The Droid and the Droid Eris have been available for almost five days now and from the looks of it the phones are already bringing in some serious cash. The most popular of the both is definitely the Motorola Droid and you must surely agree that the Droid is an exceptional Android machine.

But neither of them is perfect. In fact there are quite a few issues that need to be fixed so both the Droid and the Droid Eris will receive an update in the near future. And it’s not customers complaining about the phones but it’s Verizon. The carrier has already found various things that need attention and it has leaked no less than twelve pages filled with complaints (five for the Droid and seven for the Droid Eris.) Everything will be sorted out by two firmware updates that are supposed to arrive in December and January. We don’t have any exact dates for you so in the mean time feel free to tell us what’s wrong with the Droid from your point of view.

via phandroid

Tags: Android, Droid, Droid Eris, firmware, HTC, HTC, Mobile Software, Motorola, Motorola, OTA, Updates, Verizon, Verizon Wireless

The Meizu M8 has seen a tough road with delays and much scrutiny due to its iPhone like design. However, it seems like the software designers are really stepping up their game as you can see in the above video; a demonstration of the new 1.0.0.1 beta firmware.

Anyways, there’s not much to say other than that as we don’t even know when to expect this firmware updated to be pushed out so check out the video and let us know what you think in the comments.

via meizume

Tags: Beta, Cell Phones, firmware, M8, Meizu, Meizu, Mobile News, Mobile Software, video demonstration

Nokia has recently released a new firmware for the Nokia 5800, which is now set at version 21.0.101.

This new firmware has a couple of interesting features, such as an advanced e-mail application, a better version of Ovi Maps 3.0, an easier navigation experience, and a lot of bugs disappeared. At the moment this firmware update is only available in Asia & Europe, so don’t wait much more and just head over to Nokia Software Update website to download via your PC, or to read information on how to update via your cellphone.

Tags: 31.0.101, Cell Phones, firmware, Nokia, nokia 5800

Nokia N97 owners have been patiently waiting for an update of the firmware for a long time, but they don’t need to wait anymore because v20 has been released.

The v20 of the firmware for Nokia N97 has some notable improvements, such as: better touch screen usability; inclusion of Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3D maps; Nokia Email; improved battery performance and video stability; and VoIP support among other details.

To get the update just launch the Nokia Software updater, or you can also download it via this link.

Tags: Cell Phones, firmware, Mobile Software, N97, Nokia, Nokia, v20

The Storm 2 hasn’t technically been made official for Verizon Wireless yet but it’s coming, we know it is. However, if recent reports are to be believed owners of the original BlackBerry Storm may not be left completely in the dark.

Said reports state that the original Storm will be getting a firmware update to bring it up to speed software wise with the Storm 2. This means the device will be getting flick scrolling, threaded texting and tabbed browsing.

Exactly when is this firmware update expected to go down? Let’s wait until Verizon officially announces the Storm 2 to make any assumptions.

via phonearena

Tags: BlackBerry, Cell Phones, firmware, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Research In Motion, rumor, Storm

Owners of a Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will certainly enjoy the latest firmware to the cellphone, making the version go to 31.2.008 with improved features.

What kind of upgrades can you expect for this firmware version? Basically there are two “changes”:

- performance improvements which is suppose to make the device work faster;
- and the best part is that Ovi Maps 3.0 is now included. In other words, you’ll get bet navigation in two modes: in-car, and while walking by foot.

If you’ve got a Nokia 5800 and haven’t upgraded the firmware what are you waiting for? There are only good reasons to do so…

Tags: 5800, Cell Phones, firmware, Nokia, Nokia, XpressMusic

The HTC Hero (which is available for pre-order at BestBuy) just received a firmware upgrade which is suppose to make it faster, much faster. Previously, the cellphone used to get stuck or take too long while making use of specific software, but with the new firmware that slowness will vanish.

This firmware version is also known as 2.73.405.5 and it isn’t available worldwide, at least for now. Denmark was one of the few countries picked for the launch, while the others will have to wait a few more days/weeks. Keep checking your national HTC site for updates.

Tags: firmware, Hero, HTC, Uncategorized

A new firmware update for the N97 Mini is coming out soon, and thenokiablog has a video demonstrating some of its features. One of the main focuses of the update is a long-awaited kinetic scrolling update, which has sorely been needed for the N97. Other features include new social networking integration (e.g. Facebook, Twitter), and widgets.

Tags: Cell Phones, firmware, n97 mini, Nokia

Remember that BlackBerry update we told you about last week? Well it looks like Etisalat has indeed infected about 145,000 BlackBerry units with spyware which could be used to spy on customers’ SMS messages. Here’s what RIM had to say about the whole issue:

Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application… independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorized access to private or confidential information stored on the user’s smartphone. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server.

