ASUS on Jelly Bean updates: Transformer Pad, Prime and Infinity all winners

ASUS today dropped word on its plans for Jelly Bean updates. The lucky tablet winners? The Transformer Pad, Transformer Pad Prime and the Transformer Pad Infinity. And ... that's it, so far. ASUS says it's still deciding on updates for other devices, but those guys are sure deals so far. Also, no word on when we'll see an update to Android 4.1, other than "in the coming months."

Here's the full statement:

Dear valued ASUS customer,

At ASUS, one of the key commitments we make to our customers is a relentless drive to deliver the best user experience. We constantly strive to achieve this goal through our ‘Design Thinking’ philosophy that includes regular software and firmware updates for our products.

We are pleased to announce that many of our tablet products are scheduled to receive an update to Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. The ASUS Transformer Pad, ASUS Transformer Pad Prime and ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity are all scheduled to receive Android 4.1 updates in the coming months. We will provide further guidance on our expected timeframes for these updates near their release.

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.

Thank you for your continued support.

ASUS

HTC confirms Android 4.1 updates for the HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S

Roughly 24 hours after Telstra revealed that Android 4.1 updates for the HTC one XL and HTC One S are already in the works, HTC has released an official statement announcing that the HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S will all be updated to Android 4.1.

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Google updates maps for selected European, African and Asian countries, now with more detail than ever

Your Android device, coupled with Google Maps -- in particular the new, offline features -- is a pretty powerful way of finding your way around when you visit another country. Google never settles for 'good enough' though, and today has announced a slew of more detailed maps across selected European, African and Asian countries. 

The affected nations are; Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lesotho, Macau, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore and Vatican City. 

The added details cover a pretty broad spectrum too, from coastlines and bodies of water, to more accurate names and locations for points of interest, and several places in between. One example given is that now, when you look down on St Marks Square in Venice on Google Maps, you'll see accurately aligned canals, 3D buildings and a whole heap of labels on different points of interest. 

Ferry routes also get a mention, as for many places Google has gone and tidied these up and added better, and more clearly labelled ferry routes. Local roads are now more accurately distinguished from the main highways, and multi-lingual names are available for larger number of roads in these countries. 

For the full rundown, hit up the source link below. As for me, I'm going off to explore Venice some more -- albeit only from a Nexus 7. 

Source: Google Lat Long

Telstra: HTC 'preparing' Jelly Bean updates for One XL and One S

We haven't heard much from HTC on the subject of Android 4.1 updates of late. When Jelly Bean was first announced, the manufacturer said it was "reviewing the software" in order to determine which devices would be getting an update, but we've yet to see any definitive list of phones to be upgraded. However, it looks like owners of the One S and One XL (that's the international name for the Snapdragon S4-powered One X, with LTE) can rest easy, as Aussie carrier Telstra has indicated on its software updates page that both of these phones are due for Jelly Beans at a future date.

That's not even remotely surprising -- as flagship products that are less than three months old, the One S and One XL were pretty much dead certs to receive Jelly Bean anyway. And as for the international Tegra 3-based One X, we're sure that'll be on the Android 4.1 update path too, it's just not listed by Telstra as they don't sell it.

Unsurprisingly there's no ETA provided for these Jelly Bean update, though if we had to guess, we'd say they're probably months, not weeks away at this point. The final Jelly Bean source code was released just over a week ago, so HTC will need time to get its devices up to speed on the new version of Android.

In the meantime, be sure to check out our predictions about when your phone will get Jelly Bean. It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Jelly Bean. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

Source: Telstra; Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Buying a Galaxy Nexus now, SGS III updates already [From the Forums]

Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.

• Rumored Device Forums - Will the Razr HD resemble the Atrix HD?
• HTC EVO 4G LTE - Issues with getting Dropbox storage
• HTC One X Forums - HTC One X vs. The Girlfriend
• Samsung Galaxy S III Forums - Samsung Rolling Out Substantial Update to S III
• Galaxy Nexus Forums - Cheapest place to buy a Galaxy Nexus?

If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.

