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I’ve done it, I’ve just ordered a T-Mobile MDA Vario, it should be here tomorrow, I cant wait!!!
I’m new to this forum and new to the world of Windows Mobile Devices, however I am far from a novice with SmartPhones.
I have been a big fan of SonyEricsson for many years and am currently looking for a new phone, but lately have lost my feel for SE and have discovered then marvel that is the Wizard!!! Wow, I’m so much going to have one of them!!!
I’ve been reading through this forum and well what can I say, what a fantastic resource, well done!
But what I really want to know is: software? I know the MDA Vario is T-Mobile branded, but what restrictions do they impose on you?
I’m a great believer that hardware developers know what they are doing and Phone Network Operators should leave the software well alone. I have read about unlocking the phone and moving Cab files etc, but what I would really want is to flash it with its “pure” software, is this possible and easy to do and how do I then set up my MMS and GPRS setting?
And am I correct in understanding what I’ve read, that, an out the box MDA Vario wont run ActiveSync?
Thanks in advance
Nick
Nick, an excellent choice of name, and an excellent choice of device
The units ROMs all seem to be largely the same, it's the extended ROM which is different.
T-Mobile's extended ROM installs a load of customisations such as wallpapers, GPRS settings, etc... Nothing seems to hinder you particularly badly , however if you don't want it, hard reset then do a soft reset before it installs the customisations. You then have a virgin machine
The only lock is a simlock, which means that you have to use a T-Mobile SIM with the device. Lokiwiz, a free unlocker, gets around this nicely with thanks to Machinagod, and all those whose work he improved
Oh, and activesync works fine with it, providing you haven't got any weird firewalls running
Welcome to the world of windows mobile
I have had my Vario for about a week and a half now.
If you used the P910 like I did, you will miss the jog wheel utility desperately. A brilliant device that was only let down by the lack of symbian (UIQ) development (it's harder to program.
I used to have a compaq 2210 and ran Pocketinformant. I've just reloaded it on my unit. It's brilliant, you give up a lot for the jog wheel but you welcome back the world of 'drag and drop' and 'double tap'.
If you use a PIM then Pocketinformant cannot be beaten.
Incidently make sure you load activesync 4.1 on your pc, providing you set your catergories in your outlook master list to the same as your device, syncing is superb.
good luck :lol:
I've just switched to Vodafone with an expansys contrct deal after four years with T-Mobile. They (T-Mobile) told me six weeks ago, they'd no idea what a Vario was, and had no information that they were going to get them even though Germany had announced them to the press. Expansys had the 9100 on Voda so off I went. The Vodafone "data" bundle which is SMS or MMS or GPRS out of the same pot is better for me than T-Mobile who would only offer web'n'walk *and* a separate SMS/MMS bundle :-(
Vodafone have been fine, but the SMS voicemail alerts that don't activate the little "tape" message waiting icon really annoys me... ;-)
Dox..
I have also gone from a P900 to XDA mini. Its a bit of a transition and can agree - the wheel on the P900 was a luxury I do miss but there are alot moe benefits
Now - just need to try and work out if I can change the whole ROM from the O2 one
Scott
Thanks for all the info fellas, cant wait for it to be delivered…
Excuse my ignorance, but, the ROM, is that the basic OS and the extender ROM is just the individual network customizations?
I will almost certainly, as a matter of principle, do the SIM unlock, but what is the purpose of the CID unlock?
And, if I do the Hard reset Soft reset trick how will I set up my GPRS and MMS?
Sorry about all the questions, but I’m very inquisitive.
Hopefully this will also be helping fellow novices.
Thanks again everyone.
You can enter the settings manually, which if you have them in front of you is fairly simple. If you need to know what they are (I've entered Vodafone's so often for people at work I can do them in my sleep, but don't know the T-Mobile ones), google is your friend. To simplify the whole thing, Raphael over at BeyondTheTech has the cab file with the settings in here for you to download and install as normal.
If you're not going to let the rest of the extended ROM install, put this on a memory card in case you want to run it again after a hard reset..
Dox.
