After 2 days of owning a defy ... my thoughts and a n00bs guide

blessani · Feb 6, 2011

I only got the phone 2 days ago, coming from a Nokia 5800 (which I loved), its worlds apart and a very worthy upgrade. I'm totally new to Android and everything about it, but I'm fairly sure I've digested enough information over the past 2 days to set my phone up properly.

So for any other n00bs, this is some of the info I've setup on mine.

Rooting
This is a must, the z4root (1.3 version) app will take care of your permanent rooting needs. Be sure to leave the "USB Debugging mode" on for ever.

Blur
Love it, keep it, I don't think there's any performance hit with it running. But if you don't like it, don't go to the lengths of removing all the apk's manually - just don't register/sign-up when the phone is very first turned on (or if the phone is set-up, then you can backup with TB and factory reset the data, but don't set-up Blur).

Overclocking and undervolting (ie. Battery!)
800MHz doesn't *quite* cut it, the phone is a little laggy and unresponsive. The app to get first is SetVSEL (on Android market), I've got mine setup and stable with:

300MHz / 26
600MHz / 34
1100MHz / 58

And a priority of 60%. Then enable the setting to limit to VSEL1 when the screen is off. A priority any higher than 60% makes the phone really lag when trying to turn the screen back on/answer calls etc. from an idle state.

This took the phone immediately from a 5hr maximum battery life on idle to over 13 hours (still not impressive, but miles better!).

Then upgrade the ROM to the JIT enabled version http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=893291

Backing Up
Titanium backup pro - worth it, get scheduled backups set up and sign up for a free dropbox account (link - http db.tt/fxOD4Zf) for online backup storage.

Must buy/install apps
1 VPN (VPN password saving/connect tool)
AdFree (Ad-blocker)
Angry Birds (Game)
Astro (File manager)
Barcode Scanner
ConnectBot (SSH client)
DropBox (Online storage) link - http db.tt/fxOD4Zf
Google Earth
Facebook
Google Goggles
Last.fm (Music streaming)
Layar (Augmented reality app)
PocketCloud (MSTSC/RDP client)
Quadrant (Benchmarking tool)
ROM Manager
SetCPU (although not neccessary with SetVSEL, but it does offer a little more fine-tuning)
ShopSavvy (Barcode scanner / price comparison tool)
Skype
Sports Tracker
Spotify
Stability Tester (Good for making sure VSEL voltages are stable)
System Monitor (Fairly basic overview of system status)
System Recovery (not available on Android Market) LINK http goo.gl/SSMpE
Titanium Backup Pro
Twitter
Vehicle Light
Voice Caller ID
Voice Recorder
z4root - LINK http goo.gl/CuRgz

Impoving battery
Disable live wallpaper
Disable smart screen brightness and manually reduce
Lower CPU voltage
Set low CPU speed when screen is off
Enable data saving
Disable GPS when not in use

Handy links
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=893291
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=833953
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=853674

Mordre · Feb 6, 2011

Thank you for the guide, especially the setvsel freqs.

milesg · Feb 6, 2011

5 hour battery life on idle... that's why people don't like Blur!

I don't use any Blur widgets at all - although I have't removed them - and on the stock ROM will easily get 2 days battery life on idle, hell I can get 2 days with moderate usage!

no clue · Feb 6, 2011

milesg said:
5 hour battery life on idle... that's why people don't like Blur!

I don't use any Blur widgets at all - although I have't removed them - and on the stock ROM will easily get 2 days battery life on idle, hell I can get 2 days with moderate usage!

Agree!

If you are coming from U.S. t-mobile, there is no way you can bypass Blur, other than flash to "foreign firmware".

Once you registered and use Blur, you got bunch of useless app running on the background, news/weather/social and etc that can NOT be stopped, unless you root and remove them. ( it seems to be constantly u/d link your status to the world, I rather have my own privatcy control )

Blur Contact also another quick way to confuse the crap out of my contact and produce annoying double list.

Plus, unless you are on Froyo, you don't get to disable "Data Enabled" under Data Delivery. ( yes, you can install APNdroi or similar app to stop Data access when not in used, but it will just be another program running on the background )

Anyway, I really appreciate all these genius in the forum who creats so many different custom ROM and firmware for me to "upgrade".

[UT] X-RAY · Feb 6, 2011

I don't think it is possible to skip the blur account setup.

Other then that I am not convinced that any deep customization is necessary to make the DEFY a great phone.
I rooted the phone to rename/remove some unnecessary apps (e.g. amazonmp3). but after the earpiece problem I got my phone back with the original firmware restored. because I was lazy I didn't bother rooting and renaming/deleting. just installed launcher pro and advanced task killer. result: same performance improvements as with the rooted one before!

