Unlocking your phone doesn’t get any easier than a simple patterned swipe or pre-set pin. But for the fussy amongst you, there’s an alternative solution to make you feel both confidently futuristic, and downright ridiculous. Facelock, the facial recognition security app announced back at Nokia World 2010, has finally mosied on over to the Ovi Store, beta tag in tow. The screen lock tech functions pretty much as you’d expect: once you’ve set a static image of your face as a code, the front-facing camera will then match it up to your mug and, presto magico, you’ll have access to your device. The free app is apparently compatible only with Symbian 3 handsets, although those rocking Anna and Belle shouldn’t encounter any difficulties. Ready to face / off with your phone? Then hit up the source link below to download the gratis goods.

[Thanks, Jerry]

Facelock app hits the Ovi Store, Symbian handsets frame your face for security originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates

• The biggest update we saw this week was a widespread push of Android 2.3.3 to the Motorola Droid 2. This one is done OTA, so simply go into your settings menu and check for updates to see if it’s there. (thanks to everyone who sent this in)
• While we saw a rollout of Android 2.3 to a select few LG Optimus Ones in June, we’re hearing reports that the update’s now getting pushed out again to a few more regions. This refresh must be done manually through LG’s updater tool, so you’ll definitely want to check to see if your phone is one of the lucky recipients. [via PocketNow]
• US Cellular took to its Facebook Page to let customers know it’s working on revamping the Samsung Mesmerize to Gingerbread at some point, though no official date or timeframe was given aside from “as soon as possible.” [via AndroidCentral]
• HTC announced the arrival of Android 2.3 for the Thunderbolt and Droid Incredible this month, via its Facebook page. [via AndroidCommunity]
• In fact, some users have already reported getting Gingerbread for the Incredible, and we suspect the rollout will be complete no later than the end of the month, to fulfill the company’s promise. [via Phandroid]
• Gingerbread is in the plans for the Motorola Milestone 2, and according to the company the refresh will begin rolling out in early Q4. [via MyDailyGadget]
• The Samsung LC11 LTE mobile hotspot is getting a new build, EF07, that appears to improve its handling of multiple devices and congested WiFi locations. It also adds security patches and new protocols. [via Verizon]
• An update for the Droid 3 was apparently available to soak testers and leaked online, but was pulled from Motorola servers shortly thereafter. It appears to add video chat support in GTalk and adds a new radio that’s supposed to save battery life. The via link still has the update available for anyone interested. [via Droid-Life]

Unofficial Android updates / custom ROMs / misc hackery

• The root method used on most Motorola Android devices has been employed to root the Droid Bionic before it’s even been released. [via Droid-Life]
• LG has released the kernel source for its Gingerbread build of the Optimus S. [via AndroidCentral]
• The HTC Dev site expanded its support for the bootloader unlock tool this week, now encompassing all versions of the Sensation — including T-Mobile’s. [via AndroidCentral]

Other platforms

• SPB Shell 3.0 is now available for Symbian^3 devices. It brings a fresh 3D-style UI to the OS, and can be yours for $15. [via IntoMobile]

Updates already covered this week

• HP planning TouchPad OTA update for added functionality
• HTC Flyer Honeycomb ROM leaks
• Samsung Nexus S updated to 2.3.6, fixes voice search and breaks tethering

Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Still rockin’ a Symbian phone from Nokia? Don’t let Android and WP7 owners hog all the media streaming fun. Nokia Play To brings DLNA’s push features to Symbian^3, albeit in beta form. Hit up the source link, install the app, and you’ll imbue your handset with the surprisingly rare ability to beam videos, photos, and music to any DLNA-capable receiving device jacked into your TV — heck, it could be your TV. Check out the video after the break if you want to see it in action before you click download.

Continue reading Nokia Play To adds DLNA streaming to waning Symbian (video)

Nokia Play To adds DLNA streaming to waning Symbian (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Nokia T7-00 surfaces again, looks like N8 redux originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Want to know where those next 150 million Symbian devices that Nokia wants to sell are going to come from? Well, here’s a little sliver of your answer. We’ve just swung by Nokia’s swank dinner event well outside CTIA’s convention center grounds in Orlando tonight to check out the official introduction of the rumored Astound for T-Mobile. Make no mistake — this is a straight-up C7 in every sense of the word, featuring the same 3.5-inch AMOLED display, 8 megapixel camera, and 720p capture as the original announced last year atop Symbian^3 — so the only real differences are the T-Mobile branding (or should that be AT&T branding?) tastefully featured along the bottom chin and a slight platform bump to Symbian^3.1, which we’re told features “some, but not all” of the PR2.0 update’s features like portrait QWERTY support and a refreshed browser. Interestingly, the carrier will be offering WiFi calling on this one — just as it did on the E73 Mode — and you’ll be able to do unrestricted video calling over Qik thanks to the front-facing cam. Look for it to launch on April 6th for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on contract (and pre-orders start tomorrow). Video coming shortly — in the meantime, follow the break for Nokia’s press release.

Continue reading Nokia Astound for T-Mobile coming April 6th for $80 (hands-on)

Nokia Astound for T-Mobile coming April 6th for $80 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

We saw the Nokia E6 first leak a little over a month ago, suggesting that Nokia had plans to add a touchscreen into the portrait QWERTY formula pulled off so well in the E71… but there was a problem: the screen was off. Where’s the fun in that? Now another shot of the apparently upcoming Symbian device has leaked — this time in a darker shade — showing an updated user interface with icons that look just big enough to comfortably fat-finger. That’s all we’ve got for the moment, but for E71 owners still waiting for their knight in shining armor to swoop in and offer a worthy replacement, this might end up being the closest thing — assuming, of course, it hasn’t been canceled and you’re still okay going with Symbian for your next phone.

Nokia E6 spied again, shows off its touchy Symbian UI originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

There’s no need to tell you that a lot was (and still is, in a way) riding on Nokia’s N8. It was said to be the outfit’s first dead-serious smartphone to rival the giants of today, and it was also Nokia’s first chance to truly reveal Symbian^3 to the world. We’ve already churned out our two pennies on the matter, but for those of you who bought in, now’s the time to get really real. Are you satisfied with where Nokia’s going with the N8? Do you seriously see a long and lively future when looking at Symbian^3? If someone (read: UPS) accidentally delivered the keys to the Finnish kingdom to you, how would you go about tweaking and / or reshaping the N8? Would you have selected a different operating system? Added a few more hardware buttons? Thrown in a different processor? Made it available on your carrier of choice? Let us know down in comments below, and keep it sensible — it’s Christmas Eve and all.

How would you change Nokia’s N8? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink