So i got my s8 a few days ago (yay) and noticed some of its horrendous issues within an hour of usage, so i started looking around for fixes and stumbled upon Eragon (Rom) and have been attempting to get that on to my phone with no luck. I have little to no experience messing around with phones. I followed the guide per Skeleton1911 and can't even get the Vcom driver's working properly. Pretty frustrated and confused at this point and decided to reach out for help/advice. Or any possible alternatives.
What issues are you experiencing that you hope will be solved by this ROM?
I only ask because it might be a hardware issue and therefore a sign to return the phone for a replacement from your vendor while that's still an option.
map002 said:
What issues are you experiencing that you hope will be solved by this ROM?
I only ask because it might be a hardware issue and therefore a sign to return the phone for a replacement from your vendor while that's still an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4g connectivity seems to be pretty bad/unstable. Battery life is pretty meh. Most if not all of the issue with this phone is pretty much fixed by the Eragon rom hence why I'm trying so hard to get it installed.
the 4g connectivity along with the battery life a very lack luster, which are some of the fixes that come with Eragon.
OK, fair enough. I do understand battery life is improved under Eragon, and OS RAM usage is reduced.
I just read 'horrendous issues' and wondered what that meant exactly, as I've found the battery life on stock to be reasonably OK. The only 'horrendous' issues, in my experience, are the camera and the GPS, neither of which are changed or improved on Eragon. But we all have our personal measurements for such things.
map002 said:
OK, fair enough. I do understand battery life is improved under Eragon, and OS RAM usage is reduced.
I just read 'horrendous issues' and wondered what that meant exactly, as I've found the battery life on stock to be reasonably OK. The only 'horrendous' issues, in my experience, are the camera and the GPS, neither of which are changed or improved on Eragon. But we all have our personal measurements for such things.
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Click to collapse
I can't confirm battery improvement with eragon rom. After a few weeks I had a massive battery drain of about 15% per hour without any heavy usage. The phone was in my pocket with wifi and bluetooth active. I didn't install any new apps and I already I flashed cache and dalvik. The only thing that helped was getting back to stock. Now battery is back to normal and I don't experience any major differences in performance, multitasking or ram usage.
A good example of just how different people's experiences can be, depending on their usage patterns and which set of apps they have installed. Thanks for sharing your experience, Steve.
map002 said:
A good example of just how different people's experiences can be, depending on their usage patterns and which set of apps they have installed. Thanks for sharing your experience, Steve.
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Click to collapse
It seems a matter of luck if you get a full working s8 or not. Maybe there are different builds, depending on where ist was made.
I am using gps from the first day without any problems, no matter if on stock or eragon rom. My s8 just gets warm when playing games but not hot. I think the perfomance is good (no matter which rom) but I would have expected a much higher antutu score from a deca-core chipset and 4gb ram. The battery performance is not better or worse (on stock rom) compared to my earlier smartphones like the oneplus one. I expected the lack of support from the elephone company just as it is, so I am not disappopinted at this point.
I think it's also worth keeping in mind that people are more likely to post when something goes wrong than when something goes as expected, so folks with a defective item are more likely to post complaints than someone who's phone just works.
That being said, I do expect quality control at a third-tier device manufacturer will not be as good as at one of the major players.
And yeah, the big battery is just there to provide adequate battery life despite the huge screen. In my usage, even with the brightness turned down, the screen accounts for 75% of my battery usage on average.
It's a great screen for a cheap phone like this, but it is a trade-off. No such thing as a free lunch.
Finally! Some people are talking sense here and not just complaining about their devices.
For me, I think it's pointless to compare this phone with flagship devices. You can't just say that "on my one plus/galaxy..." because you paid better bucks for those so they got to be damn better!
I have not got any complaints on my device because as I have read on another post here, "You sound set your expectations".
When you bought this, you have a certain use case and if the phone fulfills that, then the phone has already served its purpose.
Please don't expect our units to be top notch as the price won't allow that.
What kind of 4G issue was resolved by this ROM?
Scoundral said:
the 4g connectivity along with the battery life a very lack luster, which are some of the fixes that come with Eragon.
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Click to collapse
Can you explain what kind of 4G issues it resolves
After doing some research I found out that the ROM will NOT fix network issues.
Re Oreo
For what it is worth, from the Elephone forum today.
ashish replied at 2018-2-17 03:58 AM
"Plz update the android as almost every compay providing android oreo update but elephone s8 still ha ...
got this on Facebook .
(we do our best to release an oreo update for the S8 as fast as possible. Did you know, that our biggest competitor, that charges 3-4x the price of our S8, just canceled their release of Android 8.0 for their newest device? Google the news Why? Because their update was rushed and released way to early, causing a lot of trouble to many users. Do you want that to happen? We don't. That's why our update will only be released when it's done and can deliver a flawless experience to ALL users of the S8. Therefore we kindly ask for your patience. Have a nice day, your ELEPHONE Team)"
It is true many of the big players have pulled or cancelled their Oreo updates in the last few weeks. Be nice if Ele would try another 7.x update with another attempt to fix the camera though.
I suspect that their dev team has its hands full trying to get everything they got wrong on 7.x right on 8. And I doubt they have the resources to have two teams working on S8 firmware development.
Just my edjumakated guess, mind you. ?
map002 said:
the camera and the GPS, neither of which are changed or improved on Eragon. But we all have our personal measurements for such things.
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Click to collapse
so it's normal thing that GPS do't work and camera makes meh photos?
Also, is there an option that phone screen will turn on for a while when I'm receiving a notification? I know there is something like that in android but I couldn't find it. Sorry It's my first android phone and I just feel lost
I did not say the GPS did not work. If your GPS does not work at all, you should return your phone to the shop where you bought it. It's defective.
What I did say is that the GPS isn't great, as is par for the course on Mediatek based phones. If you need great GPS, this is not the phone for you.
Spend more money and buy something better, maybe with a Qualcomm chipset. Or buy a used last-gen flagship phone with good GPS performance.
As for the camera, it's crappy. All the reviews I've seen have pointed out the focus hunting. It's sub par and mostly a problem with the software.
