One of the original 4G LTE devices on Verizon’s network, the Samsung DROID Charge, will receive a new update in the very near future to build FP8. Verizon actually approved the update last Friday, but was the last thing on our minds after the Galaxy S4 event. So, four days later, we are letting you know!

In the update, users will find face unlock, a new photo editor, Recording Snap Shot, and Vector Font. They’ll also see a ton of bloatware removed, like Rhapsody, Blockbuster, Tunewiki, VOD, and Mobile Instant Messenger.

The update is 20.4MB in size.

More info.

DROID Charge Update Approved by Verizon – Includes Face Unlock and Removes a Ton of Bloatware is a post from: Droid Life

The FP5 update for the DROID Charge should be available to all owners of the device, right now. As you may recall from our two reports on this update, it’s incredibly minor. In fact, we still aren’t sure what it changes. The changelog for the update is nothing more than a copy and paste job of the FP1 update that was released back in March.

To pull the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. The update itself is only 19.3MB in size. 

Cheers Matt and Nathan!

DROID Charge Update to Build FP5 is Rolling Out Now is a post from: Droid Life

Just over a week ago, Verizon posted a support document, suggesting that a new update as build FP5 was ready for the DROID Charge. Shortly after posting, they pulled the document, replacing it with the previous FP1 update list. We aren’t sure if that meant that the update wasn’t ready or if some other issue arose. What we do know, is that the changelog looks massive, but it’s identical to the FP1 list. This should be nothing more than a bug fixer.

Charge owners, if you see an update, be sure to let us know.

More info.

DROID Charge Minor Update to FP5 Finally Ready, Again? is a post from: Droid Life

A new update has been approved for the DROID Charge this morning, bringing it up to build FP5. While the document above lists out all sorts of changes, it is actually the changelog from the previous FP1 update, only the bullets have been rearranged. We are assuming then that this is nothing more than a minor bug fixer. If you receive it, be sure to let us know of any differences.

Update:  For some reason, Verizon changed the support doc back to the FP1 update from March. We’ll keep an eye on it and see if it changes again with a new changelog.

The update itself is 19.3MB and will likely rollout to everyone within a week. More.

DROID Charge Receiving Minor Update to FP5 is a post from: Droid Life

At one point in time, the “DROID” tag was saved for phones that were thought to be the biggest and most bad ass phones on the planet. The tag slowly started to lose its effectiveness with the DROID 2, but officially hit rock bottom when Verizon and Samsung decided that the Charge was worthy of carrying the title. We argued in our DROID Charge review that it had no business under the DROID brand as it was released with a single-core processor and low level specs at a time when dual-core phones were about to rule the “all machines.” Other than its beautiful 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen, the Charge failed to impress just about anyone.

As of today, Verizon has apparently seen the light, offering it up for free (originally $299 at launch) and dropping the DROID brand from it. The phone is now known as the “Charge by Samsung” and has been pulled from droiddoes.com. Actually, on its product page, they have yet to remove the term “DROID,” but that will likely happen any day. That is if it lasts that long. Normally when we see a top tier phone drop to “free,” it’s on the verge of disappearing for good.

On a related note, droiddoes.com only includes Motorola phones now. DROID brand about to die or will it become a Moto-only thing going forward? Does anyone care?

Cheers to austin, Keyvan, and everyone who sent this in!

Verizon Offers Up DROID Charge for Free, Drops the “DROID” Brand is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon told us yesterday that other phones besides the LG Revolution would receive their new Remote Diagnostics tool. We sort of expected it to be a bit as they tested the new service on the Revolution first, but it appears now as if the DROID Charge should receive the tool in the coming weeks through a new OTA update. The update is build FP1 and includes an “updated UI” along with a ton of other bug fixes and tweaks to enhance the experience. 

Really though, this is about the Remote Diagnostics tool that VZW assures us will never gather data or activate without a customer’s approval. I’m still trying to figure out how they can remotely activate it if it’s not running at least in some capacity in the background, but will stop there before the conspiracy theorists show up in waves. Just know that once it arrives via OTA update, it cannot be removed from the device nor can you block it from being installed. It’s bundled into the update. So whether you are interested in their remote help or not, this service will be stuck on your phone. We have a Q&A for this new Remote Diagnostics tool here.

More info. The update is 85MB in size.

Cheers everyone!

DROID Charge Update Incoming – Verizon’s Remote Diagnostics Tool Included Along with an Updated UI is a post from: Droid Life

Are you a DROID Charge owner? Then today is your lucky day. The Gingerbread update that we brought word on last week, is now available to the masses. Simply head into Settings>About phone and check to make sure that it is available. There are a bunch of fixes and enhancements tied to this update – you can find the full changelog here.

And that puts all of Verizon’s LTE devices on Android 2.3. +1

Cheers Randall!

Gingerbread Update for the DROID Charge Rolling Out Now is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon just pinged us to confirm that the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update for the DROID Charge will become available on November 29. Full change log can be found here.

