Received My New Omnia II

[Guest dem1an]

I'm am moving from an HTC Touch Pro 2. This phone drove me crazy with the screen glitches, sluggishness, lockups, calls being sent to VM, etc. I mean INSANE. I hated it worse than my old Treo. Fortunately, the mic died on it. I work for a company that requires me to order a windows mobile phone (no Droid), so I just received my new Omnia II.

Firstly, I need it to work as a phone and not have to wait on it for 5 minutes to wake up, or better yet have to pull the battery and wait for it to reboot. Secondly, I need access to my outlook email and I want the best performance and stability. What do I need to know about this phone? What tweaks are essential (e.g. free laptop tethering)? I've read some good posts about the NinjaToday ROM. Which ROM do you recommend for me?

I am VZW and I believe CDMA. Any links to fast track me on what I need to know would be so appreciated! I've got the link on how to flash.

Thank you for taking time to help me out!

Edited October 12, 2010 by dem1an

[Guest bmt10]

Ehh I've had a bit of experience with that phone and did not care for it one bit, but without a custom rom you probably are going to experiance much the same problems.

Any custom rom should have the Internet sharing app(usb tethering) that was left out of the stock rom, surely by verizons request. You can also install a modified version of the HTC comm manager which has wireless internet sharing, you can find a simple cab to install it and do the right registry entires here, though I know AMDZero includes it on his roms by default.

Both AMDzero and Ninja have the best roms as far as performance goes in my experience, AMDzero is more active and has his recent roms all in a thread herehere, for performance your best bet would be either the base or light roms, difference between the two is just amount of included software(base has a trial of SPB Shell included). He is also currently beta testing his newest sense rom which looks good so far.

Ninjas roms have always been good for performance but the key difference is that he builds them around winmo 6.5 instead of 6.5.3 or 6.5.5 like AMDZero or Steel. The key difference there is the interface 6.5.x moves the start and ok/close buttons to a more finger friendly location at the bottom. The main difference between his titanium based roms is style and themes, he also has a sense rom but I don't think he's updated it in some time.

If you want the most feature packed rom right after flashing though you should look to Steels, it has HTC sense(the touch pro 2 uses some earlier version if I recall correctly) and a lot of included software, which makes it a bit heavy on storage. I think he's working on a titanium based rom now.

Those are the most active chefs anyways to the best of my knowledge.

And those are the instructions for flashing the i8000(CDMA is the i920), you don't want to mess with some of the things they have to this thread here is our procedure(and AMD has a very simple mod of Octans in his thread to make it very straight forward). You'll probably find the most help posting in the actual i920 rom section as this general O2 forum is more about software and news than roms. Also DO NOT update to the latest DG21 update from samsung, there was a "bug" that messed up custom rom flashing, you can find the non "bugged" version in AMDzeros rom thread though some of the touchwiz widgets will not work(you can install a cab to fix that).

Edited October 12, 2010 by bmt10

[Guest dem1an]

I think you modified your post since I first read it (doh) and I stepped right in it. I uploaded to 1.0.2.3 instead of 1.0.2.1 and while I'm reading on the "enhancements" I learn how custom ROM's are blocked! I see AMDzero was able to somehow revert the "pda portion" of his phone back and older revision. Perhaps, someone can shed some light?

BTW, thanks for your post bmt10.

Edited October 13, 2010 by dem1an

[Guest bmt10]

Sorry if I added something in late there were a few things I forgot and rearranged a few things to make the post more comprehensible...but I must of just made it more confusing.

I don't actually know how to do that as I did not update to the newer DG21, but I've seen it discussed in these threads:

http://www.modaco.com/content/verizon-sams...pda-rom-needed/

http://www.modaco.com/content-page/317312/...pdate/page/120/

Post here from AMD: http://www.modaco.com/index.php?s=&sho...t&p=1425467

You need to run the DG21 updater(first one, 1.0.2.1) again to modify your CSC back to the chef friendly one

You can not run it however because it will say you are already up to date.

So you need to trick it into thinking it's an older firmware.

You do this by flashing any rom based on DC23 or earlier, then run the official updater.

At least that's how I understand it, like I said though that's the theory I have not actually done it.

Sorry I'm editing it late again but this time it's to rewrite it based off of others statements that know what they are doing instead of my assumptions :/

Edited October 13, 2010 by bmt10

[Guest Corki2]

You need to run the DG21 updater(first one, 1.0.2.1) again to modify your CSC back to the chef friendly one

You can not run it however because it will say you are already up to date.

So you need to trick it into thinking it's an older firmware.

You do this by flashing any rom based on DC23 or earlier, then run the official updater.