That being said, yes, sub par cameras on cheap Chinese third tier OEM phones do tend to be sub par in one way or another. This one's just notably bad at the moment. Maybe always, if they don't eventually release another firmware for it.
And if this is your first Android phone, I can understand the confusion. Especally if you're coming from fruit phones, where everything just works on pretty much all of them.
This is a terrible first phone for most people. This is a pretty bad device for a novice, it's more of a hobbyist phone. But XDA is a place for that kind of crowd, so my comments were framed accordingly.
I really like it, but I knew what I was buying. I don't use the camera and only make occasional use of the GPS. And I make heavy use of the screen for watching videos and I am not a fan of 18:9. The S8 is a big win for me there.
You probably would have been better served, in this price range, by a Motorola phone, to be honest. If you're still within your exchange window, I would recommend swapping it for something more mainstream.
Best of luck!
matizo said:
... is there an option that phone screen will turn on for a while when I'm receiving a notification? I know there is something like that in android but I couldn't find it. Sorry It's my first android phone and I just feel lost
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.nullgrad.glimpse
Install this and the screen will wake for notifications. You can also disable individual apps, like I did with Spotify, to prevent the screen from waking when listening to music on my Mac.
PRGS3 said:
Install this and the screen will wake for notifications. You can also disable individual apps, like I did with Spotify, to prevent the screen from waking when listening to music on my Mac.
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Thank you
map002 said:
And if this is your first Android phone, I can understand the confusion. Especally if you're coming from fruit phones, where everything just works on pretty much all of them.
Best of luck!
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Click to collapse
I'm not even from apple family. I'm one of old guard of Windows phone, and everyday I'm more and more surprised that android won this competition.
I have no chance for fully refund, since I already own it few months, but I see I need to contact a seller. But I think they'll reject it because I dropped it once, and I have beautiful spider web at back -.- (It's not very sturdy). I think I need to revive my lumia for gps usage.
New to elephone s8 but not new to Chinese smart phones. I was hoping this ROM fixed some issues but hasn't thus far. Phone constantly drops signal to point where i can't receive or make calls. Still trying to figure out if that is due to phone not support on my network or not. Which is odd cause at times phone is fine, flying speed full coverage others its the complete opposite. One other bug I was hoping it fixed was screen being unresponsive. Like i try to swipe up to unlock or use fingerprint but it just vibrates to acknowledge I touched it and does nothing. I am looking for work around before i get fed up and sell it or something. I really love the feel of phone physically and how software works when its working.
Related
Hey guys,
I was planning on getting the SGSII (I just sold my SGS for this, actually) but after lurking around here a bit I'm now a bit weary of going ahead with the purchase.
Between battery drain issues, screen issues, Wi-Fi issues, heat issues, and now approx. 3-4 different versions of the SGSII (which makes me scared of ROM incompatibility between the different models) I guess I just need to ask... is this phone actually worth getting, or will I get shafted by a new, fixed version that will come out in a couple of months?
Your opinion?
No if you cannot differentiate between a few users with problems and the majority with no problem . Dont buy you will only go looking for problems .
My phone and many others have .
One No battery problem
Two No yellow screen problem
Three No other screen issues
Four No WiFi issues
Five No heat issues
Six No problems with rom incompatibility only an idiot will install the wrong rom .
jje
JJEgan Is Right..
I have brought my mobile even after knowing problem.After getting it I have started searching for what is new not for a Problem...
Only problem for me is Screen will become hot while charging but not soooo Much hot just very little other than that Great Mobile..
It will be nice if they release NFC in this not by releasing new model like the rumors saying I9101 etc ..This is One of the Best Mobiles till Now.Many people know about the problem Few People having but still they are buying ..Many shops are out of stock...I will say GET IT
I have to mostly agree with jje, except for 1 point. ALL SGS2s have the discolouration issue, but you have to specifically set up your phone in a particular manner (that no-one actually uses) and go looking for the issue in order to even vaguely comprehend what the "problem" actually is. Seriously, when you do see it you realise that the problem lies in the people whining about it, not the phone.
Unless you're unlucky enough to just get a dud phone, get it and you won't regret it. Best phone I've ever had, and that's after nearly 2 years with a HD2 and every ROM under the sun.
Duly noted. My main concern is not software issues which can and will be sorted out either by Samsung or the Android community, my main concern is with hardware issues (screen, battery, etc) which obviously can not be fixed by the community.
soulicro said:
Duly noted. My main concern is not software issues which can and will be sorted out either by Samsung or the Android community, my main concern is with hardware issues (screen, battery, etc) which obviously can not be fixed by the community.
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Click to collapse
Personally, I don't have any hardware issues.
I get a full day of battery out of my phone, and that's using it as a smartphone (browsing; notifications such as facebook, twitter and news updates; wordfeud etc.) If I turn off all data and use it as a phone and SMS device only then I get about 2.5 days.
As for the screen, I have 0 complaints about it. It's seriously the best screen I've ever seen on a mobile device. I particularly love having mostly black backgrounds. Not only does it increase battery life, it looks bloody lovely!
Please bear in mind that most people only post threads when they have problems. It makes it sound like everyone is complaining, but they're not. If we had a real count of how many users are on this site, compared to how many are having real problems then you'd see it's actually only a small percentage, and you're gonna get that with any piece of tech.
I am not a rich guy but i gambled knowing all the problems i have been reading... So far it is just a great phone... It is a phone that make you gamble
Yet to find a problem. Battery works for a day (if this is a problem for you)...
I keep upgrading whenever a new phone comes out - SGS2 is THE fastest phone I've had with the BEST battery life.
With other phones, HTC Desire, Hero, etc I've had issues that I've had to counter by installing custom ROM's & acting as a guinie pig for the dev's but with this one - I'm on the stock ROM with no updates - it's rock solid and absolutely no issues.
