Xperia U update solves network issues; Xperias P, Go and Sola also due fixes

Sony is pushing out another Android 2.3 Gingerbread-based firmware update for its leading entry-level handset, the Xperia U, according to reports. Forum posts indicate that the new version 6.0.B.3.184 is now starting to appear on Xperia U handsets across Europe. According to XperiaBlog, that same firmware has also been certified for the Xperia P, Xperia Go and Xperia Sola, which use the same ST Ericsson NovaThor chip.

In a post on the company’s official community forum, a Sony Xperia rep indicated that the new updates had been put out to fix networking issues with these phones.

We have received isolated consumer complaints about network selection issues for the products Xperia™ U, Xperia™ P, Xperia™ sola and Xperia™ go in connection with Android 2.3.7 SW version 6.0.B.3.162, successfully resolved by re-starting the phone.

Further optimizations of the network selection procedures were made and affected consumers are recommended to upgrade their handset SW to a new Android 2.3.7 SW version to be available from early August onwards.

So hopefully this update fixes any issues that Xperia P, U, Sola and Go owners may have been experiencing. And with this bug fix out of the way, we’re sure they’ll be hoping for a swift update to ICS later this quarter.

Source: XperiaBlog, XDA, Sony community forum

Uncertainty surrounds Desire HD ICS update as HTC issues revised statement

It seems there’s a little more confusion than there should be surrounding the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update (or lack thereof) for the HTC Desire HD. Last week Canadian carrier TELUS released an update roadmap stating that HTC had canceled the update. Then a few days back, we reached out to HTC and received a statement indicating that updates for the Desire HD, and similarly-spec’d Desire S, were still on the table.

Since then we’ve been in touch with TELUS, which insists that it’s been informed that the update had been suspended, and that it was an HTC decision unrelated to TELUS’s network, testing or software. TELUS said that if HTC was to go ahead with the ICS update after all, it'd gladly test it and put it out for its customers. And after seeking further clarification from HTC, we were given a revised statement indicating that it’s still examining the Desire HD’s ability to run ICS --

"HTC is committed to providing the best customer experience on our devices and are currently determining the ability to support Ice Cream Sandwich on the HTC Desire HD.  We'll provide more information when we've completed our analysis."

So it looks like the future of ICS on the Desire HD is currently hanging in the balance, and that HTC is in the process of working out if it can support Android 4.0 without compromising the user experience. This could also be worrying news for owners of the Desire S and Thunderbolt, which sport almost identical internals, and which are also due to receive an ICS upgrade.

Whatever happens, we’ll keep you posted with any further developments on HTC ICS updates.

Vodafone Australia halts Jelly Bean update, cites regulatory issues

Uh oh. Seems all is not sweetness down under, with yesterday's news of an impending Jelly Bean update for the Nexus S from Vodafone Australia, today replaced with the news it has been pulled.

The Aussie carrier has put out a new statement on its blog, which reads something like this: 

Important news

We’ve just been advised that due to a software issue, the roll-out the of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update to Vodafone Australia customers has been delayed.

It’s been advised the software currently does not meet all the Australian regulatory requirements related to emergency calls.

At this stage, we don’t have any further information on when the roll-out will resume, but as soon as we do, we’ll let you know here on the blog.

We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your patience at this time.

While, understandably, eager Nexus S owners will take this as a bitter blow, regulatory requirements are just that. Requirements. At least Vodafone has been good enough to give their customers an actual, specific reason for the delay. 

Of course, this particular issue only applies in Australia. We had heard word from France too that an update for the Nexus S was in-bound, so we'll carry on keeping an eye out. This statement from Vodafone, while frustrating, does at least give a pretty clear indication that such an update does exist. Somewhere. 

The more authentic information about Vodafone Australia halts Jelly Bean update, cites regulatory issues you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Vodafone Jelly Bean update, cites regulatory issuesexpert. Read on for even more Vodafone update, cites regulatory issuesfacts that you can share.

Source: Vodafone Australia

Instagram bug fixing update live in Google Play, app crashing issues fixed

Photo sharing social network Instagram, has pushed out an update to its Android application which is live in the Google Play store now. It doesn't bring anything new to the table, but does promise to fix an issue with user images that was causing the app to crash. 

While small, judging by a couple of threads started down in the Android Central forums only this morning, it could be a valuable update. There seemed to be instances of sporadic crashing on the Galaxy S III, HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE in particular.  Hopefully any issues have now been fixed, but head on down to the forums or shout on the comments below and let us know how it's working for you guys. [Google Play Link]

Instagram bug fixing update live in Google Play, app crashing issues fixed

Photo sharing social network Instagram, has pushed out an update to its Android application which is live in the Google Play store now. It doesn't bring anything new to the table, but does promise to fix an issue with user images that was causing the app to crash. 