At least that's how I understand it, like I said though that's the theory I have not actually done it.

Sorry I'm editing it late again but this time it's to rewrite it based off of others statements that know what they are doing instead of my assumptions :/

I have done this and it worked for me. Flash a cooked DC23 ROM first (I used Yardi4life 23568), then Flash a DG21 ROM. I am using AMDZero ZeroStock 1.2 for DG21 because the Samsung apps (SPlugins) are included in Titanium (Default Windows choice on home screen picker). If you don't like the Windows Default or Titanium interface, you may want to try SPB Mobile Shell and see if it works for you. You have to buy it after the trail for $29.95. AMDZero cooked it into one of his ROMS and I tired it. It worked great, but I decided to try his ZeroStock ROM to which I can add Mobile Shell if I want. I haven't tried any other DG21 ROMS yet but probably will since I am a "Flashaholic". I loved Steel's HTC Sense ROM for DC23 but it is heavy on storage as bmt10 mentioned. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

bmt10, great job of recapping all of the ROM info. I wish I would have had this guide before I started flashing!

[Guest dem1an]

Thanks BMT. It's not your fault at all. I just didn't re-read your post until after I started. Corki, did you try to update your ROM after going to 1.02.3? I just got this reply from AMDzero.

"Well someone else was able to use my custom ZeroLite rom with 1.0.2.3, so I guess its a go."

Is there any negative consequence of trying ZeroLite ROM now with 1.0.2.3, or should I go back to DC23 and then re-update with 1.0.2.1 to be safe?

[Guest Corki2]

Thanks BMT. It's not your fault at all. I just didn't re-read your post until after I started. Corki, did you try to update your ROM after going to 1.02.3? I just got this reply from AMDzero.

"Well someone else was able to use my custom ZeroLite rom with 1.0.2.3, so I guess its a go."

Is there any negative consequence of trying ZeroLite ROM now with 1.0.2.3, or should I go back to DC23 and then re-update with 1.0.2.1 to be safe?

I upgraded to DG21 when it came out. Because the widgets were broken, I was told by Verizon to redo the update. Well, I couldn't because it said I already had the latest version. So, I then flashed back to Yardi4life's DC23 ROM and from there reflashed to Verizons DG21 update. From there, I flashed to AMDZero's DG21 ROM.

If you are running DC23, I would think you would want to update to DG21 which is the latest update by Verizon. However, they botched it, so use AMDZero's version if you do update. The update does have some improvements that are beneficial.

The ROMS are picky. If you are running DC23, you have to use a DC23 ROM, if your running DG21, you have to use a DG21 ROM (at least that's my understanding).

[Guest dem1an]

I'm currently at DG21 now, so that train has left the station. Was just wondering if I could try to update with AMDZero's ROM now. I obviously don't want to brick my phone, so I'm wondering what the risk of trying it first, as the PM from AMDZero suggested.

If it didn't work, I could back track down to DC23 and then back up to DG21 (with 1.0.2.1) as you did.

Did you actually try to update with a DG21 ROM after it came out and it failed?

Edited October 13, 2010 by dem1an

[Guest Corki2]

I'm currently at DG21 now, so that train has left the station. Was just wondering if I could try to update with AMDZero's ROM now. I obviously don't want to brick my phone, so I'm wondering what the risk of trying it first, as the PM from AMDZero suggested.

If it didn't work, I could back track down to DC23 and then back up to DG21 (with 1.0.2.1) as you did.

Did you actually try to update with a DG21 ROM after it came out and it failed?

You can update to AMDZero's DG21 ROM as long as you are at DG21. Why do you think you need to flash back to DC23 to flash to a DG21 ROM? I must be misunderstanding something. AMDZero has both DC23 and DG21 ROMS out. I am using his ZeroStock DG21 Version 1.2 ROM found here http://www.modaco.com/content/verizon-sams...i920-only-dg21/ . It's the thread is for his DG21 ROMS.

I was basing my assumption that you are at DC23 by this earlier post of yours (Quote:"I think you modified your post since I first read it (doh) and I stepped right in it. I uploaded to 1.0.2.3 instead of 1.0.2.1 and while I'm reading on the "enhancements" I learn how custom ROM's are blocked! I see AMDzero was able to somehow revert the "pda portion" of his phone back and older revision. Perhaps, someone can shed some light?").

So, make sure you are at DG21 before you flash a DG21 ROM. Go to Settings, Click the tab for Advanced Settings on the upper right, then System, then Version, then Device. CSC should say i920.DG21. If it does, you're good to go with a DG21 ROM. If it says DC23, you either need to update with the upgrade tool found in the first post of the thread above (Samsung Official DG21 ROM Release) then flash to the DG21 ROM of your choice or flash to a DC23 ROM.