I just run a quadrant benchmark: 1073 points!
note that my defy is not really de-blured. I just installed launcher pro to stop that terrible blur launcher. even my task killer settings are conservative.

battery life is also not that bad: weekdays it is just a bit over a day (~30h). weekends depending on what I do. this weekend I am sitting home and still have 40% battery after having it disconnected from charger on friday morning.

bottom line: rooting is recommended to do some maintenance stuff (backups, firewall, etc.). using an alternative launcher is a MUST (launcher pro works best for me, but there are others too). however, renaming or deleting apps is not a good idea because of the heavy system integration of blur crap motorola did.

crazyVII · Feb 6, 2011

blessani said:
This took the phone immediately from a 5hr maximum battery life on idle to over 13 hours (still not impressive, but miles better!).

hey

just a tip, install recovery, or, as your phone is just very young.

connect it to a power plug everytime when charging (not pc-usb, real power supply) and let i load as long as possible (3-4 hours max is enough) try to repeat this process 3-6 times

and you'll get the maximum battery life.

works great! :=)

i resetted my battery stats once after a rom upgrade and the battery lasted for about as u said, 3-5 hours... i thought that i had destroyed my phone or similar, but after these complete charges, everything worked as it should again

would suggest it for any power driven device

blessani · Feb 6, 2011

My handset has the custom Defy recovery installed already (first thing) as per http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=893291

Its only charged off mains power, but to be honest, I've only had it 3 days now, and I've been using it so much in the past day tweaking it, that I haven't had a chance to see what I'll get our of it.

Those talking about de-bluring, theres a really easy non-root method to do it http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=943134

shad0wboss · Feb 6, 2011

You don't realyl need to OverClock unléess you're playing a game on PSX4DROID...

i use 1200 mhz @ 58 and it's quite stable tbh. Haven't done much testing but the temp stays at 42°c

I'm actually concerned about the temperature of CPU...how high can it go until cou is likely to get effected?

vick33 · Feb 6, 2011

I am a noob too. I came from spica, so i used android before and flashed some roms, but i only playing for the Defy for a day and i have some question. I bought one with 2.21 DE with blur, the phone was fast but the unlock slider lagged like hell, and after a call, the call summary was displayed for at least 10-15 seconds.
I flashed a 2.51 CE firmware on the device and it is generally much faster, but the call summary is still locking the phone for too long time(I rooted the phone overclocked, factory reseted done everything, but nothing helps, somtimes it is better after restart). Does anyone knows why?

Another thing, i know that 2.51 is undowngradeable.I read that i cannot flash most of the cooked ROMS and the chineese and beta froyo ROMs, but th phone is fast, and i got enough of cooked and alfa, beta ROMs during my spica period, and no way i want to go back to 2.21 so that is not a problem, but when the official UK or CE Froyo comes out, i will be able flash the sbf with RSD lite or I am locked to that firmware forever? And if someone updated the Defy to 2.51 with OTA, not RSD lite made the Defy undowngradeble?
Sorry for the lot of talk and thank you for your answers in advance

bobbyphoenix · Feb 6, 2011

Just a note if you update to the new Blur you won't be able to use z4root. You need Super1Click (ver 2.51). Here is a post on it from Moto. https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/44255?start=0&tstart=0 And here is another from XDA. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=11151470#post11151470

beckyeeky · Feb 7, 2011

Thank you for your tips.
I came from 5800 either

Sent from my MB525

Khrushy · Feb 7, 2011

[UT] X-RAY said:
I don't think it is possible to skip the blur account setup.

Press the Menu button (the hardware button with the 4 squares) and a menu pops up with "Skip Setup" listed. ^^

wang83113 · Feb 7, 2011

very good info, will try Titanium Backup Pro

gramps50 · Feb 9, 2011

You can use the phone without being logged into Blur. Shut the phone off and then go to myblur.com and change your password. Follow the directions and when done turn the phone back on and you will get an error that either the user ID or PW is wrong. All the other functions will work. For me the phone seemed real laggy running like this as it was trying to call home all the time.

no clue said:
Agree!

If you are coming from U.S. t-mobile, there is no way you can bypass Blur, other than flash to "foreign firmware".

ABC_Universal · Feb 9, 2011

5hr maximum battery life on idle?

bobbyphoenix · Feb 9, 2011

ABC_Universal said:
5hr maximum battery life on idle?

Yeah there is something wrong then if that is happening. I use a Defy and a DHD, and days I only use the DHD, and let my Defy just sit there, it can go three days before it even gets to 80%.

Peglezn · Feb 12, 2011

3 days before it gets to 80% ....yeah right

my defy eats 5-10% per 6hours in idle ... and thats at 300/16vsel setting, stock 2.1 rom, and skipped blur setup
and with moderate use ...i get around 48hours out of it

so how could yours be at 80% after 3days being idle is beyond me ...what rom are u using & what idle settings?

sp8y · Feb 12, 2011

Mine only uses 4% battery when idle for 8 hours over night with the alarm clock programmed to go off so i guess that would be around 12% / 24 hours if left in standby / idle.
Running stock 2.1 but overclocked and undervolted with setvsel.
300 / 20
700 / 32
1100 / 56
75% threshold.

I also use droidwall to enable only what i want to access wifi or data but not sure if that would help when the phone is idle.

Peglezn · Feb 12, 2011

I use

300/16
600/36
1000/56
80%threshold

droidwall wouldnt help me since i dont have 3g connection set up and i only turn wifi on when i need it ...
does your 2.1 rom come with motoblur or without?

I wish my defy would eat only 4% per 8hours =/

sp8y · Feb 12, 2011

Hi,
Yes mine has Blur installed & I normally only have the weather programme running.

After 2 days of owning a defy ... my thoughts and a n00bs guide

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