I wouldn't think twice in recommending this phone.
my 2 cents...
to be honest i really love the phone. it has some annoyances but i really do like it. it's blazin' fast, i love android, and even the look and feel of the phone...
now, the only thing is: i only get about half a day of juice (recharge at night and once again in the afternoon and to be honest i just have no clue how people are getting those numbers like 20h+ of moderate use (well i guess it depends on how you dfine moderate use)... i have 0 widgets (4 widgets (stock calenda, stock powermanagement, google search and the beautiful weather thing with clock))...and main thing i do is: whats app, music, some browsing, emails (set to check only once an hour) and of course make calls... but i believe that it has to do with a bug somewhere. i freezed the wifi-sharing thingy and tried everything i've read so far to conserve battery. eventhough i have the screen set to about 10-30% brightness or auto brightness, it not very spurprised, is always around 60% or more and the android os and system use quite a lot...
but all that said, i still love the phone and i'm glad i bought it!
It's definitely a VFM. And frankly I dont have any WiFi problem. Battery it's okay too. And unless you focus at that screen with a digital camera you won't even notice the Yellowish tint. I am frankly very happy with mine.
Regards.
Sent from GT-I9100
The phone has been ordered
Thanks all for your input!
+1
People with issues tend to post more. Those are the threads with 1000post not the positive threads that might reach 50post.
JJEgan said:
No if you cannot differentiate between a few users with problems and the majority with no problem . Dont buy you will only go looking for problems .
My phone and many others have .
One No battery problem
Two No yellow screen problem
Three No other screen issues
Four No WiFi issues
Five No heat issues
Six No problems with rom incompatibility only an idiot will install the wrong rom .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Well after the WOW effect wore off my phone, i am starting to HATE the flaws.
I bought this phone outright for a hefty $600 and hoping i did not waste my money switching over from blackberry.
MY problems
Bluetooth disconnects every 15 minutes, plus sounds like garbage, i did some reading on this and its a common problem yet appears to not be addressed yet? i am using a Jawbone Icon by the way and its dual connected to my work BB
Data(HSPDA) randomly disconnects at least once every 2 days and requires me to pull the battery to get it back going.
Battery drain is beyond crazy, i cant get 5 hours out of the phone with moderate use.
This thing heats up like crazy!!!
I know the last two things are software related, and people say upgrade to KG2, well my phone had 2.3.3 and KG2 and this is what it shipped with, so what should i go to?
Or can i just solve all of these issue by rooting the phone? if so, i will go that route.
Thanks.
Dustin
if you want to go that way(rooting,FLashing Roms)
Think twice, the SGS2 has a binary counter that counts how many times you flashed unofficial software on the phone,
if you brick it or something happens, screen breaks etc, you might ran into some problems @ samsung if they check the counter
you can reset it yourself by buying a JIG, google it!
I've had no issues with my bluetooth headset (logitech freepluse). i'd guess it doesnt like being dual connected
I've had no issues with losing my data connection (i did on galaxy s though). how strong is your signal before you lose it?
as for the battery drain, make sure you're exiting your apps + all the usual other stuff (turn off sync, wifi, bt, set to autobrightness). 2.3.3 does have the drainage issue for some people. i'm on villainrom 2.3.4 and have no drainage issues
rooting won't help you out.
HSDPA disconnects? if you have H always on that means you are either downloading or uploading something most of the time, H only turns on when there is data being pulled or sent, you should see the 3G icon MOST of the time, if you are streaming music/video then you'll see the H kicking in.
I have a Jawbone Cruiser and have no issues whatsoever I have 2 devices paired to it but only 1 at a time, A2DP works flawless and it even sounds better than the original Galaxy S.
duggyb said:
Well after the WOW effect wore off my phone, i am starting to HATE the flaws.
I bought this phone outright for a hefty $600 and hoping i did not waste my money switching over from blackberry.
MY problems
Bluetooth disconnects every 15 minutes, plus sounds like garbage, i did some reading on this and its a common problem yet appears to not be addressed yet? i am using a Jawbone Icon by the way and its dual connected to my work BB
I get zero disconnect .
Data(HSPDA) randomly disconnects at least once every 2 days and requires me to pull the battery to get it back going.
never happened yet on many roms .
This thing heats up like crazy!!!
Warm but not overhot .
I know the last two things are software related, and people say upgrade to KG2, well my phone had 2.3.3 and KG2 and this is what it shipped with, so what should i go to?
KH3 latest stock firmware on this forum .
Or can i just solve all of these issue by rooting the phone? if so, i will go that route.
Rooting has nothing to do with battery problems all it does if give user a lower level access to the OS .
Hundreds of battery problem posts with tips methods etc but for me the starter has to be ,
better battery stats .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1179809
Find what apps are draining the battery .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear me another Apple fanboy on here
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duggyb said:
Or can i just solve all of these issue by rooting the phone? if so, i will go that route.
Thanks.
Dustin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting will not solve these issues, but I can maybe enable you to start solving it.
However, before you start messing with kernels and firmwares I would really try to find out if some of the problems might be hardware related or not. If so, you could use your warranty to get a new one or get it fixed. Once you start messing with custom software you're never sure if they will grant you the warranty or not.
jonny68 said:
Dear me another Apple fanboy on here
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Click to collapse
not sure where you get that from? i actually hate apple and take that post as quite an insult, one and only thing i ever owned from them was a ipod way back, and it got stolen 2 mths after i bought it and i never replaced it.
that aside, i came from a Blackberry Curve 8330, although it sucked, it did have good bluetooth connectivity,decent battery life, and did not heat up, keep in mind it was a CDMA phone.
so i know i have some changes to expect with a new network, but it appears lots of these have been fixed by people and i am just trying to understand the software and device, KG2 KY this,etc is all new to me, so i have been reading lots but find it confusing since its so vast.
needless to say it will be kind of disappointing if i cant connect 2 devices to my jawbone icon at the same time and work flawless, as this is huge for me.
Also i NEVER see 3G data show up on my phone, its always the H with up and down arrows, should i see 3G? im up in Canada(Saskatchewan to be exact)
It appears i should update from KG2, yet KIES shows no update, i have not dove into Odin to try that out, maybe i should?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Dustin
jonny68 said:
Dear me another Apple fanboy on here :rolleyes
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Click to collapse
To be scrupulously fair, the OP confesses to having come from Blackberry.
