SonyEricsson V800

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Retnox

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First Impressions.

Lets start with the look: It is not much larger than my K700i when closed and although thinner than my Z600 it is almost 1cm longer.
It has a good solid feel to it, however due to the slick nature of it's cover you really leave a lot of fingerprints on it giveing you an urge to wipe off the phone with the cloth provided.
There are 4 buttons immediately accessable while the phone is closed. The Camera key, flashlight, and the "+" and "-" keys. What is really nice is that you can operate the camera and flash useing the small LCD as viewfinder. (The refresh rate is a bit low but you don't need to open the phone to take a picture.)
The "+" and "-" keys can be used to ajust the brightness.
The flashlight can be used acs a camera light or as a normal torch (I feature I found lacking on the K700i)

Useing the phone for the first time I found a lot I was fimiliar with and a lot that was quite bewildering.

The blue GPRS signal indicator I was used to was now replaced by a single "G"
The standard red yellow green battery indicator is now replaced by a monocrome battery. (In chargeing without the phone being switched on it apperas on a blood-red background on both displays)
The fimiliar "Calls" and "More" button has been replaced by "Calls" and "live"

The Menu's has been replaced by the Vodafone branded one. The icons are really simplistic. Probably due to the fact that they will be replicated across all Vodafone models regardless of brand.
 
Ok. I ran into my first snag with the phone.

Thanks to a nifty tip I picked up here on the forums I had my apn changed from the standard APN (internet) to the VPN APN (internetvpn) which made life a hellova lot easier (Thanks V3G!)

On my K700i It was simply go to >Connectivity>Cata comm.>Data accounts>Internet.GPRS and then "Edit" and just Change the APN!

On the V800 >Connectivity>Cata comm.>Data accounts> And then I'm confronted with the following:
VLive!
VLive!MMS
Vodacom

However I am unable to edit any of them. (I suspect I need to edit the VLive! entry)

So I phoned 155 and spoke to a very knowlegable person. However since they don't have handsets available there and no-one that might know how to solve this issue is available at this time I suspect it wont be solved earlier than Sunday (I'm off tomorrow so I'll only be able to look at it on Sunday again).
 
Umm... So I can't change my APN. I took the next best option. I had the standard settings for a Z1010 sent to my phone. Now I have an Inetnet.GPRS option. (I'm useing a Prepaid sim card for testing)
However I would really like test the rest of the features.
3G transfers, Video Call (I'll have to wait till someone I know gets a 3G phone) etc.
I suspect useing the standard Inetnet.GPRS setting won't allow me to attain 3G speeds. Is that true?

The games on the V800 are on par with those of the K700i nice 3d Feel and an interesting arcade style experience.
 
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Another issue: The SonyEricsson Web Update service... I get this message:

Your device is not permitted to use this service
Your operator does not approve the use of this service with this device.
We look forward to assisting you again soon.
Thank you for using the Sony Ericsson Update Service!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure who I need to ask about this issue. Vodacom or SonyEricsson? I'll try SonyEricsson on monday then.

I wanted to update the phone coz the firmware was a few months old. So I thought I could just do it online.
 
Firmware Upgrade

The firmware upgrade for the V800 is a tricky one, because it is VodaFone branded. VodaFone control the upgrades, and as far as I know you CANNOT update a VodaFone branded SonyEricsson via the online update utility.
 
Well I must say It is really FAST!
The USB cable will make it a bonus for anyone that still doesn't have a Bluetooth dongle yet. As for it's capacity. 32Mb seems to be way too small. I'll upgrade it at the first oppertunity.
I dumped a 100 or so pics on the phone (At least it uses the same size for the main display as my K700i (176*182) so that was easy. The outer display seems to prefer 80*101 though you can trow any size image at any display and it will take it. You can even give it a flash animation! cool eh?
I also tried it with different 3GP movies. Some I took with another phone, Some I got off the net and some I converted myself. (Like Ice age gone nutty :D )

erike, if the Vodaphone branding really irritates me I'll take it off. Either ask the advanced repair centre. Or Ixia (Oh no!) and if I get really desperate and don't mind possably voiding the warranty use something like "setool"
I wonder I'f they can install the Z800 firmware for me?
 
