Sony

[antndecks]

THE INFORMATION MUST BE AVAILABLE. WHY DO VODAPHONE NOT GIVE A MONKEYS ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS! OH MY GOD! WHAT A TINPOT COMPANY THIS IS!

[gaz23g]

Hi guys,
not been on for a while so am still catching up on my reading!! Ashvoda all you need to do is save the original 2 files that are altered before you flash them then you can revert back to voda if need be. as for getting the mms and internet settings after flashing you can get those from the se website or as i did i put another networks sim card in and then put my voda sim back in and the voda settings were sent to my phone. i have a de-branded phone and now have the 2.1 update and as stated before it is like having a new phone i.e marked improvement in battery life and the screen seems to be brighter and a lot more responsive (i think)

Rgds
Gaz

and just to mention as stated by me and others earlier although your voda warranty may be invalidated your sony ericsson one is not so if anything does go wrong you can always go to them instead.

[jon_t]

and just to mention as stated by me and others earlier although your voda warranty may be invalidated your sony ericsson one is not so if anything does go wrong you can always go to them instead.

Unfortunately you're wrong. It voids both your Vodafone and Sony Ericsson warranty. I have contacted both companies to confirm this

You should however be covered if you have insurance on the phone through for example your bank or the shop you bought the phone from. I have insurance through phones4u/premier plan and have confirmed that they will cover the phone in this situation.

[fly4fun]

Unfortunately you're wrong. It voids both your Vodafone and Sony Ericsson warranty. I have contacted both companies to confirm this

You should however be covered if you have insurance on the phone through for example your bank or the shop you bought the phone from. I have insurance through phones4u/premier plan and have confirmed that they will cover the phone in this situation.

There is nothing in the documents that either company gives when you buy the phone to say flashing is prohibited. It's like renting a house and finding out afterwards that if you open the window you will be thrown out even though it's not written in the lease. Putting it on a website that you are not going to see if you don't buy online borders in being illegal, but definately underhand practice by Vodafone. Shame on you Vodafone. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!!

If it's not in the documents then it's not legal and can be challenged very easily. Time for Watchdog to hear about this!

[ashvoda2009]

Right.... I'm thinking do I flash my phone and risk it doing it or wait for the VF update....

Whats the benefits of no VF software, apart from the 360 Stuff. Is there actually any difference???

[gaz23g]

Hi Jon_ t not trying to start an argument over this aspect (it's not worth it!) but i now work for sony uk in scotland and i can tell you that as long as the software on your phone is specific to your country then your Sony warranty is NOT void

Rgds
Gaz

[NeoBlade]

I'd presume that too Gaz since its a manufacturers warranty which would cover a wider spectrum.

@ash: Unbranded Generic means you get the firmware SE intended it to have, no features have been removed (Facebook sync anyone?) plus its a pure as original firmware as you can get without it being custom. Since VF has yet to release their own 2.1 firmware it is impossible to compare, however the jump from 1.6 to 2.1 is more than recommended and it does make a difference. Whether or not your choose to wait for VF's official firmware or the Generic Global one is down to you...

[sub0]

@ gaz23g / NeoBlade:

I tend to agree with you about it not voiding the SE warranty if it's official SE firmware...but I don't know how they would differentiate based on the country...for example if someone flashes the global generic version (not a custom ROM) over it's operator branded f/w that would still be the official SE firmware won't it even though it's used in the UK?

I can't remember which thread it was but there was some discussion on here about flashing the f/w the XDA guys have provided and then repairing using PCC / SEUS..which still give you the global generic firmware since the phone is now identified as debranded..

so in that case I suppose the Vodafone repair warranty is voided? although I fail to see why the SE warranty would be as well seeing as the current f/w is what was downloaded via it's own s/w?

there was also some talk of being able to rebarnd back to the Vodafone f/w if needed (I'm unsure how this works unless you have a backup of the relevant files from 1.6 or whatever and you have a method of restoring that back up) so in that case I would assume that the Vodafone repair service won't be able to differentiate either? as I said, not really sure how this rebranding works yet though...

