vB Easy Archive - Sony Ericsson P1I with Fido

Pages: 1

Sony Ericsson P1I with Fido
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: jlam21

Hello everyone!

I was just wondering if anyone on the Fido network is using the SE P1I. If so, how are you finding it? What sort of experiences have you had w/ it? Any problems? How's the WiFi?

I am picking up an unlocked P1I next month, and would like to prepare myself for any weird glitches beforehand. I know this is a very vague post, but I'm completely new w/ smartphones, so any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Posted by: bigasif

I'm using a P1i on fido, and its working out great. I haven't had a single dropped call, even with the lack of 850, and reception is pretty strong here in Toronto. WiFi is great, and i never use the fido gprs, as I'm on prepaid, and it would kill my bills to use it. I was just using msn today during a lecture, and noticed that by the time I closed it, I had used 11.7MB worth of data. Thankfully, I was using a wifi connection lol.

Other than that, I'm still trying to figure some stuff out, and looking for some cool apps/games, but there doesn't seem to be close to as many as Nokia S60 phones, but I've been attached to Sony Ericsson since I got the K800i a while back, and love it.

Touch screen is great..and the handwriting recognition is pretty good too, but I use the keyboard 98% of the time. I haven't updated my firmware, so the phone is kind of slow to boot up, but I'll be looking into upgrading the firmware soon, since that apparently speeds up the phone big time.

Other than that, it works great on Fido...at least here in Toronto. I use it as my alarm clock, my mp3 player (for now, until I pick up a 160gb ipod video lol), my organizer, and my phone. IM+ for msn is great too when in a hotspot without access to a computer.

All in all...good stuff. I'm sure there are some other people who would like to weigh in too, so I'll stop posting now. Maybe I'll add a bit more later on. Enjoy the phone! I know I am, and I have a N95 sitting in front of me, which I've used for just a few minutes, and I'll be selling it soon, since the P1i is a keeper.

Posted by: rai_dei

I've got nothing substantial to add to bigasif, so I'm just upping my post count

But seriously, I've had the P1i on Fido for a month or so now, this phone is awesome, love the cam and wifi. New firmware improves the phone speed a lot btw, so I would strongly suggest updating it.
One thing I would recommend is a better alarm program, since the built-in app only allows 3 alarms...

Posted by: bigasif

Quote:

Originally Posted by rai_dei

I've got nothing substantial to add to bigasif, so I'm just upping my post count

Hey,
About the firmware update...I really want to do this sometime soon, but I saw in the P1i firmware update thread, someone mentioned it's only possible for WG1, and they needed to change their code from CDA to WG1. I'm assuming this means, when I go Status > I have a CDA of CDAxxxxxx/xx, so I think I would need to change this? Correct me if I'm wrong. Did you have to do this also? He mentioned using XS++, but I've never used it before, and have no idea what I would need to do or where to start. Any help?
Also, does updating firmware erase anything on the phone, and would a full backup be required? Thanks!!!

Oh, and yeah, about the alarms, I suggest the same thing. When I found out there was only an option to set 3 alarms, I got kind of frustrated, so I got Handy Clock. Great app!

Posted by: rai_dei

I did have to change to WG1 from my US firmware. I've never done it before either, but it was pretty easy and quick. And yes, you will need to do a full backup with the Sony backup utility...

I've been using Handy Clock as well, it's great. I would recommend Swiss Manager as well, it's a very handy application for memory management and it's free!

Here's the instructions for flashing to WG1 I used from esato.com:

Quote:

>download XS++ 2.2

>tick smartphone connect and press connect, then do the usual to connect your fone (remove batt, sim, mem card, reinsert battery, hold 'C' and connect)

>once connected go to the GDFS menu on the bottom, and press backup GDFS, once completed dissconnect, remove and reinsert battery, and restart XS++

>connect again and once connected it should show a drop down menu with CDA versions, select P1 WG-1 and press run script, the process should only take a couple of mintues

>lastly, connect into SEUS, it should say that you have a new update available for your fone, start the update, once finished unplug fone and enjoy!

