vB Easy Archive - Bad News about Bitpim for CDM 8900

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Bad News about Bitpim for CDM 8900
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Posted by: dhl

It appears that the Bitpim folks are no longer going to support or even try to support the CDM 8900

quote
Changes in 0.7 - test 10

"Audiovox CDM8900 This phone is no longer supported by BitPim. Do not use this phone with BitPim. Do not ask for support. The phone can be rendered completely inoperable through trivial operations. "

http://bitpim.sourceforge.net/testhelp/

Posted by: drbruce

OOh..that sounds really really bad...hopefully someone will make a program that is similar to BitPim but supports the CDM8900? It says that we shouldn't even try to use it...maybe we should stop before we cause some severe damage to our phone.

Posted by: dhl

Well, the news sucks but it's been working fine for me. I'll continue to use it...

Posted by: jimnjen1

I hope they change their mind. I'd even be willing to pay a few bucks if they could get it working right. I'm sure an "overwhelming" response would possibly change their mind.

Posted by: vice86

Figures...I just got the 8900 and found out about Bitpim and they aren't supporting the phone anymore.

too fragile and shoddy? Whats so crappy about the phone? I've been using the test 7 one so far with no problems...i just use it now to upload new midis and mp3's....i've done everything else I wanted to already.

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Originally posted by dhl
It appears that the Bitpim folks are no longer going to support or even try to support the CDM 8900

quote
Changes in 0.7 - test 10

"Audiovox CDM8900 This phone is no longer supported by BitPim. Do not use this phone with BitPim. Do not ask for support. The phone can be rendered completely inoperable through trivial operations. "

http://bitpim.sourceforge.net/testhelp/

What a lousy time for my server to be down. In reading the message digest it looks like Roger was trying to use exactly what the PC Sync app sends, which we know to cause these sorts of problems. I guess I should have explained that there is enough difference between the 8900, and the TX-95C to cause issues such as this one.

I do agree with his statement that small differences should cause such a drastic failure, however, since we're treading on an area that we're not supposed to be, it's fair to assume that in the interests of performance the firmware developers didn't check every input as thouroughly as they could have.

I'll be working on my own program to provide "Bitpim like" support for the 8900. If I have some time to learn python I may submit patches to Roger, and the Bitpim team in the future.

Z...

Posted by: jimnjen1

[QUOTE
I'll be working on my own program to provide "Bitpim like" support for the 8900. If I have some time to learn python I may submit patches to Roger, and the Bitpim team in the future.

Z... [/B][/QUOTE]

That's great news. I hope it goes well.

Posted by: mozartHD

We're also hoping you will support the 8600

Posted by: iampedro

Why? Why did they stop supporting the phone?

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Originally posted by iampedro
Why? Why did they stop supporting the phone?

Because Roger locked up two phones while trying to write the phonebook code. I can imagine that'd be pretty frustrating.

Z...

Posted by: iampedro

Ouch... Is there any other software out there that can edit the phone book to your knowledge?

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Originally posted by iampedro
Ouch... Is there any other software out there that can edit the phone book to your knowledge?

For the 8900? Not currently no.

Z...

Posted by: iampedro

What about Verizion software that they have for there office kit?

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Originally posted by iampedro
What about Verizion software that they have for there office kit?

You'll have to check that out for yourself as I'm not a Verizon customer.

Z...

Posted by: acf

If it didn't affect me directly, I'd almost laugh that he got frustrated and gave up. Guess he never heard that if at once (or twice) you don't succeed...

Anyway, thanks Z.

Posted by: volunteer4gsar

That's bad news for Mac users for whom there is no other alternative of which I'm aware.

Open source projects are cool because you can dig in to the code if you like and modify it to your liking. They're also a great way to provide support when there's no commerical alternative (as is the case with the CDM 8900 for Macs).

For MS Windows users, things are looking a little brighter with the recent introduction of phonebook sync software from the major players. Now that they support the CDM 8900 things can only get better.

It's interesting that it takes nearly a year to get software support for a particular phone when the turnover rate for phones by their users is not much more than that. Technology is changing so fast.

Posted by: jimnjen1

Yeah, I'll say. I'm on a mac, and was really hoping for either iSync or BitPim to save the day.