I did actually update with DG21 the day it came out. It didn't fail, per se, but the update was released with broken widgets. So, I was successful in updating, with the defective update. Verizon told me t re-download and re-do the update. That's where I had trouble because the update wouldn't allow me to update again. I had to flash back to the prevoius version (DG23) so I could re-do the Verizon update. Turns out, the widgets were still broken and I went through all that for nothing. There were no DG21 ROMS out yet. AMDZero has since produced some DG21 ROMS. Had I waiting to update until AMDZero got everything sorted out and corrected, I would have had a lot less trouble. He does such a fantastic job!

[Guest bmt10]

I'm currently at DG21 now, so that train has left the station. Was just wondering if I could try to update with AMDZero's ROM now. I obviously don't want to brick my phone, so I'm wondering what the risk of trying it first, as the PM from AMDZero suggested.

If it didn't work, I could back track down to DC23 and then back up to DG21 (with 1.0.2.1) as you did.

Did you actually try to update with a DG21 ROM after it came out and it failed?

I cannot say what would happen if you tried and it failed, I assume nothing drastic as AMD said he tried to flash one and was able to go back fine. But you would be better asking him.

You can update to AMDZero's DG21 ROM as long as you are at DG21. Why do you think you need to flash back to DC23 to flash to a DG21 ROM? I must be misunderstanding something. AMDZero has both DC23 and DG21 ROMS out. I am using his ZeroStock DG21 Version 1.2 ROM found here http://www.modaco.com/content/verizon-sams...i920-only-dg21/ . It's the thread is for his DG21 ROMS.

I was basing my assumption that you are at DC23 by this earlier post of yours (Quote:"I think you modified your post since I first read it (doh) and I stepped right in it. I uploaded to 1.0.2.3 instead of 1.0.2.1 and while I'm reading on the "enhancements" I learn how custom ROM's are blocked! I see AMDzero was able to somehow revert the "pda portion" of his phone back and older revision. Perhaps, someone can shed some light?").

So, make sure you are at DG21 before you flash a DG21 ROM. Go to Settings, Click the tab for Advanced Settings on the upper right, then System, then Version, then Device. CSC should say i920.DG21. If it does, you're good to go with a DG21 ROM. If it says DC23, you either need to update with the upgrade tool found in the first post of the thread above (Samsung Official DG21 ROM Release) then flash to the DG21 ROM of your choice or flash to a DC23 ROM.

I did actually update with DG21 the day it came out. It didn't fail, per se, but the update was released with broken widgets. So, I was successful in updating, with the defective update. Verizon told me t re-download and re-do the update. That's where I had trouble because the update wouldn't allow me to update again. I had to flash back to the prevoius version (DG23) so I could re-do the Verizon update. Turns out, the widgets were still broken and I went through all that for nothing. There were no DG21 ROMS out yet. AMDZero has since produced some DG21 ROMS. Had I waiting to update until AMDZero got everything sorted out and corrected, I would have had a lot less trouble. He does such a fantastic job!

If you updated the first day that Dg21 came out then you have the good version of DG21, he got the "bad" version that has the widget fix in it but has caused problems with flashing DG21 roms, that's why he needed to run the DG21 updater again. Also I don't know if you saw but someone posted a cab in the "verizon releasing new update" thread that I posted a link to(I think it's on the same page that I linked to) to fix the widgets.

http://www.modaco.com/index.php?s=&sho...t&p=1423951

This from AMD says that they did not change the PDA at all but modified the CSC. His CSC should say i920.DI16 while your's and mine would be Dg21.

Edited October 13, 2010 by bmt10

[Guest dem1an]

This from AMD says that they did not change the PDA at all but modified the CSC. His CSC should say i920.DI16 while your's and mine would be Dg21.

I wish. I updated with the bad version. I'm at the following:

PDA: S:i920.2.0V.DG21.21906

CSC: i920.DI16

Edited October 13, 2010 by dem1an

[Guest Corki2]

Sorry dem1an, I wasn't not aware there was a problem with the ROM you flashed to. I would definitely PM AMDZero and get his advice as to where to go now.

Thanks for the info Bmt10. That was the info I was missing.

Yes, I saw the cab for the widget fix and it worked fine. I ended up flashing to AMDZero's ZeroStock ROM anyway though.

[Guest dem1an]

On a positive note, this phone is already much less frustrating than the TP2.

[Guest Corki2]

On a positive note, this phone is already much less frustrating than the TP2.

Great! I'm glad you are happy with it in spite of a bumpy start!