Anyone seen news for JB on the 4G

My next tablet will be WiFI only. I am really tired of waiting around for updates.

Jellybean rollingout for the Xoom WiFi

After reports that the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update for the Motorola Xoom (WiFi) may have been delayed, it looks like everything checked out with that soak test we heard about, as Motorola has just begun pushing out the over-the-air update to users tonight.
No, these aren’t soak testers part of a secret Motorola forum. We grabbed a quick screenshot from one of our reader’s Xooms here on the west coast showing the updated JRO03H build number, along with Android 4.1.1. firmware. This makes the Xoom the first 10-inch Android tablet to receive Jelly Bean and an honorary almost-Nexus device.

Phandroid

Jellybean rollingout for the Xoom WiFi

After reports that the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update for the Motorola Xoom (WiFi) may have been delayed, it looks like everything checked out with that soak test we heard about, as Motorola has just begun pushing out the over-the-air update to users tonight.
No, these aren’t soak testers part of a secret Motorola forum. We grabbed a quick screenshot from one of our reader’s Xooms here on the west coast showing the updated JRO03H build number, along with Android 4.1.1. firmware. This makes the Xoom the first 10-inch Android tablet to receive Jelly Bean and an honorary almost-Nexus device.

Phandroid

Ice Cream Sandwich for the 4G is FINALLY rolling out

Yes finally after months of watching the WiFi Xoom owners enjoy their ICS us 4G owners are finally getting the real McCoy! Start spamming "System > Update" tomorrow June 4th.

Ice Cream sandwich looks to be rolling out for the Xoom

Looks like a select group of Xoom owner have already received their Ice Cream Sandwich update and you could see you as soon as this weekend! Or so says the Engadget tipsters

Ice Cream Sandwich for Xoom is here (kinda)

Well it did not take long for the folks over at XDA and the Xoom Forums to hack the newly released ICS On to the Xoom. I, for one, will be waiting a bit on this one since I have really started to use my tablet more often than before and am currently only interested in the "real" release from Motorola. However if you want it here you go. Just be sure to have you SBF, nandroid, and app backups all in a row before you get started. Be warned there are a few shortcomings like the camera, HDMI, and connectivity issues.

Let us hope that the real ICS is just around the corner.

Get a new 4G Xoom for $200 - Black Friday only

Damn! What did I pay like $800? Good gravy I hate technology some days! Only at Verizon.

The Xoom 2's are here

Looks like there are (2) version a 10-inch Xoom 2 with built-in options for business users and an 8.2-inch Xoom 2 Media Edition. Both are powered by dual-core 1.2 GHz processors, run Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and have Wi-Fi connectivity. Both also have a 1.3 megapixel camera in front and a 5 MP camera on the back, both with digital zoom, auto focus, and LED flash. Both come with 1 gigabyte of RAM and 16 GB of storage. They are also supposed to be thinner and lighter than the original Xoom.

The smaller Xoom 2 Media Edition is geared more toward entertainment. The screen offers a 178 degree viewing angle to let more than one person watch movies or videos at the same time. Motorola claims a 20 percent improvement in graphics performance and has added virtual surround sound, turning the Media Edition into a gaming device. This model can also double as a remote control for TVs and other equipment courtesy of a pre-loaded remote control app. Battery life is rated at only around six hours per charge.

Popular Leather Xoom case on sale

This case used to be like $60 now it is $23 with great reviews! I just picked on up myself as this plastic one is getting annoying.

Got root on your 4G Xoom yet? I do

I will have to give it to Motorola I did get my Xoom back in 6 business days and it came back cleaner than it left. They also threw in a FREE docking station which is supposed to make up for the delay in getting the 4G upgrade out there I guess.

Anyway... after reading a few horror stories about folks rooting their new 4G Xoom in to a brick, some of the smart people over on the Xoom forums pointed to they fact that they were doing it wrong. You cannot use the old method. If you have the 4G upgrade with the new bootloader you need to do it this exact way with these exact files until the devs figure out to make it a bit cleaner.

