Asus last night announced another attempt to fix the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update for its Asus EeePad Transformer TF101 tablet/laptop hybrid.
TF101: can Asus Transform it into an ICS device?
According to Asus the latest software update to the Asus EeePad Transformer TF101 adds Face Unlock, some email improvements and System Bar Unlock. Update 9.2.1.24 is a small update available over the air. You can read the full announcement on Asus' Facebook page.
Despite the TF101 being one of the first devices to get over the air (OTA) upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich, the roll out has been plagued with problems. By our reckoning, this is Asus' fourth attempt to get the upgrade right. As long ago as March 6 we reported that the attempt to migrate the Transformer TF101 tablet to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) had brought various problems.
Asus had released the OTA upgrade in February, and at the time said it was working on a fix because of a number of different problems experienced by its users. Users were complaining about graphics problems, random reboots, crashing and battery issues.
At the time Asus said on Facebook, "Thank you to everyone who has given us feedback regarding the ICS TF101 update. We apologise for the issues some users have been experiencing and we'd like to assure you all that we are working on a fix. We don't have an exact date for release yet but we're aiming for early next week."
Less than a week later we noted that a firmware update by Asus still hasn’t fixed the issues brought to the Transformer TF101by its upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Asus said on Facebook at the time, "If you own a Transformer TF101 you will have received your update over the weekend. If you haven't got it already check for it on your tablet!"
Asus asked for feedback from its customers on the upgrade and the results weren’t very positive. One user reported still having freezing and random reboots while another said there has been a small performance improvement. Indeed, the vast majority of replies to the post were users complaining of various faults.
Then at the end of April Asus had yet another go. The firm launched version 9.2.1.21, saying at the time it would improve "system stability, email stability, AppBackup app, MyLibrary stability, supports Wi-Fi Direct, supports unzip in File Manager and adds a restore tab function in Browser". Again, the feedback we saw was mostly negative, with one user commenting on PC Advisor: "What did this fix? NOTHING".
It goes without saying that both Asus and long-suffering TF101 users will be hoping that this is a case of fourth time lucky. If you are a Transformer user, let us know in the comments below how you are getting on.
According to Asus, the full list of improvements released yesterday for the EeePad Transformer TF101 is:
- Add Facebook Unlock Feature
- Add System Bar Lock
- Add Email App new feature: Email download size/Threading/Out of office notice/Mail Sync Schedule
- Improves System stability
- Improves Email App stability
- Improves MyNet stability
- Improves MuLibrary stability
- Face Unlock (Lets you unlock your device using the on-board camera)
Comments
Hshshsjsj said: This feeling is very mutual all I want is my money back Iam getting angry with this company as well
Dave said: Iam absolutely disgusted with this product we have two of these pieces of rubbish and are sending ours back for the second time all I want is our money back I am not on a complete rampage we do own a desk top asus as well which makes me annoyed when I can clearly see that its not the company but this product Please help I want my money back Id rather have a nexus 7
Marcia said: I also hav a TF101 everythind worked so well until I started having problems truning it onsometimes it would take longer than 30 seconds and now it doesnt turn on at all unless I have it docked or with the power supply on Its not battery problem since as soon as it is turned on i may undock it or disconnect the power supply that it will work nicely for the whole day Ive tried to find a solution for this problem tried to contact asus support but I couldnt Their support page is terrible the forum is also terrible and nowhere there they say something about this problem but I see that a lot TF101 owners have been going through it I am really angry at ASUS
A-knight5 said: I cannot get e-mail to work to my exchange server and I keep getting the message that e-mail has stopped working This is getting quite annoying
Hayesbryan53 said: my asus tablet 101 has me totally locked outthe screen only shows a number padampwhere that comes from is unknown so every attempt at selecting random numbers i get message sorry wrong number no internet connection as it then quickly turns itself offIm cluelessampi paid around 500 at best buy for this at xmas time bryan hayes
esiu said: and you wrote that for exactly what reason just to have your 2 seconds on the internet
WrongPassword said: Looks like it fixed the random reboot problem It still is having problems with 720p high profile video that Honeycomb did not
Dale King said: I did the update this morning and now have an unusable Transformer Only a handful of apps will run I get all sorts of messages about apps stopping Google play store fails all downloadsTried seeing I can reapply the update because I think it did not actually update since my about says I am still at 92121 but I get Unfortunately DMClient has stopped
tellis30 said: Bought one on Black Fri and havent looked back No reboots ICS installed clean as a whistle firmwares updated trouble free Hmmm maybe buying it in Iowa was the secret
Guest said: 3rd night no reboots make sure you cold boot it
R3ddst3r said: No random reboots after 24 update 2days now-
Rmdscuba said: I had the SOD sleep of death twice since the 24 update yesterdayThe battery with dual battery widget is dropping faster than Ive ever seen
Robson Raiol said: I am still having the same rebooting problem It is still asking sometimes to power off When pressing power button shortly it does not go to the sleep mode If I press power button for more then two seconds it does not power off but reboots
Tech Martian said: Just downloaded it havent yet experienced the new fix so I cannot comment further but I will probably come back with a small review
EJ said: just returned my new tf101 with the latest ICS upgrade non-fix I think the focus should have been to get the os stable before adding more bells and whistles A long time Asus fan I cannot imagine how this unstable ug to ICS got past such respected techs The online help tech said the ug was still a little buggy and advised me to wind back to Honeycomb until things settled down Too hard paid the rta charges and am out to buy something different today Now Im stuck with a new unopened docking keyboard Sigh
Mm5600 said: plaqued really I think that is a little hard on ASUS considering they have been the quickest and the most customer loyal based compnay
cmorticum said: Just updated Waiting for a reboot and graphical artifacts Checking for the latter now
Isoboy said: Just updated Keypad still dead Anticipating reboots
Matt Egan said: Sounds hopeful
Kevin said: 48 hours and no random reboots with 24 update