Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab Android 2.3 Gingerbread update now rolling out

Vlad Bobleanta  By on 05 Jul 11

Sprint’s version of the original, 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab launched last year is finally being upgraded to Android 2.3 Gingerbread starting today. That’s what we were expecting of course, ever since we first found out about this last week.

And while it is undoubtedly disappointing for Galaxy Tab owners to not get their devices updated to Android Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized version of Google’s mobile operating system, an update is an update no less. It may not be tablet-optimized, but Gingerbread is anything but outdated, so at least there’s some good news for Galaxy Tab owners.

As for Honeycomb, don’t count on that ever happening, at least officially. And even if it does eventually happen, it won’t for some time. After all, there are still no Honeycomb-running 7″ tablets on the market even today, which may have something to do with optimizing Honeycomb for lower resolutions (the 10.1-inch and 8.9-inch tablets usually have 1280×800 resolution, and it seems that Honeycomb was just optimized for that; smaller tablets usually go with 1024×600 or 1024×768).

So for now, take what you can. Sprint’s update will reach your Galaxy Tab over the air, so no fiddling with computers to get the tablet updated. Aside from all the neat stuff Gingerbread comes with, the update will also bring Bluetooth HID support to your tablet, conceivably allowing mice and keyboards to be connected via Bluetooth to it.

The upgrade is going out in stages, and it will be about 4 days until it reaches all the Galaxy Tabs currently on Sprint. So be patient, even if you don’t get the update today, it’s on its way. The estimated time to download and install the update is about 5 minutes. After the new version is up and running, your tablet should be running EF17. Full installation instructions are available here at Sprint.

Via Sprint

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  • Ditey1

    Sooo – if we don’t have a contract with Sprint then our Sprint Tabs will not get the update?

  • Ditey1

    Sooo – if we don’t have a contract with Sprint then our Sprint Tabs will not get the update?

  • Ditey1

    A follow up to my post above.  I got the Gingerbread EF17 update after midnight.  For those whom it might help ………I have a 7″ Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab & had WiFi enabled & automatically got the update when I woke the tablet from sleeping.  I do NOT have a Sprint contract so apparently you do not need the contract.  Cannot speak to the WiFi ONLY tabs, though.

  • Ditey1

    A follow up to my post above.  I got the Gingerbread EF17 update after midnight.  For those whom it might help ………I have a 7″ Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab & had WiFi enabled & automatically got the update when I woke the tablet from sleeping.  I do NOT have a Sprint contract so apparently you do not need the contract.  Cannot speak to the WiFi ONLY tabs, though.

  • Ditey1

    A follow up to my post above.  I got the Gingerbread EF17 update after midnight.  For those whom it might help ………I have a 7″ Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab & had WiFi enabled & automatically got the update when I woke the tablet from sleeping.  I do NOT have a Sprint contract so apparently you do not need the contract.  Cannot speak to the WiFi ONLY tabs, though.

  • Fowler Tlf

    Did you have your wireless connection turned on or in airplane mode

  • Ditey1

    As stated in my update, I had the wireless connection turned on since I don’t have a Sprint contract.  Did not have airplane mode on since I don’t have to worry about data since I don’t have the plan.  The reason I bought the Sprint Galaxy Tab instead of the WiFi only version is because I had read that the branded versions had better hardware & I got a great deal on Ebay for the tablet.  I love it & it works great & is the perfect size for me & the Gingerbread update works great.

  • Mark Luna

    Check out this post, on XDA-Developers.com it worked for me…

    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1156605

  • Mark Luna

    Check out this post, on XDA-Developers.com it worked for me…

    Click below:
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1156605

  • Mark Luna

    if you need the files let me know, i can email them to you in a zip file. my email is mluna1277@gmail.com
    just check out the like below it fix my clockworkmod problem i was having, it removed it after the E24 flasher. and it started to download EB28 automatically and installed it then I downloaded the  flash EF17 from the stock recovery. if ur rooted it will remove it after the flash EF17… 

  • Kevin Strong

    I’m VERY disappointed.  After successfully having the update to EF17 installed, the darn thing looks no different than it used it (except for color changes).  The person at Best Buy said it would have the new look and feel for the UI….the new 3D rotation between screens, etc.  What a bummer.

    It pretty much looks like all device manufacturers (and I do mean ALL) sell one thing that works one way, then sell something that costs more that has a different, more ‘popular’ look/feel to it, then gives a vague description of updates that sound an awful lot like the more expensive releases to drive demand.  Sheesh.

  • 12william874

    I dont have my tablet connected to the sprint network and I just received my gingerbread. The icons are green now..awesome and waaay faster. Visalia ca

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