New Omnia 2 owner - multiple issues/problems/questions. Help!

[Guest stisev]

Hi all,

I defected from my Sony Xperia X1 and by far the Samsung Omnia 2 has been a superior -xperiance (hehe).

Anyways, here are some issues I am having. When answering, please reference the question by the number (#3, #4, etc..)

Some background:

COMPUTER: Windows XP w/ latest activesync

Omnia 2 bought from Amazon, running CE OS S.2.21006 (Build 21006.1.5.74) WM 6.1.

Prcessor ARM1176 S3C6410 Is this the firmware info? I can't find any other info.

1) iGuidance not picking up GPS signal. I tried my old version of iGuidance 4 and my new one iGuidance 2009. I've tried doing the find GPS signal. It finds it OK, I press OK, but no sats are picked up and I've waited 20-30 minutes!

2) I have the taskbar to change the battery icon > date & time, but it shows 10/1/2009 + time.  Is there any way to remove the 2009 and just be 09 so the text doesn't run off the screen?

3) Get rid of all button-powered samsung software.  Some people may like it, but it's a PITA for me. for example, some of the things I want to disable: 1) power>lock software 2) volume control - I would rather have HTC's volume controlling program. I am using AEButton already to control cube, OK button, but it doesnt recognize the power button.

4) I would like to have ANY button wake up the Omnia, not just the power button. This was possible by a control panel on my X1, but I haven't been  able to find anything

5) How do I enable disk drive mode/USB mode to see the disk drive in Windows XP?  I know about activesync, but I am talking about a portable drive mode.

6) How do I adjust backlight from 0 > MAX / turn off backlight w/ a program/button? SPB PP doesn't work, some old program I used to use for my X51v doesn't work.  The only program I've found that works to adjust brightness is AEbutton, but it's a very crappy solution.  

7)When power is connected and idle, the phone suddenly shuts off and shows a big charging battery icon. I have to hit the power button, the phone starts back from reset. What is going on? I would like the screen turned off, but not the entire system shutting down.

8) MAJOR PROBLEM  I have a very very unusual problem that happens sporadically -- sometimes not for hours, sometimes every 5 minutes.  When the phone is idle, connected to battery, or when I'm USING the phone, my Omnia suddenly just resets and the screen goes blank. The phone vibrates, vibrates and vibrates repeatedly. It gets stuck in this cycle.   OR sometimes the Samsung Omnia 2 screen shows (first one but doesn't play sound) and then resets, and vibrates every time.  There are some sporadic reports of similar stuff on other Omnias but nothing about the Omnia 2. Please help! I can't use the phone like this!

I will try hard resetting, but I don't think it's a hard-reset-fixable issue, since it's happening at boottime.  I thought it might be defective hardware and that is a possibility.  Most likely I'm thinking firmware bug?

9) (RANDOM QUESTION) What is the latest WM6.1 ROM out there? I've heard 21044, but I can't find one cooked for Omnia 2. If anyone has a link, I'd be eternally greatful!

Edited October 1, 2009 by stisev

[Guest sanyboi]

Ok to find out your firmware version go into settings, system and then version and then device.

Ok i'll try answer some of ur q's regarding Settings

2. i believe in regional settings also located in "system" there is a time tab where you can change the time format you can try changing this.

4. In general settings, Button then wake up. here you can change to assign any button to wake up the phone.

6. In display and light, brightness. here you can change the device brightness or set it to auto.

hope this helps.

[Guest The PeaceMakeR]

1. Have you tried downloading XTRA data first? it might help. Also, try to disconnect the GPS in the application and afterwards reconnect to it

5. Go to Settings-> General Settings -> USB Connection.

You can select there either ActiveSync mode or Mass Storage mode

7 and 8 both seem to be a hardware problem. It's not something that should happen.

You can try a hard-reset and even a firmware change and maybe that will fix the problem, but it seems the issue is bigger than that.

[Guest stisev]

2. i believe in regional settings also located in "system" there is a time tab where you can change the time format you can try changing this.

This didn't work. The regional settings were set to Australia. I set to to USA and could not change the long date to a 2 letter year

4. In general settings, Button then wake up. here you can change to assign any button to wake up the phone.

6. In display and light, brightness. here you can change the device brightness or set it to auto.

Neither of these options exist in my Samsung omnia's system control panel. I know all about them from my Xperia X1 but for whatever reason I don't see them in my list. Just a note -- I am NOT using Samsung's Touchwiz. I disabled that first thing.