RIM does not approve such measures especially as said update hasn’t been authorized by RIM. Therefore the company is offering you a fix, an app remover which will let you enjoy your Berry spyware free.

What’s amazing is that Etisalat is not admitting doing anything wrong. According to the UAE carrier the update was “required for service enhancements.”

via Engadget

Tags: BlackBerry, Etisalat, firmware, Mobile News, Portable Devices, Research In Motion, RIM, Spyware, UAE, Update

All Nokia N97 owners should know that Nokia has rolled out a new firmware update. Version 11.0.021 is available and you can get it over the air or through Nokia’s Software Updater. The new firmware brings on quite a few changes and fixes:

• USB detection error fix
• PC does not detect N97 or USB charging connection not detected
• Widget
• Home screen online/offline widget crash fix
• Fix for “Alphabetical and Number input are mixed in facebook until end key is pressed
• Widget UI improvement - New facebook widget fixes a problem of Home Screen background visible on soft-key area
• Browser fixes to improve widgets stability.
• MfE related fixes
• Partial fix for Messaging/calendar entry lost
• Mail for exchange calendar entry synchronization error fix
• UI transition error fixes (Portrait <-> landscape transition, there is a home screen corruption.)
• UI transition (Slowness and bad effects)
• Slow Touch UI response
• Picture of the device lock appears half of the screen when transitioning the UI sometimes
• Landscape: in some cases the soft buttons on touch (right hand) show the Home Screen in background (install maps.google.com)
• Photos thumbnail performance and stability improvements
• Device performance deteriorates when lots of content in the device - especially photos
• Partial fix no display backlight illumination when unlocking lock-key - CAP Genius reported already
• New version of Accueweather to improve the “Connection error” situation
• Device reset when browsing with high speed packet access (for Malaysia)
• “Browser soft key UI doesn’t work after putting Chinese character with qwerty keyboard”
• Java fixes (TCK, Pre-install app disappearing, *#7370#*)
• Operator fixes (CMCC, Hutchson and Telefonica, Vodafone)
• Ovi store client now embedded in the core image
What say you folks? Enough changes for you?

Tags: firmware, Mobile News, N97, Nokia, Nokia, Portable Devices, Update

Apple released the iPhone OS 3.1 beta yesterday and lucky developers out there can now enjoy the new firmware update. While there’s no official change log coming from Apple, the Internet is now filled with unofficial rumors about the iPhone OS 3.1.

Here’s what we should expect from it:

• MMS options available on AT&T but the service is not running
• Voice Control available over Bluetooth
• Vibration when moving icons
• “Save as copy” option available for saving videos
• Improved OpenGL and Quartz
• APIs for third party apps that access video
• Modem firmware updated to5.08.01
• Updated AT&T profile to 4.2

Come on Apple, tell us all what’s going on in iPhone OS 3.1! As you can see we already have a pretty good idea of what’s coming…

Tags: 3.1, Apple, Beta, developers, firmware, iPhone, Mobile Software, OS, SDK, Updates

If you’re interested in getting your app working on the Palm Pre then that’s apparently really easy right now. There’s a loophole in the OS which will let unsigned apps to be run on the phone. Your custom software is now available for your Pre without having to rooting the phone in order to install it.

You should take advantage of this as soon as possible as Palm will definitely fix this error in a future firmware update. And by taking advantage we don’t advise you to conceive and evil apps and then make them available for anyone to download. You should develop apps like this tip calculator right here! Simple, safe, easy to use. At least until the Palm store gets more apps that’s the best alternative to get some apps to your favorite smartphone.

via engadget

Tags: applications, firmware, hack, Homebrew, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Palm, Palm, pre

There’s a new firmware update for your Pre. Palm webOS version 1.0.3 update is just 13MB big and you can already get it. Does this means that not everything is running smoothly on Palm’s new toy? Well whatever might be the case is good to know that Palm is on top of the situation. Here’s what you can expect from version 1.0.3:

Calendar

• Events created in your Google calendar—either in Calendar on your phone or in Google online—that contain a symbol or accented character in the event name can now synchronize. Previously, including a symbol or accented character in an event name prevented the event from synchronizing.
• Changes made to Google events on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes.
• The sync interval for Google events has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes.

Clock

• If you create a weekday alarm on a weekend, the alarm sounds only on weekdays. Previously the alarm would sound on the weekend also.

Contacts

• Changes made to Google contacts on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes.
• The sync interval for Google contacts has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes.

Email

• Power performance in areas where wireless coverage is sporadic or unavailable has been enhanced.
• Non-SSL Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) mail servers are now supported.

