Database Users

Up to date, Up to speed ...

Hi folks, its almost time for my annual upgrade for my O2 contract so im very keen to get myself an XDA Mini s.
So without having to trawl through another 6 million threads on ROM updates and which is the best, would someone please be kind enough to tell me ?
My current phone is the XDA IIi which isnt too bad but i want a phone sized device now, the IIi was far too bulky for me. The Wizard (variant) will be used simply as a phone, ie i wont be installing TomTom on it, i'll use the XDA IIi for that instead.
So programs i would run will be SPBPocketplus and nothing much else (unless recommended)
Cheers in advance, and yup i had been looking arround to find Info before i created this thread, after the 10th thread ROM versions kinda blur.

Shall I buy Orange M3100?

Hi,
now I have an old Nokia 6230 in combination with Mio P550. Nokia is pretty old, but so far ok for me (only thing I really hate is that I cannot sort my contact list in groups as I want to) and I'm using Mio mainly for navigation (i-Go) and synchronization of my calendar and tasks. Now the time has come to change my mobile phone.
New phone will be from Orange (under contract) and consider two possibilities.
1. sell Nokia and Mio and buy Orange M3100 (SK)
2. stick with Mio and buy Nokia 6233 (or maybe E50, but not sure I want Symbian, WM is better)
Pos:
1. all-in-one, WM platform, keyboard
2. built-in GPS, all my phones are Nokia, so I have all equipment I need, price (difference is 450euro, but something will come back if I sell Mio)
Neg:
1. no working built-in GPS, need to buy BT GPS receiver, price
2. two devices and Nokia has now really troubles to get out some no-bug fw for this phone
I have read all topics related to M3100 on this forum. This is great device, but there is big chance, that something will go wrong (e.g. loosing GSM signal and muting issue). I'm confident I will not update the ROM in this device in first few months because Orange will not allow me to do it without loosing warranty.
So the big question. Shall I buy M3100? How big is the chance I will have really big issues? Are there some S/N ranges, revisions, that I should not buy?
Thanks for any info .

buy it
.

Very tempting to say
Don't buy it!
But that would just put you back to a bit of a dilemma.
Bear in mind that the majority of posts here are from those that have had problems. Very few people make posts to say hey my e-mail is working or I always manage to take a good picture etc etc. So reading here would make you believe there is hardly a device that works properly.
Most folks probably get along just fine, but I would say that there are a number of tweaks and settings that should be done as standard on this device and then a full backup so you can restore at the drop of a hat as and when you do face a problem.
Your other consideration might be to wait for the Kaiser say, though that could be a while and initial pricing could be very high. Also newly released devices are a challenge for the ROM Gurus but everyday users should wait for several months after initial release and problems are ironed out.
I've got mine working just fine now, but I still get the odd freeze every couple of weeks - I backup a lot so not a great problem in my view.
Mike

Thanks mikechannon.
I'm around on Internet for some time, so I know that mainly complaitns can be found on boards. Satisfied users are not searching boards like this to tell us that everything is ok. They have no need. That is why I asked "How big is the chance I will have really big issues?". Guys here are working with this device on advanced level and can tell me more in few words as an regular user.
At this moment I'm 80% sure I will take it. I feel in me something like "dream comes true" . And I don't know why, it's missing working build-in GPS and big screen with 640x480 (joke). I have still one week to make final decision. Today I sent email to Orange to know more about the device (ROM version, etc.), hopefully Orange will responde quickly. If there is big chance (nothing is for 100%) nothing will brake down I will buy it

I decided to wait couple of months since I was not entire sure.
After two weeks I finally received reply from Orange. There will be probably no official update to WM6 and I'm not allowed to use any unofficial firmware without loosing warranty (so nothing new). There was only one useful information in entire email. Software in M3100 is version 14.123.8.783. But I was not able to find anything with this number. Is this real or Orange sent me something that is not useful?

I have my M3100 for four months now without any issues. You can check these faulty batches here. Only problem I have had so far is low in-call volume, but I think that is dependant on the OS. If you are sure that is what you need then go for it. Veľa šťastia.

