We will have an official WM2003 from T-Mobile

[decebal]

As stated at
http://www.ppcw.net/index.php?itemid=1662

in an official comment
T-Mobile was the first carrier to deliver the Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition and is committed to the support of this product. We will be providing the 2003 upgrade to our customers.

The standard Pocket PC 2003 version, used by many Pocket PC PDA's, doesn't include the needed software and hardware to operate as a phone. The additional time need for integration and testing ensures the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Chris Archey
Product Manager Pocket PC Phone Edition
T-Mobile


So ... we're looking forward for this.

About the 4.01.00 I think T-Mobile will have here, on xda-developers, an excellent testing bed.

Thanks T-Mobile :)

[Toshiro]

thanks t-mobile... :D

[ebswift]

It's a good point... why do they go on with all the secrecy crap when they've got the best test bed in the world right here. We're getting their test ROM's anyway, but it seems we're only testing something that's already been tested and discarded.

Can someone tell them "we told you so" when they release the final and it's got glaring bugs?

[GregP74]

I suspect part of the reason is that they don't want to have to lend tech support to those who have issues with beta products.

Upgrading ROMs isn't exactly something I'd recommend for the casual user (Although, XDA users obviously are higher on the nerd factor, so I shouldnt say we can't handle it!)

Think about how many people come in here asking how to fix the PPCPhone they've just toasted doing a rom update. Combine that with the problems they've had with SD card erasures, and the wireless data people at T-Mobile would be awful busy fielding questions.

That being said, it would be kinda cool if they released the roms to xda-developers.com and let there be sort of an "official unofficial" extension of the beta program!

[digital_1]

I think one reason they don't want to do a 'public' beta would be to discourage casual or non-technical users from trying to upgrade their devices. In case there are folks who don't really understand what they are doing, T-Mobile could end up with units with blown radio stacks, etc. This could create more work from them than it might otherwise solve.

That being said, it would be cool if you could 'apply' to a beta program.

[JUICEe]

SO...BASICALLY.....WUT UR TELLIN ME....IS...THAT...IM......A....NERD :cry:



:twisted:

[decebal]

SO...BASICALLY.....WUT UR TELLIN ME....IS...THAT...IM......A....NERD :cry:



:twisted:

only on the positive side :wink:

[Rudegar]

JUICEe
no biggy as long as your mum think you're cool ;)

http://www.intuwave.com/index.php?page=news_articles&id=69

here is a article about why your std joe user not only update his bios
but also run away screeming from the xda while waving his hands in panic
all while waving his hands in panic
:P

[robinton]

I object to the Nerd reference... I am not a Nerd, I am a geek :wink: , even have the Microsoft Services Ubergeek bumper sticker to prove it.

Robert H.

[JUICEe]

your on your own there buddy, I would never deface my car with a sticker of any sort

[robinton]

Also, on the secrecy bit here, I fall somewhere in the middle. I don't think they should release the test version to the general public (for the general reason that 99% of end users are Idiots and the extra support load would be gruesome for the support personnel) but it would be nice for them to communicate accurate information about the status of upcoming upgrades to the support personnel so I don't get answers like the one I recieved earlier. I see no reason for them not to tell the support personnel "Yes we will be releasing the pocketPC 2003 upgrade, but it is still in testing and we do not have any indication of what the release date will be" and permit them to pass that on to folks who ask the question "When will the Pocket PC 2003 Upgrade be availiable?".

Robert H.

[ronin]

Also, on the secrecy bit here, I fall somewhere in the middle. I don't think they should release the test version to the general public (for the general reason that 99% of end users are Idiots and the extra support load would be gruesome for the support personnel) but it would be nice for them to communicate accurate information about the status of upcoming upgrades to the support personnel so I don't get answers like the one I recieved earlier. I see no reason for them not to tell the support personnel "Yes we will be releasing the pocketPC 2003 upgrade, but it is still in testing and we do not have any indication of what the release date will be" and permit them to pass that on to folks who ask the question "When will the Pocket PC 2003 Upgrade be availiable?".

Robert H.

Totally agree with you. However, internal communicaitons are typically bad in siloed organizations with geographically dispersed service centers such as T-Mobile.