While small, judging by a couple of threads started down in the Android Central forums only this morning, it could be a valuable update. There seemed to be instances of sporadic crashing on the Galaxy S III, HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE in particular.  Hopefully any issues have now been fixed, but head on down to the forums or shout on the comments below and let us know how it's working for you guys. [Google Play Link]

Instagram rolls out latest update to address some front facing camera issues and device compatibility

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The latest Instagram for Android update is now available for download in the Google Play Store. This update will be higher priority for those of you out there making use of devices with a front-facing camera. As noted in the change log, it corrects some issues when using the advanced camera option as well as some problems with the reliability of photo filters for certain Galaxy Y and Ace devices. If you fit into either of those sections, or just want to ensure you have the latest installed, you can grab the link below.

read more

Twitter for Android updated to correct issues with sync settings, avatars and various other bug fixes

Twitter for Android is getting some bug-squashing love right now. If you fire up the Google Play Store, you should find a new update waiting for you. The latest version corrects some issues with sync settings on various devices, as well as addressing some concerns for folks who may still be running an Android 2.0 / 2.1 Eclair device:

• Fixes missing avatars on devices running Eclair (Android 2.0/2.1)


• Accurately displays sync settings based on system sync setting


• Fixes Top Tweets appearing out of order in search and discover


• Fixes various other bugs and crashers

If you've been experiencing issues with the current build, then go ahead and get yourself updated. Those "various other bugs and crashers" could just be the fixes you've been waiting for. Down below is where you'll find the store link and QR code, as always.

Sprint Galaxy Nexus getting an update to fix network issues

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Well, would you look at that. The Sprint Galaxy Nexus (see our initial hands-on) is getting a software update to fix some network issues. The carrier says it should get pushed to all devices in the next day or so, at which time you'll have fixes for:

• Device not connecting to data services after activation
• Device not displaying correct network time after activation
• And an update to Google Wallet

And now's a great time to remind folks that this update, which brings the phone to Android 4.0.4, Build FD02, has absolutely nothing to do with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus languishing on Android 4.0.2. (The horror!) That's not going to stop anyone from complaining (nor does it change the fact that Nexus phones are supposed to be updated early and often), but we feel better having said it.

Source: Sprint

Sprint’s Galaxy Nexus users reporting data connectivity issues – fix already in the works

Anyone planning on buying the newly launched Galaxy Nexus from Sprint may want to hold off for a week or two. A handful of new Galaxy Nexus owners are reporting issues connecting to Sprint’s 3G network. From what we can tell, affected users are able to send and receive phone calls and text messages, but the data connection to the phone simply remains in “connecting” status without ever making a complete connection.

Several affected users have been given replacement phones at local Sprint stores, but others have been turned away since a fix for the issue is apparently already in the works. No specifics about the software update have been revealed, but a Sprint Community moderator claims that Sprint is hoping to have the issue resolved by early next week.

Sprint/Samsung are aware of this problem and will be releasing a software update to resolve the issue. Can't commit to a date yet, but they are trying really hard to get it released early next week. Sorry for your troubles.ModeratorSprint Community

Have any of you experienced any data connectivity issues with the Sprint Galaxy Nexus? It seems a bit ironic that Sprint’s first 4G LTE phone can’t even get a 3G connection.

Transformer Prime GPS issues? There’s a dongle for that

Transformer Prime owners have been complaining about GPS issues basically since launch. As with most complaints of this kind there were many that didn’t seem to experience the problem at all, while others found it intolerable. Prime owners in the UK were actually already given the option to return their Prime for a refund as a result of this issue or if they chose to keep it were given a six month extension on their warranty.

ASUS subsequently tried unsuccessfully to correct the problem with firmware updates, but the general issue as outlined by Anandtech back in January is the aluminum body of the Prime hindering the GPS reception. Not surprisingly it takes a hardware solution to deal with a hardware problem and that is exactly what ASUS will unveil on April 16th.

The rumor is that the dongle will attach via the proprietary dock connection on the Prime and that it is fairly unobtrusive. If you make heavy use of the dock for the keyboard that would seem like a bit of an annoyance, but I suppose if you really need solid GPS performance out of your Prime that is probably a tradeoff you are willing to make.

Prime owners will be able to register on the 16th and according to the ASUS representative the dongle itself should be shipping approximately two weeks later.

I know we have a fair number of Prime owners around here; has this been a big problem for you and if so are you happy with ASUS’s solution?