Orange have murdered my Omnia

[Guest Rusty1]

Help!

After superb customer service from Orange - they have replaced 4 (yes four) handsets since October due to problems and each time with a brand new phone.

Anyway - I had the last handset for about 6 or 7 weeks and it then refused to 'wake up' or 'light up' after charging and had to be turned off and back on.

Orange agreed to replace it and were very good to agree to replace it with a brand new one due to all the previous hassle.

So far so good!

My new Omnia is: PDA:i900 XXHH1/BVHH1

Phone: i900BVHH1

Yes! Orane branded and quite unattractive in several ways.

I no longer have Google Maps (I had unlimited use of Sat Nav in my bundle).

From my research on several forums the BVHH1 ROM causes other problems too.

What can be done? Can I download Google Maps (free)? Can I update to a "Latest" and 'Official' ROM?

Any and all help will be VERY gratefully received (but please type slowly and in extremely simple English).

I have 'chatted' to Orange today and they were very polite and tried to be helpful; but weren't; although they did offer to let me 'upgrade' to a different handset free of charge (which I really don't want to do).

I have spoken to Samsung today also and they say that I should be able to just download Google Maps and install with no problem?

But we still have the BVHH1 issue - please help.

Regards, Rusty

[Guest dwallersv]

Don't waste one braincell being upset about the Google Maps issue... there's a newer, better version available than is being shipped on Omnias anyway.

Here's the latest, and yes, it's free.

BTW, suggestion: I keep a directory, "Software Archives" on my external storage card where I keep copies of everything I install on the Omnia. I have a subdirectory there, "CABS", where I put cabfiles like this. Makes it a snap to get it all back in place again after a problem.

Along those lines, a tip: You can nab the install CAB file from any forced-PC install if, when you get to the screen asking where you want to install it (main memory, My Storage, Storage Card) use the file browser to go to \windows\appmgr\install and copy the cab file there to your archives. Then finish the install.

GoogleMaps_compressed.cab

Edited January 31, 2009 by dwallersv

[Guest mstar]

i have a sim free omnia, i have google maps, if i go online and input my mobile number google mobile maps will send me a link to download. Do i need to unistall the opne which comes with my omnia? or just download it straight on my omnia?

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

Anyway - I had the last handset for about 6 or 7 weeks and it then refused to 'wake up' or 'light up' after charging and had to be turned off and back on.

That is a universal firmware fault on Windows Mobile devices and not an Omnia specific fault.

This is generally caused by the device hanging due to some background application, you will probably find that unless you now have a different ROM build you will still encounter this known problem from time to time with a soft reset being the common cure.

[Guest greyfox8585]

i had bvhh1 and complained to oj saying how much i hated the firmware they had and told them i was going to flash xxhi5 myself

[Guest Rusty1]

Don't waste one braincell being upset about the Google Maps issue... there's a newer, better version available than is being shipped on Omnias anyway.

Here's the latest, and yes, it's free.

BTW, suggestion: I keep a directory, "Software Archives" on my external storage card where I keep copies of everything I install on the Omnia. I have a subdirectory there, "CABS", where I put cabfiles like this. Makes it a snap to get it all back in place again after a problem.

Along those lines, a tip: You can nab the install CAB file from any forced-PC install if, when you get to the screen asking where you want to install it (main memory, My Storage, Storage Card) use the file browser to go to \windows\appmgr\install and copy the cab file there to your archives. Then finish the install.

Thanks for your reply dwallersv - I take on board your suggestion for archiving cab files; I was going to keep a 'back up' of any files on my PC hard drive as that allows optimum room on the handset?

I have now discovered a link to 'Orange Maps' on my handset which I can apparently download for free (then the catch) and then pay £5 a month for the privilege of using. Anyway, does anyone know if they (Orange Maps) are any good - they promote it as full 3d with voice etc?

Regards, Rusty

[Guest Rusty1]

i had bvhh1 and complained to oj saying how much i hated the firmware they had and told them i was going to flash xxhi5 myself

Hello greyfox & thanks for the reply.

Have you now successfully flashed to xxhi5? Do tell . . . how and was it really scarey?

Wishing you every success.

Cheers, Rusty

[Guest greyfox8585]

no its worked like a dream but you have to edit a part of the registry mind you i still found the phone to be a bit sunstandard so im returning it for a HD

[Guest Larnsky]

Thanks for your reply dwallersv - I take on board your suggestion for archiving cab files; I was going to keep a 'back up' of any files on my PC hard drive as that allows optimum room on the handset?