[Scrappy]

It's been a month since I have heard anything new on T-Mobile releasing WM2003. Has anyone heard anything?

I tried 4.01.00 and had problems with SD erasing and phone lockups. :cry: I reverted back to 3.14 and will wait for something a little more stable.

[MrDollyMaker]

It's been a month since I have heard anything new on T-Mobile releasing WM2003. Has anyone heard anything?

I tried 4.01.00 and had problems with SD erasing and phone lockups. :cry: I reverted back to 3.14 and will wait for something a little more stable.

Hmmmmmm... Why does everyone have problems but me with the SD card erasing :?:

MrDollyMaker

[ronin]

That is a very good question! MrDollyMaker

What type of card do you have?
Does it have a name or ID?

I found root problem to the SD erasures was in the way the TMO and AT&T radio Stacks were addressing the hardware and memory locs for the SD Card and renaming it every time there was a change in cell towers or going into ROAM modes. :x

The problem stopped one I formated and named my SD card in an outside reader and ensured the device registry read that port under that name and not assigned it a new name. So no more SD erasures since I did my 4.01 update.

PS: I sent all the logs, the apps and info to both carries, but no reply as of yet! :roll:

[GregP74]

Grrrrr! Just had my first sd card erasure in forever. I hadn't had that happen since probably the 4.00.06 version!

Oh well looks like a friday night of pocketpc reinstallation fun for me :-)

[Bedammit]

I could care less about the who, what when where and why of the realease lateness. It is obvious to me at this point that they dont have very good developers at T-mobile for the Pocket PC release. The last release had a lot of the T-mobile software removed anyway.

At this point. As a developer and a scienent being I'd like T-mobile to release a beta to some people. My phone is unstable. I have had several handset replacements, because they think it will solve the problem. Nope.. Nada Zippo.

I'd be AFRAID to get an XDA II at this point.
I use my Sony Erisson T610 most of the time now.

The fact that several other providers have already released the Windows Mobile 2003 several months ago is pretty darn good evidence to stupidity or serious problems somewhere.

You make the call as to which applies.

-Disgruntled Pocket PC owner
:evil:
and I hate those damn smileys but Im pissed!

[cgigate]

who needs T-mobile WM 2003!, it is unstable and buggy, and almost useless!

[MrDollyMaker]

That is a very good question! MrDollyMaker

What type of card do you have?
Does it have a name or ID?


It's a Lexar. Well both are. I have a 32mb and a 256mb card. Both were formated with Softwinter Storage Tools and used the backup Fat option, so that might be what prevents it. It's named "Storage Card" by default. File system is FAT32, sector Size 512Bytes, Cluster size 2kb.

It's an awsome program that even defrags and tests the cards for errors.

Never once had an erase problem yet. 8)


MrDollyMaker

[MrDollyMaker]

who needs T-mobile WM 2003!, it is unstable and buggy, and almost useless!

Um... Havent had any problems that were not "oddities". 4.01 rom now. :shock:

[pdhenry]

Same here. I had 4.01 in for a couple of days but mssed the kitchen add-ins, so I've gone back to 4.00.16.

The only thing in 4.01 that I miss is the band selection in the phone settings menu.

IMO if someone loads a test version of firmware they shouldn't be surprised if there are strange problems with it. Other than some slowdowns that seem not to be repeatable I don't have any problems.

[ronin]

That is a very good question! MrDollyMaker

What type of card do you have?
Does it have a name or ID?


It's a Lexar. Well both are. I have a 32mb and a 256mb card. Both were formated with Softwinter Storage Tools and used the backup Fat option, so that might be what prevents it. It's named "Storage Card" by default. File system is FAT32, sector Size 512Bytes, Cluster size 2kb.

It's an awsome program that even defrags and tests the cards for errors.

Never once had an erase problem yet. 8)


MrDollyMaker

I use the Softwinter Storage tools as well and found no problems on SAN DISK 128 and 256 MB. As long as the card is named and the backup is FAT32!

It would be interesting to see if this works for other SD card erasure posts and users.

[Scrappy]

That is a very good question! MrDollyMaker

What type of card do you have?
Does it have a name or ID?