I too like to have a fiddle (I had an original O2 XDA and this site was fantastic for upgrading to later version OS) but so far I can't see any compelling reason not to use the T-Mobile UK custo ROM as shipped.
The only addition I've made is MS Voice with the associated Reg change to allow use with BT headset.
Obviously if there is a superior ROM out there please let us know what is recommended?
Thanks
Nick, check out the wiki which has loads of info about roms, extended roms, radio roms and all that good stuff. Not a huge amount is specific to the Wizard yet, but the information applies all the same.
Has it arrived yet, or are you sitting by the front door like an eager puppy waiting for the postman or newspaper boy (or girl, thank you Stan)
Unfortunately I’m at work today and they would only deliver to my home address
AND they need a signature, so first thing tomorrow morning I’ll be stud outside my local Postal Depot waiting for it to open…..
Oh I hate waiting!!!
Welcome to Vario-ness !
Not coming from a previous PPC platform, you won't suffer the same way i did, by installing all the apps i used on my MDA Compadt some of which may not have been compatable with WM5. That ended up with me having a poor view on the Vario.
Fear not though, i've since seen the error of my ways, thanks to the fine folks on this forum...
I have an XDA II, and would like to update if there is a significant improvement.
I have read from the t-mobile site that the Vario does not have vibrate or voice dialling. Is this true, can Fonix be installed?
The most vital things I use are the outlook contacts, calender, isilo reader and avant go. I guess all standard apps that work on windows mobile 2003 work on 5 right?
How big is the screen?
Thanks for any help.
Well, that just goes to show that T-Mobile don't have a clue, really, doesn't it? I thought you must be mistaken, but sure enough it says that it doesn't support voice dial, and doesn't vibrate either.
It does. On both counts. The vibrate is a lot better than the xda2s in that it almost dislocates a hip when it goes off, and voice dialing works very well. With a quick registry hack, voice dialing works with bluetooth headsets too
Some have found the vario sluggish in comparison to the xda 2; i find it to be comparable to the blue angel (2s) that I had running wm2005 - bear in mind you're reading/writing all files from flash rather than RAM, and that explains the performance.
The screen is 2.8 inches diagonal.
Have any of you got vibrate working on M3000 (Orange)?
I have an M3000 from Orange Switzerland, and cannot get my vibrate to work at all.
Not to get 'off topic' but T-Mobile Czech republic were about to sell me a MDA Vario and at the last moment I noticed a sticker on the box saying it doesn't support character recognizer or transcriber .. anyone know if this FOR ME huge negative can be reversed so I can handwrite sms as MDA II let me .. (perfect solution for me)
kgary said:
Not to get 'off topic' but T-Mobile Czech republic were about to sell me a MDA Vario and at the last moment I noticed a sticker on the box saying it doesn't support character recognizer or transcriber .. anyone know if this FOR ME huge negative can be reversed so I can handwrite sms as MDA II let me .. (perfect solution for me)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both work fine for me on a UK MDA Vario, I don't know why the czech would be different. I must say however that I rarely use them because the slide out keyboard is SO sweet.
On a side note, my brother just picked up the same phone on O2 and personally I like the O2 customisations a lot better than the T-mobile ones. Especially the multiple today screen functionality.
Is it possible to install O2 extended rom and keep t-mobile comms settings? I've only just started to look into this so does anyone with any experience with this have any tips?
Thanks
I am just about to upgrade to an M3100 but currently have and use Orange Line 2. There does not appear to be a clear answer from Orange if the M3100 can support Line 2 presently or in the future? I know there have been some work arounds for some other models but does anyone actually have line 2 working?
Thanks in advance.
Line 2 is an orange feature So I presume it would, but Orange themselves should be able to answer that question.
Give em a bell and let us know what they say.
Not at the moment, I'm afraid... HTC say the device supports it, but no-one has managed to get it working. There's a reward been posted on Modaco for anyone coming up with a working solution:
http://www.modaco.com/index.php?s=157ae786233e201b03a0ddede0b3b25e&showtopic=244000
my mate has just terminated his line 2 because of this phone!
he said the m3100 would default to his line 2 only, unlike all other orange htc which default to line 1. so it was a case of ditch the line 2 or ditch the m3100. he chose to keep the m3100
Has a fix been released so that the phone works with Line 1 and Line 2 properly?