Obviously it's the individual user's responsibility what they do with their own device but understanding the different processes would be good! especially when Vodafone / SE themselves are not very forthcoming in the supply of information to us... I suppose the more adventurous among us are already enjoying what the 2.1 upgrade brings but I'm still unsure as I can't afford to be without a phone due to work commitments of something goes wrong with the whole process of flashing and / or rebranding etc! from what I've heard tho the other operators have all started their rollout so it's very poor show on Vodafone!

[vandit73]

Still no word from Vodafone on the update?! Sorry, but that's just damn right pathetic customer services! Vodafone have had 2.1 for over 2 weeks now (Sony Ericsson have confirmed this).

Although none of this is relevant to me, due to me flashing my X10, I don't like to see fellow Vodafone customers left in the dark. Vodafone's customer service is nothing but shoddy, and that's putting it mildly.


PS....Pay your 6 billion tax bill Vodafone!!

[fly4fun]

@ gaz23g / NeoBlade:

I tend to agree with you about it not voiding the SE warranty if it's official SE firmware...but I don't know how they would differentiate based on the country...for example if someone flashes the global generic version (not a custom ROM) over it's operator branded f/w that would still be the official SE firmware won't it even though it's used in the UK?

I can't remember which thread it was but there was some discussion on here about flashing the f/w the XDA guys have provided and then repairing using PCC / SEUS..which still give you the global generic firmware since the phone is now identified as debranded..

so in that case I suppose the Vodafone repair warranty is voided? although I fail to see why the SE warranty would be as well seeing as the current f/w is what was downloaded via it's own s/w?

I wouldn't worry about voiding the vodapone warranty. Last time I had an issue with my phone, a C905, vodapain told me to take it to a Carphone Warehouse service centre and get it repaired there free under warranty as it would be quicker than sending it to their own service centre!! I'm assuming they charge SE for the repair. Vodapain is out of the equation. Wouldn't surprise me if vodapain charge SE for repairs they make under the warranty anyway!! Carphone Warehouse were very quick to fix it, while my other half took his W950(?) to get repaired at a VF store and it took two weeks to come back and they didn't fix the problem!

I'm sure Carphone Warehouse don't care if the phone has been debranded or not!!

[jon_t]

Hey, no argument or problem what so ever I was just going by the argument I did have with someone on the Sony Ericsson live chat support site.
Any chance you could email me this from an se email address or something? Just for my own piece of mind before I do the update?

Here's some quotes from the chat I had:

"in accordance with the Sony Ericsson instructions for use and maintenance of the Product. Nor does this warranty cover any failure of the Product due to accident, software or hardware modification. De-branding a phone falls into that section"

"Unfortunately it does and it will void your warranty if youy de-brand the handset using 3rd party software, if you wait until Vodafone 2.1. is released and you use the SE update service to update the warranty will be in tact"

"Example: If you use 3rd party software to de-branded your handset and then your phone breaks, you send it in for repair, on receipt of the phone we would be able to tell this and this is when your warranty would be voided and your phone would not be repaired and you would be charged to get it back unrepaired"

Hi Jon_ t not trying to start an argument over this aspect (it's not worth it!) but i now work for sony uk in scotland and i can tell you that as long as the software on your phone is specific to your country then your Sony warranty is NOT void

Rgds
Gaz

[fly4fun]

Hey, no argument or problem what so ever I was just going by the argument I did have with someone on the Sony Ericsson live chat support site.
Any chance you could email me this from an se email address or something? Just for my own piece of mind before I do the update?

Here's some quotes from the chat I had:

"in accordance with the Sony Ericsson instructions for use and maintenance of the Product. Nor does this warranty cover any failure of the Product due to accident, software or hardware modification. De-branding a phone falls into that section"

"Unfortunately it does and it will void your warranty if youy de-brand the handset using 3rd party software, if you wait until Vodafone 2.1. is released and you use the SE update service to update the warranty will be in tact"

"Example: If you use 3rd party software to de-branded your handset and then your phone breaks, you send it in for repair, on receipt of the phone we would be able to tell this and this is when your warranty would be voided and your phone would not be repaired and you would be charged to get it back unrepaired"

Can you ask them where that is in the documents given to consumers on sale? If it's on a website, or in their minds, its not valid and can easliy be challenged in court. Or on TV if they want to see their reputation shredded and consumers avoid by SE or VF phones.

