Vario - Surely it can't be this bad?

[Guest _Belial]

Hi all,

After spending 2 days with my vario my dreams of a half-decent smartphone are shattered.

I've got a C500 which hasnt really caused me any problems in over a year, now 2 days after having a vario i'm almost pulling my hair out.. can this phone possibly have been released in such a bad state or is it just mine?

For starters it crashes, not now and then, but like it's a hobby of the vario's, i dont think i can leave it for an hour, come back and find it hasn't hung in some form.

Sometimes i have to do a soft reset, sometimes, i can press the power button, get the screen to light up but can't do anything. Sometimes I get icons but when I click them i'm told the shortcut doesnt exist.

Ooh another thing it seems to like doing is randomly going into flight mode, and one really good crash was when i called it and the source phone could hear the ringing but the vario was just sitting there doing nothing.

So is it just mine or is this the most unstable phone the UK has ever seen? Is it worth me asking for a replacement, or just flashing the k-jam/qtek rom over the t-mobile one?

I've tried hard-resetting then cancelling all the t-mobile gubbins that loads from extended rom, but that didnt make any diference.

Any advice gratefully appreciated

Thanks

[Guest thereaperman]

sorry to hear your having major problems with your phone, but my wizard runs fine(k-jam0. I get the odd crash but its prob. once a week and thats prob. down to me messing with it more than the phone/software causeing the crash. maybe if people with the same phone(vario) could make a comment??, It could be a faulty unit??

[Guest gilesjuk]

In my experience the PocketPC OS is much less unstable than the Smartphone.

I've got a PocketPC and I've also had the misfortune to use an XDA2. The number of resets far exceeds that of the Smartphones.

[Guest nickcornaglia]

I think you meant the PPC is less stable than Smartphones. If this is what you meant, I have to agree. More so today than ever.

I've had my SP5m for a couple of weeks now and it has never crashed.

[Guest adchaffey]

I have just switched from my trusty C500 to an MDA vario, but I'm extremely pleased with it so far. I'm quite surprised by people saying they think Pocket PC OS is LESS stable than the smartphone OS. I've had no end of trouble in the past with my smartphones, but my Vario seems really stable. I've had one crash, and as someone mentioned, that was 95% due to me messing with the phone too much!

All in all very happy with the switch. Have you tried hard resetting and just letting the T-Mobile stuff install?? Aparently there's a few updated and patches in the extended rom, so I wouldn't hard reset without them myself. That's all I can suggest other that going for a replacement. Maybe you have some hardware problems??

[Guest _Belial]

Yep tried a full hard reset many times and tried skipping all the extended rom stuff too, made no difference.

Another thing that's bugging me is when it goes into "standby" mode, it's supposed to just be the PDA that goes into standby, but it seems the phone stop responding too and when i call it it goes to voicemail :)(

I have just switched from my trusty C500 to an MDA vario, but I'm extremely pleased with it so far. I'm quite surprised by people saying they think Pocket PC OS is LESS stable than the smartphone OS. I've had no end of trouble in the past with my smartphones, but my Vario seems really stable. I've had one crash, and as someone mentioned, that was 95% due to me messing with the phone too much!

All in all very happy with the switch. Have you tried hard resetting and just letting the T-Mobile stuff install?? Aparently there's a few updated and patches in the extended rom, so I wouldn't hard reset without them myself. That's all I can suggest other that going for a replacement. Maybe you have some hardware problems??

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[Guest adchaffey]

Yep tried a full hard reset many times and tried skipping all the extended rom stuff too, made no difference.

Another thing that's bugging me is when it goes into "standby" mode, it's supposed to just be the PDA that goes into standby, but it seems the phone stop responding too and when i call it it goes to voicemail :D(

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Definately go for a replacement! That's one sick Vario you've got there! Sounds like it was made by people doing overtime on a Friday afternoon! :)

Seriously, it sounds quite serious and sounds like a lot of your problems could stem from some hardware fault.

[Guest Phil Lee]

I have found my Vario to be very stable. I have all the Extended_Rom software installed and have no problem with that. The only problems I've had are with 3rd party apps. A lot of them are still working through the wrinkles of WM5 and that is affecting the stability. Try to limit what you have installed on the phone to apps that definitely work in WM5.