Well I received a call form The Vodacom 3G helpdesk.

I had my Vlive APN activated (On both my simcards) I was told how to use my internetvpn APN useing an AT initialation string or useing the "CID"
The helpful gentleman also recommeneded I frequent this forum since one of their really technical guys takes things very personally and will try and solve my problems. (So good going Vodacom3G - you seem to have made a real good impression on at least one of your co-workers. So I hope you make the same good impresssion on your boss and maybe get a raise!)
 
If this thread is going to be of any use I should probably explain things a bit better.
As I already mentioned the phone ships out with 3 data accounts preloaded:
On the V800 >Connectivity>Cata comm.>Data accounts> And then I'm confronted with the following:
VLive!
VLive!MMS
Vodacom
Click to expand...
However I added 2 more (I requested the Z1010 accounts)
Internet.GPRS
MMS.GPRS

The reason I did this was that dataconnectivity was not working.
Edit: Also phone 155 and have them activate the Vlive APN for you (You probably won't need to do this later but now it will help a lot)

Now Let me explain the Whole CID and dail up thing...
Normally you can create a dail up that uses your phone's default settings:
Name:<blank>
Password:<blank>
Number:*99#

Now to chose a spesific data account you can use the CID.
How it was explained to me (I haven't tested it yet) is as follows:
Each data account has an ID.
Select the account and press "More". Then select "Account info"
It should list something like:
Name: Vlive!
External ID: 1
Click to expand...
or
Name: Vodacom
External ID: 3
Click to expand...
So to chose the actual account you want to use you dail the numver as follows:*99***4# (In this example I'm useing 4 as my CID which correspondes to my account Internet.GPRS)

I hope I explained it ok.
Edit: For some info that really helped me a lot have a look at this thread: http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=18009 (Its a real creative way to use GPRS)

Some info I didn't mention earlier:
The Phone comes pre loaded with the following games/applications

Applications:
Converter (Conversts Distances, Volumes, Weights etc.)
World Clock (Nice graphical clock)

Games
Alpha Wing EX (Arcade game by Macrospace)
FiveStones (I guess we all know this one)
Super Real Tennis Trail (SEGA)

On a side not I realised the game Super Real Tennis is a trail version on my V800 whereas its a Full version on my K700i (SEGA WOW INC.). I'm not a game fanatic but I know some people are.

PS: I also phoned Vodacom to enquire as to the debranding issue or loading the Z800 firmware (Yes it can be done ref SE developers network) But I won't hold my breath on that one.
 
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V800 mp3 as ringtone.

Another issue...
Useing an MP3 file as a ringtone! - You can't! (Not by default anyway) You get a nice message that informs you:
Cannot use this file as DRM protection key is missing
Click to expand...
Now i'm seeing this a a minor irritation nore than anything else. There used to be a Digital Rights Manager (DRM) Package tool on the SonyEricsson Developer site. However sadly it disapeared into the digital void. Someone was nice enough to repost it elsewhere: http://forum.welshalfa.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=92 (Use at own discrecion)
Note: It's a developer tool so don't expect anything too fancy. It's supposed to get the job done, not to look good while doing it.

I find it strange that this is an issue. Quite a number of other phones on the market have no issue with MP3 ringtones.
 
@ Retnox

Check out http://www.esato.com/board/

There is a thread for UMTS, there is plenty info regarding the V800 (or Z800 if you're that way inclined)

As soon as I manage to FIND a V800, I will flash it to Z800 the minute it is fully charged. I have already ordered my SE T28 service cable...
 
Nice thread. I'm waiting for the Z800 to be released - hopefully later this year - I assume it will be available across all networks. It looks like the one to go for (no Vodafone quirks, just good old SE :))
 
CodeMaster said:
As soon as I manage to FIND a V800, I will flash it to Z800 the minute it is fully charged. I have already ordered my SE T28 service cable...
Click to expand...