HTC Raider and EVO 3D Ice Cream Sandwich updates now available for Rogers

Rogers hasn't had a great track record thus far of keeping folks in the loop when it comes to Ice Cream Sandwich updates but at least two of the devices in their lineup are now getting ICS rolled out to them via OTA. Owners of either the HTC Raider or EVO 3D can go ahead and check for updates and now find Android 4.0 available. The update should only take a few minutes to load up and then you'll be good to go with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Thanks, John!

Site updates

June 1, 2012 (9:36 a.m.) - We're investigating malware report that's causing Google to block forums.androidcentral.com. The blog is currently unaffected.

• Update (10:24 a.m.) - We've identified the issue and have ordered a Sentinel strike.


• Update (11:25 a.m.) - Google decided to treat one of our ad partner's javascript code as suspicious. The code has been removed and we have requested Google to rescan the site. We have no reports of the ad partner actually serving malware, and the site should be safe to visit.


• Update (2:30 p.m.) - We're seeing occasional malware warnings on the blog side now. Again, there's no malicious code -- we're just waiting on Google to rescan things. You can visit the site without worry.


• Update (5 p.m.) - Per Google: A review for this site has finished. The site was found clean. The badware warnings from web search are being removed. Please note that it can take some time for this change to propagate.

Samsung updates ICS upgrade list to include T-Mobile devices

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Samsung has been rather forthcoming when it comes to telling folks what devices will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The list of eligible devices has been updated a couple times now but one carrier; namely, T-Mobile has remained missing off that list until recently. The newly updated list now features in total, four T-Mobile devices:

• Samsung Galaxy S II (SGH-t989)
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G (SGH-t769)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (SGH-t869)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (SGH-t859)

Not surprisingly, they don't differ all that much from the various other carriers out there but it is nice to see T-Mobile added and that leaves us with the impression Samsung and T-Mobile have at least a general idea of when things will get rolling out to the masses.

Source: Samsung, via: TMo News

Samsung opens sign up page for the latest updates about the US version of Galaxy S III

Want to be the first to find out when Samsung announces details on the US versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III? They just opened up a registration page for the device and promised customers will receive the latest updates about their highly anticipated device in exchange for your email address.

Some will probably notice there is a field for carrier preference that lists AT&T, C Spire, Metro PCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon, but we wouldn’t read too much into that. However, Samsung did say the device will come to 296 mobile operators in 145 countries, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually landed on all those.

Could the Galaxy S III come to all these US carriers? Maybe...

Top 10 Android app updates: TuneWiki, AirDroid, Equalizer

Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most upgraded apps for the week. I’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to look at what people are actually updating, and not focus on which apps have the most installs.

To find the most updated apps, I turn to AppAware. It’s a great tool that shows me which apps have active support from their developers and sometimes reminds me of an old app that I might have removed long ago. Make sure to install it so your activity can help determine our weekly top 10 list.

This week I’m going to do things a little different. I normally filter out apps that have over 10 million installs, but I’m going to make an exception for popular apps that had significant updates. I hope you enjoy this weekly feature and discover some apps that you might find useful.

What’s new in this version:

New ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’ inspired design!Major performance improvementsNOTE: There is an issue on some Android tablets. We’re working on a fix ASAP.As always, send feedback and ideas to ideas@tunewiki.com

TuneWiki is the music player that lets you get lyrics instantly translated into 40+ languages. This week they rolled out a major update that includes a new Android 4.0 inspired design. I tried out the new version and it appears the performance has been greatly improved. I was able to ID songs pretty quick and it pulled up the lyrics right away. If you have never tried TuneWiki, they also have a social network that lets you comment on and discuss the meaning of lyrics. It’s definitely a unique experience for music fans and it’s free, so check it out.