It's a Lexar. Well both are. I have a 32mb and a 256mb card. Both were formated with Softwinter Storage Tools and used the backup Fat option, so that might be what prevents it. It's named "Storage Card" by default. File system is FAT32, sector Size 512Bytes, Cluster size 2kb.

It's an awsome program that even defrags and tests the cards for errors.

Never once had an erase problem yet. 8)


MrDollyMaker

I also have a Lexar 512mb card and used to experience the SD card erasure daily. On MrDollyMakers sugguestion, I used the Softwinter tools to format the card with the FAT backup option and I haven't had any issues since. I am on my third day without issue! Keeping my fingers crossed. 8)

[ebswift]

Well, same here, I'm now on the second day of using the storagetools formatted card according to MrDollyMaker's specs. Prior to doing this I had one erasure after about 2 weeks of use with 4.01, so I guess time will tell using this method.

[jmbneaf]

I can confirm this too - sort of.

I've been running the 4.01.00 ROM for a while now, my SD cards (yes 2) are both named, different brands (kingston & sandisk), are formatted FAT @ 16k blocks.

All this and no SD card erasures - ever ...

FYI,

JB

[smallboy]

I too am using 4.01.00 and have no issues with SD cards, although i occasionally turn on my XDA and it greets me with a soft reset.

[Scrappy]

I too am using 4.01.00 and have no issues with SD cards, although i occasionally turn on my XDA and it greets me with a soft reset.

I also had this issue with rom 4.01.00. I now use 4.00.16 from Yorch and that issue doesn't happen anymore.

[Biso007]

Hi ...

I have been using 4.01.00 for about 3 weeks now and came out with some comments that might help ...

1. The back light doesn't turn on upon receiving SMS ... but some other times works ... I don't know why :roll:

2. Using Magic Button: I used this S/W with PPC2002 with no problems at all. Now with WM2003, I found that switching to other application is like closing the current one. You only have one live application at any time.

3. Using MY|Profiles: I 'm using the trial version till now. I noticed that it doesn't display the right symbol for the volume on the top of the screen. ex: if you select the Silent profile, the volume signal stays ON even tho the actual volume is turned off. Same if you manually turned the volume off and select the LOUD profile. It will still display OFF.

I 'm not sure these are ROM or applications problems. I just wanted to share it with you in case any one have an explanation.

[MrDollyMaker]

Hi ...

I have been using 4.01.00 for about 3 weeks now and came out with some comments that might help ...

1. The back light doesn't turn on upon receiving SMS ... but some other times works ... I don't know why :roll:



There is a known issue with the SMS not turning the unit on. There is a free patch to fix this on www.pocketgears.com and other sites.

MrDollyMaker

[cshields1]

Set your Today screen to the Windows Default - never an erasure again. Don't know why. The formatting thing seems to work too.

[valheru]

Maybe I'll just stick with my current ROM. Doesn't seem to be any value for upgrading to 4.01.

[iatepee]

---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Solomon) - 01/12/2004 08:55 PM

Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. I will be happy to assist you
with your inquiry. The tentative release date for the Windows 2003 update for
the Pocket PC is within the next 60-days. If and when it is released, you will
find it at http://www.t-mobile.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/downloads.asp

If you have any other comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to
contact us anytime.

Thank you for choosing T-Mobile.

Sincerely,
T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Solomon
Web Services

Customer - 01/11/2004 01:06 PM
I have a t-mo pocket pc, and I would like to know if you will support WM2003 OS,
and if so, maybe when. --If you are really feeling kind, can you tell me if I
will be able to use the phone as a modem for my PC?

[valheru]

I'll be looking forward to it. Hopefully whoever downloads it first will upload it for the rest of us. This way we won't be stuck when Tmob deletes the link which they are known for.

[JUICEe]

---------------------------------------------------------------
If and when it is released,


ahhhh....how reasureing 8)

[ebswift]

22 days now, and still MrDollyMakers suggestion of using storage tools seems to have prevented SD card erasure. Maybe it's just not going to erase? Has anyone else who's been trying this method struck an erasure yet?

[decebal]

from december i'm running 4.01.00 without any problems and no hard reset.

that's pretty impressive considering using gps/additional calendar/all sorts of today plugs.

but i've used only the default theme.

