If you ' re running a x a unlocked, be sure to enter the last update (settings > phone > software updates) and let us know in the comments if you ' re noting major differences.

More: Android Central forums

Android 4 quietly rolling out to international Galaxy Note

The international Galaxy S II has already received the update to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, leaving the sized-up Galaxy Note behind on Android 2.3. Today, several European users are reporting that their devices have received an OTA update notification that brings their phone-tablet hybrid into 2012 with the Android 4.0 update.

Of course, this is a Samsung device, and Samsung has revamped their Touchwiz UI overlay for the Note, which looks a lot more like its Gingerbread variant. Other features in the upgrade include a new and improved S Note application, a new S Memo widget, and the Premium Suite Shape Match and My Story applications. Of course, you’ll get the performance improvements that come with ICS as well.

Owners of the AT&T-branded Galaxy Note will have to wait for the update to pass through carrier testing, which tends to add 1-3 months to the process. Hopefully that process has already begun, and AT&T Note owners will be getting their own taste of Ice Cream Sandwich very soon. We’re leaning towards the update coming sooner than later, as an AT&T-branded Galaxy Note was spotted at CTIA this week.

Any non-US readers out there getting the Android 4 update on your Galaxy Note?

Android Central international round-up - May 12, 2012

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

While this past week or so has dominated by CTIA in the U.S, the international focus remained on Samsung's latest bag of tricks, the Galaxy S III. European networks announced pricing and release plans, as we cross off the days until the May 29 launch. We've also seen the first Galaxy S III variant emerge, in the form of a new mid-range device for Korea Telecom.

But it hasn't been all Galaxy S III -- LG announced the Optimus LTE 2, and released the Optimus L7 in the UK. And we also got a release date for the European RAZR MAXX. Meanwhile, Sony announced two sleek new Android 4.0 phones for the Japanese market -- the Xperia GX (Hayabusa) and Xperia SX (Mint). We're eager to see these arrive on international shores, but right now Sony's made no announcements to this effect.

And Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates continue to roll out. This week the international version of the Samsung Galaxy Note got its bump up to ICS, bringing performance improvements, some visual tweaks and new S Memo functionality to Sammy's 5.3-incher.

There was also good news for anyone on a European network who likes to travel within Europe -- the EU has voted to impose a price cap on calls and data roaming prices, meaning more reasonable roaming bills if you're travelling within Europe this summer.

Check the list below for a quick run-down of the main international Android developments in the past week or so. If you've got international news, be sure to tip us at the usual address.

Special Features

• Hype, expectation and the Samsung Galaxy S III

News

• LG announces the Optimus LTE 2, with 2GB of RAM
• Motorola RAZR MAXX coming to the UK on May 18
• Rogers preparing for launch of the Galaxy S III
• UK-based TVCatchup for Android released in beta
• Sony announces the Xperia GX and SX for Japan
• Sony Xperia GX and SX reportedly arriving in July and August
• Samsung's SVH-E170K is a mid-range Galaxy S III variant for Korea Telecom
• EU votes to impose mobile roaming price cap
• O2 UK reveals new European roaming plans
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 lands at Carphone Warehouse in the UK
• Virgin Media UK to stock the Galaxy S III 'this summer'
• Sony 'Tapioca' ICS budget handset leaks once again
• Samsung Galaxy S III available to pre-order at UK networks
• International Samsung Galaxy Note gets ICS update
• Ad banner suggests Rogers Galaxy S II could offer Exynos chip and LTE
• New TELUS site keeps customers in the loop about software updates
• Virgin Mobile Australia tipped to receive Galaxy S III
• Blurry-cam pics claim to show Sony 'Hayabusa' phone
• Samsung Galaxy S III coming to Canada with LTE
• Every major UK network will carry the Samsung Galaxy S III
• Optimus 2X ICS update delayed until Q3, says LG Singapore

International Samsung Galaxy Note gets Ice Cream Sandwich

If you've got an the international HSPA+ version of the Samsung Galaxy Note (GT-N7000), then your months of waiting for Android 4.0 are finally over. The "Premium Suite" for the device, which includes ICS along with a range of other  enhancements, is now pushing out to unlocked German Notes. The update to version XXLPY weighs in at over 300MB, and is currently available through Kies, as well as over-the-air via an automatic update.