[Chris9james]

Ive been keeping an eye on this thread over the last week or so, as I'm as interested as everyone else to get my X10 updated. I must say however that I'm not willing to either descend to making pejorative comments, or to attempt to find a way around Vodafone's policies in order to get there. It's only a software update. My phone still works with 6.1. I can make calls, browse the web, download apps, etc etc. so - I don't really understand the fanboy antics taking place here, where people seem incapable of waiting a few weeks in order to update their handsets.

As it happens I do know something about this process, however I will refrain from saying why:

Vodafone is in a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. If they release the software early (before they have ensured it will work on thier network), I can guarantee there will be an uproar. And no, it's not all to do with this 'bloatware' everyone is going on about. It's also to ensure their customer's service and privacy is protected - ensuring APNs and VPN's will operate properly. (etc etc). If they do not operate properly, your device will not work properly, or it will represent a security risk not only to yourself but other Vodafone users. Additionally they would be doing everyone a disservice if they were to guess how long this process will take. It depends on what faults come out of the testing process.

It's your device so, sure, root it if you must. You will void your warranty - whether you'd like to believe it or not. So, if you do and it goes faulty, congratulations, you now have an expensive paper weight. (A note. Vodafone do not repair handsets themselves. They employ third party SE qualified specialists. Hence why you may have gone to Carphone warehouse. They had an SE specialist in site. so what?)

Ive had a look on the O2 forums also. and not only are O2 staff not commenting (or even taking part) the forums are spreading rumors that it will take months for the update to be released. I have noticed, however, that O2's customers are not quite as rude in voicing their concerns. So, everyone's in the same boat.

So, my recommendation. Develop some patience. If you're like me you will have this device for two years. A couple of weeks makes no difference whatsoever. Remember: it's only been since the advent of smart phones that you're getting any kind of software update at all. If you had a phone a few years back, you ended your contract with exactly the same phone (with the same features) as the one you started it with. Somehow we managed to survive that!

Chill people.

[x10mini_dave]

Ive been keeping an eye on this thread over the last week or so, as I'm as interested as everyone else to get my X10 updated. I must say however that I'm not willing to either descend to making pejorative comments, or to attempt to find a way around Vodafone's policies in order to get there. It's only a software update. My phone still works with 6.1. I can make calls, browse the web, download apps, etc etc. so - I don't really understand the fanboy antics taking place here, where people seem incapable of waiting a few weeks in order to update their handsets.

As it happens I do know something about this process, however I will refrain from saying why:

Vodafone is in a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. If they release the software early (before they have ensured it will work on thier network), I can guarantee there will be an uproar. And no, it's not all to do with this 'bloatware' everyone is going on about. It's also to ensure their customer's service and privacy is protected - ensuring APNs and VPN's will operate properly. (etc etc). If they do not operate properly, your device will not work properly, or it will represent a security risk not only to yourself but other Vodafone users. Additionally they would be doing everyone a disservice if they were to guess how long this process will take. It depends on what faults come out of the testing process.

It's your device so, sure, root it if you must. You will void your warranty - whether you'd like to believe it or not. So, if you do and it goes faulty, congratulations, you now have an expensive paper weight. (A note. Vodafone do not repair handsets themselves. They employ third party SE qualified specialists. Hence why you may have gone to Carphone warehouse. They had an SE specialist in site. so what?)

Ive had a look on the O2 forums also. and not only are O2 staff not commenting (or even taking part) the forums are spreading rumors that it will take months for the update to be released. I have noticed, however, that O2's customers are not quite as rude in voicing their concerns. So, everyone's in the same boat.

So, my recommendation. Develop some patience. If you're like me you will have this device for two years. A couple of weeks makes no difference whatsoever. Remember: it's only been since the advent of smart phones that you're getting any kind of software update at all. If you had a phone a few years back, you ended your contract with exactly the same phone (with the same features) as the one you started it with. Somehow we managed to survive that!

Chill people.

Chris9





You may well be correct about voiding the warranty I really don't know anything about that.

What I would like you to elaborate on is the risk you intimate Vodaphone would undertake by releasing the fw now.  What exactly is it that they need to test to ensure our 'privacy' and 'service' is protected?

 As I understand it the the phones are standard devices which connect to standard access points (as agreed by the telecomms industry)for the various services such as data, voice etc.  As many people have proved, it's possible to flash the generic fw, configure the apn names for vodaphone manually and it's working without problems.

