Palm Pixie Plus bad autodim

**jmathers** · 06-23-2012, 06:46 PM

Just got this phone for my wife at Amazon. The screen worked great from the start - nice, bright, clear. WebOS wanted to update a couple days ago to 1.4.5.1 - an update that's been out since May of 2011 I believe. We updated after conducting a search on the web for problems. The update also said it would autoupdate anyway once the phone was placed on the charger. After the update - maybe a day or several hours - the screen went into autodim mode and cannot be reset. I did get it back again after shutting down, replacing the battery, and rebooting but it lasted only a few hours.

I spent most of today trying to use WebOS doctor to wipe the phone and start from the beginning. Finally got it done after four attempts. Unfortunately there was no option to turn back the OS version to 1.4.5. It just reinstalled 1.4.5.1. And the dim screen issue persists.

So my question: is this a dead phone? It works but you can't see the screen for crap - way too dim.

And is this a common problem for the pixies? I'm not sure I want to buy another one at this point since the WebOS doctor software basically sucks $$ss! and the phone is pretty much unusable at this point.

So rebuy and then return to Amazon?

Or should I be looking for another phone?

My wife hates the size and features of the Driod X that I just bought. So an alternative to the pixie would have to maintain a similar size factor - could be slightly larger I guess since the Pixie is small.

Any recommendations on a new phone, if that is indeed my path, is much appreciated. She does prefer a hardware-based keyboard.

Thanks

Jeff

**whacker** · 06-23-2012, 09:22 PM

You might want to research this problem on the webOSnation forums (used to be called precentral). Very useful if you want to stick with this brand. The Pixi is a very nicely designed device. Sample defects are common, however.

I've never heard of webOS v1.4.5.1 being the cause of anything specific. But you should be able to find webOS Doctor available in a v1.4.5 flavor.

Other than that, a well reported on model that's not as large as most touch screen types, would be the HTC Droid Eris, the Incredible's little brother. 3.2" display, virtual keyboard. They're quite affordable these days, although not as cheap as the Pixi.

**Slinkwyde** · 06-23-2012, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by jmathers

My wife hates the size and features of the Driod X that I just bought. So an alternative to the pixie would have to maintain a similar size factor - could be slightly larger I guess since the Pixie is small.

Just to get a feel for what her phone size limit is, does she think the iPhone is too big? The Pixi screen is 2.63". The iPhone is almost an inch larger at 3.5" but still considered small by a lot of Android users these days. I'm not suggesting the iPhone right now, just getting an idea of the size limit.

When you say she hates the features of the Droid X, do you mean she wants a phone that does less than Android or do you mean she hates the Motorola's customized interface? What does she think of other Android skins like TouchWiz (Samsung), HTC Sense, or MIUI (custom ROM)? What does she think of the interfaces on stock Ice Cream Sandwich or Windows Phone?

**jmathers** · 06-24-2012, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by whacker

You might want to research this problem on the webOSnation forums (used to be called precentral). Very useful if you want to stick with this brand. The Pixi is a very nicely designed device. Sample defects are common, however.

I've never heard of webOS v1.4.5.1 being the cause of anything specific. But you should be able to find webOS Doctor available in a v1.4.5 flavor.

Other than that, a well reported on model that's not as large as most touch screen types, would be the HTC Droid Eris, the Incredible's little brother. 3.2" display, virtual keyboard. They're quite affordable these days, although not as cheap as the Pixi.

I did some looking on the webosnation forums. The only solution I could find was to reinstall webos with webos doctor. It did not work.

Thanks for the rec on the Eris. I'll take a look.

Jeff

**jmathers** · 06-24-2012, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Macskeeball

Just to get a feel for what her phone size limit is, does she think the iPhone is too big? The Pixi screen is 2.63". The iPhone is almost an inch larger at 3.5" but still considered small by a lot of Android users these days. I'm not suggesting the iPhone right now, just getting an idea of the size limit.

When you say she hates the features of the Droid X, do you mean she wants a phone that does less than Android or do you mean she hates the Motorola's customized interface?

Yes. The iphone is too big.

She wants a phone that does less than Android.

I really thought the Pixie was exactly what she wanted, and it seems to be (although she did not especially like the small keys on the integrated keyboard and mentioned she'd rather have a slide out 'board). But with the trouble we've had with the Pixie I'm reluctant to buy another.