[ntwebguy]

Do those of you using 4.01 get the "ghost screen" when I was using it (i have since gone back to .16) it would turn itself on in my pocket or even when it was sitting on my desk. It was driving me nuts. Any one figure this one out?

[ronin]

Same here!
No more erasure for my SD card...

[Aurora13]

I've used all the available ROM builds and never had a SD card erasure. Now I use 4.01 for about a month, and I have got my SD card erasure for the first time!

But what do you mean by erasure? Is it really empty then? By my 'erasure' it was all there but every folder and file was corrupt. So maybe it was a different thing?

[ebswift]

But what do you mean by erasure? Is it really empty then?

Erasure means totally empty. With 4.01 you can pretty-well guarantee your card will erase in a standard setup. Corruption might be a part of it, but I haven't seen that.

If you haven't done so already, try MrDollyMakers suggestion and use storagetools with FAT backup to format your card. So far nobody has reported the erasure with 4.01 after doing that, so it could be the interim answer until there's an official release which rectifies the erasures(?).

[decebal]

[quote]With 4.01 you can pretty-well guarantee your card will erase in a standard setup. Corruption might be a part of it, but I haven't seen that.

I do not agree. I was running 4.01 for 2 full months without erasures. Running GSM apps, games, planning apps, voice ... and so on. So it's not as certain that you get the erasure.

[smallboy]

I too am running 4.01 t-mobile, no probs so far with my sd card, running gps stuff and mp3's

[cshields1]

Found this tip on these forums.

Set your Today screen to Microsoft default and you'll not have a SD card erase/corruption. Something about the "other" Today screens and 4.01.00,6.24.01 screws up the SD card.

I had 2-3 erases a week. Changed to Windows default Today screen, not one erasure in 2 months.

Good luck

[johnEllisDM]

I've been running 4.01 and 6.24 for a while now (prolly 2 months) on 2 different phones (i broke a screen and had to get a replacement). I haven't yet had the SD card problem and i frequently run MP3's and also MS Voice Command off the SD card.

I have seen something wierd with the 2nd Phone i got. It now frequently soft reboots on me. Alot of times, it happens when the phone suspends. This is a real problem for me, because i have no idea that the phone is off and not receiving calls. I think the problem is hardware, because i didn't have the problem with my last phone. The only thing is, i upgraded the rom and don't think i can get the radio stack back to normal. For that reason, i don't think i should call for a warranty replacement until t-mobile officially releases an upgrade.

Any thoughts?

thanks,

John

[JUICEe]

I only had one SD card erasure in mah XDA's lifetime
and it was not a "complete" erasure, it just corrupted all the files, and deleted about half of em, ....somebody was onto the prblm, i just 4got their name....any way

I stopped using different themes ( :cry: ) ...and i reformatted the card and changed the name of it like suggested, and since then i have had not one prblm...since i did them both @ same time, i dunno which one of them is the solution to the prblm....and im lazy :mrgreen:

[Rudegar]

no sd erasures for me yet
but my hp48 emulator dont work
nor does winampaq the latest version just dont start
and the earlier one first started fine but later started to hang

plus my crappy pc sdreader refuse to read the sdcard when it gets about ½ full so i have to use activesync to take my music to the pda and copy it from there but thats of cause have nothing to do with 4.01
and will be solved when i get a better sdcard reader
http://www.sandisk.com/retail_eightinone.html
which is also much cooler looking :)

[jta]

John,

I had the 'soft reset' issue with a phone, where the phone would just turn off, completely, and when I turned it on (power button on the top) it would do the soft reset.

I figured it was a bad phone and got a replacement. BUT, after thinking about it, I realized that this was the same behaviour you would see if you removed your sim card... So, it MAY be that your SIM card is 'loose' or that the rubber door is not closed...

When you open the rubber door witht the phone on, it will turn it completely off...

So, to rephrase this... it is not a software issue you are having, it is probably a hardware issue (possibly the sim card/door) and you should send it back for a replacement.

Jta

[MrDollyMaker]

Found this tip on these forums.

Set your Today screen to Microsoft default and you'll not have a SD card erase/corruption. Something about the "other" Today screens and 4.01.00,6.24.01 screws up the SD card.

I had 2-3 erases a week. Changed to Windows default Today screen, not one erasure in 2 months.

