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Acer Iconia A500 Honeycomb 3.2 Update Available

 

Android Honeycomb Version 3.2 Auto Update Available.

Yesterday a new auto update arrived for my A500 and was installed. I looked for information on the Acer website to see what it contained but alas as usual no information.

Kernal Version 2.6.36.3+

Build Number Acer_A500_7.006.03_COM_GEN1

If you Google the line above you will find a few comments on what seems to work better.

A500 Kernal Source Code

I did find on the update section for the Iconia A500 that the full source code is available for download file name App. Guide_Acer_1.0_A_A. I though I was getting a new Application User Guide size 112,430 KB but when unzipped it’s the Kernal Source Code_Acer_1.0_A500 MR1. I think this may be the original Manufacturing Release 1.0. Just the job for for someone who likes working out how things work. Sorry I do not have the time these days

Acer Iconia A500 GPS Still taking a long time to first fix.

I had not used the GPS for a few days and then applied the 3.2 update. I have just been out in the garden and been bitten by mosquitoes waiting for first fix. This took 277 seconds or 4 mins 37 seconds! accuracy was only 200 meters. A further 3m 40 seconds before a 10m error fix was obtained. I use GPS STATUS from the Android Market as it show the time to first fix. Do not run the program until you are out side in the clear.

The free GPS STATUS application will show the satellites in grey then changes to yellow then first fix. The accurate fix 3m 40 seconds later and the bars change from yellow to green.

I have just bought a new Ham Radio handheld with inbuilt GPS that takes 60 seconds to get the first fix. My in  car GPS also take about 60 seconds. I think the GPS is a bit screened in the Iconia so needs a stronger signal and it may be degraded by the close proximity of the processor and system noise which further degrades the signal and therefore the time to first fix. We will probably have to live with it. 

Google Maps Application Still Crashes.

I guess this is one for Google but it’s easy to crash the Map if you zoom in with a 2 finger split or scroll too quickly.

TweetCaster crashing.

I use the great application TweetCaster but the current build crashes when you do a re-tweet. The tweet is sent then it crashes. Hope this will be fixed soon.

 

Well that’s all for now will be back if the NASA UARS satellite doe not crash on the house.

Oldtimer

73’s in Ham Radio talk

2 Responses to “Acer Iconia A500 Honeycomb 3.2 Update Available”

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  1. Gordon says:

    Oldtimer,

    I am still unsure, will the Acer A500 work as a free standing GPS without a wi fi or 3G connection in a vehicle (similar to the Garmin Nuvi that I have?

    Thanks,

    Gordon

    • oldtimer says:

      Hi Gordon,

      Yes the GPS will work in the car. What you have to do is with Google Maps is trace the path track you are going to follow on Google maps using WiFi at home in doors with the GPS turned off. What I mean by this find your start location on Google Maps then scroll the maps with your finger to your destination location so as you scroll the maps are downloaded and stored in cache memory. This allows them to be loaded as you move from the cache with the WiFi turned off and the GPS on.

      Now move to the car Turn Off WiFi and Turn On the GPS from settings. Do Not Use the Satellite view as this takes a lot of storage for the images.

      I have found my Iconia A500 seems to have a course map available all the time for most of Australia. So may be same for your country.

      Note: I have not tried this myself but it should work.

      Read more here on google http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/maps/thread?tid=7218301a6d915ed9&hl=en

      Good luck

      Oldtimer

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