As we discovered during our brief hands-on session with the North American ICS update, the Note remains fully TouchWiz'd, even on the latest version of Android. So if you're familiar with the look and feel of the Note's Gingerbread-based firmware, then you'll probably notice only a few minor visual changes. Of course, ICS brings improved performance all-round, which should help Note owners get more out of the device's beefy hardware. And the addition of the Roboto font gives the Note an added touch of class.

As for actual software enhancements, the "Premium Suite" bundles a new S Memo app with support for even richer content, including voice recordings. There's also an enhanced handwriting-to-text feature, and improved sharing capabilities for S Memo content.

If you're rocking an unlocked Note, head to Settings > About phone > Software updates to grab the latest OTA, or plug your phone into Kies to see if it's waiting for you. Remember that only German models are getting the ICS update for the time being, though if you know your way around ODIN, you can directly flash the German ROM regardless. (If you don't know what that means, it's probably best to just wait for your country/carrier's OTA.)

If you're already updated, be sure to drop by the comments and let us know what you think.

International HTC One S gets first software update - v1.78 now rolling out

If you've got an unlocked international (non-carrier branded) HTC One S, it's time to start hitting that "Check for updates" button, as a new firmware version is being pushed out over-the-air. The update to v1.78 weighs in at just under 60MB, and remains based on Android 4.0.3. The only obvious change we're noticing so far is the removal of the three-dot menu software menu button in certain Google apps. YouTube, for example, used to show an ICS-style overflow button up to and down below before, and now the unsightly bottom bar has gone. It's also likely this latest OTA includes a fix for the Wifi disconnection bug that's been plaguing some One S owners since day one, though as it's an intermittent issue we haven't been able to confirm this just yet.

It's worth noting that today's update is for unbranded One S models only, so if you bought yours through a carrier, you may have to wait an extra few weeks for a network-approved version to be pushed out. But those running an unlocked, unbranded One S can head head to Settings > About phone > Software updates to grab the latest OTA. When you're done, be sure to keep us posted of any changes or fixes down in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S III international availability

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Update: Carphone Warehouse is now offering a pre-order price for the Galaxy S III, at £499.95 -- about the going rate for a high-end smartphone in the UK.

We're just back from Samsung's Galaxy S III unveiling at the 2012 Unpacked event in London, where it's been announced that the phone will go on sale in Europe from May 29. Following the S III's public debut the usual host of carriers and retailers have announced that they'll be stocking the device.

We already knew that O2 UK and Vodafone UK would be getting Samsung's new flagship smartphone, but we can add Three and Orange to that list, as both have today confirmed that they'll range the S III. And Vodafone says it'll exclusively offer the 32GB version in the UK for the first month of its availability. And we've had confirmation from Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse that they'll stock the Galaxy S III, too.

Elsewhere, Samsung will revealed a world tour event that'll take place in several cities around the world. Venues will include Moscow, Beijing, Zurich, Dubai, Seoul, Delhi, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, New York and an unannounced location in  South-East Asia.

Stay tuned for the first details on U.S. availability.

Source: Three Blog, Orange Blog, Carphone Warehouse

Android Central international round-up - March 17, 2012

Despite the obvious hype surrounding a certain Apple tablet, it's been another busy week of international Android news. Sony finally gave its "Pepper" smartphone an official name, the Xperia Sola, and we saw some interesting new touchscreen tech introduced in this mid-range device.

It's also been a big week for rumors and release date info. We spotted not one, but two unconfirmed Galaxy S III renders out on the web, though we're still uncertain as to how genuine they are. And finally, there was some good news for those waiting on Android updates, as the international Galaxy S II got its ICS update, as did the HTC Velocity in Australia. Meanwhile the HTC One X got a tentative UK release date of April 5.

Check some highlights from past week's Android developments in Europe, Asia and beyond in the list below. And if you've got international news, be sure to tip us at the usual address.