Also for now, don't flash any other ROMs or kernels. If you flash anything else you might lose WiFi, 3G or 4G. Just sit tight for a few days while the devs get it straight.

Rooting and getting AdFree and Titanium Backup running is enough for me. Makes me happy to get all my old apps back just the way I left them. ;-)

What is really in the Xoom 4G upgrade

Click above image for official notes from Verizon but basically:

• Market update
• Fix for SIM card in Airplane mode
• OTA (Over The Air) upgrades do not break the market
• Book app upgraded
• Market Text now easier to read
• Market will update itself from now on
• Improvements in browser security
• Enhanced 3G/4G connectivity to help prevent stalls

Now that is the official line. Call me a sceptic but... I have a hard time believing that was it.

4G upgrade is more than that

Well it took me a while to get my box to send my Xoom back in for the 4G upgrade. I signed up first day but just got me upgrade box like 3 days ago. I still have 5 business days to wait. But anyway... Engadget is reporting that the lucky folks that did get them back are finding some extras.

What do you get? An upgrade to version 3.2.2 of Honeycomb, a FULLY functional SD card (full read/write access), and new firmware. What else, if anything, they snuck in there is unknown.

Motorola XOOM 4G LTE Upgrade request complete

And people thought this day would never come. I just logged in to this Verizon site. Punched in my MEID (located in Settings -> About Tablet -> Status) and they are sending my upgrade kit.

Edit: FedEx sent the confirmation almost right way!

Dear Valued Customer,

You have successfully submitted an online request to upgrade your Motorola XOOM to 4G LTE. Prior to shipping your device to Motorola for the upgrade, please carefully read the information below.

Your upgrade request has been placed under Tracking (RMA) Number XXXXXXXXXXX. Please keep this number for future reference.

Within a couple of days, you will receive a package containing the following material: - Getting Started Guide with step-by-step instructions for backing up and properly shipping your device - Federal Express Box with pre-paid shipping label sealed on the box and all necessary packing materials for you to securely ship your device back for the upgrade.

Carefully follow the instructions in the Getting Started Guide. Back-up all personal data on your device prior to sending it in for the upgrade, and follow the packing instructions to ensure your Motorola XOOM remains safe in transit. You will be without your device for approximately 5 business days from the time you ship your Motorola XOOM.

Kindle Fire

Want a dual core Android device/tablet that you can watch movies, read books, run apps, and browse the web on WiFi? Do not really need a camera, microphone, or 3G but is only $200? Here you go!



Not a bad deal really but... I will not be trading in my Xoom just yet ;-)

More Xoom 2 spy shots released

Looks like it will be about as thin as an iPhone, with more rounded corners, centered camera, better controls, and rumored to have 1.2 Ghz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, and enable 1080p video recording.

-Engadget

4G for the Xoom finally starting?

Droid Life is reporting that government and business Xoom customers are preparing for the upgrade.

This is kind of funny since I just wiped my Xoom this morning in order to will the 4G GODS to be ready to receive my unrooted and locked Xoom. I just had a feeling that this upgrade would be getting close. I you have a 3G Xoom and want the 4G upgrade be sure and sign up to be notified. I will of course post when I get notification here but only after I ship mine. The turn around will be about a week.

Click to expand:

3.2 upgrade coming out for the 4G model

Verizon Wireless has released the details for an update named HTJ85 that the carrier will be pushing out to 3G Motorola XOOM customers. The update details (PDF) show that the HTJ85 update really is the Android 3.2 Honeycomb update that 3G XOOM’s have been without waiting for, Android 3.2 will make the SD card slot that ships with the XOOM function.

Google originally released Android 3.2 to the public in late July, but only Wi-Fi Motorola XOOM’s in the U.S. have been able to enjoy the update thus far, as far as Motorola tablets are concerned.

In Google’s user features list for Android 3.2 there are only three major things that users will notice with 3.2 over 3.1 or 3.0. The new user features include better optimization for a wider range of tablets (screen sizes), media sync from an SD card is now supported, and there is a new Zoom to fill function that allows phone apps to be zoomed to fit a large tablet display.

