Dell Streak 7 Wi-Fi Gets Post Honeycomb Bugfix Update

Following Dell’s October rollout of the long-awaited Android Honeycomb update for the slow selling Streak 7 Android tablet, the update did introduce new bugs related to the operating system that were the result of the change from the phone based version of Android it launched with to the more appropriate tablet-optimized version. Now, Dell has rolled out a new maintenance update for the tablet that fixes some issues.

• Download the update from Dell. Rename it to “update.pkg”
• Copy the update to your SD card.
• Turn the Streak 7 off.
• System Recovery Utility: Press and hold the volume + button and the power button, hold both button down until the configuration menu appears on the screen.
• Select “update package”.
• The update requires a backup of all files and programs before applying.

Unfortunately, those expectations never amounted to much as the tablet underperformed considerably compared to similar offerings from Samsung and more well known manufacturers. The 4G version of the tablet also became somewhat of an albatross for T-Mobile as it could not move enough units to justify further support, which led both Dell and T-Mobile to essentially abandon it while Dell continued to support the Wi-Fi version with updates.

While the Streak series is officially discontinued, overstock can occasionally be found frequently on many deal-a-day websites with diligence for $250 or even less depending on how many units are offered. Since they were built with Tegra chipsets, they make good platforms for custom versions of Android and many projects are underway to port Ice Cream Sandwich to the entire line for those that purchased them expecting long-term support from Dell as it officially confirmed in November that the Streak 7 would not get Ice Cream Sandwich in while the Streak 5 got its last update to Honeycomb that same month.

Not long after the Streak series was discontinued, Dell also made other moves in order to better refocus its mobile development resources, such as discontinuing support for its previous Windows Phone and Android handsets in an attempt to try again, but so far this has resulted in an increased focus on the Chinese market instead of any concrete plans to create more devices for the US and Europe.