1. Have you tried downloading XTRA data first? it might help. Also, try to disconnect the GPS in the application and afterwards reconnect to it

What is XTRA data? I haven't tried testing it with another program, no. That sounds like a good idea.

5. Go to Settings-> General Settings -> USB Connection.

You can select there either ActiveSync mode or Mass Storage mode

7 and 8 both seem to be a hardware problem. It's not something that should happen.

You can try a hard-reset and even a firmware change and maybe that will fix the problem, but it seems the issue is bigger than that.

Neither of these options are in my control panel. Also USB Connection does not have anything about Mass Storage/Activesync -- only about advanced connecitivty for USB.

[Guest tacchan23]

I suggest you to make a shortcut to the Samsung setting (where you can find most of the above), so you can access it easly even with TouchWiz disabled.

[Guest Shadowy]

I suggest you to make a shortcut to the Samsung setting (where you can find most of the above), so you can access it easly even with TouchWiz disabled.

Pressing the cube button even with touchwiz disabled brings up the touchwiz menu with settings on it.

[Guest The PeaceMakeR]

enable the samsung touchwiz and afterwards try those settings. or without the touchwiz find the "general settings" program, because samsung modified the original windows mobile settings panels and certain things will be found only in samsung's settings program

[Guest tacchan23]

Pressing the cube button even with touchwiz disabled brings up the touchwiz menu with settings on it.

if you not remap it, like I did :)

[Guest stisev]

Alright guys.

I found the brightness tab in touchwiz + the way to disable the lock on screen on.

the brightness really doesn't help though since I want a way to control the brightness DIRECTLY from a one touch shortcut/ assigned to key.

I found ANY button wake up too! I also found the USB Connection > Mass storage, but is there any way to have a popup come up to prompt the user to choose which they want (HTC style) mass media or activesync?

I figured out what XTRA is, but I don't have Internet on my phone.

[Guest tacchan23]

I figured out what XTRA is, but I don't have Internet on my phone.

you can use internet on your phone trough active sync and update the XTRA (it should last about 1 week, so in the meanwhile it should be easier to use gps)

[Guest stisev]

Jeez I am really getting annoyed. This shut down/vibrating issue is getting to be almost several times an hour!

A hard reset didn't help it. Believe it or not, the only way to fix it without restarting is to bang the center of the back. I dont know what it is. At first I thought it might be the battery contacts, but I don't think that's the problem.

Also, I restored my SPB Backup and "settings" option isn't there in my restore. I think it might be because I deleted all of the extra shortcuts in /programs folder. I have to hard reset, copy the shortcuts, then place them back into my SPB Backup copy and then delete them again.

I just wish I knew where the settings in the registry were for

1) USB <>Activesync mode

2) Backlight

3) Any button to wake up

4) Do not lock on restore screen

[Guest stisev]

Well, I ended up returning my Omnia II. It was defective.

Thanks for the people who responded to the other question.

The Omnia 2 was a remarkable device! Best I've seen so far! Too many PROS to list, so here are the cons :)

1) How do I get the same prompt that HTC/X1 PDAs have to choose between Activesync & USB disk drive mode when plugging the Omni II to the computer?

2) iGuidance not picking up GPS signal

3) Change clock from 2009 > 09

4) Get rid of Samsung's volume control, replace with HTC's

5) Best software for adjusting brightness, excluding Samsung's built in 'solution'

6) How do I manually turn off the backlight?

1) No D-Pad!!

2) Bad sunlight visibility

3) No stylus port! (Have to carry external)

4) No LED status light

5) XDA-Dev does not support; no large community of hackers (Modaco good but Omnia II community still small)

6) Wobbles around when tapping on flat surface

7) Video format is MP4 (large file size)

8) Accelerometer switch to landscape in few programs only

9) Movies still play sluggishly in TCPMP/Coreplayer

10) Not as much RAM as X1/HTC models

Edited October 4, 2009 by stisev

[Guest lada203]

I have a question of my own, is it possible to get rid of the (xt9) bar at the botto of the screen? This would be helpful for some java games, any ideas/solutions?