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
Has anyone got an email address of someone high up in O2 who I can complain to and might get something done?
Bluetooth isn't working properly on my Exec - it switches off and drops the pairing and is basically a nightmare. I realise a lot of other people have this but my first exec didn't suffer this at all so I'm not going to put up with it on this one either.
The problem is, they want to give me a nokia or something while it is repaired and it's just not an acceptable substitute - I would completely lose all of the PDA functionality which is why I bought it in the first place.
I've spent hours on the phone to people at O2 trying to get them to understand this but have gotten nowhere so now I want to complain to someone higher up and get something done.
Any points of contact for this would be good (you can PM me with them if you don't want to post them on the open forum).
Cheers,
Smiffy.
Have you looked on the internet for any corporate or investor links? Somewhere they have to list their registered office and a letter there, addressed to the company secretary or CEO will find its way to a senior bod...
The thing is that although you've got 24 months warranty on the handset (covered by HTC), o2 will offer a loan handset subject to avalibility.
At present o2 stores either stock the Nokia 3410 or 3100 subject to . your best bet might be to get in touch with SBE; HTCs repair agent.
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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 People.
First off I'm using a Softbank X01T (in Japan) which I appreciate isn't really supported in this forum.
Just changed from Japanese Rom WM 6 Pro to English 6.1 Pro.
The phone works fine but I have no internet connection. No connection is setup - and Internet Explorer refers me to the connection settings page.
I pay for unlimited internet usage and I'm hoping I can type in some settings, and be back on plan (so to speak).
1. Anyone know the Softbank Internet connection settings please?
2. If we changed roms but didn't change the radio stuff and the phone continues to work as usual - am I to safely presume that the actual voice calls will be billed as per normal or is there a risk of something having changed in the voice/phoning department?
First time tinkering with phones, lovely to be looking at English options instead of Japanese ones. Now I'm only scratching my head trying to get connected!
Thanks for your advice if you have any. Grant.
May want to ask in the hermes forum since that is the device you have and it has more active users than this forum.
Really - I thought it was a different animal altogether.
I have an X01T which is the Japanese Softbank version of the Toshiba G900.
The other nearest sounding phone name is the X01HT which people talk about on here quite a bit.
I respect this site and the intelligent stuff in here and Google points to here a lot so I don't know where else to look. There are some cool and clever Chinese sites doing some great things with this phone but my Chinese can only just about get me spring rolls and a side or Flied Lice!
I'll look around the forum some more...thanks a lot.
Hi, using Rhodium with SetModelID running on it and "making" my phone model Raphael. I then use BBConnect to get work emails, since the company uses BES. Works well so far. However IT department contacted me "worried" that I use unauthorised device. They see that I use HTC device and BBConnect application instead or real BB device. This does not bother me, but knowing IT department fear to whatever they do not understand or can not completely control, I have few questions:
1. Is there any way I can hide my model, and software I use? So that on Server they would see their joy and pride BB device?
2. Should that be not possible and in case they would dare to cut me off the email access due to "unauthorised device use", I would like to argue the case Do you know if risk, workload or anything else to the server increases once HTC+BBConnect is used instead of BB device? This would help me to understand if they have a logical concern about HTC on BES or if it is only their usual fear of unknown...
Does that mean there is no way to hide model, so that on server side it would be seen as BB phone?