[Guest _Belial]

Well just flashed the qtek rom onto it and it's still as buggy, phone goes into standby after 3 mins, lights show life for phone but incoming calls arent being answered.

Going to call tmob up and see if i can push em to courier a new one over

I have found my Vario to be very stable. I have all the Extended_Rom software installed and have no problem with that. The only problems I've had are with 3rd party apps. A lot of them are still working through the wrinkles of WM5 and that is affecting the stability. Try to limit what you have installed on the phone to apps that definitely work in WM5.

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[Guest jiffk]

Might want to put the old rom back on otherwise t-mobile will probably get pissy.

[Guest _Belial]

Might want to put the old rom back on otherwise t-mobile will probably get pissy.

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Yeah already have, i did a backup to SD then restored that to the vario before calling them.

[Guest Pondrew]

I have just switched from my trusty C500 to an MDA vario, but I'm extremely pleased with it so far. I'm quite surprised by people saying they think Pocket PC OS is LESS stable than the smartphone OS. I've had no end of trouble in the past with my smartphones...

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Ditto here. My MDA III (HTC Blue Angel) is without doubt the most reliable and best all round device I've owned (after a serious of Smartphones that included the SPV C500).

Windows Mobile for Smartphone more reliable then Windows Mobile for Pocket PC? Nah :)

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

This takes me back to the days of the original SPV (Classic), extended debates over just how stable the OS was in everyones individual experiences :)

Personally my KJAM is awsome, so smooth and fast (display changing puts the more powerful Universal to shame for speed). The only issue i've had so far is with SPB PocketPlus slowing it down (which i think i can fix when i reinstall). Uninstalling it put it back to normal...

[Guest zoltix]

Another thing that's bugging me is when it goes into "standby" mode, it's supposed to just be the PDA that goes into standby, but it seems the phone stop responding too and when i call it it goes to voicemail :)(

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I have the same problem with my Vario.

If I put it into sleep mode by touching the power button, all calls are sent to voicemail. The phone never wakes up.

I have also had the occasional message that I am in flight mode.

Otherwise everything works perfectly.

If you uncheck all the boxes in the power settings / standby options you can stop it going into automatic standby after 3 minutes. I only have the backlight set to go off after 2 minutes. When I did have the 3 minute standby setting on, the phone would switch off even when it was being used

[Guest _Belial]

I have the same problem with my Vario.

If I put it into sleep mode by touching the power button, all calls are sent to voicemail. The phone never wakes up.

I have also had the occasional message that I am in flight mode.

Otherwise everything works perfectly.

If you uncheck all the boxes in the power settings / standby options you can stop it going into automatic standby after 3 minutes. I only have the backlight set to go off after 2 minutes. When I did have the 3 minute standby setting on, the phone would switch off even when it was being used

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Yeah that was one of the big problems i had, really bugged me, but if you disable the go to standby after 3 mins thing youl'l be lucky if your battery lasts you the day

[Guest Pondrew]

If the MDA Vario IS behaving this way (whereby it is unable to receive calls while on standby) then it is a bug as this is not the way Pocket PC Phones are meant to work. A Pocket PC Phone traditionally wakes up as soon as a text message/alarm/phone call/alert comes up even while in standby.

Now I did understand that the HTC Wizard unlike previous Pocket PC Phones was capable of being turned off completely. While turned off it WON'T be able to receive calls. This as it is turned off completely, the same as a Smartphone. I don't have a Vario myself so can't test if something obvious is causing it to shutdown rather then go into standby.

Can some of the other owners explain the different options? ie, how do you shut down the device as opposed to putting it in standby? Is there something obvious that might be causing it to shutdown rather then go into standby?

[Guest Noo]

If the MDA Vario IS behaving this way (whereby it is unable to receive calls while on standby) then it is a bug as this is not the way Pocket PC Phones are meant to work. A Pocket PC Phone traditionally wakes up as soon as a text message/alarm/phone call/alert comes up even while in standby.

