9700 5.0 OS Question

[Prafeston]

How often does T-Mobile release OS upgrades? I'm currently having some issues with my phone which I believe are just OS bugs. My phone is running .330...is this the latest T-Mobile Release?

The main issues I have are that you can press down on the BlackBerry button and hold it to get the list of running apps, but I'll many times get that stupid menu when I just tap the BlackBerry button and I'm not wanting the Running Apps list I'm just wanting the menu or to go to my all apps list from the Home Page. It gets quite frustrating at times.

Second problem I've been having is occasionally when trying to text someone I won't be able to open their text and if I type their name in, find their number, hit the menu button and go to SMS "User" it just takes me to the SMS folder and doesn't open up an SMS for me to send to them. I have to open a blank SMS and add their number in and then when I send the SMS it doesn't put my SMS in the thread I already had going with them...and this issue comes and goes. It's really quite frustrating when it happens which isn't as often as the Menu Button issue.

Has anyone else had problems like this? Are there any 9700 OS upgrades that I could run on my phone...even if T-Mobile hasn't released one? I'd just really like for these issues to be resolved.

[Giablo]

you should be able to use any carriers 5.0 OS just make sure you read the install instructions and delete the vendor.exe file otherwise it wont work on your phone.

[Prafeston]

I'd ask for a suggestion on what OS to upgrade to, but it looks like you don't own the 9700. I'd rather not upgrade to a leaked/non-carrier OS unless I know it's going to solve my problems.

I haven't been on this site since I bought my Curve over like a year and a half ago, but I'll do some reading and see if anyone else was having the issues I was.

Thanks for the help. I did one OS upgrade with my old Curve. I'll just have to remember to follow the instructions here on Crackberry so I don't brick my phone!

[Myveggies]

TMO's release of OS is extremely slow. Go to this following site and you will be able to choose "official, not leaked" versions of other carrier's OS.

I am currently running on Bell Mobility (Canada) .423, it's great, no problems! Just make sure you delete the vendor.exe file before you load it onto your phone.

BlackBerry - BlackBerry Desktop and Device Software Download Sites

[Prafeston]

Can I download this and install them on my phone using the Mac Desktop Manager?

[berryite]

Originally Posted by Prafeston

How often does T-Mobile release OS upgrades? I'm currently having some issues with my phone which I believe are just OS bugs. My phone is running .330...is this the latest T-Mobile Release?

The main issues I have are that you can press down on the BlackBerry button and hold it to get the list of running apps, but I'll many times get that stupid menu when I just tap the BlackBerry button and I'm not wanting the Running Apps list I'm just wanting the menu or to go to my all apps list from the Home Page. It gets quite frustrating at times.

Second problem I've been having is occasionally when trying to text someone I won't be able to open their text and if I type their name in, find their number, hit the menu button and go to SMS "User" it just takes me to the SMS folder and doesn't open up an SMS for me to send to them. I have to open a blank SMS and add their number in and then when I send the SMS it doesn't put my SMS in the thread I already had going with them...and this issue comes and goes. It's really quite frustrating when it happens which isn't as often as the Menu Button issue.

Has anyone else had problems like this? Are there any 9700 OS upgrades that I could run on my phone...even if T-Mobile hasn't released one? I'd just really like for these issues to be resolved.

1.) T-Mobile rarely releases OS updates after they release the original OS with a new phone. The .330 is the current release for T-Mobile USA. There is a .351 release for T-Mobile Germany. T-Mobile frowns on users changing their OSs to anything unsanctioned. Change your OS at your own risk.

2.) The overall latest 9700 OS is .442 which has been sanctioned by a large number of Middle East carriers. No carrier in Europe or North America has endorsed .442. I am currently running .442 (at the time of posting this). I am not convinced it is any big deal and cannot recommend switching to it. I also do not recommend against using it. There is nothing really wrong with it. I just find nothing compelling in it to recommend either. Not really any advantages.

3.) RIM's current code for their sms module s*ucks in my opinion. Virtually every OS out there today has complaints related to the messaging component of the OS. IMHO, RIM needs to clean up their act on their messaging modules in their OSs. They are all bad code.

You can try to change to .442 and see if that solves your problem. Some people report that this OS cures cancer and global poverty. I'm afraid I haven't seen any big advantages but your findings may vary. If you want to try .442, take a walk over to the 9700 forum and you'll find a thread there about how to install the .442 OS.