At the moment all calls go via line 2 with no visible way to switch & calls can only be made to the line 1 number.
I'm literally at the end of my fuse here. :doh: I really wanted to give the MDA a chance, but I'm sitting next to a pile of old fashioned index cards that have served as my PIM since I got my MDA. Here's my rant:
1. MDA is SLOW. When I want to call someone, the default software's call list takes forever to pull someone's name up. While I'm driving, this makes me 10x more likely to have an accident just waiting for the thing to pull up. I overclocked my MDA with Smartskey and did a simple registry change that speeds things up, but it's still SLOW. When you type a letter for a contact's name, it should pull up, even my 6 year old Palm Vx is quicker.
2. I tried Pocket Informant, and it's damn complicated and slow too. I would consider myself a pretty tech savvy guy, but I stil prefer Palm's Agendus, simple but does the job.
3. I hate Outlook! I'm not a corporate slave, but an entrepreneur that doesn't want to get tied to some ugly, generic Microsoft product that spreads viruses. I want my Palm Desktop back!
4. Internet with T-mobile is SLOW!!! I got this phone because I wanted to use google outdoors, then I'd have the world in my hands. I thought that EDGE would have bearable speeds, but it's worse than AOL 33.6k dial-up. I live in the Los Angeles area where EDGE is supposed to be active, but it just seems like a waste of $30/month.
So I've thought about this a lot, and was wondering your opinions...
I think I want to go back to the Palm. Windows Mobile sucks!! I thought WM5.0 would be the latest and greatest, but it's the same old Microsoft s**t.
I would really like to get the Treo 700p, but I have 9 more months of my T-mobile contract. I wish I could get out and try Verizon's EVDO.
Thanks for listening,
Hanguo Laohu
At a guess I'd say you're using the stock T-mobile rom then.
Stock MDA rom
You are correct. Does the newer ROM make that much difference? I mean, if my 6 year old Palm Vx can instantly go from contacts to calendar, I was assuming that the MDA could do the same.
HL
The new ROM is much stabler and quicker than its predecessor.
I owned a treo 650 for several months then I moved to the wizard. the wizard is hands down the better pda/phone than the treo.
if you have such hatred towards the wizard, then go back to the treo, no one is stopping you.
I used to have a treo 600 and then the 650. I then moved to the MDA, and I have to agree that the MDA is much better. I also agree that you should upgrade to the latest rom before giving up on the mda.
I think from your feelings about Microsoft, and this device, you would be far better suited to a Mac as your main PC, and a Palm as your PDA, and enjoy the simplistic no frills use from them.
I'm not going to bash Palm or defend MS products, merely state my opinion..
Palm seems to work fine for many people. In my experience these are people who prefer an "out-of-the-box" solution. Open it, put batteries in and go. That's fine, I can't knock that.
WM appears to be a platform more suited to "tweakers" who like a customized solutions and don't mind the effort of assembling the pieces. I really believe that if you're only using the preinstalled apps in WM then you are on the wrong device.
Using a cellphone whilst driving
Please don't take this the wrong way, you could do everybody a favour and not use your phone will driving?
http://www.talewins.com/protectyourself/cellphones.htm
regards
I like you moved from a Treo 600 to the MDA and hated it at first. It's slow, kind of like running XP on a 386 and almost impossible to use one handed although you can. But since I sold the Treo (& I've been a palm man since the pilot days) I thought I'd tweak the MDA to see what it could do. Here's what I suggest,
1 - update to the new ROM, just do it that solves a host of issues
2- Overclock it, I don't know why they dont do this out of the box but it makes the thing run almost normally
3- Careful about what you install, if you think it runs slow now, try maxing out memory
4- Use a Bluetooth headset
5- Keep reading this forum, many great ideas & programmers
After the above I like it, maybe not better than the Treo but it's every bit as good just a little different. I actually like Activesync better than Palms, really why push a button, it should just do it.
