AT&T finally released Android’s 2.3 Gingerbread to the Samsung Captivate. Since Gingerbread was released back in December 2010. This is considered lightyears too slow in today’s ultra fast smartphone market.
I have a Samsung AT&T Captivate. I love the phone. Not the support. AT&T and Samsung have been very slow in rolling out updates to the phone. I know this is a difficult process as AT&T and Samsung have to work together to test and add the bloatware that AT&T requires before releasing it. But it has been too long in the wait.
Updates and Bug Fixes you will get with Gingerbread 2.3 (Source: Wikipedia)
- Updated user interface design with increased simplicity and speed
- Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)
- Native support for SIP VoIP internet telephony
- Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard, with improved accuracy, better suggested text and voice input mode
- Enhanced copy/paste functionality, allowing users to select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
- Support for Near Field Communication (NFC), allowing the user read an NFC tag embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement
- New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
- New Download Manager, giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application
- Support for multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, if available
- Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding
- Improved power management with a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long
- Enhanced support for native code development
- Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices
- Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
- Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
- Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)
I’ve had Gingerbread on my phone – or different derivatives of custom ROM’s (thanks XDA!) for a long time now. I can tell you that Gingerbread is definitely better than running Android’s 2.0 Froyo. Besides the theme change there are some new features and tweaks to make it worth the update.
You will need to download mini-khies – Samsung’s software updater to get the upgrade though. This in itself might present some issues for some users.
Oh, and as of this writing? The folks over at XDA Developers and teamhacksung already have a ROM with Android’s latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. AT&T and Samsung have some catching up to do!
Note: And no I do not advocate that you should root and install a custom ROM onto YOUR phone. You are 100% responsible for your device. And you will have voided your warranty as soon as you do – so beware if you decide to Root or modify your phone in any way.
Some helpful links:
Samsung FAQ – The Samsung guide for updating your AT&T Samsung Captivate to Gingerbread!
Samsung Khies Download – You need this in order to update your AT&T Samsung Captivate
YouTube - This video shows you how to use Khies to update your AT&T Samsung Captivate Although this is for 2.0 Froyo – same principle applies to update to Gingerbread (Source: MobileTechVideos)
Now that I’ve gotten the disclaimer out of the way…
XDA Developers Samsung Captivate Forums- Go here to unlock the potential of your device!
XDA Q&A Helpful Link – This is a post I created awhile ago with helpful links on how to Root, Sideload Apps, Install ROM’s, and other bits of helpful information.
XDA – teamhacksung ICS Port – And get your Ice Cream Sandwich for AT&T Samsung Captivate (very beta and NOT supported) here.
And check out some screenshots and my article gloating erm.. showing off ICS for my Captivate 
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