I went from a xda 2i to hermes and not regretted it. I plucked up nerve to install black 2.0 (very happy with it) and if it goes wrong just put original wm5 rom back on it.
As for the gps thing, ebay has some cheap bt recievers and you can use them on any other phone you buy in the future (on my 4th phone with same reciever)

Orange SPV 3100 straight out of the box isn't that great.
I've totally customised mine, and everything works great. My biggest problem were the usb headphones/handsfree, which I have now hacked to accept 3.5mm headphones.
The biggest problem, which is out of my hands, is the camera. Completely useless at night time/poor lighting. Other than that, I am very happy... size, weight, battery life and speed are just fine.
Go for it if you think you can customise it.
(BTW, I am using the OS straight out of the box, so no firmware updates (although I will be unlocking it soon))

if you can wait a little bit then i'd look at getting the kaiser once that's out.
if not get the 3100 now and with the help of this place you'll get it working the way it should. imo wm6 is a must

KarhU - what was the original ROM version in your device?
DeanJ - well, I can wait (till Xmas) . But what will be the price and will Orange have its own clone?

Haldo said:
KarhU - what was the original ROM version in your device?
DeanJ - well, I can wait (till Xmas) . But what will be the price and will Orange have its own clone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not know for sure (it did not stay there for long ), but I think it was that ROM (it has the same Radio I had and the same bootloader as well, also OS version is the same) and this Ext ROM. All the versions of Hermes available in Slovakia are not localized.

Haldo said:
DeanJ - well, I can wait (till Xmas) . But what will be the price and will Orange have its own clone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well its expected to be released june/july by htc from the last i read but if orange will brand it who knows, it seams a logical step and it just depends what built in gps and a thiner device means to you really. as for the price it'll prob be the same as the 3100 when it was first released, i dont know what that was as i got my hermes from t-mobile

Out of the box experience for the m3100...had to kid myself everything was running ok, it was slow and pretty sluggish, not amazing by any stretch! Quite a bit faster upgrading to WM6, however you're always on your toes anticipating the next crash/freeze!

I would recommend getting one. I always have mine with me and I couldn't be without it. It really is the best device on the market!!!!

Had my M3100 since December last year. Best handset I have ever had from Orange. Add this to www.xda-developers.com and you have powerfull combination. I have tried just about all the english WM5 roms and most of the WM6 ones too. If you follow all the tips, instructions & advice etc in the WIKIs you can't go far wrong! Take time to read and search! I am currently running Black Version 2.0, personal and company IMAP e-mail setup on it, along with TomTom 6 and various other apps. Bottom line, go get one!!!!

i have been using a 3100 now for months with no problems at all,,,i have upgraded to black version 2.0 with i only did for fun and everything is great...
go buy one now !!!

So, I have an offer for SPV. The s/n is starting with 357. How old is it? In wiki I found only 6xx and 7xx.

It's home . Now I need to search for some good applications to work with phone, contacts and messages .

POLL: % of hermes users running WM6

Guys (and gals), just wondering what the %'s work out as for the people running WM6 in place of 5 on there hermes.
And as an aside, hows it going and anything you have noticed as a negative..
Thanks andy

guess i probably should ask, after you have upgraded, can you leave it alone, or is it one rom after another?

i have done the update on my orange 3100 which i think is a brand of HTC and all works brill!!!!!!! god i wish i did this ages ago

I used to upgrade to newer or older more stable WM5 roms every month after I got my 8525. I think I flashed my SDA a dozen times in 3 months. After I put the last WM6 rom on my 8525 I haven't touched it since. There are a few backlight and keyboard glitches that have tempted me to try another firmware but I haven't been annoyed enough to worry about it.
geekyhawkes said:
guess i probably should ask, after you have upgraded, can you leave it alone, or is it one rom after another?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

does this mean that the wm6 upgrades do not have battery issues etc like the universal upgrades had?
can you roll back to original rom if needing to send back under warranty?

I figure that because my wm5 has no problems at all I should not screw with it. On the other hand, the wm6 on my trinity is full of bugs and will be updated soon.

Mine came with wm6 and runs flawlessly. I thought I would mess with a new rom but ... if it ain't broke I ain't gonna fix it.