If there's anything else beside the Eris that crosses your mind, let me know. Thanks.

Jeff

**Slinkwyde** · 06-24-2012, 11:13 AM

Then what does she think of Windows Phone? It's a smartphone that currently does less than Android. There's also the Palm Pre, a 3.1" sibling of the Pixi (portrait slider) . Does it need to be a smartphone or are featurephones fine?

The Eris runs Android, so she probably wouldn't like it.

**Boz1** · 06-24-2012, 12:20 PM

If the PPP is less than a year old, HP/Palm will most likely honor the 1 year warranty. The good news is that you bought it through Amazon, so the receipt/purchase details are easily accessible.

**jmathers** · 06-24-2012, 04:30 PM

I'll take a look at the Pre as well. Amazon's price for the Pre Plus is at $100 - seems high to me.

What Windows phone would be good? All I know about is the Samsung Focus, which does not appear on the Page Plus wiki page for activated phones.

Returning the Pixie Plus shouldn't be a problem.

Still in the dog house though until I can get another phone.

Featurephones would be fine.

thanks for the help guys!

Jeff

**Boz1** · 06-24-2012, 05:08 PM

A feature phone would require modifications to get internet working, and in some cases, MMS doesn't even work without modifications.

There is only one Vzw Windows 7 phone currently. Many older Vzw WinMo phones will work fine with PPC, including Omnia and Ozone, just to name two.

**Slinkwyde** · 06-24-2012, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Boz1

A feature phone would require modifications to get internet working, and in some cases, MMS doesn't even work without modifications.

I guess that leads us to a question we should've asked from the start: what will she use the phone for? Only text and calls? Photos? Music? Does she want anything other than those things?

Many older Vzw WinMo phones will work fine with PPC, including Omnia and Ozone, just to name two.

Windows Mobile: a desktop style interface crammed into a small phone screen (Start menu, task manager, and all) and operated by an easy-to-lose stylus. Yuck, don't do it! She wants simple, and Windows Mobile is not it.

Windows Phone is much more suited to a phone than Windows Mobile was. It's simple and somewhat polished, with glanceable information and less need to switch from app to app. It's behind Android and iOS in features, but unlike WebOS and featurephones it's still being updated. Not my first choice, but perhaps an option for her.

I'd go with a featurephone if it does what she wants, a Pre if she wants slightly more, and Windows Phone if she wants a somewhat simple smartphone that's still being updated.

**jmathers** · 06-24-2012, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Macskeeball

I guess that leads us to a question we should've asked from the start: what will she use the phone for? Only text and calls? Photos? Music? Does she want anything other than those things?

Windows Mobile: a desktop style interface crammed into a small phone screen (Start menu, task manager, and all) and operated by an easy-to-lose stylus. Yuck, don't do it! She wants simple, and Windows Mobile is not it.

Windows Phone is much more suited to a phone than Windows Mobile was. It's simple and somewhat polished, with glanceable information and less need to switch from app to app. It's behind Android and iOS in features, but unlike WebOS and featurephones it's still being updated. Not my first choice, but perhaps an option for her.

I'd go with a featurephone if it does what she wants, a Pre if she wants slightly more, and Windows Phone if she wants a somewhat simple smartphone that's still being updated.

Ok loud and clear.

Any opinion on the Droid Eris?

Jeff

**Slinkwyde** · 06-24-2012, 08:43 PM

I already posted about that, so I'm not sure if you're asking someone else or if you missed that part or what.

You said she wants less features than Android. The Eris runs Android.

**Boz1** · 06-24-2012, 09:36 PM

I never used a stylus with my Omnia. Maybe I was just extra talented! But it did come with one.

Eris is older and less powerful than Incredible, and they do both run Android.

But if she generally liked the Palm Pixi Plus, I'd get another one.

Palm Pre Plus is available used on eBay starting at less than $35 delivered.

**jmathers** · 06-27-2012, 10:52 AM

Well, I figured I should give an update to this thread. I ended up buying another phone - a Droid 2. I know it wasn't recommended in this thread and is counter to some of my original requirements but I got a good deal on the phone. Plus since I have a Droid X it should be easier to answer any questions she has with the Droid 2. While thicker and heavier than the Pixie (what isn't?) the size is not that much larger when you hold it in your hand. I have more confidence in the OS compared to WebOS too. And it has more apps to play around with if she eventually wants to move in that direction.

Can't wait to get it set up.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Jeff