vB Easy Archive - starting to like siemens more and more

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starting to like siemens more and more
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Posted by: alpha tag

well, as u can see from my profile, i'm an E/// addict

i've heard/read good things about siemens mobile handsets today as compared to the dark days of the S40 and M46..

i did the A56 -> C56 conversion last night and thanks all for the help, especially johnnyt... screw those china usb drivers i had

like mosquito_R said in another thread, the instructions are idiot proof lol..

can't wait to put this A/C56 on rogers for my dad.. rf should be good as read from reviews and user opinions..

the siemens UI is pretty good, not too hard to use... this phone loads my sim cards super fast! faster than E/// and Nokia (but Nokia i've found to be the slowest..) the shortcut button and keys are intuitive and it reminds of me using an vtech A700.. (of course the siemens UI is waaaaaaay better than that vtech

)

my gripes thus far on the UI is when i want to use the 'select' button, it is the RIGHT softkey as opposed to a more standard LEFT softkey.. i suppose it's just something to get used to, but i'm always finding myself trying to select something w/ the LEFT softkey and nothing happens or it pops up the option window

the poly rings are quite loud, almost as loud as my bro's S55 which i think is fantastic... i loaded an SE song from one of their ads in midi format hehe.. so there's a little SE in it

overall a good experience thus far... good work siemens and thanks for the useful help and knowledge siemens fans!

sorry for the long testimonial

Posted by: mosquito_R

Alpha Tag,

Sounds like you're another happy camper with Siemens... just like me! I've been a Nokia junkie for the longest time, but didn't quite realise how nice of a phone the A56 is until I bought one for my gf. It functions so well as a basic phone that I ended up buying one for myself to prevent banging up my 7250i at work.

But it wasn't until I found out about the A56>C56 conversion did I really LOVE this phone.

I think the Siemens file system and how the phone just works so well with the factory software is one big motivator for me to purchase another Siemens for my next phone. The Siemens factory data suite software seems to work much better than Nokia, and the advantage is I don't have to buy a factory cable in order for the phone to work with the computer!

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha tag
i did the A56 -> C56 conversion last night and thanks all for the help, especially johnnyt... screw those china usb drivers i had like mosquito_R said in another thread, the instructions are idiot proof lol..

Yes, the USB drivers sucked until we got the Taiwanese ones from Prolific.

And thanks to Sting who originally posted the Russian PDF!!

Quote:

can't wait to put this A/C56 on rogers for my dad.. rf should be good as read from reviews and user opinions..

I passed another A56>C56 to my friend on Rogers... and it's a great performer!

Quote:

the siemens UI is pretty good, not too hard to use... this phone loads my sim cards super fast! faster than E/// and Nokia (but Nokia i've found to be the slowest..) the shortcut button and keys are intuitive and it reminds of me using an vtech A700.. (of course the siemens UI is waaaaaaay better than that vtech )

Hey, I had the A700 too!

It was my first GSM phone. Now, it seems my A700 is in permanent Network Search mode... so I can't take it out to use, now it's essentially a paperweight with built-in Tetris.

Quote:

my gripes thus far on the UI is when i want to use the 'select' button, it is the RIGHT softkey as opposed to a more standard LEFT softkey.. i suppose it's just something to get used to, but i'm always finding myself trying to select something w/ the LEFT softkey and nothing happens or it pops up the option window

Yes, I found that very disconcerting too... I think the "yes/OK" type commands should be standardised with the side the SEND button is on, and the "options/cancel" on the side of the END, like almost every other phone. I have to adjust to this everytime I switch from my 7250i to my A56.

Quote:

the poly rings are quite loud, almost as loud as my bro's S55 which i think is fantastic... i loaded an SE song from one of their ads in midi format hehe.. so there's a little SE in it

Holy cow... could we be ever more alike? I put in the Nokia tune into my A56!

Hey... may I have the SE tune too? I've been looking for it.

Quote:

overall a good experience thus far... good work siemens and thanks for the useful help and knowledge siemens fans!

sorry for the long testimonial

In retrospect, maybe I should have bought the MC60 instead of my 7250i... but of course, the Nokia came out first!