I have now discovered a link to 'Orange Maps' on my handset which I can apparently download for free (then the catch) and then pay £5 a month for the privilege of using. Anyway, does anyone know if they (Orange Maps) are any good - they promote it as full 3d with voice etc?

Regards, Rusty

Rusty,

I've had the Omnia on Orange for a while now... and love it, but the phone can do much more then Orange sell it with. Mine had the BVHH1 ROM which I kept for quite a long time but after getting a few small issues I flashed it with the current offficial Samsung ROM which is great. You sound like you've sorted out Google Maps now which is great, regarding the Sat Nav, I never tried the Orange one as it never looked that great and had seen it on previous phones that I had from Orange, you could do what I did and get McGuider which comes on SD card and runs perfectly on the Omnia and is feature rich. I got mine on Amazon for £40 I think, I guess it depends on how long you were thinking on using the Sat Nav for, also does the Orange one require you to download the maps as you go? I presume it would, which wouldn't be ideal if you had no reception.

I'd also advise installing Manilla 2D on the phone, it sounds scary but there's an all in one installer on these forums and it makes the phone so much more useable, I had brought SPB Mobile Shell but Manilla is not only free it's much faster and better.

Good luck anyway.

[Guest Rusty1]

Hello Larnsky,

Thanks for the input - I really appreciate it.

Latest situation:

Finally downloaded 'Orange Maps' and eventually managed to register/subscribe successfully. I also managed to argue my point with Orange that as I had Google Maps and unlimited usage as part of my package on my 'unbranded' Omnia they should allow that with O. Maps . . . they agreed. I have been playing with it for a couple of days and I think it is quite cool. My wife has full Sat Nav 'Tom Tom' for the car, so I don't really need much more.

To the person who replied about updating the dreaded BV Orange firmware to the "latest" Official one from Samsung:

Is it for UK? What do I need to do - you mentioned having to change the registry, so I imagine it is not the latest UK one?

What a great site this is - thanks for the help and comments.

Rusty

[Guest davey1980]

im with Orange and have Omnia with the BVHH1.. checked with samsung and says incorrect virsion..hmm interesting.

as for google maps, no probs just goto the google site and get all stuff there.

ive had my Omnia since nov and although ive added and removed and messed about im shocked it hasnt given up on me.. i got some grt programmes along the way too. all working perfectly and free!! yes UK too. shame about the weather.

[Guest westy123]

if anyone does want to de-orange their omnia, then the instructions found here for the latest uk updates are very helpful. i used them to upgrade from the BV orange crap to MSHJ1 and much prefer it :( , tho i haven't yet found the courage to flash any of the attractive looking ROMs here yet.

[Guest Roth]

Yea broke my phone got a replacement on saturday, I did the flash upgrade from the Orange BVHH1 to MSHJ1 and yeasterday the phone bricked (got told probably a faulty phone!) during the upgrade. Now recieved new phone today! My second and tried the same official upgrade. The pile of crap now will not load past the black samsung monia screen and is basically bricked again! DO NOT DO THIS UPGRADE! Oranges BVHH1 is the worst ever and buggy and will kill your phone. I am going to call orange int he next few minutes and threaten to kill someone if they dont send me out an unbranded samsung Omnia like my original one!

[Guest Rusty1]

Yea broke my phone got a replacement on saturday, I did the flash upgrade from the Orange BVHH1 to MSHJ1 and yeasterday the phone bricked (got told probably a faulty phone!) during the upgrade. Now recieved new phone today! My second and tried the same official upgrade. The pile of crap now will not load past the black samsung monia screen and is basically bricked again! DO NOT DO THIS UPGRADE! Oranges BVHH1 is the worst ever and buggy and will kill your phone. I am going to call orange int he next few minutes and threaten to kill someone if they dont send me out an unbranded samsung Omnia like my original one!

Hi Roth,

Thanks for the input - I agree with you (and almost everyone it seems) that Orange have ruined our fab phones with their useless branding.

I understand your frustration with Orange but thought that I would point out that if you tell them your 'intentions' it makes it 'premeditated' mate and that could get you in trouble hee hee.

I think you might get away with it as a "Crime of Passion" if you were too insist on being tried in France where it is known as "Crime Passionel" but again cannot be premeditated.

I am a bit too nervouse to risk the upgrade and wish you every success with Orange. They told me that even their 'refurbished' Omnias will be 'branded' though.

Cheers,

Rusty