• 
  
  'Samsung Galaxy S III' pictured, May 22 London unveiling rumored


• 
  
  Google: Delayed app developer payments now going out


• 
  
  Virgin Mobile Australia announce the HTC One X


• 
  
  Latest 'Galaxy S III' render looks no more genuine than the last two


• 
  
  International Samsung Galaxy Note updated, obscure video editor bugs fixed


• 
  
  Samsung Galaxy Note now available on Three UK


• 
  
  UK retailer slashes Sony Tablet S price


• 
  
  HTC One X launching April 5, says O2 UK


• 
  
  HTC One V sighted in black and purple


• 
  
  Archos now shipping G9 Turbo 'ICS' edition with latest software pre-loaded


• 
  
  Motorola MOTOACTV now officially available in Canada for $250


• 
  
  The Telegraph to launch new Android application


• Ice Cream Sandwich available now for Galaxy S II in Europe and Korea


• 
  
  Next wave of Galaxy S II ICS updates begins March 19


• 
  
  Sony unveils Xperia Sola with 'floating touch' technology


• 
  
  HTC One X Deluxe Limited Edition announced in Taiwan

Android Central international round-up - April 7, 2012

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

So this week was HTC week, and there was no shortage of stories about the launch of HTC's new hero devices, the One X and One S. We had reviews, previews, hands-on features, comparisons and everything in between. If you want to learn more about HTC's shiny new toys (and trust us, you do), be sure to check out the features list below.

Both devices are out now in Europe, and every major network in the UK is offering the both phones on-contract at subsidized prices. Stateside, the One S is rumored to launch on T-Mobile in late April, with the One X tipped to follow shortly after in early May.

In non-HTC news, Motorola revealed that the GSM/HSPA RAZR MAXX would be making its way to European shores from May. Consider our interest piqued. We're eager to see what kind of longevity Moto can deliver with a 3,300mAh pack and no battery-hogging LTE radio.

Check some highlights from past week's Android developments in Europe, Asia and beyond in the list below. And if you've got international news, you can tip us at the usual address.

Special Features:

• HTC One X review
• HTC One S preview
• HTC One X - a second opinion
• HTC Sense 4: The definitive guide

News:

• Rogers LTE network now live in Calgary and Halifax
• Sony acknowledges heat-related display issue on some Xperia phones
• Motorola RAZR MAXX launches in Europe and the Middle East from May
• Google Maps adds service alerts for the London Underground
• TELUS launching the Samsung Galaxy Note in white April 4th
• HTC One X now available to pre-order on Rogers
• UK networks prepare to launch HTC One series
• Samsung Galaxy Note in ceramic white now arriving on multiple Canadian carriers
• Motorola launch 3G versions of Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition in the UK
• UK Motorola RAZR MAXX pre-order price emerges
• Sony Mobile celebrates 'Night of Imagination' with Labrinth and iLuminate

 

Android Central international round-up - 21 April 2012

This week marked the beginning of the Official Countdown to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Events press event in London on 3 may, began to roll Monday (we ' ll be there, of course), and Friday, we had a lot of juicy pieces of information disclosed in the report.

Secret Cupertinoesque Samsung ' phone s following Lighthouse (whose name we ' re not always not entirely sure) finally faltered Friday, with the one leak and a video of demi-minute a site Vietnamese tech, with 10 photos. But here ' s where things get interesting - phone ' s final design is being hidden behind a fake case plastic, therefore even if the software and specifications were bare, even don ' t know exactly what this thing looks like when it comes to the market. We ' ll be wait and see what Samsung shows us may 3, to continue to monitor in the coming weeks!

It wasn ' t all Samsung to the international Bureau, this week, though. Also, we published our review of the HTC a V, the new entry-level HTC device ' s line-up 2012. We found that although some features have been reduced to a x and S, it again for a solid budget offer, although it ' ll face difficult competition discount 2011 headlights in the coming months.

Here ' s a quick overview of some of the highlights in Android news international in the past seven days.

Special features:

• Review of v a HTC

News:

• Samsung Galaxy S III appears on Amazon by Germany
• Samsung to unveil the Galaxy S III in London may 3
• ' Samsung Galaxy S III ' overview video leak, hiding in artificial plastic cases
• Android, eating apples in China with huge market share
• HTC X One now available on Rogers Canada
• Connectivity Google + SMS 41 new countries
• XPERIA p and u pressed at the start can launch the United Kingdom
• Orange and T-Mobile UK Galaxy S II ICS updates confirmed
• Bell is the exclusive carrier of the Samsung Galaxy S II HD
• Huawei announced the global availability of P1 to
• First software update now rolling out for European HTC a x
• Stores Sony Xperia S now available at the Canada by Sony
• UK Galaxy S II finally released unlocked ICS update
• Motorola Defy Mini in Hungary topic
• Motorola for the launch of the Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition Turkey
• JCB ' s robust smartphone Android launches the United Kingdom