Hope that helps.

[Projectile]

Why do most people give T-Mobile a Pass just cause there is an unsanctioned update available floating around the net. It is genuinely pathetic and unacceptable to all who have paid good money and resigned 2 year service plans with T-Mobile to have to wait for an Update which cures a release with so many issues.

Yes I am running .442 and am happy that many of the issues that I was having are gone with the update. But I can understand the frustrations of the other users of the 9700 who are not as tech savvy as some of us and would not upgrade the firmware cause they are scared of warranty issues, etc... from T-Mobile. And they wonder why the parent company wants to sell them off.

[berryite]

Originally Posted by Projectile

Why do most people give T-Mobile a Pass just cause there is an unsanctioned update available floating around the net.

I know from our other conversations in other threads that you are very happy with .442 and I'm glad it is working for you.

Please do keep in mind that no one is giving anyone a pass.

Any carrier usually does a lot of research and testing before releasing an OS. None of them pound out new official releases every time another carrier does a release of their own. T-Mobile and AT&T have both only had one release apiece for the 9700. It is hardly reasonable to expect T-Mobile to jump just because a handful of carriers over in the Middle East released a .442 version which in my view really has no significant advantages above T-Mobile's own .330 stock OS.

Personally, .330 was bullet proof for me. It worked well (other than the sms module code which IMHO is bad code in all 5.0 OSs).

I can report no significant advantages to .442 above .330. I think it's unfair to expect T-Mobile to put the entire company on hold because 2-3 carriers in the Middle East released a .442 OS for the 9700 which again has received some pretty mixed reviews across CrackBerry. I personally don't have any complaints or accolades in regard to .442 but there are lots of others who find .442 to be no walk in the park. Indeed I think if you looked around, you'd probably find far more critical posts about .442 than .330,

T-Mobile doesn't deserve a bad rap about this OS release business. Most users never change their OS during the entire life span of their devices.

[Prafeston]

I guess there isn't a way to install an OS from a Mac. I've downloaded the .exe file but it only opens as a Text file. Oh well.

[kcarter3]

i have 442 as well. fine for me. no probs at all.

[SpyDude]

I'm not that big on OS updates, just want myFaves and Mobile Back-up! Any word on when?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[iLovemy_bb]

A lot of overseas carriers care less about their users or more depending on how you look at it. NA carriers are busy with other devices so they try not to show care for OS 5

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[NorrisCell]

First instinct says IBTL. Second instinct wonders why random useless websites feel that spamming every board in the world will draw them a significant amount of traffic.

With regards to OS updates, unless there are major revisions in the newer version, what difference does it make? Most people here are aware that one carrier's OS can be installed to another's device of the same model. With a handful of exceptions, OS updates rarely have a noticeable impact on a device's performance, IMO

[berryite]

Originally Posted by NorrisCell

With a handful of exceptions, OS updates rarely have a noticeable impact on a device's performance, IMO

Preach it brother. Hallelujah! Lol. Boy are you right.

When T-Mobile released the 8900, they had a bad OS. I upgraded to virtually all the 8900 OSs and the only one that really made a difference was .250. All the others were pretty much a waste of time.

My 9700 came with .330. I upgraded to .442 and if there is any advantage to .442, I sure as heck haven't found it.

Most of these OS "upgrades" are much ado about nothing.

[fcknbambola]

I think upgrading OS, for most, is just the hype of doing something 'new'. I know every time I upgraded the OS on my older phones 8100/8320, it was for newer features & better themes. On my 8900 I never upgraded because I wasn't having any problems. I was content with it. When 5.0 leaked & then became official... Lots leaped but to me it wasn't a big thing. Now that I'm on the 9700 I feel the same.

The thing is, new updates ARE released to fix bugs but T-Mobile just probably doesn't think it's worth it. I'm sure they get a breakdown of the update & it simply may cost more for them to make that update available than it's worth. What if it only fixes/enhances things that are soooo minor that everyone goes... Ehhh, what a waste of time & energy?

And on top of that, the new update will have new bugs. Lol. It's a package deal.

If I were you I'd take advantage of my warranty & send it in. Make sure you do a backup first.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com