He is therefore not the spawn of Satan, merely just a second cousin of a minor demon...
Gustopher said:
To be scrupulously fair, the OP confesses to having come from Blackberry.
He is therefore not the spawn of Satan, merely just a second cousin of a minor demon...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fair enough Blackberry not quite as bad unless your planning on rioting in your town or city
ill do my best
lool! some of these guys on here are too funny. ok how the f*** are u only getting 5 hours? i get 14-16hrs moderate use . i really would suggest rooting your phone. it really helps! i mean with the overheating problem i have under volted and under clocked my cpu and my phone doesnt heat up no more! woooop! lol. funny that my 3g and bluetooth is perfectly fine. oh and rooting is very very easy now and odin is quality and... simple . as im typing this im flashing another rom, lol. flashaholic . its a really good phone and ive had many many phones.
so now i have mixed reviews? should i root or not.
i really just want to solve my issues!
i installed Battery Stats but have no idea how to screenshot?
duggyb said:
so now i have mixed reviews? should i root or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting doesn't solve anything, just gives you access to hidden files. You need to flash a newer rom(kh3 or kh5) and hope it fixes those issues.
I agree with the above poster, I've been using android since inception and I don't believe in rooting a phone to mask the issues you are having, upgrade the software, there are many roms to choose from, get the device running well before you think about rooting.
People are giving new android users the impression that rooting is the answer for phone issues, it is not.
Rooting is for advanced users who want the extra access to explore the power of android.
Sent from my GT-I9100
I don't understand why everyone seems to be pushing the USB JIG, it's like there are people making and selling them here or something.
@BrokenPixel, H or H+ doesn't drop to 3G as fast, if your Telco doesn't support Fast Dormancy, or you have Fast Dormancy disabled.
I like Blackberries, it is lacking as a end-user smartphone, however for companies, I still like the privacy with point to point encryption. Android does not have that unless you purchase a 3rd party application which means both parties have to have it as well. Again, it really depends on what you are using the phone for. I still recommend using the right tools for the right job.
@Gustopher, calling Blackberries a "second cousin of a minor demon..." is like calling a screwdriver the bane of our existence, or a hammer "the killer of thumbs..."
peachpuff is correct, instead of rooting your phone, perhaps you should try changing the modem to something else instead, try KH3, KG6, KF4, KE4. Perhaps in the mentioned order. It really covers most regions, since we don't know where you are at!
LiFE1688 said:
I don't understand why everyone seems to be pushing the USB JIG, it's like there are people making and selling them here or something.
@BrokenPixel, H or H+ doesn't drop to 3G as fast, if your Telco doesn't support Fast Dormancy, or you have Fast Dormancy disabled.
I like Blackberries, it is lacking as a end-user smartphone, however for companies, I still like the privacy with point to point encryption. Android does not have that unless you purchase a 3rd party application which means both parties have to have it as well. Again, it really depends on what you are using the phone for. I still recommend using the right tools for the right job.
@Gustopher, calling Blackberries a "second cousin of a minor demon..." is like calling a screwdriver the bane of our existence, or a hammer "the killer of thumbs..."
peachpuff is correct, instead of rooting your phone, perhaps you should try changing the modem to something else instead, try KH3, KG6, KF4, KE4. Perhaps in the mentioned order. It really covers most regions, since we don't know where you are at!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for actually being informative.
I am in Canada by the way(Saskatchewan) and i am running on the Sasktel network(Bell essentially)
I always thought i had to root in order to install something different then KG2?
i am not sure what my network supports, but i have NEVER seen 3g since the day i bought it.
i have turned off some of the recommended things to save battery life, it seems to be helping, we will see what i get
If your problems are related to your settings, flashing newer firmware (KG5 for example, works fine with me) will only really help if you do a complete wipe/factory reset. See the guides for that.
That would be done best by rooting with CF-root, going into CWM-recovery, doing a backup there, do all "wipes", reboot straight into download mode and flash the fresh firmware via Odin. The guides are all there.
Just make sure to play with some settings like gsm/wcdma in your network settings first.
5hrs use?
Your blackberry gave much better battery?
Sorry, but your talking absolute ****e!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
chrisjcks said:
5hrs use?
Your blackberry gave much better battery?
Sorry, but your talking absolute ****e!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you never heard of BB's? He came from a Curve..basically a glorified pager. He could probably go 3 days on that thing with a single charge. Kind of like going from a Commodore 64 to a high end laptop.
One thing I haven't heard mentioned about rooting is the fact with root you can install Titanium Backup..and with the Pro version..freeze apps (instead of deleting) which allows you to fiddle with perhaps some rogue apps that are draining your battery.
As usual with most Androids..make sure you don't have FB or Twitter syncing crazily (and if you're running multiple tweet or FB programs..be sure they aren't syncing as well). I'm not familiar with Touchwiz..but if they have their own "social networking" apps that you don't use (and you use the actual apps themselves instead) be sure to check those and make sure they arent sync'ing either (and better yet freeze them with TiBu).
chrisjcks said:
5hrs use?
Your blackberry gave much better battery?
Sorry, but your talking absolute ****e!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i am lying to your face in order to get you to help me fix my phone.....:facepalm
A. i get FIVE HOURS with moderate use on my current I9100
B. i ad a BB curve 8330 i would get 14-16 hours moderate use.
so no, i am not talking "****e"
pretty much based on size and its waterproof feature. I do a lot of hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. I primarily plan to use this device for GPS and mapping and wondering if I can rely on it in favor of my Garmin Dakota 20. There's not much on the web that addresses its capabilities in this specific manner. Will I be disappointed? Are there specific ROMS available that might improve my experience in using the device in this manner? I'd obviously be interested in optimal battery life. I did order a couple of spare 1800mAh batteries and standalone charger in hopes of getting me through a solid day on the trail.