Posted by: jlam21

Hey, thanks a lot for the feedback, guys!

I really can't wait till I pick mine up.. sigh, only 3 more weeks!! haha..

About this firmware update, is it something that's easy to do? I guess I could probably find a thread on here that'll teach me how.

Does updating the firmware improve the performance of the phone substantially? I have a K800i right now, and it's been really glitchy lately (i.e. takes a few tries to turn it on, i can't send SMS's out, none of the games work, it used to freeze when the games DID work

) I brought it into Fido, and the girl mentioned something about updating firmware. I had no idea what she meant so I just continued using this phone for the last 4 months..

Oh, and here's a really noob question. Can you download things from your phone? If so, is there such a thing as viruses for your phone?

Posted by: bigasif

Quote:

Originally Posted by rai_dei

I did have to change to WG1 from my US firmware. I've never done it before either, but it was pretty easy and quick. And yes, you will need to do a full backup with the Sony backup utility...

I've been using Handy Clock as well, it's great. I would recommend Swiss Manager as well, it's a very handy application for memory management and it's free!

Here's the instructions for flashing to WG1 I used from esato.com:

Awesome! Thanks a lot for the help! I'll be updating as soon as I get a chance now...just kind of busy with exams at the moment, but can't wait to update. I heard the new camera interface is a lot better.

And yep, I've also got Swiss Manager, as well as Handy Day, IM+, Opera Mini, X-Plore, Google Maps, and DivX Player, although I've never used the DivX player yet, so I'll need to try that out sometime. All these applications seem pretty nice, and useful. Any other app recommendations?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlam21

Hey, thanks a lot for the feedback, guys! I really can't wait till I pick mine up.. sigh, only 3 more weeks!! haha..

About this firmware update, is it something that's easy to do? I guess I could probably find a thread on here that'll teach me how. Does updating the firmware improve the performance of the phone substantially? I have a K800i right now, and it's been really glitchy lately (i.e. takes a few tries to turn it on, i can't send SMS's out, none of the games work, it used to freeze when the games DID work ) I brought it into Fido, and the girl mentioned something about updating firmware. I had no idea what she meant so I just continued using this phone for the last 4 months..

Oh, and here's a really noob question. Can you download things from your phone? If so, is there such a thing as viruses for your phone?

3 weeks? You should have juse held off and picked up the W960, since that should be out and readily available by then. It might be a little more expensive, but I think it would be worth it. Although, no qwerty is a pretty big difference.

Anyways, about the fw update, it seems reallllly easy according to what rai_dei just posted...step-by-step instructions...and really quick too. This update apparently does improve the phones performance substatially, although many updates, don't really make a difference...but yeah, this one seems to be a must-have. As with your K800i, I'm surprised you didn't update the fw with all those issues...I would never be able to use a phone where I can't send SMS's out!

Yes, you can download things from your phone...if you mean by using the internet on your phone, and then going to a link, and downloading something. Well, at least you can if it's stuff made for your phone. I've never tried downloading anything else. I'm sure there are viruses out there for the phone, since there are anti-virus apps available. But I have yet to come across a virus. Hope this helps!

Posted by: jlam21

I'm going to try updating the firmware for my K800i haha.. no SMS has been pretty ridiculous.

And yeah, I couldn't wait :P It was sort of a spur of the moment decision. I got my mom to pick it up (she was in Hong Kong last week), so now it's waiting for me in Vancouver. But I have to wait 3 more weeks because I'm not in Vancouver right now.

Thanks so much for your help bigasif! One more quick question, which program are you using for MSN? And does that program also support AIM at the same time?

Posted by: bigasif

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlam21

I'm going to try updating the firmware for my K800i haha.. no SMS has been pretty ridiculous.

