Sony Tablet S gets Updated to Android 3.2!

That's right.  The S has only been out for a day or two, but mine is downloading an update to Android 3.2.   No indication if there is are any Sony enhancements on top of what 3.2 brings, but you have to give Sony props for getting this tablet updated so quickly.

The update is 183.1mb, and will take awhile to download.  Mine looks like it'll finish after 20 minutes or so. It will warn you to plug in the AC charger before continuing.  Once ready the tablet reboots to install the update.

OK, now all updated.  No new apps I can see. Looks like all we get is the few new features Android 3.2 brings.

For my full review scroll down or hit this LINK.  Thanks for visiting!

4D

Archos' Gen8 Tablets Updated. Minor Fixes and Major New Features!

NEW!

On April 21, 2011 Archos release version 2.3.26 firmware for its generation 8 tablets. The Changes include:

• Wi-Fi: fix cannot scan on an access point above channel 11 regression
• Phone tethering: fix TCP/IP header compression setting crash
• System stability: avoid Android reboot in case of missing audio
• Media library: fix media libray not updated on hard drive based A70
• Notification: decrease low battery notification volume
• Application: attempt to solve Pandora application not able to switch songs
• Application: solve music lag in applications using OGG format
• Bluetooth GPS: increase compatibility with 3rd party applications
• Display: avoid white/black screen happening sometimes when switching back the display on.

Download page.

On April 13, 2011 Archos released version 2.3.20 firmware for its generation 8 tablets.  The Changes include:
Version 2.3.20:

• Application: a new Archos remote service and universal Android application to control your Archos device remotely using Wi-Fi. It is intended to operate your Archos using any Android phone/device for instance when the Archos is connected to the TV. The "Archos Remote Control" application is available on Android Market and on Appslib
• Application: a new Archos YouTube application to easily view and play YouTube videos
• Network shares: samba network share transfer speed has been enhanced to support HD streaming
• Network shares: password protected shares are now discoverable
• Media library: improve indexing behavior and robustness
• Media info scraper: more robust poster and information retrieval process for TV and movie shows
• Media library cleaning: all multimedia information (movie/tv shows posters and indexation data) can be cleared through settings->repair/formatting/reset multimedia library entry
• Contacts: fix importation and exportation of Vcards
• Applications: fix sound muted when initiating a call with Fring
• Screen snapshot: fix capture for all screens and TV
• Camera: increase quality of 720P H264 recording (decrease blockiness effect)
• Multimedia: improve UPNP stability preventing hangs when Wi-Fi connection stops
• Multimedia: for shoutcast network streams display url, station, genre on MusicPlayer
• Multimedia: fix next playing video being paused at start in folder play mode
• Multimedia: MMS playback support has been fixed
• Multimedia: MIDI playback support has been fixed
• Multimedia: fix compatibility with Rhapsody player application
• Audio: fixed alarm volume when headphone are plugged (was lowered)
• Video: fix some MPEG2 files not playing correctly on A28
• Video: fix seeking in AVI with layer2 VBR sound
• MusicPlayer: display track number (like "3/10") for A43/A70/A101
• Videoplayer: fix folder play mode with HD video
• Subtitles: auto detect UTF8 codepage
• Storage: remove disk damage notification happening sometimes even after a successful file system check
• Peripherals: display a notification when plugging a USB device that requires more than 100mA current for A28/A32/A70 to provide feedback that it is not supported (e.g. some USB keys)
• Battery: improve prediction of wake up time to shutdown the product when battery is low
• Proxy: http proxy support has been fixed
• Phone tethering: increase compatibility with Blackberry phones (introduction of a setting to enable TCP/IP header compression)

You can find the firmware here:  LINK

One new feature I'm delighted to see is the remote control application.  It allows any Android 2.1 device to control your Archos gen8 device while it is hooked up to your TV. It means you can sit back on the couch and interact with android on your HDTV with no cable between your phone and the Archos device.  You can download the Archos Remote APK here:  LINK

I'm delighted to see Archos providing continued support for their gen8 tablets.  They've made mine even better than it was when I bought them.

4D

Archos' Latest Tablets got a Firmware Update Today.