Good luck

This isn't needed if you go and download StorageTools from www.softwinter.com and format the card with the Backup FAT option. I've never once used the default Today Screen. Mine are always custom. I amusing T-Mobiles 4.01 and was using 6.24.01 on my last XDA until it wigged out, but use 6.18 due to it has better reception in my area.

I have never once experianced the SD Card erase problem or corruption as with the backup FAT, it keeps a second File Allocation Table of the SD card so if the first one corrupts, it can copy the backup over the bad one. In addition, this program gives you the ability to scan the SD Card inside the XDA for problems and fix them as well as defrag the SD Card inside the XDA.

If you prefer to defrag outside the XDA (much faster) ONLY use Windows XP built in Defrag program as I have found all others corrupt the FAT and over write files in the attempt to "Optimize" the SD Card.

If you add or delete files frequently to the SD Card, due to it's limited space, you must DEFRAGMENT it periodically. If you have programs that write data to the SD Card.... the same situation. If you do not, it may mistake an area with another file on it as open space and accidently over write part of the file. Just like a computer hard drive.

Computer hard drives generally have a Master FAT and a Backup FAT just like storagetools will create. Not to mention I'm sure you scan your hard drive about once a week for problems as well as defragment it more often than the SD Card. 8)


MrDollyMaker

[johnEllisDM]

Jta,

Thx for the advice. That does seem reasonable. I was thinking it was a hardware issue with the reset button, but the sim door makes much more sense.

I also realized that on my old phone, i had RS 6.24.01 and on this one i have 6.24. I just now upgraded to 6.24.01 (maybe this is something they fixed in .01). I will see how this goes and will keep you posted.

If this doesn't fix it, I will downgrade to the original RS (I think i may have figured out how to do it through this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=4123 by purposefully creating the 1% situation). With the original RS and rom, i will see if the problem repeats... if so, i will send it back to t-mobile.

I just want to eliminate all the "unofficial" things that i have done are not a cause of the problem, just to be fair to t-mo... though... i wouldn't call it fair to delay this upgrade for so long as they have done, but... well....

thanks,

John

[MrDollyMaker]

Jta,

Thx for the advice. That does seem reasonable. I was thinking it was a hardware issue with the reset button, but the sim door makes much more sense.

I also realized that on my old phone, i had RS 6.24.01 and on this one i have 6.24. I just now upgraded to 6.24.01 (maybe this is something they fixed in .01). I will see how this goes and will keep you posted.

If this doesn't fix it, I will downgrade to the original RS (I think i may have figured out how to do it through this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=4123 by purposefully creating the 1% situation). With the original RS and rom, i will see if the problem repeats... if so, i will send it back to t-mobile.

I just want to eliminate all the "unofficial" things that i have done are not a cause of the problem, just to be fair to t-mo... though... i wouldn't call it fair to delay this upgrade for so long as they have done, but... well....

thanks,

John

I'm quite convinced it has nothing to do with the radio stack and all about the card and the way the XDA writes to it. Because SoftWinter's program StorageTools sits up the card differently than default, I believe this is what prevents the erasure problems.

MrDollyMaker

[johnEllisDM]

sorry... i was not talking about the SD card problems... i was talking about the thing turning off frequently.

It seems that when i upgraded to 6.24.01, i have not seen the turn off problem. I will continue to watch it though..

As for the SD card problem, i have never seen that, though i have had other SD card problems... for instance, i got a lexan 256mb card that several pocket pc's did not recognize at all.. formatted, unformatted... any way... just didn't even acknowledge that there was a card in the slot.

John

[MrDollyMaker]

sorry... i was not talking about the SD card problems... i was talking about the thing turning off frequently.

It seems that when i upgraded to 6.24.01, i have not seen the turn off problem. I will continue to watch it though..

As for the SD card problem, i have never seen that, though i have had other SD card problems... for instance, i got a lexan 256mb card that several pocket pc's did not recognize at all.. formatted, unformatted... any way... just didn't even acknowledge that there was a card in the slot.

John

Hmmmm that one is an odd one.... :shock:

MrDollyMaker

[pkrohnert]

Thanks for all the suggestions about trying to combat the SD card erasures...I tried using the Softwinter tools to reformat my card after the last erasure, and the card spontaneously erased after a couple days. I've gone back to the default Today theme to see if that helps...