Cheers ___!

Confirmed: DROID Charge Gingerbread Update Rolls Out November 29 is a post from: Droid Life

With Gingerbread source for the DROID Charge getting released this morning, it was only a matter of time before the official changelog was posted. We told you we would keep an eye on it, and sure enough, it’s live right now.

If you are new to Android 2.3, just know that this will improve the performance of your device immensely.  You won’t find a ton of new features, but the overall stability and speed increases will be instantly noticeable. If you have been frustrated over the last couple of months, get ready to love your phone again.

The update is 119MB in size and will leave your phone at build EP4. No word on when it will be released, but rumors floating about are suggesting that November 29 is the day.

Full changelog after the break.  

More info.

DROID Charge Gingerbread Changelog Posted, Android 2.3 Finally Arrives is a post from: Droid Life

The DROID Charge and Samsung Fascinate are essentially Verizon’s last two phones that should be running Gingerbread (Android 2.3) yet for whatever reason, are not. It’s no secret at this point that Sammie is one of the worst when it comes to updating their phones, but there may be light at the end of this tunnel. Source for the Charge’s GB update has been posted as build EP4D, which is a pretty good sign that we could see it roll out any day.

We have looked in all of the usual places for support docs and came up empty. A rumor floating around VZW’s forum suggests that the update may roll out as early as November 29 though. We’ll continue to monitor it all.

And if you were interested in grabbing the source, hit up this link and search for “SCH-I510.”

Cheers Kip!

Samsung Releases DROID Charge Gingerbread Source Prior to Pushing OTA Update? is a post from: Droid Life

Another unofficial Gingerbread build has leaked for the Samsung DROID Charge and after 4 days of testing, @P3Droid says there seems to be no issues with it. Win. For all you brave souls who own a DROID Charge and want to taste some Gingerbread, follow the link down below and give it a go. There is a chance that this is the final build, but we won’t know for sure until Verizon makes it official. Don’t forget to make backups and read all the directions.

Via: MyDroidWorld

Newer DROID Charge Gingerbread Build EP4P Leaked is a post from: Droid Life

So as of Friday, Verizon cut the price on the DROID Charge all the way down to just $199 on contract. Anyone wondering why?  I’d say it’s because the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is only a couple of weeks away and is reportedly the Charge’s replacement.  (We know in the grand scheme of thing that it is much more than that, but it’s model number makes it look that way.)

It’s pretty well known around these parts that the next Nexus is headed to Big Red first as the SCH-I515. And of course, with the Charge being the SCH-I510, it only makes sense that VZW would look to move all remaining stock since there will be no reason to purchase this phone once the G-Nex is out.

For those of you looking at a phone with a beautiful Super AMOLED Plus screen though, you may want to…well, I can’t in my right mind tell you to buy this phone now, knowing what is coming.  A leak to our inbox pegs the G-Nex for a 10/27 launch, but that date could easily change over the next few weeks.

Buy.

Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Verizon Drops Price on DROID Charge to $199, I Think We Know Why is a post from: Droid Life

The good people over at My Droid World have just blessed the DROID Charge community with another Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), build EP1W. Flashing isn’t all that difficult if you are comfortable with Samsung Internal Flash Utility or using Odin. But as always, be sure to read instructions, and be safe. We would feel really bad if you end up bricking your device.

We should mention that there was talk of an official release for the Charge back in August, but that has long gone now. For downloads, and instructions, feel free to click the via link, down below. Who here is rocking the Charge? Rooted? Unrooted? Let us know.

Via: MyDroidWorld

Another DROID Charge Android 2.3.4 Build Leaked (EP1W) is a post from: Droid Life

According to a new report, the cost to end users of 4G LTE devices could drop significantly by the second half of 2012.  A number of chip manufacturers are said to be ramping up production from now through the early parts of next year which could lead to prices well under what we have seen thus far from companies like Verizon.  As you know, Big Red’s 4G LTE phones all debuted well above the standard $199 subsidized contrat price – some of them even as high as $299 (DROID Charge).   We would certainly welcome in a price drop, even if the 2nd half of 2012 is still a ways off.

With that said, the Bionic is still going to be $299.  Bleh.

Via:  Digitimes, BGR

4G LTE Devices Could See Significant Price Drop in Late 2012 is a post from: Droid Life

It’s still a work in progress, but to the DROID Charge owners in the building, you will be pleased to know that CyanogenMod 7 is inching closer to your phone.  A team is in place and has booted it, but we are still a ways from it being ready for public consumption.  In fact at this point, they are only listing the things that are working since that list is much shorter than the non-working one.  This is still a good sign though.  As this device gets closer to a more stable build, you will be the first to know.

Via:  RootzWiki

Cheers Mark and SonicSayz!

DROID Charge CM7 Also Boots in Early Alpha Stage is a post from: Droid Life