I'm trying to get hold of the Vodacom Advanced Repair centre.. I don't want to void my warranty on it. http://www.setool.net/ is the only site I know that actually offers you the option to do this. Do you know of any others? (Don't go for the standalone option if you just want to do the one phone.)

Razer0 - I'm also a big SE fan though I seem to be quite happy with the V800 sofar. I'll get myself more memory as soon as I can coz 32 is just not enough.

My gripes with the phone seems to be the following:
* Protected Images (Vodafone/Vodacom)
* Locked data accounts (Vofafone/Vodacom)
* Missing "More" Button (Vodafone/Vodacom) It's an easy way to activate/deactivate bluetooth, infrared etc.
* DRM issue. (SonyEricsson)
* Really red interface (Vodafone/Vodacom) I tried to compensate by useing a really blue theme but it's still a bit of an eyesore. the standard SE interface is much more balanced and of higher quality than the Vodafone one IMHO.
* Bluetooth authentication issue (Not sure whose problem this is - I'm only having the problem with an IPAQ)
* Online Update Utility (Not Sure whose problem this is either)
 
Retnox said:
My gripes with the phone seems to be the following:
* Protected Images (Vodafone/Vodacom)
Click to expand...

There is a similar issue with the K700i - it was reported elsewhere, but I can't find it again.

I don't mind the adspace Vodacom grabs as much, but I do mind that I can't copy it to my PC when I do a backup. It just makes life a bit more difficult than it needs to be.

If I remember correctly, it was reported such a schlepp to have the problem corrected, that I will rather live with it than make the effort.
 
Bluetooth Modem

I'm now really considering dumping my Telkom ADSL for a Vodacom 3G option. The portability of the connection is something I desperately need. I can live with 1Gig a month... or I can try to :) So, the question is... can the V800 be used to connect your PC via blueTooth to the 3G network ? It should by all accounts be possible, just wanted to make sure.

Thanks!
 
Battery Life

Battery life will kill you.

I would suggest a 3g datacard.

I dont even use bluetooth and my V800 with limited calls does not last a day.
 
kaspaas said:
There is a similar issue with the K700i - it was reported elsewhere, but I can't find it again.

I don't mind the adspace Vodacom grabs as much, but I do mind that I can't copy it to my PC when I do a backup. It just makes life a bit more difficult than it needs to be.

If I remember correctly, it was reported such a schlepp to have the problem corrected, that I will rather live with it than make the effort.
Click to expand...

I had such an issue. I did eventually manage to get it done 2 weeks after I bought the phone. Now i'm trying to have the same done with the V800 and it seems to generate even more red tape.

erike - seems like it. However I haven't managed to do so yet since every time I wish to do so I'm out of area so to speak. (no 3G coverage)

vodacom3g - as for the battery life. I wouldn't be able to give an accurate comment on it since I got it on the Friday did some vigerous transfers to and from the phone. and only recharged it on Sunday.

On a side note Big cheese and myself decided to test the video call option. However it seems he didn't have the service activated. (You need to call 155 to activate it and usually takes 6 to 8 hours) We'll probably attempt it again tomorrow if I can get to a 3G area.
 
MP3 ringtones again.

V3G - I just like to point at your advert of the V800 on the Vodacom.co.za site.

Main Features
Vodafone live! ready
Bluetooth enabled
1.3 Megapixel Camera with 4x digital zoom
MP3 Ringtones <-- Shakes finger at this

Dimensions
Weight (g) 128
Size (mm) 102 x 49 x 24
Talktime up to 600 mins
Standby Time up to 240 hrs

You guys might get into trouble for this. It's false advertiseing is it not? That phone does not support MP3 ringtones outa the box. Sure you can play MP3's no problem. But you can not use them as a ringtone. I could only get them working useing the DRM packager which is a SonyEricsson developer tool.

Here's a link to look at: http://www.vodacom.co.za/phones/reviews/phone_info.aspx?m=Sony Ericsson&p=V800

Edit: So I like this line: "This information is sourced from third parties, and Vodacom does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy thereof."
 
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