Verizon Wireless will be adding same functionality of their own for their 3G XOOM customers. The HTJ85 update will bring the following:

• Adaptive streaming support which adjusts the bit rate of streaming video to perform better with various amounts of bandwidth.
• In rented movies the stability has been improved, and if users are viewing a movie on an external display over a HDMI connection the picture will automatically resize to fit the display better.
• There is a new Enterprise Authentication Service (EAS) policy option for password recovery.
• There have been improvements in Exchange ActiveSync and security.

As to when you (Verizon 3G Motorola XOOM owner) can expect to receive the HTJ85 update on your tablet Droid-Life says, “Our sources are under the impression that the update should start rolling out tomorrow, so Verizon XOOM owners will want to check in Settings>About tablet>System updates quite regularly over the next few days”.

Another 4G upgrade date for the Xoom

Be on the lookout at the end of summer for an email with information about how to upgrade your Motorola XOOM to speeds up to 10X faster than 3G. In the meantime, learn more about what you can do to prepare for the 4G LTE upgrade to your Motorola XOOM by backing up data, encrypting, or resetting your Motorola XOOM tablet.
4G LTE is now available to more than 110 million people across the country and coverage is expanding every day.

Xoom upgrade to 3.2 - SD card support!

So you’ve got a Wi-Fi only XOOM? Yes? You’re in luck! It appears that the shortly-awaited Android version 3.2 Honeycomb (one after the 3.1 that was pushed out right after this year’s Google I/O, that is,) is pushing out to Wi-Fi only XOOM owners now. This build code is HTJ85B, and you’ll have to go through the normal settings check to see if the update is available to you or not right this very moment!


From the emails we’ve received, it appears that the update is sweeping across the nation in no pattern whatsoever, instead hitting basically random ladies and gentlemen in the face with all the newest Android 3.2 features. These features include, as previously stated, the Zoom to fill screen function that we’re sure a lot of Android developers will be taking advantage of soon AND, yes, yes indeed, the longest awaited hardware activation of basically all time: SD card support!
It’s a celebration! Get out and click down into your settings and check for some hardware updates, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s a party over hear and 3.2 taking’ over this XOOM, you know what I’m saying?
For everyone that needs a refresher, head all the way back to our review of the original Android 3.0 Honeycomb, aka the first Android optimized for tablets. Then take a look at what we got to see in Android 3.1 Honeycomb in another full review. This is the sort of stuff you’ll be seeing on all Android tablets (the good ones, at least) until later this year when Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is released, a new Android for all devices, not just handsets and not just tablets. Joy!
Source: Android Community

New tired data plans

Not really Xoom specific but if you are an Android owner you will be very interested in the new data new tiered data plans coming from Verizon. Looks like they take effect very soon. Like in 2 days!

Got my new Pad Pivot

It is pretty sweet and folds up nicely. Comes with a small bag for when it is not in use. It "sticks" to the tablet with a gel pad that stays sticky. You can see the dust cover on it for when it is not in use.



See more here at PadPivot.com

True SD card support is here

True SD card support is here... but only in Europe. :( I would love to know why on earth this is taking so long to come to the US build! I am still waiting on my 4G upgrade. That was supposed to be at the end of May. I guess it is the price you pay for having the 1st Android 3.x tablet.

Full Xoom ROM released (not from Motorola)

What does this mean for you? Basically a "pure" and "clean" install for you Xoom that allows for Hulu, USB Mass Storage, the SDcard and a host of other things that make the Xoom run as envisioned.