I'm using the TMobile 4.01.16 ROM (Official US TMobile release). Prior to upgrading to 2003, I didn't have any SD card problems...

PK

[auburnham]

I thought it was about time to upgrade my XDA from SER v1.2 to WM 2003, so I took the plunge last Thursday. I installed the official TMO 4.01.16 ROM from LumpiStefan's kitchen.

Friday I had my first SD card erasure, so I formatted with StorageTools and then restored all of the data I had backed up.

Today I plugged my SD card into my PC reader and found that all of the data has been corrupted, except for the My Documents and Temp folders.
(Note: I am using "\Storage Card\My Documents" for the default My Documents folder, and "\Storage Card\Temp" for cookies, history, and temporary internet files, all in separate folders).
There's nothing but desktop.ini and index.dat files in those folders, and the earliest one is dated yesterday at 10:30pm, which is when I'm guessing the corruption happened. It seems like all of the data is still there since almost half of the card is marked as used.

Is there a way to restore the FAT backup with StorageTools? I've tried to Verify and Repair in StorageTools, but it keeps locking up. I can restore most of the data anyway, but I need to stop the erasures/corruptions so this doesn't happen again. Does anyone have any similar experiences, or have any suggestions why this may be happening? I thought they had worked all of the SD erasure bugs out of WM03 before officially releasing it. I had no problems using the SD card for temp files with SER 1.2, but could there be a problem with this in WM03? Could my PC card reader have something to do with it??

I tried a few of the WM03 betas, and had card erasure problems with those, but this is getting very frustrating with an official release! Someone please help!

Shawn

Storage Card: SanDisk 256MB SD Card, 0210LR (Taiwan)

[auburnham]

Here's an update on my problems with the SD card erasures.

First the conclusion: I have not had an erasure/corruption in two days, and the only change I've made since then was switching from a SanDisk SD card, to a Kingston.

They were both 256MB cards.

Here are the things I tried:
1.) Formatted the card with StorageTools v1.9 512KB FAT32 with FAT Backup
2.) Labeled Card
3.) Created "My Documents" folder (to avoid ignore.my.docs file creation)

Before switching to the Kingston, I had two complete erasures, and two data corruptions. I finally figured out I could use a FAT recovery program for corruptions, so restoring files went a lot faster. The last corruption was strange. I could see the files on the card, but couldn't access them, so I reset the device. When I looked at the SD card again, it was all garbage. Maybe that will give someone a clue as to what is going on.

Here are some other "unique" registry settings, that certainly don't help the situation:
1) Temp Internet Files stored on SD
2.) Cookies stored on SD
3.) History stored on SD
4.) "Program Files" default directory pointing to SD
5.) "My Documents" default directory pointing to SD

Although these settings may aggravate the problem, they should be possible. But my hypothesis is that it is a combination of bad hardware design for the SanDisk, and the device trying to write critical data to the SD card at critical times (power off, reset, etc.). That may cause corruption or erasure of the SD.

So I'll post an update if anything changes, but the Kingston SD card seems to be doing the trick. I sure wish TMO would have worked this problem out before releasing the 2003 ROM. This wasn't an issue in 2002, and isn't an issue on other devices with 2003.

PS: Sorry if I got some data wrong or something doesn't make sense. I'm kinda tired.

[auburnham]

SD Card was formatted again...above conclusion wrong...T-Mobile's developers need to be fired.

[massimotamos]

I'm experiencing the same troubles with my xda and the update to the T-Mobile O.S.

I'm experiencing SD erase and reboots of the xda.

I tried to go back to the old release but it seems that the standard way to update by Special Edition ROM v1.2, but it seems that there are connection issues about this procedure so it's failing.
Anybody can explain me where to find the correct procedure?

Thanks

[ramram]

I'm experiencing the same troubles with my xda and the update to the T-Mobile O.S.

I'm experiencing SD erase and reboots of the xda.

I tried to go back to the old release but it seems that the standard way to update by Special Edition ROM v1.2, but it seems that there are connection issues about this procedure so it's failing.
Anybody can explain me where to find the correct procedure?

Thanks

You just need to flash ur XDA with the SD method here's is the way how to do it http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=3274