If you are still undecided about getting one of Archos' latest tablets, then you don't have any more excuses. Today they updated the firmware to version 2.2.1.  It includes 30 individual fixes for the tablets including:

• Video: fix some audio glitches after seeking WMA files
• Video: add support for MTS files
• Video: bring UTF-8 and UTF-16 encoded subtitles format support
• Video: fix SUB subtitles sometimes truncated
• Video: add IDX/SUB subtitle handling
• Video: fix http://.*mpeg playback
• Video: support resume and bookmark for network shares
• Video: fix some FLV files not playing
• Youtube: fix mobile site video not playing
• Multimedia: fix RTSP support for Android applications
• Multimedia: fix some web radio applications by adding basic M3U support
• Audio: apply shorter steps in audio balance tuning
• Audio: fix sound glitch on system notification while playing music
• Music browser: fix album view crash on scroll with a lot of albums
• Music: support samba protected directory access
• Thumbnails: resolve thumbs generation freeze
• Indexing: improve rescan robustness
• Indexing: fix scanning not restarting after connecting device on PC or ejecting SDCard
• Network shares: large files (>2GB) can now be played
• Wi-Fi: fix disabling power saving not working
• Wi-Fi: enable IEEE802.11n support
• Wi-Fi: achieve faster reconnection
• SD Card: fix sd card removal not being taken into account
• Storage: enable EXT3 file system support and migration
• USB keyboard: fix external directional keys layout when rotating the device
• Memory: enable 32MB swap by default and increase it to 64MB after Android reset or full device reformat
• Applications: fix applications disappearing sometimes between reboots
• Applications: fix unit not responsive after Google voice search use
• Power management: allow to define deep sleep mode by default in settings/about device/power management
• VPN: PPTP VPN support has been fixed  

What it means is that Archos is standing behind this generation of tablet devices with all their resources.  The same download will work for their 28it, 32it, 43it, 70it, and 101it. To install it just copy the downloaded file to the uppermost folder on your device. Then disconnect from the USB cable to have it begin the install.   Many users have reported the devices themselves will find and download it directly, as well as install it.

Enjoy!
4D

Upgrade/Update Ponderings.

It's the time of year when old products get updated, and new products start appearing just in time for the Christmas buying season. I'm particularly interested in what new media players may appear from Apple in September and from Samsung this month. I'd also love to see some major manufacturer come out with a touchscreen challenger. Microsoft? Dell? Sony? Sandisk? Anyone?

There are strong indications the iPod Touch may get re-engineered. More memory perhaps. Perhaps changing to a plastic back that would come in more than one color. I'd love to see Apple add stereo bluetooth to it, despite many Apple fanboy protestations. There are lossless bluetooth compression protocals available now, leaving no reason to believe that listening to your iPod's music via bluetooth would diminish it's quality.

The Samsung YP-P2 will be redesigned, and at minimum be getting haptic touch response. The P2 could stand utilization of the multitouch potential of it's screen, more memory, and maybe even wifi/web access. Samsung has expressed a desire to double it's U.S. sales this year, and although pocket MP3 players aren't their prime money maker, a better P2 would help a little. There are downloadable games for the P2 in Korea. Samsung should bring the 16gb model (or even a 32gb model) to the U.S., and let us also have access to more games and other apps. If you haven't been following the P2's Bluewave Upgrade saga, you need to check THIS SITE out. The latest update allows P2 owners to create their own home page graphics and share them with others.

Microsoft is rumored to be considering a Phone with the Zune interface. Most popular phones these days are touchscreens, so imagine a new Zune player with a full touchscreen UI. Keep the 80gb model as-is, but add 8gb and 16gb flash models with wifi web access, 480x272 touchscreens, and direct access to the Zune store. Less likely than a new Touch or P2, but wouldn't it be sweet?Then there is Dell. They've announced they'll be re-entering the portable player market. No one has seen any prototypes. If they only produce one model and it's not a touchscreen, they haven't got a chance.

I suspect Sony has a Touchscreen player waiting in the wings. I believe they've been patiently checking out the competition, and won't release a new player with touchscreen until they are sure it will be amazing. Sony used to own the portable media player market, and I believe they want to own it again. It will take an amazing touchscreen player to get the world's attention away from Apple.

So bring on the Updates/Upgrades! I'm on the search for the best pocket media player out there, and I haven't found it yet.

4D

One more time. Emodio 1.0.1.4/1.0.1.2 for the Samsung P2

Yes. Samsung's EmoDio application offered up another small update today. No clue as to what has been changed. My guess is small bug fixes. Very suprising to see updates so close together. My guess is that the Samsung software engineers have been given a deadline by which to have the application perfected. Of course every fix needs some real world testing. We get frequent updates so they can check them off the list and move on.