Surprise Interim Galaxy S Software Update

I was a bit surprised tonight when a dialog box suddenly appeared in my Samsung Kies program saying that an update was available for my Galaxy 9000 S. Since I had already upgraded to FROYO 2.2, I felt an adrenaline rush thinking that this might be the gingerbread update. So without even bothering to locate more information about the upgrade in the change log, I backed up my contacts and proceeded to upgrade.

Sadly the firmware version is still 2.2, and the build number is: FROYO DXJPE

I haven't seen any changes yet, but rest assured that I'll post back on this thread as soon as I come across these changes.

Just finished installing Android 2.2 NAND on my HD2

My HD2 was running as well as Windows Mobile 6.5 ever could, with no hanging, system freezing, etc. However, I could not deny the fact that the interface felt so dated compared to my Androids and the speed of the OS was a few steps behind Froyo on my Desire and Desire Z. Last but definitely not the least, I found myself disgusted each and every time I realize that I cannot sync my HD2 with Outlook 2010 64 bit, a task which the Androids, starting with 2.1, accomplished with ease.

It took some time for me to get up the courage to risk bricking my HD2 but last night I finally did it after seeing all the positive reports about HD2s running NAND Froyo 2.2s.

For those interested in reading about it and how to do it, here are a couple of links:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=893948

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=894423


Please read very carefully. Proceed at your own risk as I will not be responsible if you brick your phone.

Now that I am done with disclaimers, here are my observations:

INSTALLATION:

The procedure is pretty straightforward after you have setup the HD2 with the necessary version of HSPL (2.08)
I had a bit of a problem with the system hanging at the point where the Android loading program called MAGLDR was supposed to boot up. I traced the problem to an incompatibility with the ROM version I was using. The solution entailed simply flashing to a different ROM.

The actual flashing took a mere 10 minutes.

HOW WELL DOES ANDROID 2.2 WORK ON THE HD2?

In a nutshell? Very well. Everything works EXCEPT:

- 720P camcorder mode

- In call volume is low. Temporary fix is to turn on the loudspeaker and turn it back off. 

- GPS seems to have problems, but I have to test further

GPS is working VERY WELL. After an initial wait of 1 minute or so, I got a fix on 6 satellites.

That's about it. The Android version I am using is the stock version used on the Desire and it works and runs about the same.

Speed is likewise about the same.

HTC sync works seamlessly as well as market.

That's about it for now.

One last thing I want to point out is that despite being a NAND version, one can easily revert back to Windows Mobile (though I can't see why one would want to) just by flashing the phone with the desired firmware.

HTC Desire Z LCD Problem Update

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I returned my Desire Z because of a very strange problem with the LCD. Well my friendly neighborhood phone shop had it replaced immediately and I have had my phone for over a week now.
Of course the very first thing I did at the phone shop was to inspect the screen closely. Actually the easiest way to check the screen is to first of all make sure that the display is off. Then take a powerful flashlight, like an LED flashlight and inspect the underlying membrane. The problem in my first phone resembled window film with bubbles under. When discussing it with the phone shop owner, we both agreed that it may have been due to an improper mating of screen layers. Anyway the good news is that the replacement unit had no such problems. However I do want to share that the underlying layer in the LCD screen had a sort of pattern on the surface as opposed to the screens of my other phones which were smooth is. The appearance is like how grainy high ISO black and white photos might look like but the important thing to me is that there are no blemishes and no visible dust particles under the screen.
This particular unit had the hinge which felt looser compared to the first one, but given the assurances of HTC that it was their intent in the first place to make the hinge relatively loose to facilitate opening and closing, I will put this matter on my "check in six months time" list.
So except for these issues, I am happy with my decision to get the Desire Z over my other choices. It is very convenient to have a hardware QWERTY keyboard to type out lengthy SMS replies and e-mails so I have absolutely no regrets. Let me say though that the observations about the Desire Z being a heavy phone are quite correct. It's even heavier than my HD2 which is a heavy phone to begin with.
Having said that, between my smart phones and my net book I am pretty much well-equipped to handle just about anything business related I might need to do technology wise, while I am on the road.