And yeah, I couldn't wait :P It was sort of a spur of the moment decision. I got my mom to pick it up (she was in Hong Kong last week), so now it's waiting for me in Vancouver. But I have to wait 3 more weeks because I'm not in Vancouver right now.

Thanks so much for your help bigasif! One more quick question, which program are you using for MSN? And does that program also support AIM at the same time?

No problem, glad I could help. And yeah, you won't be disappointed with the P1i either way, so it's fine if it was a spur of the moment decision lol. Anyways, I'm using IM+ for msn. It also supports AOL (AIM I believe, though I don't have an account, so not 100% sure, but I don't think there is another AOL IM program), ICQ, Yahoo!, Jabber, and Googel Talk.

So yeah, it's definitely a must-have program. Easy to use too and great UI. Can even send files! There are also a bunch of other msn apps out there, but I've read the most about this for the P1i, so I got it after deciding. I think fring is also usable on the P1i, which is what I use on my E61. Then there's always agile messenger available. But yeah, I suggest IM+.

Posted by: braggitybrag

I need help deciding!

My mom is coming back from HK soon and has tracked me down either a P1i or a Samsung i600. Naturally, I told her to pick up the samsung if it's significantly cheaper, but the price difference is only about $70cdn. I'm not sure which one to get as I really like both of them.

Help me out! I gotta let her know which one I want soon.

Thanks!

Posted by: bigasif

Quote:

Originally Posted by braggitybrag

I need help deciding!

My mom is coming back from HK soon and has tracked me down either a P1i or a Samsung i600. Naturally, I told her to pick up the samsung if it's significantly cheaper, but the price difference is only about $70cdn. I'm not sure which one to get as I really like both of them.

Help me out! I gotta let her know which one I want soon.

Thanks!

Hey,
I think there's an obvious winner here lol. I'd say go with the P1 for sure, as long as you're willing to shell out the extra couple bucks. I think touchscreen + much better camera are alone worth the difference in price. On top of that though, the P1 is newer, it has a better screen, and it's got better battery life...not to mention...it's a Sony Ericsson

lol...I really love the UI. There's a few more differences, but they're not that crucial, such as more chords with polyphonic ringtones. Depending on where you are, and your provider, one factor that may play a role in deciding is 3G/EDGE. For me, that personally doesn't matter, since none of the phone have any that I can use with my provider, plus I'm on prepaid, so I wouldn't be using one either way. But yeah, you can check out a full comparison here:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php...2&idPhone1=1807

I definitely recommend the P1i over the Samsung. Although, you may get a different response if you were to post in the Samsung forum, but I don't see how you can compare the feature set, since the P1i has so much more. And personally, in my opinion, it looks a lot nicer too.

Let us know what you decide!

Posted by: braggitybrag

yeah i already told my mom to get it for me. it's just that when she first got there a few months ago, it was a lot more expensive. now it's a lil cheaper and my cousin's bother in-law owns a shop, so deals it is.

yeah i don't think i can go without a touch screen now. i've been using my MDA for the last year and it's been ok. but I'm with fido, so maybe i'll get a 3g plan if the price is right lol.

Posted by: Theberge43

Hi, I'll be getting this phone next week from my dad coming from Hong Kong ...
I have read about it a little and I now understand that 3G won't be functional on the P1i, but I wanted to make sure that the normal internet would work and that for email reading it was enough performance.

Also wondering if someone had the phone in the Montreal region and how was the reception.

Thanks.

Posted by: jyng

Just a warning to all those who might purchase the p1i for canada use.

I bought one from a local store and experienced the green tint problem. So I thought thats ok, its still under warranty, so I will send it in. Turns out they wont repair it in canada! I have to send it to the states, and that could take up to 6months to get the phone back which is ridiculous. Be very wary as most p1i's have the green tint problem and the build quality of my specific unit has been unacceptable concerning the price I paid for it.