Other

Miscellaneous updates for Email, Phone, and other applications.

Simply follow the link below and get your update already!

via Palm

Tags: firmware, Mobile News, Palm, Palm, Portable Devices, pre, Update, webOS

We have some good news for you first Palm Pre owners! It’s been reported that the Pre supports custom firmware. That means unsigned firmware and firmware that will bypass the activation process will be immediately available for you. All you have to do is get the phone into restore mode and start to install your own custom firmware which should work immediately. Better take advantage of this right now as Palm might totally change this cool feature sometime down the road.

via Daring Fireball

Tags: firmware, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Palm, Palm, pre

Palm Pre vs iPhone 3GS will be an interesting fight to watch. On one hand we have the rebirth of a cell phone manufacturer and on the other hand we have a young but evermore popular cell phone manufacturer. Both Palm and Apple have released two amazing cell phones, the Pre and the iPhone 3GS and it will be hard to chose one to take home.

And while the eyes of the world are focused on the WWDC in San Francisco, Palm isn’t wasting any time. Over the weekend the first webOS update went live. Version 1.0.2 is now available and it’s supposed to bring stability to your Pre and a new alarm clock. In case you didn’t get it already then go to your Sprint updater and download it OTA style.

As for the SDK, don’t worry developers, Palm said soon. There’s no actual date but you will be programing applications for Palm’s new hot OS soon enough. And when you do, make sure you drop us a line!
(more…)

Tags: 3gs, App Store, Apple, Apple, developers, firmware, iPhone, Mobile News, OTA, Palm, Palm, Portable Devices, pre, SDK, Update, webOS

iPhone firmware 3.0 is nowhere near us yet but the beta version has revealed some new features of the new OS. Here’s what we’re talking about:

Audio
• Variable speed track scrubbing
• Variable speed podcast playback (.5x and 2x)
• Single-button 30 second podcast rewinding

General
• Close all Safari windows at once
• Battery Indicators feature percentages (numbers, not just bars)
• Expanded data detection (phone is more apt to hotlink emails and numbers)

We’re probably going to see even more features meant to improve our overall iPhone experience once we get that iPhone 3.0.

via World of Apple

Tags: Apple, Beta, firmware, iPhone 3.0, Mobile News, Mobile Software, software

Google has recently gone ahead and given the public a general overview of what they can expect in Android 1.5 when it hits thanks to their release of a previous version of the 1.5 SDK.

Evidentally included in the 1.5 update are a bunch of new features along with a bunch of bug fixes. 1.5 will add support for stereo Bluetooth, an onscreen software keyboard, video recording capabilities, and the ability to connect third party keyboards among other things.

iPhone’s 3.0 OS update is steadily approaching and Android remains its biggest competitor. Will adding features that the iPhone doesn’t have give Android the upper hand?

Read (PCWorld)

Tags: 15, Android, Cell Phones, firmware, Google, iPhone, SDK

Research in Motion, creator of the popular Blackberry branding, has recently announced that their debut touchscreen device, the Storm, is now ready to have its firmware updated.

The update brings the firmware up to version 4.7.0.113 and is said to be the first major update since December. This version not only fixes a bunch of the glitches that many users had gripes about but also adds some newfound functionality to the device. After updating you’ll be able to use a full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode making for a much smoother experience.

There is no telling when the firmware will actually be made available for download but Verizon assures us it will be soon.

Read (InformationWeek)

Tags: BlackBerry, Cell Phones, firmware, Research In Motion, software, Storm, Update

As far as we know redsn0w was supposed to appear only later on but the iPhone Dev Team has decided to launch a beta version of it. iPod touch owners will be able to jailbreak that iPhone firmware with this beta version and the best part of it is that the Dev Team has included support for Windows, Linux and OS X. No matter which OS you use for your computer, redsn0w will work for you. Check it out by following the link before and tell us how it all works for you.

via iPhone Dev Team

Tags: Apple, firmware, iPhone, iPod Touch, jailbreak, Linux, Mobile News, Mobile Software, MP3 Players, OS X, redsn0w, Wndows

The iPhone Dev Team has done its job again. The new iPhone 3.0 firmware has been already jailbroken but the team isn’t launching it any time soon. It looks like the Dev Team will release the jailbreak when firmware 3.0 will be available this summer. In the mean time the Team is also warning yellowsn0w users not to play with firmware 3.0 just yet as yellowsn0w is not ready for the new upgrade. Irreversible changes might occur, so keep waiting for the official firmware 3.0 unlock.

via iPhone Dev Team

Tags: Apple, firmware, iPhone 3.0, iphone dev team, jailbreak, Mobile News, Mobile Software, yellowsn0w