Interesting that the % of wm6 users is as high as it is. I would have expected a lower % but it would appear the flashing path is well trodden.
I am sort of thinking alone the lines if it aint broke... but then maybe wm 6 would be nice too lol

geekyhawkes said:
Interesting that the % of wm6 users is as high as it is. I would have expected a lower % but it would appear the flashing path is well trodden.
I am sort of thinking alone the lines if it aint broke... but then maybe wm 6 would be nice too lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Geek,
The only way to be sure, apart from this poll, is to do shedloads of research and reading off this forum eg the wiki, the mr vanx guides, all the stuff on fixing your phone if you brick it, the hard spl stuff, the forums, etc. When you have fully assimilated the info and KNOW what you need to do to protect yourself BEFORE you flash, then go ahead and flash.
The Mr Vanx guides will also tell you how to return to WM5 if you want to (why you would want to do this is a mystery).
I spent 8 weeks reading everything connected with upgrading to WM6 on here BEFORE I jumped. I took every precaution I could find, triple checked EVERYTHING, then I did the deed.
The rest, as they say, is history. Go on, you know you want to..!!
WB

There should be a third option:
"Yes I did, no issues, but not worth the effort."
WM6 isn't that big of a deal. WM6 is nicer to look at but if I wanted pretty there's the iPhone instead.
I don't regret moving to WM6 and will never use WM5 again, but I give the whole issue very little thought. Frankly I'm surprised anyone really cares.
I wonder if PC forums have these sorts of discussions about which Windows OS they are using on their computers in spite of all of the versions being basically the same from a usage standpoint over the past 12 years.

lol I think WM6 no issues is winning haha

Doom Tints said:
There should be a third option:
"Yes I did, no issues, but not worth the effort." WM6 isn't that big of a deal. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm,
Not sure I would agree with this statement. The key reason why I moved to WM6 from WM5 was that WM5, as received from the manufacturer, was so unstable in day-to-day operation that I was on the brink of selling my Tytn and moving back to a Symbian device.
WM6 has given me masses of stability and the Tytn has stayed. Interestingly, the level of stability that I now experience has come from a fully loaded cooked ROM. I'm not sure what the experience is for others on the stock WM6 ROM; however it worked for me.
Each to his own, of course.
WB

I am still running WM5, a couple of people I work with have just upgraded thier devices to WM6 Schapps ROM and are reporting no issues.
My WM5 crashes every now and then or doesn't "wake up" from a standby, but I guess thats just something we have to live with !?! Or is that wrong ?
Apart from the HTML email support, and a suppossed speed increase I am not sure it is worth the risk of upgrading (?) My device is still in warranty so I am maybe being over cautious ?

dmj1973 said:
I am still running WM5, a couple of people I work with have just upgraded thier devices to WM6 Schapps ROM and are reporting no issues.
My WM5 crashes every now and then or doesn't "wake up" from a standby, but I guess thats just something we have to live with !?! Or is that wrong ?
Apart from the HTML email support, and a suppossed speed increase I am not sure it is worth the risk of upgrading (?) My device is still in warranty so I am maybe being over cautious ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No,
Having paid your hard eaned cash for a device you should not have to put up with crashes or unpredicatble performance/behavior.
My device had 6 months warranty left on it when I upgraded the OS. It still has 3 months to go. What are you worried about?
If you take a serious amount of time out to understand the process, potential pitfalls, preventative measures and remedies associated with ROM upgrading, and use some common sense, I don't see why you should not be ok.
The decision, as with everything in life, is yours...
WB

Fair comment WB, fair comment.

I agree with the above, most who use WM6 don't go backward to 5! It's a progression to the latest and greatest which includes better interfaces, support & development. When ever WM7 comes out, then we'll be moving forward to that one...
BTW: there have been numerous polls already, so this seems redundant.

You'll mess with it a lot the first day or two, but once you find a ROM you like, that's it!

Glad to see no one is bricked when I vote!

somewhat useless thread
Tianjun said:
Glad to see no one is bricked when I vote!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right! Why would WM6 "brick" it? Like asking, "Did Vista brick your PC?"