ROM Features:

• Packed with Tiamat 1.4.4 stock GPU. Flash overclocked GPU version is you wish.
• Rooted with SU and superuser, of course
• Desktop UA string, CRT Screen Off Animation, Call setting with SIP, and SMS capable enabled.
• Supercircle 100 point battery mod! thanks Jewremy
• Wifi Ad-Hoc mod enabled! thanks Kelvie
• USB Mass Storage Enabled. Use Dinomight's Mass Storage Tool or activity manager script.
• Init.d boot scripts enabled. Thanks Steady Hawkin!
• Busybox built in
• local.init.rc enabled in system/etc
• openVPN binary and script from CyanogenMod. untested but with tun.ko included, should win. Also grabbed Wireless Toolkit binary with built in symlinks from CyanogenMod
• added Quickboot, Estrongs File Explorer, and Flash Player hulufied brdizzled in data/apps. This was included so users coming from full wipe can be up and running. Feel free to remove from zip before flashing.

See link for details

Xoom at 1.7 GHz now

Loaded the new Tiamat Version 1.4.4 today. Not too many upgraded features but some good ones.

• 1.7Ghz Overclock!
• All frequency steps built in. 1.2, 1.408, 1.504, 1.6, and 1.7!
• Two versions. Overclocked GPU and Stock GPU [request filled]
• USB Tether work for real now!
• Added Realtek 8150 USB Ethernet Dongle Module [request filled]
• Usb Mass Storage now stock in build. Visit Mass Storage Tool Thread by dinomight for implementation.

I was also glad to see the new SetCPU has been optimized for the tablet. The install was a no-brainer if you were already on the Tiamat kernel but see thread for details.

Xoom 2 - Coming soon?

Rounded corners is about the only thing we can see and there is little information on it but a Xoom 2 delivery may be closer than we think.

Read more at the Android Police

I upgraded to the new 3.1 with root and SD card support

Thanks to BigRushDog for my upgrade to Android 3.1 from the Tiamat Kernel. It was pretty painless. All I had to do was:

• Download 4 files
• Flash the new Recovery (Flash meaning install the recovery ZIP file from the Recovery menu)
• Reboot back in to Recovery (an option in the recovery menu)
• Flash the next 3 files, in order
• Wipe the data partition (factory reset - again an option in the recovery menu)
• Done!

Downside: I did lose all my user apps and am having an issue restoring my programs via Titanium backup. Something has changed and it gets into a search loop when trying to track down all the known directories. This is also true for Root Explorer so it must be something new to 3.1. I have a note out to the developers of the two programs.

On the flip side I still have root and access to my Micro SD card so all and all I am pretty happy. I am sure once I correct the Titanium Backup issue I will be able to restore all my applications.

If you are still on Tiamat or any other version of the Xoom tablet this will get you to 3.1