I hope also that Siemens will improve their battery consumption characteristics because the battery runs out so quickly in the A56. Perhaps this could be partly attributed to constant (ab)use of Fido 2 Fido, but it seems I can talk longer on my 7250i.

Anyway, it's great to see another happy Siemens user!

Congrats on your successful conversion!

Mosquito_R

Posted by: alpha tag

lol.. we're alike haha..

i used to live in calgary.. my bro still lives there.. might be hitting it up in summer...

been in toronto for almost 6 yrs

Posted by: thorin

well, if you are an ericsson afficionado, you must like featurefull phones with wierd UIs, so siemens may just be up your alley!

that last sentance sounds kind o wierd to say.

Posted by: alpha tag

lol.. i suppose

it is pretty feature-packed.. even on the low-end models.. one of the reasons that started me on the Ericsson craze.. i had an oldie T18z that was feature-packed for entry-level (heck, it may not have been entry-level..) and the reception was the best i've ever used in Ericsson phones.. or almost any GSM phone i've used..

feature-packed w/ good value.. that's what i'm into.. not expensive, featureless crap or expensive, featured crap that could be bought from another manufacturer for much less and probably work just as well or even better

Posted by: mosquito_R

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha tag
lol.. we're alike haha..

i used to live in calgary.. my bro still lives there.. might be hitting it up in summer...

been in toronto for almost 6 yrs

Thanks for the ringtone! Just loaded it into my A56 and it sounds quite cool!

Two yrs ago, I _almost_ made it to Toronto, but a last-minute job offer made me stay in Calgary... not a bad thing, IMO.

Like yourself, I'm probably one of those types who wants a phone to function like an outstanding phone first, and all other extra gadgets is merely icing on the top.

And yes, if I encounter expensive, featured crap, I throw it out the window. [kinda like the T68i]

Mosquito_R

Posted by: MethodMan

Don't forget about the best feature of all Siemens ...User installed firmware!
No more sending the phone in to get a firmware flash! Siemens is the only company I know of to officially support this feature.

Posted by: mbranscum

Ummm...I did a search....what's the A56>C56 coversion??? can you point me to the righ thread?

Posted by: mosquito_R

To mbranscum:
Click here!
If you're looking to do the conversion, please read all replies and sift through them; chances are whatever questions you might want to ask would be answered in there already.

To MethodMan:
Yeah, Siemens is really cool with the user DIY firmware upgrade. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to all models, esp. the x56 variants.

Posted by: crAckchiLe

Quote:

Originally posted by mosquito_R
To mbranscum:
Click here!
If you're looking to do the conversion, please read all replies and sift through them; chances are whatever questions you might want to ask would be answered in there already.

To MethodMan:
Yeah, Siemens is really cool with the user DIY firmware upgrade. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to all models, esp. the x56 variants.

Would it be possible for a mod to sticky the A56--->C56 Conversion thread? It's perhaps one of the most read and useful threads in this forum.

Being a Fido subscriber, I really hope Fido releases more Siemens handsets. They're very robust and sound/work great on the network!

:::

Posted by: alpha tag

ok i've found another gripe

i can't for the life of me find how to speed dial w/ the A56/C56? i know u can do the regular "sim entry position" followed by the # key, but what about holding it down or selecting the position and pressing the send button ala nokia or SE format? is the sim entry position followed by # my only option for speed dialling? i even saved some entries to the phone's internal phonebook.. can't seem to find a copy to phone or copy to sim option neither

anyone care to enlighten me on this situation?

Posted by: crAckchiLe

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha tag
ok i've found another gripe

i can't for the life of me find how to speed dial w/ the A56/C56? i know u can do the regular "sim entry position" followed by the # key, but what about holding it down or selecting the position and pressing the send button ala nokia or SE format? is the sim entry position followed by # my only option for speed dialling? i even saved some entries to the phone's internal phonebook.. can't seem to find a copy to phone or copy to sim option neither

anyone care to enlighten me on this situation?

For speed dial, you can pre-program 1-9 on your keypad to be "hotkeys" for regularly dialed numbers.

For example, press number "9". You'll see "clear" on the left side of the screen, and "set" on the right side. Select "set", then, scroll down and select "phone number", then select which phone number you'd like to be programmed to that hotkey.

Now, whenever you want to dial that particular number, just press and hold down "9", and the number will be dialled automatically.

