What to do with my new Vario III?

[Guest fraparty]

Hi guys,

Newbie here, just got my brand new Vario III from T-mobile, so it is a blank canvas!

I've also brought an 8GB SDHC card for it as well.

Here are the details:

CE OS 5.2.1620 (Build 18125.0.4.2)

ROM Version: 1.56.110.4

ROM Date: 09/01/07

Radio Version: 1.27.12.32

Protocol Version: 22.45.88.07H

I've been reading the posts about 'cooked ROMS' and would love to get 6.1 on there asap (not knowing when T-mobile will release theirs)

The only problem i've got is i'm happy with the layout (T-mobile branded) of it as it is and if i add a cooked ROM will i lose that? What does the layout of the 'cooked Rom' (HTC branded) look like, are there screenshots around?

Also with TLR's latest ROM some people are finding it buggy so i would probably go for his previous one released in March.

What about getting the original T-mobile ROM back? I can't find any posts on how to do that, just in case i don't like the new ROM or i need to send the phone back to T-mobile.

Lastly, backing up and restoring. I lost all my SMS messages when i upgraded the ROM on my Vario I even though i used SPB Backup. The restore didn't work :D

What is the best program for backup and will it owrk with bakups between 6.0 and 6.1?

All help will be much appreciated!

[Guest brandall]

Dont know about the t-mobile layout, but there's so much you can tweak on the today screens and themes etc that I'm sure you'll end up finding a setup your prefer. Search a thread for 'post your today theme' or something similar and some are wicked.

To get you started is a list of Freeware I just listed in another post:

PocketCM (finger friendly contact application)

Ultimate Launch (endless trial but 'not registered' appears in the screen corners after a while)

S2U2 - (animated slide to unlock with many added features)

Thumbcal (finger friendly calendar application)

Batti 2.2 (battery status plugin)

Total Commander (explorer, registry editor and zip etc)

DivX Player (Plays a range of media files that others wont)

Dynamo (Alternative visual task manager)

PIM Backup (File back up app)

Pocketscreen (screen shots!)

Clear Temp

Calendar+ (today plugin)

WeatherPanel (today plugin)

WOW HD (Really enhances sound through the wired headset)

A search on here, XDA or google should find them all for you.

PIM Backup worked fine for me between ROMS. As far as which ROM goes, that's a tough one - I went for dutty's 6.1 from April in the end - it's been tested to death and any problems I had were found in a search within the ROM forum. I have no issues with it at all and it funs fast.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=388947

There are posts around about backing up your original ROM or alternatively searching for it after you brick your phone should work!

Good luck!

[Guest fraparty]

Thanks for the fast (and concise!) reply Brandall.

That's a brilliant list, i'll check out PIM backup but i also know there's a Sprite backup. PIM seems to be a freeware app?

If Dutty's been been tested to death then i might go for that one :D)

I'll have a search for backing up my existing ROM (and hopefully in there it will tell me how to restore it as well)

[Guest psionandy]

Thanks for the fast (and concise!) reply Brandall.

That's a brilliant list, i'll check out PIM backup but i also know there's a Sprite backup. PIM seems to be a freeware app?

If Dutty's been been tested to death then i might go for that one :()

I'll have a search for backing up my existing ROM (and hopefully in there it will tell me how to restore it as well)

Sprite backup comes on the CD from T-Mobile... Enjoy :D