Now I did understand that the HTC Wizard unlike previous Pocket PC Phones was capable of being turned off completely. While turned off it WON'T be able to receive calls. This as it is turned off completely, the same as a Smartphone. I don't have a Vario myself so can't test if something obvious is causing it to shutdown rather then go into standby.

Can some of the other owners explain the different options? ie, how do you shut down the device as opposed to putting it in standby? Is there something obvious that might be causing it to shutdown rather then go into standby?

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I've just tested this, as it would be a serious problem if, in stand-by, I couldn't receive calls.

So, pressed the power button once, to send my Vario to sleep (that's what I define as stand-by, correct me if I'm wrong) and rang my phone. It woke up and started ringing, no problem. Re-tried it, just incase I'd messed up and same again, woke up and started ringing. No problem here, then.

In my eyes:

stand-by = briefly press the power button, screen turns off.

Shut-down = press and hold the power button, warning about "Device will be off and you may lose some data, continue Yes or No" appears. Press Yes and it's off completely.

Reckon I must be REALLY mistaken not to have those definitions correct.

So what's going on with peoples Vario's? Some have big problems, others (me, now) have none, and I am running everything in the extended_rom. My problems all stemmed from the one "safe" setting in Spb Pocket Plus. I really am assuming that most of the problems reported by others are down to them having installed 3rd party apps and something not liking WM5. I'd like to hear from someone who has a completely fresh "hard-reset" device that is causing problems. If there is, then fair enough, i'd return that device, otherwise i'd take some convincing that the 3rd party apps aren't causing the grief...

[Guest Pondrew]

I'd agree with your definitions of standby and shutdown Noo.

Also good points made.

[Guest _Belial]

Yep that's waht i'd call the difference between standby + shutdown, but with mine even when i put it in standby it wouldnt answer calls at all, the only way to keep it alive was to disable powersaving on everything but screen which would unfortunatley suck the battery dry after a day.

Have now arranged to return the phone and will be gettnig another one, hopefully one that works (ooh and the problem is'nt t-mobile specififc as i flash the qtek + imate roms on there but made no difference)

[Guest zoltix]

Yep that's waht i'd call the difference between standby + shutdown, but with mine even when i put it in standby it wouldnt answer calls at all, the only way to keep it alive was to disable powersaving on everything but screen which would unfortunatley suck the battery dry after a day.

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Agreed - My Vario has no 3rd party apps loaded, no options added, I haven't even changed the date from the 29/9 ROM default. In 'one touch' standby, all calls got to voicemail, in a good reception area.

I also agree with Pondrew's suggestion that more Wizard owners should check this as I discovered it by accident. Normally when you do this sort of 'phoning yourself' test you have the phone on rather than in standby.

[Guest Phil Lee]

After seeing these posts yesterday I rang myself with the Vario on standby and it worked fine.

[Guest adchaffey]

After seeing these posts yesterday I rang myself with the Vario on standby and it worked fine.

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Same here, no problems!

[Guest blun]

(ooh and the problem is'nt t-mobile specififc as i flash the qtek + imate roms on there but made no difference)

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Sounds like it may well be a probelm with the actual device, if flashing the firmware doesnt make any difference.

I'm going to hold off on ordering a vario until a few more people have tested this. Maybe its a problem with early batches?

[Guest _Belial]

Well I got my new (2nd) Vario today and gotta say i'm pleased :) The original one was almost certainly a faulty unit. This one works perfectly, not crashed once, and answers calls when in standby mode straight away.

BTW ordered it from t-mobile direct yesterday, i know a lot of people are shopping around for other providers with stock so give t-mob a call, got mine next day and it was about 4pm when i ordered.

One other thing too, this one connects to my home wifi with no problems too, i've actually left it in the car so cant check radio/os versions etc atm so just wondering if they've fixed the "g" bug

Sounds like it may well be a probelm with the actual device, if flashing the firmware doesnt make any difference.

I'm going to hold off on ordering a vario until a few more people have tested this. Maybe its a problem with early batches?

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[Guest madferret]

Yeah already have, i did a backup to SD then restored that to the vario before calling them.

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Can I ask how? I'm already getting irritated by the Vario's refusal to connect to wireless on anything but 11b and might just consider reflashing it.