hanguolaohu said:
1. MDA is SLOW. When I want to call someone, the default software's call list takes forever to pull someone's name up. While I'm driving, this makes me 10x more likely to have an accident just waiting for the thing to pull up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use MS Voice Command. I use it while driving and I never even have to play with my MDA. I just push the button on the side that I assigned to the MS Voice command program, then I say, Call So and So and work....or home...or cell. It repeats it back, you either say YES if it got it right or NO, if it was a NO, you just repeat it again. It's really a very easy way to make phone calls while you are driving.
update to the T-Mobile 2.26 (if you have MDA T-Mobile). Or install cleaned rom, then install OMAP Plus to overclock you device.
I would know if palm is better than WM5. Windows hands down, i've used all the treos stopping at the 650. Horrible compare to any XDA. And i have used all the palm devices such as nx90 uh series. all of them cuz i sell them. Not great
hanguolaohu said:
I would really like to get the Treo 700p, but I have 9 more months of my T-mobile contract. I wish I could get out and try Verizon's EVDO
Hanguo Laohu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a air card EVDO adapter for my laptop for Verizon's EVDO. You will not get half the speed on any PPC/Palm because of their processors. Your best using your laptop for EVDO.
On my phone I just use Wi-Fi.
With BlueTooth headset and MS Voice Command, I do not even have to touch my MDA to make a phone call. 8)
to really see the difference between WM5 and Palm one should use the exchange activesync or the blackberry connect options on WM5 over the Palm ... i've configured so many palms but i would say WM5 is a much better OS than Palm when it comes to what it could possibly do.
When it comes to stability, both of them are the same. Out of 10 Palm Treo users, the one who decided on getting the Treo 700w was the only who hasn't really complained about anything.
if i were you, i would get a third party exchange hosting account which would cost around 12USD a month and see how different it is. With this service, you can have you email, contacts, calendar, and tasks (PIM) synchronized over the air to your mobile, laptop, desktop, pc or Mac ... no more bluetooth or usb activesyncing ....
choosing between GSM and CDMA is another issue ... if you choose CDMA over GSM then that means that you are stuck in the US, Japan (in some parts) and Korea and maybe another handful countries ... while if you decide on going GSM, you have the option of going to almost any country in the world since GSM is the global standard. ... even verizon's mother company, Vodafone is one of the biggest GSM service providers in the world (tell that to the government which made Vodafone use CDMA here in the US)
As far as the MDA, it has been known that the HTC Wizard (T-Mobile MDA Vario / MDA) is underpowered but having like a Universal or Blue Angel you would see the difference in performance.
Currently, i'm using a Qtek 8500 and it's quite snappy and it uses the same CPU as the T-Mobile MDA (Vario) ... it kinda slows down whenever i run PocketStreets 2006 (yes 2006!) with my GPS... i'll hold off until i could get the MDA Vario II or Cingular 8525 here locally stateside ... been buying all my gadgets in the UK just because the damn US is so behind in mobile technology ... he he he
Enjoy!
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HELP! Dash or MDA? Pocket Office on Dash? (for editing capabilities) Hack or Download (or Doea the Hermes also work with T-Mobile???)
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I've talked to everyone when considering choosing between the MDA and the newer Dash?
Is it possible to get a free version of Pocket Office to put on the Dash so I can have the editing option for Microsoft Documents?
MDA or Dash? Which is more versitile, faster, and good for work & networking on the fly?
Does the MDA have WiFi like the Dash? for free wifi connections.
After too many T-Mobile reps, HTC reps, and other users...I'm exhausted with beating around the bush form the simple, and exact answers I'm looking for. You advice and expertise would truly be appreciated. Help! Thanks.
Ryan
Tough call, Ryan... both are great devices in their own rights. However, Dash is Smartphone platform and MDA is Pocket PC platform. Pocket PC is going to give you more functionality and customization. Smartphone is going to give you more convenience and smoother performance (assuming the ROM is stable and current).
Both MDA and Dash have Wi-Fi.
Based on your other questions and desires, I think Pocket PC platform is probably more what you're looking for.
Thank you.
Thank you for the feedback.