Also, by pressing and holding UP on the centre joystick button (where pressing down will automatically open up the phone book), you'll be sent directly to the profile setting. Its a quick shortcut for when you need to change profiles in a hurry.

:::

Posted by: alpha tag

aaaa.. okok

i thought 'set' meant to set a shortcut key option in a position 1-9.. didn't fully read all the options i could select

i'll try it out

Posted by: alpha tag

all good, BUT, how do i change the hot key when it's already set? is it possible?!?

Posted by: crAckchiLe

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha tag
all good, BUT, how do i change the hot key when it's already set? is it possible?!?

Of course it's possible!

Referring back to previous example, lets say you have "9" programmed to a certain phone number, and now you want to change it. All you do now is press "9" ONLY ONCE (don't press and hold it down!)

You'll see "clear" on the left of the screen, and the phone number name on the right side. Press the phone number name on the right side, then select "change" (on the left side), select "phone number" (or what other function you want), and choose the new phone number you want the hotkey to be reprogrammed to.

Hope that helps...

:::

Posted by: alpha tag

ok

i think i tried that, but it dialled the # instead?

i don't have the phone on me so i'll have to try tonight

Posted by: alpha tag

ok i tried it.. it didn't work

it dials the #

Posted by: crAckchiLe

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha tag
ok i tried it.. it didn't work it dials the #

Thats really odd.

What happens when you press "(the numeric hotkey)" once (don't hold it down! just press it briefly!)

Did it bring up "clear" on the left and "(name of contact)" on the right?

What happens when you press "(name of contact)" on the right?

Do you then get "change" on the left and "ok" on the right?

Here you should just press "change" on the left, and go from there!

Good luck! If this doesn't work, refer to the owner's manual or maybe have someone look at it? Siemens don't do wacky things like that usually!

:::

Posted by: alpha tag

Quote:

Originally posted by crAckchiLe
Did it bring up "clear" on the left and "(name of contact)" on the right?

yes it did

Quote:

What happens when you press "(name of contact)" on the right?

it dials out

Quote:

Do you then get "change" on the left and "ok" on the right?

nope, refer to previous answer

Quote:

Good luck! If this doesn't work, refer to the owner's manual or maybe have someone look at it? Siemens don't do wacky things like that usually!

i'm thinking it might be due to my A56>C56 conversion.. well, i deleted all the entries in the phonebook.. a whopping 8 entries (dad's phone) and copied them onto the sim from the old handset and tried again... carefully selecting which ones to position..

the shortcut key in the standby menu i can change w/ no problems.. it's just the speed dial / fast keys that aren't working? oh well, it's ok now... maybe it's just the firmware.. i'll try w/ another A56 i converted to see

edit: tried it w/ another converted A56.. same thing

Posted by: angel_wing0

finally we got a Ericcson "junk"ie to see the bright world of seimens...

Posted by: alpha tag

Quote:

Originally posted by angel_wing0
finally we got a Ericcson "junk"ie to see the bright world of seimens...

lol...

soon u shall be come an Ericsson junkie w/ that P900 buddy

Posted by: angel_wing0

we'll see man...

but glad u didnt get sucked in "completely" by SE..thats what i m happy about

Posted by: walkguru

hello, i have a a56 and after reading this thread, i might try flashing it some day. anyway it was interesting reading. thanks.

Posted by: Brinkster

Is it just me or is the MC60 a sucky phone?
I was just gonna buy it (because it was muchos cheapos) but then i decided to take a Samsung E600 because it was also free with a Vodafone contract.
I compared the two and I still believe I made a good choice. The MC60, for a phone that's brought on the market december 2003/ january 2004 can't compete with the samsung E600,X100,E100 or X600. The camera is just crap (not VGA, which means it cannot take better pictures then 320x200 in comparison to the 640x480) Also the display with 4096 colors is bad in comparison to the DUAL 65536 colors screens on the samsung E 600. And also the ringtones (64 polyphonic) of the Samsung simply blow away the Siemens with its 16 chord polyphony. The only positive thing is its design, but I like the traditional Siemens E600 style better.
Sorry that I mocked all Siemens MC60 users but I was a Siemens owner too and I had bad experiences with it. My M50 used too crash all the time, after 1 year.