MiFi 2200 owners in the US have a treat in store, with a new firmware update available seemingly for both the Verizon and Sprint versions of the intelligent mobile hotspot. The new firmware addresses WiFi compatibility issues with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve, as well as – for the Sprint MiFi 2200 at least – enabling “international roaming”. However don’t get too excited; that doesn’t mean Novatel have suddenly unlocked GSM support in the hitherto CDMA-only hotspot.
The Archos 5 Android Internet Tablet saga continues, with sales of the 5-inch PMP still partly frozen on Amazon while the company has also pushed out a new firmware update. Amazon put the Archos 5 160GB on hold earlier this week after unspecified complaints from buyers; now the 500GB model has come into stock with the retailer, but shows no such sales-freeze. According to ArchosFans, meanwhile, there’s a new, stable firmware – version 1.1.01 – that addresses many early complaints from owners.
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Our friends over at My Pre have flagged up that, as of this weekend, Palm have pushed out webOS 1.2.1. The new firmware - which comes but a week after 1.2.0 saw its own launch - tweaks Exchange support for increased stability, but the biggest difference is that it restores iTunes 9.0.1 synchronization, something which Apple "broke" in their latest media app update.
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Got a Sidekick LX 2009? Find it crashes, freezes, locks-up and generally misbehaves? Salvation could well be at hand, as a rumored OTA (over-the-air) update is in the offing; according to Hiptop3's sources, the new firmware is currently being trialled by a small group of beta-testers, before the code is released to LX 2009 owners en masse.
While integrated 3G connectivity was tipped for inclusion in the PSP Go back in its rumor days, in the end Sony went for the simple route and just gave their handheld WiFi and Bluetooth. Thanks to PSP update v6.10, that Bluetooth can be used to tether the Go to a cellphone, meaning connectivity isn’t just limited to wherever you can find a WiFi hotspot.
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Android developers with one of HTC's distinctive Dream-based Dev Phone devices should head over to the company's support site, where they can find Android 1.6 ready and waiting to be installed. The new build of Google's open-source OS adds support for non-HVGA screen sizes and a new text-to-speech engine, among other things.
The list of feature tweaks, new functionality and general polishing webOS 1.2.0 brings to the Pre is enough to make a Palm addict get all misty-eyed, but the company have also taken the opportunity to sneak in a less-welcome addition to their App Catalog. Over at My Pre they’ve been digging through the new T&Cs for the App Catalog which show up when you next run the download store after installing webOS 1.2.0; in them, Palm reveal that the Pre now has a “remote killswitch” to deactivate and remove applications you might have installed on your handset.
This killswitch, Palm says in the user agreement, gives them access to “add, remove, disable access to, block, or modify remotely” any application you may have installed to your Pre. Several reasons for them doing this are suggested, including restrictions from third-party license holders.
Palm have finally pushed out their latest update for the Palm Pre, webOS 1.2.0, a 79MB over-the-air firmware install that adds support for paid apps, Amazon MP3 downloads while on a mobile network (rather than WiFi) and cut/copy/paste support of text in the web browser. There’s also a new gesture – swiping down from the top of the screen toward the bottom – which opens the application/connection menu, together with music playback controls on the lock screen.
However what hasn’t changed is iTunes compatibility, with the Pre still unable to sync with Apple’s media software after the Cupertino company changed their settings to block the Palm smartphone. Recently Palm was scolded by the USB-IF for their attempts to circumnavigate Apple’s settings by using an iPod USB identification number.
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The ROM update for the Orange version of the HTC Hero has been released, and is now available to download from HTC's UK support site. Promising an increase in system speed, together with the addition of touch-to-focus in the Hero's camera, the new software has also been tested by Orange to ensure it's compatibility with their network.
Continued »It's taken them a while to catch up, but HTC have finally added the new Hero firmware to their UK download page. The English 2.73.405.5 ROM brings with it a new lease of speed and general perkiness to the Android smartphone, together with adding touch-to-focus to the Hero's 5-megapixel camera.
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