I have been leaning towards the MDA, but didn't want to take a step back in technology advantage, given that I'll have this phone for a while and I'll want to get the most from the device. OR Should I go with DASH in hope of getting an app to edit documents? Is there anytihng coming out soon, or where should i go to find out where to get it? Can I use either device with google's new word and excel editting, without being connected to a free wifi?
Are both devices able to use Skype?
The MDA glitches and complaints do worry me about dependability. Do you believe the MDA is stable, and is the HTC Hermes able to be used with T-Mobile?
The phone I have (Nokia 3660) just died (only shows Nokia when booting up, in a continuous loop). Therefore i have just lost 600 numbers which weren't sync to the new laptop i had ot buy because my old one was stolen 2 months ago. If you have any advice on retreaving these numbers let me know.
Also, do you recommend getting the MDA from T-Mobile for $250 or from eBay? or other cell phone sites you recommend for purchases?
Ryan
I am unsure of the Dash's abilities to edit documents. I believe that there are apps out there for the Smartphone platform that allow you to do it.
As far as Skype goes... minimum requirements to run Skype on a mobile device are 400mhz or higher processor and Wifi or 3G network. That pretty much leaves you with Hermes if you are wanting to go the route of the MDA line of devices. Yes the HTC Hermes can be used on T-Mobile.
The only advice I could offer for extracting your contacts from your old phone is to get it to an authorized Nokia repairman and have them get it out. If your phone can go into bootloader mode, you should be able to rescue the data.
I can't recommend one way or the other on where to buy your phone from other than saying that if you don't buy it from T-Mobile, check around on Ebay.
Savior Pete
Thanks again.
I'm glad your active on here today.
So are you saying the Dash is the only T-mobile provided phone that will work with Skype? I don't believe you can buy the Hermes from T-mobile (just the wizard) Unless you know otherwise.
I don't see a tremendous savings on eBay (maybe $50) which leads me to buy from T-mobile simply for the support and warrantees.
I will be checking back frequently. [email protected] if you like Thanks again.
No the Dash will NOT work with Skype, and neither will the MDA II aka Wizard. Sorry, I was thinking before that maybe you were in the UK where the MDA Vario II is available on T-Mobile... that is the Hermes. I think your only choice if you are definitely wanting to run Skype is to get a Hermes, probably off of E-bay. Just make sure you get it unlocked... most of them will be. Do searches for Tytn and Jasjam. The Jasjam will on average run you $100-200 more than the Tytn.
hi, my provider (orange uk ) supports line 2 ,does anyone know of a way that I can get my device to work with line 2 please?
thanks
no, there is no way to use line 2 on the pocket PC phones, only on the smartphones m600 etc.
BMF
please, what is line 2?
I'm using 2-PIN-SIM for 2 different phone lines successfully. deactivat phone, reactivateand give him the other PIN.
Provider: Mocistar,Spain
best regards
Karl der Käfer said:
please, what is line 2?
I'm using 2-PIN-SIM for 2 different phone lines successfully. deactivat phone, reactivateand give him the other PIN.
Provider: Mocistar,Spain
best regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're using a dual SIM adaptor. The poster is asking whether the service provided by some operators; whereby you can have two distinct numbers on ONE SIM, will work. The answer appears to be 'no' on PPC devices.
Excuse me if i misunderstood... you mean that there can be no call waiting/ call on hold on PPC phones?
darkilici said:
Excuse me if i misunderstood... you mean that there can be no call waiting/ call on hold on PPC phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not that I know of. Anyone else?
Call waiting has nothing to do with 2nd line. Call waiting is an operator service thatt allows you to keep a call on hold/wait while you talk with someone else. IT WORKS on Trinity if your operator has it.
2nd line means that with one SIM you can be reached on two different phone numbers without having two phones and without restarting your phone to switch sims. You can make/receive calls on any of the 2 numbers.
Ok, sorry for the confusion
I know this post is a bit old but the answer is certainly no to having Line 2 on the SPV "M" series (or eqivalent - operator model) seems only the "s", "c" or the newer "e" series of orange branded SPV that support that function.