14 DAY TRIAL // AT&T launched the Samsung Infuse 4G back in May and the smartphone was pretty popular due to its 4G support. Unfortunately, the smartphone was delivered with Android 2.2 Froyo on board, though Samsung promised it would roll out a Gingerbread upgrade pretty soon.
It appears that it took Samsung and AT&T more than eight months to deliver the promised update to all Infuse 4G units. Although the carrier has just announced the availability of the Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread on its support forums, things are far from over.
According to AT&T, this update is only available through tethered side loading from a desktop computer that has Windows 7, Vista or XP installed on it.
This means that Samsung Infuse 4G owners who use an Apple computer won’t be able to update from their Macs. AT&T also states that this update is not pushed OTA (over the air).
Aside from updating the phone’s firmware to version Android 2.3.6, the update brings the following changes:
- Improved Copy and Paste functionality;
- Redesigned Multi Touch Software Keyboard;
- Download manager for long running HTTP downloads;
- Improved power management and application control;
- Notification Shade: “Flight Mode” added (“Silent” removed);
- New Fonts options added include Choco Cooky, Cool Jazz, Rosemary;
- Keyboard Changes: Android Keyboard with Wider Spaced keys and Quick Keys at the top.
Several new features are included as well, such as:
- New Widgets: The name of the content provider will be listed on the widget list along with the widget name. Previously only the widget name was provided.
- New Widget: Traffic (Android) added to list of available widgets;
- Menu Changes/New Apps: Downloads and Google Books added.
Keep in mind that the update will remove the promotional pre-load of Angry Birds, so those who already played the game would have to download it via Android Market and start all over again.