HemRoyd said:
pretty much based on size and its waterproof feature. I do a lot of hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. I primarily plan to use this device for GPS and mapping and wondering if I can rely on it in favor of my Garmin Dakota 20. There's not much on the web that addresses its capabilities in this specific manner. Will I be disappointed? Are there specific ROMS available that might improve my experience in using the device in this manner? I'd obviously be interested in optimal battery life. I did order a couple of spare 1800mAh batteries and standalone charger in hopes of getting me through a solid day on the trail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some roms, who improve battery life, don't know about gps. But if you install another rom, you will void your warranty and you won't be able to flash the specific original rom for your region, cause for most devices there's only the generic rom to flash (shouldn't be a problem if you have to take it to service, just that you know)...
If you want to use the active instead of your garmin, you will have to find a very good navigation app, because as I think, you need something for area where are no streets, too. And most navigation apps haven't got this feature...
I have an active myself. If you want to keep it down to it's basic functions (which is basically already set as an outdoors device) i would suggest that you don't upgrade to ics and keep the original gingerbread software which has far less battery draining than any ics based rom. About the GPS, i used it severalk times for travbelling and never for tracking so don't know how it works in deep thick woods, but always had speedy lock on and precise navigation. Unlike above user stated most navigation (one with offline maps would probably be best) apps are for trekking and offraod activities, what you can do is modify your gps.conf file to make it specific to your region or area so satellite lock time will be much improved. Just search the forum for gps speed fixes, there's also a patch for agps to help increase satellite locking time.
I own this phone and wanted to do the same as you.
All setups i tried were not stable. sometimes the external power cable got disconnected, sometimes just the app closed.
after months of testing, i reverted to gamin products as they offer a much more rugged and robust hardware. I never managed to track > 20 hours on my active-phone.
Sent from my Pro using xda premium
Thanks for all of your input folks.
I did receive the phone on Friday and had a chance to check it out over the weekend. My first impression is that it has a comfortable size and mass to it and I do not mind the screen size at all. It seems quite speedy and the (Gingerbread) OS operates like butter. I did have difficulty getting the GPS function to lock at first. After prolonged attempts, it wasn't until I installed an app called GPS Test did it finally lock - not quite sure what the difference was, perhaps AGPS may have been responsible. Since then however, I have been attempting to maintain GPS-only locating as I am certain that data would not be available in the majority of my usage areas. I looked at most of the GPS Mapping/Tracking apps and settled on the paid version of AlpineQuest - excellent app. I got my waypoints from my Garmin loaded onto my SD card and was quickly navigating the trails in the woods behind my house. Great stuff!
I got just over 8hrs of solid use out of the first charge on the stock battery, so the phone should keep up with a full day on the trails. I have also ordered a couple of spare batteries and standalone charger for backup. Since this first day of use, I have been using the GPS Test app exclusively to verify my satellite lock prior to using AlpineQuest. I did notice that after prolonged non-usage or following a charge cycle I did have some difficulty locking on to the satellites, however each time it was solved with a phone reboot - after which the GPS Test app would lock on within seconds (even inside the house). Each time I was in airplane mode with WiFi off. I will have to monitor the satellite locking for consistency before I am all in with this device but so far I am quite please with its (stock) performance.
the phone & the user may be active, but the battery is certainly not. the display is not that bright under bright sunlight situations :X
hi, i have the active as well and so far i am pretty satisfied.. not VERY satisfied due to Battery life.. but without that issue, I am satisfied...
I have dropped this baby 4 times already on concrete (2 waist level 2 chest level) and the phone just bounced without any cracked screen (it does have some dents on the silver lining around the screen though), but i can guarantee that this phone is shock proof because on those 4 times, the phone did not even turn-off or restart or even battery breaking out from its case...
I do not do trails but so far, the NavFree app has been very good to me with my driving direction needs... easy locking with GPS and pretty good directions...
Try also searching for build.prop tweaks in the development area of this forum because i think it can help in the phone's performance and a little bit of battery life.. i can do intermittent non-heavy image/flash website surfing and the battery could last more than 8 hours and if I just have my phone on stand by (just waiting for messages and calls and reply to them) battery could last more than 24 hours...
I have to ask you though, were those 1800 batteries better than the 1200 ? I was also thinking of buying spares...
rullean said:
I have to ask you though, were those 1800 batteries better than the 1200 ? I was also thinking of buying spares...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't got them yet, but these are the one's I ordered.
I'm on the .62 build so looks like I have to flash an earlier firmware just to get root. I'd really like to get rid of some of this extra crap and get link2sd going. If you are rooted, what firmware are you running? I just hope the GPS performs just as well on an earlier build.
HemRoyd said:
I haven't got them yet, but these are the one's I ordered.
I'm on the .62 build so looks like I have to flash an earlier firmware just to get root. I'd really like to get rid of some of this extra crap and get link2sd going. If you are rooted, what firmware are you running? I just hope the GPS performs just as well on an earlier build.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have to tell me if you notice some increase in battery life with those 1800's...
regarding rooting, i followed this procedure with no problem: http://talk.sonymobile.com/message/241059
just follow it step by step.. also, if you are not aware, you have to flash the kernel using the flashtool before you can flash the rom through CWM.... in anyway, you should not be afraid of bricking your phone because I was able to always restore my phone through that link's procedure.. however, pls do not take my word on it because what works for me might not work for you even if we have the same phone... we still might have a different stock.. so rooting your phone is always at your own risk (my disclaimer, hehehe)...
regarding rom, i find the free experia rom's quite good... after initial loading of the rom, i got more than 400mb free internal space.. so they did remove a lot of bloated apps that you dont really use...
just as side note: i installed cm10 fxp138 on my active and the battery lasts for 36hours and more. i really like 4.1 jb.
Update
OK, so I am rooted and remain locked. I ended up flashing stock 4.0.2.A.0.42 and then this ROM:
ROM][GB][ALL MDPI] HASA v5 [2.3.7][27/9/12]
My prayers have been answered! This ROM is fast and lean! Thanks very much to sandy7 for his work on this! I followed his instructions exactly as in his first post, however did not need to install the revised camera lib as I had no issues with the camera. I've had absolutely zero issues and love the speed.