Posted by: scdgoofy

If a user were to continue to use BitPim and tread carefully, which version would be best to use?

My data cable arrives today and I'm really looking forward to getting rid of my VZW banner, but now I'm a little spooked. Is the main problem with the 8900 caused by the direct upload of pix into the phone via data cable and not through VZWPIX.com?

With all these phones getting fried, why isn't anybody making a bigger deal out of it?

-goof

Posted by: Quarter

scdgoofy ... I've been using .7 Test 8.
I have no idea about older or newer versions.

You are ok if you realize that functionality is VERY limited and only use the file system functionality to copy pics / files off the phone and to overwrite EXISTING seed files.

Bitpim does not update any index files on the phone, that is why you can not just add stuff, as the phone freaks out to unknown changes.
All file name changes, additions or deletions need to be done through the phones interface only.

So to recap, tread lightly and know what you are doing, you can kill your phone if you are not careful.

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Originally posted by scdgoofy
If a user were to continue to use BitPim and tread carefully, which version would be best to use?

My data cable arrives today and I'm really looking forward to getting rid of my VZW banner, but now I'm a little spooked. Is the main problem with the 8900 caused by the direct upload of pix into the phone via data cable and not through VZWPIX.com?

With all these phones getting fried, why isn't anybody making a bigger deal out of it?

-goof

The BitPim folks were experimenting with adding protocol phonebook updating support for the 8900. Therefore, the phones got locked while updating a critical file (the phonebook) and not filling all the fields in correctly. You do have to be careful updating system files like the ERI.BIN that controls the banner. Just make sure you read ALL of the thread posts before you attempt to update handset system files like that.

Z...

Posted by: Quarter

Quote:

Originally posted by Zaediex
Just make sure you read ALL of the thread posts before you attempt to update handset system files like that.

Z...

And make sure that the Very first thing you do is make a complete backup of the phone BEFORE playing around.

Posted by: giblert

I too am a Mac user with an 8900. I'm sending emails to OnSync and Apple (iSync) requesting support for our phone but so far no word.

Posted by: jimnjen1

Quote:

Originally posted by giblert
I too am a Mac user with an 8900. I'm sending emails to OnSync and Apple (iSync) requesting support for our phone but so far no word.

What's the link to those, I'll send something in also. TIA
Jim

Posted by: waderobb1

I use Quicklink Mobile Phonebook for transporting my contact list to the phone. It worked without a catch. It was free with the cable that I got at BitPims recommendation.

My question is where do you put the midi files when you are dropping them into the phone file system?

Posted by: iampedro

Quote:

Originally posted by waderobb1
I use Quicklink Mobile Phonebook for transporting my contact list to the phone. It worked without a catch. It was free with the cable that I got at BitPims recommendation.

My question is where do you put the midi files when you are dropping them into the phone file system?

How big is the files that you have for quicklink mobile phone book, I mean is it possible to download them?

Posted by: Zaediex

Quote:

Quicklink Mobile Phonebook is part of the software suite that ships with the Audiovox Mobile Office Kit and the DICU-8400 cable. I'd be interested to get a port trace from a successful phonebook download and upload.

Z...

Posted by: giblert

OnSync
http://homepage.mac.com/antonioferraioli/

iSync
http://www.apple.com/feedback/isync.html

--------------------------

Quote:

Originally posted by jimnjen1
What's the link to those, I'll send something in also. TIA
Jim

Posted by: TechHead

Bill: It is my understanding that you cannot add ringtone or picture files, you have to replace "overwrite" the ones that are there, otherwise, you @#$% your phone. With verizon, you pay $2.99/month and get to send 80 messages a month. I am subscribing to this service for one month so I have been able to upload all the images I want to the phone's capacity. Then I will unsubscribe. When I want new images, I will then use bitpim to overwrite the ones on there now.

The Mobile Office CD containing the USB drivers and the QuickLink mobile phone book is 8.4 megs.
The backup files from the s/w are .csv files and with just over 100 phone book contacts (some with several #'s each) the .csv file is only 20kb!

Zaediex: I will do the port trace if you tell me how, or it might be easier to zip the s/w.....