Taking SPV back?

[Guest pibrahim]

With the announcements of the SPVx, Tanager, etc., is anyone else tempted to try taking their SPV back?

Personally, I'm getting a bit fed up now with the continually delayed update, and given that a newer model has now been announced, rest assured that we'll be given even less priority. Basically everything thats wrong with the original SPV (fiddley keys, poor four-directional pad, etc) appears to be fixed with the newer incarnation, and its not right that we pay for the priviledge of solely testing what in effect was a beta-release. I'm sure some of you will argue to the contrary, but lets examine it:

-Phone released without a properly functional photo-taking application. Functionality within MMS was extremely basic, and certainly not a well-developed application. Users had to pay extra to receive software that should have been integrated from the start, and indeed is with the Sharp GX10, Panasonic GD87, Samsung V200, etc.

-Phone has no SMS character counter, and almost certainly STILL won't even after the update. This is absolutely shocking; phones 2 or 3 years old still let the user know when they enter into a second message - the Nokia 3310 for example. This is absolutely fundamental.

-Software absolutely riddled with bugs; for instance sometimes when I write a text message, characters/words 'disappear' for no reason, and I usually have to delete one of the relevant characters to make the word reappear. The phone sometimes refuses to make calls, regardless of the signal meter. Sometimes text messages refuse to send, regardless of signal, and yet restarting the phone fixes this. Worse, the messages that don't send are confined to the sent items folder, making it a hassle to resend them.

-In truth, the update is reportedly very similar to the Danish update, and if we're honest, exactly how many of our issues and concerns does it fix? Precious few. People seem to be excited about it simply because its an update, and seem to ignore the fact that it *appears* to be an update thats taken months to release that addresses very little. Sure, it fixes the backlight problem. We get better battery life. Software works faster. Thats all well and good, but there's still a load of bugs out there needing rectification!

I'm very annoyed with Orange right now for choosing to pump out more Smartphone hardware rather than choosing to ensure that the current generation functions to a sufficient degree.

[Guest ClintEastman]

The Tanager and SPV are running the same software, so the updates will be the same (only diff is the way Orange arange the apps and home screen).

It sounds to me that you have a faulty handset, all my problems (well most) are fixed by the update.

And I have also thought up a perfect plan to get them to upgrade (not really an upgrade) to a SPVx!

[Guest pibrahim]

Paul described the Tanager as 'vastly superior' though, and suggested we might not get an update to it... none of us really know what the differences will be yet.

Also, I think I'm right in saying that the T68i updates were compatible with the T68 for a time, i.e. the main MMS/Picture Phonebook/etc. software update. But not all future updates were compatible; I think the Ericsson upgrade server differentiated between the T68i and upgraded T68.

If the Orange SPVx has the seemingly different priorities to the SPV, it seems more than likely they *won't* share software updates; they have different targets, and so won't run the same software.

Whats your plan for upgrading by the way?

[Guest benny]

If the functionality of the SPVx is going to be no different to the original unit, why change it?

I mean...so far, the only differences seem to be cosmetic. The SPVx and the SPV will be able to use the same hardware addons...sam software updates...the only things which have changed seem to be the screen and the keyboard.

It still does everything else that I need it to...plus soon it could have a rarity value, too!

Failing that, it looks about the right size to wedge my door open with :roll:

B

[Guest ClintEastman]

I would be VERY surprised if the updates weren’t the same updates with an app jiggle… Making them in development terms the same core (diff version for each phone).

Hello Orange, nice to meet ya! :)

[Guest Speedy]

Read the text and i can definately recognize some of the problems, I still have a lot of problems making calls and sending sms, and it is really making me mad. When trying to make a call it sounds like its making the call but then there is only silece and the desplay shows "calling" but does nothing. This is happening more and more often.

Yes i do have the update and i do not think that it fixed that many bugs at all.

[Guest webba]

I was happy with my SPV tho!, but ive sold mine now and bought a 2litre capri with the proceeds!!

Id rather be driving around than playing doom! sorry ive jumped ship!

[Guest xanadu]

SPV and SPVx, are the same from the sound of things. Only difference being the extra goodies you get with it, like keyboard, joystick etc. The Tanager is the same as the SPV also but a different keyboard and front case.

I don't see any point in swapping the SPV you already have, unless you just want different cosmetic appearance.

The UK ROM update will be with us on Monday, so that will improve things a lot. Just have to be patient. :)

[Guest pibrahim]

Paul's stated the Tanager has a much better screen than the SPV...

[Guest Firaas]

Yeah, Orange's press release said so as well. Oh well, our screen's are good enough.

Presumably the Tanager has proper TFT and not reflective? This would make the phone visibly more expensive...

[Guest Chris b.a.r.f.]

Personally, I think the SPV's screen is one of it's best features - hard to see how they could make it much better short of enlarging it....

[Guest yatpeak]

Also, the update now has a set release date, so that shouldn't be a reason to take it back.

Wyatt