What's New in Android 3.1

UI refinements - The Launcher animation is optimized for faster, smoother transition to and from the Apps list. Adjustments in color, positioning, and text make UI elements easier to see, understand, and use. Navigation to and from the five home screens is now easier — touching the Home button in the system bar now takes you to the home screen most recently used. Settings offers an improved view of internal storage, showing the storage used by a larger set of file types.
Connectivity for USB accessories - Android 3.1 adds broad platform support for a variety of USB-connected peripherals and accessories. Users can attach many types of input devices (keyboards, mice, game controllers) and digital cameras. Applications can build on the platform’s USB support to extend connectivity to almost any type of USB device.
Expanded Recent Apps list - For improved multitasking and instant visual access to a much larger number of apps, the Recent Apps list is now expandable. Users can now scroll the list of recent apps vertically to see thumbnail images all of the tasks in progress and recently used apps, then touch a thumbnail to jump back into that task.
Resizeable Home screen widgets - For more flexible Home screen customization, users can now resize their Home screen widgets using drag bars provided by the system. Users can expand widgets both horizontally and/or vertically to include more content, where supported by each widget.
Support for external keyboards and pointing devices - Users can now attach almost any type of external keyboard or mouse to their Android-powered devices, to create a familiar environment and work more efficiently. One or more input devices can be attached to the system simultaneously over USB and/or Bluetooth HID, in any combination. For pointing devices, the platform supports most types of mouse with a single button and optionally a scroll wheel, as well as similar devices such as trackballs. When these are connected, users can interact with the UI using point, select, drag, scroll, hover, and other standard actions.
Support for joysticks and gamepads - To make the platform even better for gaming, Android 3.1 adds support for most PC joysticks and gamepads that are connected over USB or Bluetooth HID.
Robust Wi-Fi networking - A new high-performance Wi-Fi lock lets applications maintain high-performance Wi-Fi connections even when the device screen is off. Users can take advantage of this to play continuous streamed music, video, and voice services for long periods, even when the device is otherwise idle and the screen is off.
Enterprise support - Users can now configure an HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point. This lets administrators work with users to set a proxy hostname, port, and any bypass subdomains. This proxy configuration is automatically used by the Browser when the Wi-Fi access point is connected, and may optionally be used by other apps. The proxy and IP configuration is now backed up and restored across system updates and resets. To meet the needs of tablet users, the platform now allows a "encrypted storage card" device policy to be accepted on devices with emulated storage cards and encrypted primary storage.
Apps
Gallery
The Gallery app now supports Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), so that users can connect their cameras over USB and import their pictures to Gallery with a single touch. The app also copies the pictures to local storage and provides an indicator to let users see how much space is available.
Calendar
Calendar grids are larger, for better readability and more accurate touch-targeting. Additionally, users can create a larger viewing area for grids by hiding the calendar list controls. Controls in the date picker are redesigned, making them easier to see and use.
Contacts
The Contacts app now lets you locate contacts more easily using full text search. Search returns matching results from all fields that are stored for a contact.
Email
When replying or forwarding an HTML message, The Email app now sends both plain text and HTML bodies as a multi-part mime message. This ensures that the message will be formatted properly for all recipients. Folder prefixes for IMAP accounts are now easier to define and manage. To conserve battery power and minimize cell data usage, the application now prefetches email from the server only when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi access point.
An updated Home screen widget give users quick access to more email. Users can touch Email icon at the top of the widget to cycle through labels such as Inbox, Unread, and Starred. The widget itself is now resizable, both horizontally and vertically.
This is a summary of the full list that can be found here.

Android 3.1 "soon" if not today

The folks at Google have just announced Android 3.1, the first major upgrade to the tablet-specific OS since its it was released. What has changed? You can now resize widgets and have USB connectivity/host support, meaning you can use your keyboards, mice, gaming controllers, import media from your camera, etc.

Also be on the lookout for a new Movie feature from Google.

USB Camera Connection Kit

Soon you'll be able to transfer photos from your digital camera straight to your Xoom. That's right, for just $20 the Xoom Camera Connection Kit (item number MOTMZ600ADPKIT) will have you a USB port. It is not available online but the word is if you call and ask for this cable kit they will send it to you. Now you will be ready for that update that was due a few days back. It is coming they say.... it is coming.

Xoom updates - The good news and the bad

There has been a flurry of updates some confirmed and others a bit pre-mature. If you look above it was rumored we would be getting an update starting yesterday. While I believe this is real I have not seen it as of yet. Insiders says was it was pulled for some technical reason but will be out shortly. Now the BAD news. The LTE/4G upgrade has been pushed off for a few months. We won't be seeing it until summer according to Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha.

Flash was updated and is supposed to make better use of your video card so it you have not hit the app market in the last day or two you will want to update.

For those looking to annoy their Apple lover friends you can remind them that there is, already, more FREE apps that run on your Android OS than do on iOS.


Motorola sells over 250,000 Xooms. NOT 25,000. Haters. I am not sure why the iPad fan boys care how many Xooms sell but if you feel like knocking their smugness down a peg, the stories of the Xoom being a total failure were a total fabrication. So it was nice to see this story detailing the sales. Now we can be sure we get our fair share of apps and accessories.

One step closer to Facetime with our Apple friends

Qik Video Connect now works with many devices running Android 2.1 and up, iPhones, iPad 2s and any iPod Touch with a camera Apple owners and Android lovers speak face to face over 3G, 4G, and WiFi with the device of their choosing. Now do not get too exited today as the app will just force close on you if you load it on your Xoom but, we are one step closer to being able to video chat with almost anyone on the planet.