Desire Firmware Update: Some subtle changes

After tinkering with my Desire these past few days, here is what I observed. Please note that some of these changes are subjective and I have no way of verifying since I did not set an objective baseline before updating.

• The phone appears to be much snappier overall. In fact, it made me much more aware of the lag on my Samsung Galaxy S.
  
• The signal problems I mentioned earlier seem to have disappeared. However I must point out that it might have been a network problem because my HD2 was having signal problems the other day also.
  
• Having said that, I did notice that the wifi signal is exemplary. Again it puts my Galaxy S to shame.
  
• Battery life seems to have improved. Usually using mobile networks will render the phone usable for barely 1 day. I used the networks yesterday for a couple of hours, then the wifi and did a lot of talking on the phone. It's been up for 1 day and 15 hours and I still have 15% battery life.
  
• According to HTC, market received an update and I noticed what appears to be a new tab for related apps. However I did notice that it also exists on my Galaxy S so I am not sure if this was an HTC or generic Android Market update.
  

There has been some speculation that some changes were made to prepare the Desire for the Gingerbread update but this has not been confirmed. If this is true then I am looking forward to getting what should be like a totally new phone when the Gingerbread 2.3 update arrives for the Desire. After all, it should include the HTC Sense update as well.

In summary, I have observed nothing but positive objective and subjective improvements on my Desire. It remains to be my main phone despite the arrival of the Desire Z and the Galaxy S. It is no wonder that despite the presence of the Desire HD and the Iphone 4, the original Desire remains Tech Radars choice for the best phone in the world.

We at JAC Tech agree 100% with that choice.

 

Interim Update On The Desire Firmware Update

I've upgraded my Desire and here are a few preliminary observations:

• While I still recommend backing up, nothing disappeared from my phone
  
• Upgrade did not take that long, barely 2 minutes after the download
  
• It is NOT an HTC sense update
  
• It is NOT a Gingerbread update either
  
• Honestly aside from the version changes, I have not noticed anything new
  
• According to the HTC site, it's the market upgrade but I have not yet noticed anything different
  
• Speed / response appears to be the same
  

I requested HTC for a changelog and as soon as they send it to me, I'll post it here.

XMAS IS SO EARLY THIS YEAR! HTC DESIRE UPDATE JUST RELEASED!

 

It's shaping up to be a really great Christmas! First I find a Galaxy Z under my tree, then the Nexus S is announced. Then HTC releases a firmware update for the Desire!

I am currently uploading my phone so I'll report back on what I see.

The build number is 2.13.707.2

SEA users you can find it here: http://www.htc.com/sea/support.aspx

I'm hoping for an Android 2.3 update but I think it's too early for this so maybe just a new HTC Sense is good enough.

THE GOOGLE PHONE REBORN - NEXUS S by Samsung

Here we go again. I guess tech followers should know better by now, that in the mobile phone market it all begins with rumors and before you know it, the mythical phone suddenly has a shipping date!
So that's the story of the next iteration of the Google phone. The Google Nexus S is a reality and is shipping in UK on December 20!
Do I want one? Well let's put it this way, the Nexus S is the reason why I decided not to get a 2^nd Galaxy S.
And why not? Who wouldn't be seduced by Android 2.3, a new tech called NFC or near field communication, the 1GHZ Hummingbird processor, Super Amoled, flash for the camera etc. It's enough to make a grown geek cry…
I just got a Desire Z because I knew that even if the Nexus S was real, it would be arriving here in the 1^st quarter of 2011. This means I can't get the Nexus anytime soon.
BUT there is a reason why I am not too sad, (ok not VERY VERY VERY SAD, just VERY, VERY SAD). You see the dual core mobile phone processors will be coming VERY soon so as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait so while I am excited at the prospect of a new Google phone, I might delay any decision UNLESS an irresistible offer comes along. Of course those who know me know how easy it is to make me an offer.
Here is the official Google Nexus S page
http://www.google.com/nexus/