What’s new in this version:

Bug fixesAdded web link login via web.airdroid.comAdded QR code scanning for easier loginEnhanced secure connection option with httpsAdded multiple desktopsAdded various widgetsAdded “Speed upload” and “Speed install” on desktopAdded Drag&Drop support for files/folder upload (Chrome)Added device picture matching for certain devicesAdded Videos managementAdded realtime device screenshotOptimized display and management of files, photos, music

Just yesterday we previewed AirDroid and then the developer pushed out the latest update hours later. This is the first upgrade since last year and it’s a pretty big one. If you want to manager you phone from your desktop browser, this is the ultimate app.

What’s new in this version:

Pioneer AppRadio supportFixes for Motorola Defy and MilestoneFix for application launch via API

Waze has been around since the early days of Android, but we haven’t really talked about it as much since Google Navigation was released. It still has a pretty strong following with it’s social features that connect you to other drivers. The latest update is rather minor, but we wanted to give Waze a shout out for pushing community-based traffic and navigation.

What’s new in this version:

Removed Notification(Airpush) ads. (fixed small bugs related to it)Upload images to facebookSet alarm and calender events.Open other apps.Google search revamped.Upgraded twitter and facebook feature for easy access.Bug fixes for smoother user experiencePress back key cancel action

Iris is one of the original Siri clones, and it’s also one of the best looking. The latest update killed some annoying ads, improved integration with social networks, and enhanced the overall user experience.

What’s new in this version:

Supports finer brush in manual mode(After zooming, brush size remains as it is)Fixes the distorted image In editing/saving on some phonesFixes the bug that image taken by front camera is not centered when editing

As long as AfterFocus remains one of the most popular apps in our community, we will keep reporting on the latest news. This week the developer released a new update that improves the brush control in manual mode. This makes it easier to zoom in on images and make selections for background and foreground. We still expect a Pro version to be released this month.

What’s new in this version:

(New)You can set the start time and ending time of auto refresh(New)You can set the date style in the setting display(New)You switch the cities circularly in GO Widgets.Open it in the setting display(Fix)When changing the theme, it shows that the incomplete.

Weather widgets are always all the rage and the GO dev team has one of the nicer looking sets. The latest update lets you control when the weather forecast is refreshed and includes enhanced support for multiple cities. There are a ton of themes available, so hopefully you won’t get bored with this one.

What’s new in this version:

Push notifications enhancementsAdded Merchants’ reviewsAdded support for Samsung Galaxy Note and other tabletsAdded support for Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Argentina, Mexico, RomaniaPerformance improvements and bug fixes

Like many of you, I have caught the Groupon bug. It used to annoy me with notifications, but the latest update provides users with more control over that. I still think half the daily deals are crap, but there are some real gems in there sometimes.

What’s new in this version:

Added option to keep Apex in memoryAdded dock options for tabletsLong press menu key to start searchImproved tablet transition effectFixed margin settings on tabletsFixed wallpaper issue under single screen modeFixed a bug with desktop data backup/restoreOther bug fixes and improvementsUpdated translationsNew permissions are used for unread count notifications in the pro version.

Last week we featured Nova Launcher, so it’s only fair we share Apex Launcher this week. This home screen replacement tool is also targeted at Android 4.0 devices and focuses on performance and an insane amount of customizations. I’ve grown tired of most of these home screen launchers, but they are great if you love to tweak out your home screen.

What’s new in this version:

Finally! View your Past Trips while you’re on the goNote: All of these updates are for the Android phone only.Various bug fixes and usability enhancements

I travel a lot for work, and I never leave home without making sure my TripIt account is synced. It automatically imports all your travel itinerary and helps you keep up with your flight and hotel information. I rely on it so much, that I can’t travel without it now. The latest update lets you view previous trips and fixes various bugs.

What’s new since version 3.1.7:

New Guided Tour and Tips page, aiming at making users more familiar with the app and how to use it properly.Available now to selected GoogleTV devices.Downloaded skins can now be applied from the Download skin page, simply click on the “Apply Skin” button after download finishes.New Equalizer icon! Special thanks to Keval Kankotiya

We know music apps are always popular, so we thought we should share the latest update to Equalizer. This app provides a ton of presets, multiple skins, support for Google TV, and some nice looking widgets. If you are an audiophile, this is a must download.