Is it possible to return to WM5 in case WM6 fails to satisfy
Hi friends after looking at the results I am planning to shift to WM6 in my Orange SPV 3100...Is it possible to have this OS in my Orange..Anybody plz tell me what is the difference b/w both of these OS I mean whats new in WM6 which wasn't there in WM5..

best cooked rom?

hi guys, im new to the world of pdas/smartphones and have recently purchased an alpine (o2 xdaIIi) that should arrive tomorrow so i've been looking at upgrading before i start putting info onto it and wiping it in the process.
i've read as much as i can take in over the past couple of days about upgrading the software before posting anything too stupid.
my question is, out of the two rom updates i have managed to find active links for which would you recommend as the most stable?
alpine-1.11.171-radio-1.04-bluetooth-patched-camera-fixed.rar
Alpine_Ext-1.11.162_Radio-1.04_O2stuffstripped_Camera_Fixed.rar
personally i dont really mind if it has the 02 stuff on it or not as i'm with that provider anyway, going on version numbers i would say the first one would APPEAR to be the one to go for but experience tells me newer isn't always better. i appreciate any input from senior members.

Your Opinions please! (tried searching!)

Hey folks,
I've tried searching and there's no forthcoming result on this (despite that I suspect it *must* have been covered somewhere) - perhaps it's my dyslexia?
Anyway:
I'm now ready to install a WM6 ROM on my currently WM5 hermes from Tmobile.
I'm looking for people's opinions as to whether it's worth my while and what the performance differences are? (obviously it's a lot of work getting things set up again so I want to be sure it's worthwhile).
Is WM6 running slower on hermes that WM5? or faster?
Has anyone a ROM they would reccomend? Else I'll go with the Tmobile standard.
So opinions please!
Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate it!

cmon!!! you cant be serious!!!!
ppl are looking to upgrade their devices to wm6.1 and you want us to compare wm5 to wm6? i mean seriously......look at every device thread, even the older devices, you can practically see wm6/6.1 for almost every single devices, even devices which are waaaay older than wm6. and you probaby wont find anyone getting excited over any wm5 releases anywhere.......doesnt that tell you something?/
if you searched hard enough, you could probably find someone who compared the performance of wm5 to wm6 but those will probably be with older builds of wm6, and those just dont compare with the current builds. your best bet i would say is to try it out urself, its not that hard.

I know it's not that hard to test it - I'm already running it on my blue-angel.
And it's running well.
But comparing hermes to blue angel is comparing apples to oranges.
It's a *huge* amount of work doing the upgrade. Not the actual upgrade. That's, as you say, rediculously easy. But installing 20/30 medical textbooks? dozens of other programs, fixing out my network setup on it....
these take hours, and in a casual not setting hours aside for it fashion a couple of weeks.
So I'm understandibly not wanting to take the risk and plung in until I'm sure it'll be worthwhile.
Anyone got any experience? Has WM6 upgraded the speed? or is the slight graphical revamp a strain on the processor?
Also should I go with tmobile's own ROMs for WM6 or a community alternative?
Opinions pretty pretty please to save me hours of work!

2 words.......user customization

there truly is a HUGE diffrence between wm5 and wm6/6.1. i would recomend going with a WM6.1 build from the get go considering all the programs you say you load on your hermes.
I am currently using the DVH Rom build 19400(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=387516 ). I find it to be the fastest, loaded but not bloated, and honestly is the best i've used in quit some time. He has apparently released a new rom (build 19701) but i have yet to try it out. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=388747)
best of luck

molesaied88, TRY 19701, ITS FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!Quick and VERY stable... I love it.

Thanks folks.
Sorry I took ages to reply i had exams! Right so you guys are advocating using a custom home cooked WM6 Rom rather than an original one?
(I'm assuming these are faster? Are they fully featured though?)
Now I'll need to decide whether to go with Ultra or molesaid's suggestion. Anyone know which is currently running more spritely?
Again thanks again! I know the forum must be deluged with this kind of stuff

I have found WM6 to be much, much more stable than when I had WM5. Not as many lock ups of freezing as before. I used to have to soft reset my phone all the time because of lock ups, but with WM6 I rarely reset my phone anymore.
I would say that stability and the larger pool of programs for it made WM6 the choice for me.