Now for the battery life. I finally got the spare batteries I mentioned in the previous post (shipped from China). My initial observation is that these batteries smoke the stock one by a large margin. I still need to spend a little more time on this ROM to be certain. As mentioned before, my goal is to replace my standalone GPS unit with this phone. I am not using phone or data, so I am in airplane mode all the time. I am using wifi a bit. With the stock battery I got about 1 day and 12 hours of standby and light use on wifi and gps with 10% remaining. On the replacement battery I got 3 days and 16 hours with 35% remaining before I decided to try the stock battery again. The stock battery began to drain as soon as I put it in and was down to 85% within the first hour. I don't know, perhaps these stock batteries are junk? I am open to suggestions on how to properly do a test and comparison.
omg.. really? so those china batteries work for you? damn.. I want those.. i will buy those..
Has anybody yet attempted to compile the 4.3 Kernel from Source Provided yet (device probably use some slight overclocking and light undervolting)? This device has amazing battery life and runs great. This is coming from somebody who has had 5 qualcomm 800 processor phones and no less than 400 phones (yes Really). Most people that i see with higher end phones use facebook and some other social apps, most of the processors are sitting idle for most people. I guess marketing is good now a days. Millions of people with 600-700 dollar phones with most processor cores times at idle and have no clue.
My wife got a Note 4 and I told her not to since most people have no clue of power/price to actual use/needs on a phone. Well yesterday, we kept running into each other in the house and I kept asking her about her battery percentage until at 3pm she started charging her phone and I told her Im at 70% (while laughing). Well she just ordered a HAM2 today. Yes I know you can get a 10,000Mah brick extension for the "high" end phones but damn. I guess I am getting older and seeing behind the hoopla.
Anyways rant off, but seriously any one look at the code yet. Im downloading it now.
afbcamaro said:
Has anybody yet attempted to compile the 4.3 Kernel from Source Provided yet (device probably use some slight overclocking and light undervolting)? This device has amazing battery life and runs great. This is coming from somebody who has had 5 qualcomm 800 processor phones and no less than 400 phones (yes Really). Most people that i see with higher end phones use facebook and some other social apps, most of the processors are sitting idle for most people. I guess marketing is good now a days. Millions of people with 600-700 dollar phones with most processor cores times at idle and have no clue.
My wife got a Note 4 and I told her not to since most people have no clue of power/price to actual use/needs on a phone. Well yesterday, we kept running into each other in the house and I kept asking her about her battery percentage until at 3pm she started charging her phone and I told her Im at 70% (while laughing). Well she just ordered a HAM2 today. Yes I know you can get a 10,000Mah brick extension for the "high" end phones but damn. I guess I am getting older and seeing behind the hoopla.
Anyways rant off, but seriously any one look at the code yet. Im downloading it now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use to be one of those "gotta have the latest", until I got tired of rooting, flashing (getting older). I just want to turn it on and USE it.
The mate2, WORKS. As long as the OS is stable, and none of the apps I use requires a newer OS, I'm leaving mine alone.
Coworker went from a LG G2, to a Nexus6 (since sent it back, it was "too big), we set the screen brightness to the same level, installed
the same apps on both devices, then ran them side by side. The N6 "might" have been just a hair quicker at launching apps, but NOT
for more than 2 times the price of the Mate2, not to mention the #2 thing I look for in a device (#1 being STABLE), the HUGE battery life.
His N6, would "just" make it through the day with maybe 5-6% battery left over. My mate2 might "just" make it through THREE days of
battery. The value for money, for the mate2, can't be beat.
Nobody has attempted to because 1) some people, like p51, prefer to leave the phone as is, and 2) the people who do want to modify the phone don't know how.
Supposedly there is a 5.0 update later on, but I'd prefer stock Android. But none of us on here know how to create a ROM.
I believe the rom is a pretty good and stable base. I believe that a kernel will provide the most bang for the buck. Ive ran lollipop on a couple of devices already and unfortunately im not impressed much. What they have rewritten for 5.0 is more centered on tightening up the Google ecosystem, (to make them more reliant on and integrated on google). Google is at a point where they are trying to follow in apples footsteps a bit because it makes sense for them. People have adopted one of two ecosystems and now that they are vested they can simplify and get very accurate metrics from users to sell forwards.
Anyways I may see if i can compile this thing, or i may not depending on boredom level and how bad the original code is.
yah what @scobiSTI said.. You put the piece there and the file over there and take out the 0 over there and boom I end up with a calculator program or something.
Lol let's not forget we are posting on XDA... Which is here FOR developing android for devices...
I can only comment on what people like hashcode did for the kindle fire. I'm glad that leaving well enough was not settled for. Because of development with the kindle fire I still use my first gen to this day. So I have no reason to settle for a phone that just works. Oh, one last thing... For the people commenting here. How many of you are boot loader unlocked and rooted? Just saying.
Sent from my MT2L03 using XDA Free mobile app
I've been unlocked since the release of the phone and Rooted before this thread was made. then @modding.MyMind came around and gave us TWRP! love that guy still!
Iguanadon said:
I can only comment on what people like hashcode did for the kindle fire. I'm glad that leaving well enough was not settled for. Because of development with the kindle fire I still use my first gen to this day. So I have no reason to settle for a phone that just works. Oh, one last thing... For the people commenting here. How many of you are boot loader unlocked and rooted? Just saying.
Sent from my MT2L03 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been bootloader unlocked and rooted since the beginning of this year...and I'm loving it!!
Building the kernel isn't really necessary giving the already seen performance from this device. Could easily be done if you understand how to build from source and know a bit about C. Though typically seen with most custom kernels is a decrease in the battery life due to the more common or favorable features such as juicing up the CPU as a mere example. Plenty of tutorials on how to build from source. Once you get the hang of that you can check out other devs works on github to see what kind of patches they implemented for the purpose of learning, understanding, and applying. I personally find favor in writing scripts more than anything else, or playing around with the TWRP source.
afbcamaro said:
Has anybody yet attempted to compile the 4.3 Kernel from Source Provided yet (device probably use some slight overclocking and light undervolting)? This device has amazing battery life and runs great. This is coming from somebody who has had 5 qualcomm 800 processor phones and no less than 400 phones (yes Really). Most people that i see with higher end phones use facebook and some other social apps, most of the processors are sitting idle for most people. I guess marketing is good now a days. Millions of people with 600-700 dollar phones with most processor cores times at idle and have no clue.