I fail to see that Vodaphone are doing something different  from the above that releasing the fw now will somehow jeopardise?  The other carriers have released the fw so if there really is any truth to the 'privacy' and 'service' arguments why does it take vodaphone longer than all the others.

Based on that I feel the protecting the customers 'privacy' and 'security' argument is a bit like the 'weapons of mass destruction' argument for invading iraq to get the oil.




We just want the new fw without the bloatware without having to void the warrantee.

[shoby]

Hi folks

Well, I've been running 2.1 on my Vodafone X10i for about a week now. I downloaded the stuff I needed from the XDA forums.

Here's what I think of it.

The smooth 50fps screen animations you see on many other Android phones is not happening on the X10, although it is definitely much quicker than it was on 1.6.

The predictive text and keyboard has changed, and took a little getting used to, but I'm over that now.

The "social phonebook" is a bit gimmicky really, in much the same way that Timescape is. It works, but ultimately it's pointless.

The screen is capable of being brighter than before, but at a cost to the battery (obviously).

Games that use 3D graphics seem to run slower now. I have a couple of racing games that were pretty slick on 1.6, but on 2.1 they don't run so well.

I debranded my phone and am using the global firmware now. It's really easy to set up once you have it installed. You can get all the Vodafone settings directly from SE with a couple of clicks.

The battery seems to last longer now (once I had turned the brightness down on my screen a bit) than it did on 1.6.

I have started to receive nuisance calls from companies offering to sell me something. I would like to think that this is coincidence, but I am not too sure. I had a "customer service" call from Vodafone recently, asking me how I'm getting on with my contract, why I chose Vodafone, how I like my phone etc. I told the operative that I had flashed it to 2.1, and then it felt like I was getting a bollocking from him. He went on about how I had invalidated my warranty. I explained to him that I have insurance on my phone, therefore the warranty is not worth a w4nk to me, but he still grumbled. It was after this call that I started receiving nuisance calls from ppl trying to sell me stuff i dont want, which never happened before.

Like I said, coincidence maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, overall the upgrade to 2.1 is ok, but nothing to get too excited about IMO.

[NeoBlade]

I can confirm if there needs to be any that Generic Global firmware works 100% fine on Vodafone, T-Mobile and any other network. In fact it even downloads the correct APNs, MMS settings etc OTA if need be or you can just add it manually. Previously VF removed items such as Backup & Sync, Facebook Sync and other bits of functionality from their 1.6 Firmware which caused the bulk of the uproar.

As for rooting, yes it will void your VF warranty. Flashing the Global Generic firmware is the same as well. Chances of "bricking" from rooting... Extremely small as it will simply fail if it didn't work. Chances of "bricking" from a flash... Providing you have over 50% battery and do not pull the cable or battery during a flash then its very small as well. In fact its the same amount of risk when you flash your official firmware using PC Companion (exactly same conditions).

I'm sure VF have it somewhere and is still testing the firmware for whatever reason, but 2.1 is good to go and there will be another update early next year to add basic multitouch to the X10.

I'm not 100% sure if the warranty is indeed tied to the country of origin, I haven't read all of the small print from SE themselves to know that for a fact and thus can't really comment on that further. As for reverting back to 1.6 it is possible if you have the original firmware files or use PC Companion (you might have to edit a file to add the Repair option back).

[ashvoda2009]

Do I need to back my contacts up before flashing??? I have them on the sim but do I have to back them up another way???

[marcusch]

Vodafone, if you're reading this pay attention......

I WANT MY F-ING 2.1 UPDATE ON MY X10 NOW.

If I dont have it in the next few days I will leave you after over 10 years as a customer.

You are becoming an embarassment.

[NeoBlade]

If you've enabled GMail and contact Sync then your contacts should be in your GMail as well. You can just log into GMail on your desktop, click on Contacts and they should be there. If not then you need to tick Enable Contact Sync on your phone.

The jump from 1.6 to 2.1 is pretty big in terms of what's under the hood. If its a fresh flash then give it time to settle down. After a few hours or a day (once everything is ODEXED) it should speed up. Small things like being able to click on any contact image and be presented with a menu to call, text, view social profiles etc add up along with of course running apps that require 2.1.

[shoby]

Backup up to sim should be fine, or backing them up to SD card.