Google’s JBQ speaks out on Android updates, Google selling the Galaxy Nexus and more

Jean-Baptiste Queru is the technical lead for the Android Open Source Project at Google. When he talks, we tend to listen. Many a time now, JBQ (as he’s more commonly known) has come to the aid of speculating bloggers and explained situations with updates, Nexus devices and much more. Today, with the Sony Tablet S getting updated to Android 4 and Google selling the Galaxy Nexus directly recently, JBQ took a moment to share his thoughts on updates on Google+.

When it comes to Sony updating their Tablet S, JBQ says that the five months time it took them to complete the update was, “very reasonable.” He continues on to say that the changes from Android 3 (Honeycomb) and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) to Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) are huge. A lot has changed from previous versions of Android to now, and the only reason Sony has managed to stay as up to date as they are is thanks to their contributions to the AOSP. ASUS’ updates have also been very timely, but that’s because of the tight relationship between ASUS and NVIDIA. Both companies are extremely focused on keeping their products up to date.

Continuing on the subject of updates, JBQ isn’t too happy on how the Nexus program is playing out. But Google selling the Nexus directly will help that:

The part that blows my mind is that some variants of the Google-engineered flagship devices still haven't received Ice Cream Sandwich (or are stuck with older versions of Ice Cream Sandwich) because of delays introduced by operator approvals. I'm very glad that Google is back in the business of selling phones directly without any middlemen to interfere, and I'll be even happier when I see that program expanded to more countries.JBQGoogle

Personally, I take two important things out of this. For one, Google is most definitely aware of the woes delayed updates cause. Especially when it comes to Nexus devices. And number two, those delays aren’t going to change if you buy a carrier regulated device. If you really, truly want your updates from Google, you have to buy your device from Google.

While none of that may be new information (in fact, it’s starting to feel like we’re beating a dead horse here), it’s especially relevant after this past weeks news of Google deciding to sell the Galaxy Nexus directly. Even the support website for the Google sold GSM Nexus will be directly managed by Google. And that’s all there is to it.

What do you think of a five month wait between updates for carrier regulated devices? Is that too long, or is it worth the wait? And while we’re at it, is anyone planning to buy an unlocked Nexus from Google? Have you already? Let us know in the comments.

Verizon releases updates for Droid 4, Razr and Razr Maxx

Verizon has issued incremental updates for three of their most popular smartphones today, the Motorola Droid 4, Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx.

The Motorola Droid 4's update is being called 6.13.219.XT894.Verizon.en.US (or 6.13.219 for short), and boasts several new enhancements and bug fixes to keep your phone running like new. Along with improvements to WiFi connectivity, messaging, the touchscreen and battery life, you’ll find a couple of bug fixes related to the power on function and keyboard as well.

Both the Razr and Razr Maxx are receiving an update to 6.12.181. While it’s still not Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, it will still put your Razr of choice on the right track towards the next big update. 6.12.181 for Verizon’s Droid Razrs features enhanced battery life, improved 4G LTE and several other stability and security enhancements.

To download updates for the Droid 4, Razr or Razr Maxx over the air, from of the homescreen of your device simply press the Menu Key > tap Settings > About phone > System updates > Download. After that, just follow the prompts and you should be all set. If you own any of the Droids getting an update, be sure to share your experiences below.

List of Bell Android 4.0 updates appears with timelines for each device

While we're now starting to see Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich more frequently, be it through leaks or official builds there is still plenty of devices out there that have not yet received the update. One carrier that maintains a lot of Android devices in Canada is Bell and now, their Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich roadmap has appeared:

• Samsung Galaxy S II: April 2012


• Samsung Galaxy Note: April 2012


• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: May 2012


• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE: June 2012


• HTC Sensation: June 2012


• HTC Raider: June 2012


• LG Optimus LTE: July 2012

No device on the list is really a surprise, they've all been confirmed previously but for some the wait times may be a little depressing or pleasing depending on your expectations. But like all things -- it's subject to change so hopefully we'll see the updates arrive earlier.

Source: Mobile Syrup