My wife got a Note 4 and I told her not to since most people have no clue of power/price to actual use/needs on a phone. Well yesterday, we kept running into each other in the house and I kept asking her about her battery percentage until at 3pm she started charging her phone and I told her Im at 70% (while laughing). Well she just ordered a HAM2 today. Yes I know you can get a 10,000Mah brick extension for the "high" end phones but damn. I guess I am getting older and seeing behind the hoopla.
Anyways rant off, but seriously any one look at the code yet. Im downloading it now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Tired of $100 extra month because of four lines with contracts. Bought my wife note 3 for Xmas. Found one new in box for 450 on swappa. I tend to jump manufacturers each new phone. I plan to stay in the midrange market for the foreseeable future. Only lag I've seen is a little of keyboard lag. Other than that, no bugs or issues yet. And that battery life... First time I haven't charged phone at work in months. I like that it tells me when apps are wasting battery in the background. Great way to eliminate those apps if possible. On my G2 android services was always eating battery.
Looking forward to root just for a couple of specific things. No time these days for ROM flashing.
To fix the keyboard lag, put powersavings to normal instead of smart... 5 minutes projected off battery life was worth it to be able to write faster
Bobvark said:
To fix the keyboard lag, put powersavings to normal instead of smart... 5 minutes projected off battery life was worth it to be able to write faster
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or use Fleksy keyboard which is a super fast tapping keyboard. It works without lag on endurance mode.
Sent from my MT2L03 using Tapatalk
arcadesdude said:
Or use Fleksy keyboard which is a super fast tapping keyboard. It works without lag on endurance mode.
Sent from my MT2L03 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, I'll give that a try... I tried swipe and it was also laggy... will try Flesky.
Morning all. My pixel 6 (non pro) is being delivered today and I've been looking through the forum, as I always do for a new phone, to try and see what recommendations people have. Despite seeing lots of issues in the 'press' with battery life and Android 13 (downgrading / bricking), I can't see what the general consensus is here and peoples experiences seem to differ.
Is upgrading to Android 13 worth it? Does it actually fix the battery life issues?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Just look here reddit
Best way is make a clean, fresh install - flash.android.com
carlo497 said:
Just look here reddit
Best way is make a clean, fresh install - flash.android.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Socialist media sites here are frowned upon.
Plus the site rules say so...
carlo497 said:
Just look here reddit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reddit? Where 90% of problems are user-made. Not a good advice especially when you are in a forum where specialist are really here to help.
Cheers
thermomonkey said:
Morning all. My pixel 6 (non pro) is being delivered today and I've been looking through the forum, as I always do for a new phone, to try and see what recommendations people have. Despite seeing lots of issues in the 'press' with battery life and Android 13 (downgrading / bricking), I can't see what the general consensus is here and peoples experiences seem to differ.
Is upgrading to Android 13 worth it? Does it actually fix the battery life issues?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Intermediate level rooter/phone tinkerer here. First thing I did when getting my P6 was to unlock, upgrade to A13, and root, so I have no context for what A12 was like. What I can say is battery life has been amazing for me. Albeit I am not a heavy user (only play COD mobile every once in a blue moon). Most of the time it's just phone, text, browser, music and YouTube use. I am actually testing the battery right now, and I am at 27% since unplugging at 100% 40 hours ago, so I am completely happy. On pace to be a 2 day battery for me. YMMV.
In regards to how I like A13, I am coming from A11 on a Oneplus device, and I have to say I miss the old style quick toggles personally. But I am also one that doesn't mind getting used to new software. I know this can annoy others quite a bit. The rest of the OS issues I have are not version related, they are me missing OxygenOS features like screen gestures to play/pause music, turn on flashlight, modify status bar icons, ect. I really miss them, but have turned my back on Oneplus due to their recent decisions (constant lack of IP ratings, no wireless charging, removing the alert slider, constant price creep, subpar cameras) so the only easy to root alternative that addresses my above frustrations is the Pixel line.
That being said, any Pixel you buy brand new is gonna start with A12, which is very close to A13. So again, YMMV with how you acclimate to the new OS version.
Hope this helps
Also, the fingerprint reader on this phone is way better than the one on my Oneplus 8T, that thing was absolute garbage IMO...like 30-40% success rate. This P6 one is completely satisfactory for me, rarely have a failure. When I do, it's usually due to moisture or dirt. But any in screen reader has these issues, not isolated to P6. Only solution is to have a physical reader like the Sony Xperia or the like.
I know I probably seem like the minority here, it seems most people have horrible experiences with the P6 reader, just saying me personally it has been great. Also, my above great experience is WITH a tempered glass protector on and have NOT increased the touch sensitivity like the instructions seem to indicate a need for.
centifanto said:
Intermediate level rooter/phone tinkerer here. First thing I did when getting my P6 was to unlock, upgrade to A13, and root, so I have no context for what A12 was like. What I can say is battery life has been amazing for me. Albeit I am not a heavy user (only play COD mobile every once in a blue moon). Most of the time it's just phone, text, browser, music and YouTube use. I am actually testing the battery right now, and I am at 27% since unplugging at 100% 40 hours ago, so I am completely happy. On pace to be a 2 day battery for me. YMMV.
In regards to how I like A13, I am coming from A11 on a Oneplus device, and I have to say I miss the old style quick toggles personally. But I am also one that doesn't mind getting used to new software. I know this can annoy others quite a bit. The rest of the OS issues I have are not version related, they are me missing OxygenOS features like screen gestures to play/pause music, turn on flashlight, modify status bar icons, ect. I really miss them, but have turned my back on Oneplus due to their recent decisions (constant lack of IP ratings, no wireless charging, removing the alert slider, constant price creep, subpar cameras) so the only easy to root alternative that addresses my above frustrations is the Pixel line.
That being said, any Pixel you buy brand new is gonna start with A12, which is very close to A13. So again, YMMV with how you acclimate to the new OS version.
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. Can I ask why you root? I used to routinely do this many years ago and infact did it recently to my Poco F2 bit that was purely to enable call recording. I find the lack of being able to properly use banking apps / Google pay too big a price to pay.
I've not got my sim card in yet so using WiFi only. My phone seems to be getting quite hot? Not doing much very intensive, just downloading and installing apps. It's been off a few minutes now and it's still warm. Battery drain also seems a little high albeit I've been downloading lots of programmes.
thermomonkey said:
Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. Can I ask why you root? I used to routinely do this many years ago and infact did it recently to my Poco F2 bit that was purely to enable call recording. I find the lack of being able to properly use banking apps / Google pay too big a price to pay.
I've not got my sim card in yet so using WiFi only. My phone seems to be getting quite hot? Not doing much very intensive, just downloading and installing apps. It's been off a few minutes now and it's still warm. Battery drain also seems a little high albeit I've been downloading lots of programmes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely! Reasons I root:
1. Adaway - block all ads system wide,
2. Vanced YouTube - block YT ads, extra customization like swipe controls
3. Did I mention I HATE ads with white hot passion??
4. Tasker root required modifications
5. Ability to nuke any bloat app I want
6. Call recording
7. Other Magisk modules that I have used in the past but have not tried/not supported on A13 yet.
8. I just personally like having control over software I use. Any future mod I could possibly desire I would have the access required to implement
No concern with apps blocking you due to rooting, that is fixed by USNF and Zygisk denylist
In my experience, anytime I am setting up a new phone they get warm. Also to note, these newer builds of Android require about 5-7 day "break in" period, where the OS is optimizing based on your usage. After that period is when battery life settles down.
If I'm not mistaken with the P6/P6P once you upgrade to A13, you cannot downgrade back to A12. So something to consider.
centifanto said:
Absolutely! Reasons I root:
1. Adaway - block all ads system wide,
2. Vanced YouTube - block YT ads, extra customization like swipe controls
3. Did I mention I HATE ads with white hot passion??
4. Tasker root required modifications
5. Ability to nuke any bloat app I want
6. Call recording
7. Other Magisk modules that I have used in the past but have not tried/not supported on A13 yet.
8. I just personally like having control over software I use. Any future mod I could possibly desire I would have the access required to implement
No concern with apps blocking you due to rooting, that is fixed by USNF and Zygisk denylist
In my experience, anytime I am setting up a new phone they get warm. Also to note, these newer builds of Android require about 5-7 day "break in" period, where the OS is optimizing based on your usage. After that period is when battery life settles down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!! Sorry for my slow reply.
Just FYI, Vanced works without root and surprisingly, so does call recording.
Interesting about the USNF though, I was unaware of that and wondered how people lived without access to all the banking type apps.
centifanto said:
2. Vanced YouTube - block YT ads, extra customization like swipe controls
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What vanced are you using?
palopaxo said:
What vanced are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at AfterVanced on Reddit
thermomonkey said:
Interesting about the USNF though, I was unaware of that and wondered how people lived without access to all the banking type apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USNF for me isn't about the banking apps but tap and pay. I could give two s***s about the banks, as if I really needed to I could just access their services through the browser. I like the convenience of tap and pay, not going to lie, but can function without it easily enough, as I do carry my cards on me in a Ridge-style wallet even though I have the phone as an option. You never know when Google will suddenly update the Wallet or GPay apps and cause the USNF to not work for a few days.
thermomonkey said:
Morning all. My pixel 6 (non pro) is being delivered today and I've been looking through the forum, as I always do for a new phone, to try and see what recommendations people have. Despite seeing lots of issues in the 'press' with battery life and Android 13 (downgrading / bricking), I can't see what the general consensus is here and peoples experiences seem to differ.
Is upgrading to Android 13 worth it? Does it actually fix the battery life issues?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a Pixel 6 myself a couple weeks ago after being an iPhone user for a few years. I have to say I haven't really put it through the wringer yet, but so far I've had zero issues with it. Nothing like I've seen discussed at length in multiple threads on Reddit.
My biggest issue thus far is trying to figure out what browser to use, as I have the freedom to actually choose.
novafluxx said:
I just got a Pixel 6 myself a couple weeks ago after being an iPhone user for a few years. I have to say I haven't really put it through the wringer yet, but so far I've had zero issues with it. Nothing like I've seen discussed at length in multiple threads on Reddit.
My biggest issue thus far is trying to figure out what browser to use, as I have the freedom to actually choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like Brave Browser, Firefox, or Chromium.
Glad to hear no issues with the 6.
I'm holding out for the 7.
However my 5 is still running like a champ.
andybones said:
I like Brave Browser, Firefox, or Chromium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read that Firefox for Android isn't as secure as on desktop. I'm finding Brave to be pretty great though. I've got issues with it on desktop but I don't really need it in desktop as I have Firefox and ublock origin.
novafluxx said:
I just got a Pixel 6 myself a couple weeks ago after being an iPhone user for a few years. I have to say I haven't really put it through the wringer yet, but so far I've had zero issues with it. Nothing like I've seen discussed at length in multiple threads on Reddit.
My biggest issue thus far is trying to figure out what browser to use, as I have the freedom to actually choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Opera on my P6. Blocks ad and is smoother than Chrome (which I suppose most browser are).
Back to the original topic, I can't really comment on the difference between 12 and 13, but I can say my experience on 13 has been good. No notable issues, excellent battery life, and support from Magisk addons like AOSP Mods is catching up.
Just make sure you know what you're doing if you do upgrade to 13, especially if you're a root user. TL;DR - the phone has two "slots" for everything but data (bootloader, system, etc.), and flashing the OTA of 13 updates one of those slots. After that happens, if anything happens that causes your phone to boot from the un-updated side before you've updated at least the bootloader on that side, you've got a brick. There are guides around for getting both sides updated that're better than I can, though the rootless (sideload) method for updating both sides can have issues with USB >2.0.