Comments on: New Samsung Omnia software from Verizon drops shortly; so long, GPS lock

By: aRuckle

aRuckle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:52:20 +0000

PandaBarr: How did you load the ROM? I am getting my Samsung Omina on Tuesday and I really want to do this. This is the second time I have seen someone post about the ROM.

By: mike

mike — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:03:45 +0000

AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I’ve tried com8, 4800,like listed above, with nothing. Read somewhere else that vz navigator has to be running, still nothing. I like google maps because of the satellite view and this is driving me crazy. If anyone has anymore suggestions, please help. Thanks.

By: Tay C

Tay C — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:58:50 +0000

Drew,

Thank you for your help. I did what you advised and it went to the “Upgrade in progress” screen. (That got me a little farther than before) than it told me to restart the device but still it did not upgrade.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:00:55 +0000

Tay.,just take your stylus and press the reboo.t button on top of the Omni.awhile it’s syncing and the update will occur.

By: Tay C

Tay C — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:48:09 +0000

Hello,

Can someone please tell me how to put this upgrade on my Omnia. I get as far as the phone being reset but it does not do anything after that. It just stays on the retart menu. Please help

By: misterecon

misterecon — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:10:44 +0000

Wow – I had read somewhere else to set it at 57600. Having it at 4800 seems to be much quicker – thanks!

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:00:49 +0000

Trial and error. since Samsung and Verizon offer little help on this issue, I sat out on the deck with a Sam adams and worked it out.

By: Ken2251

Ken2251 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:36:01 +0000

Ray, You’re the man…. it works awesome now. I don’t know how you figured it out, but it works. Thanks.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:44:36 +0000

In google maps, which took me a while to get going:
Menu>>OPtions>>GPS Settings>>Set Manually>>COM8>>4800.

Also make sure GPS is on.
Menu>>Use GPS

Also need to get your GPS chip out of 911 mode.

Settings>>Phone>>Services>>GPS>>Change Settings>>Location ON

What I found was getting the satellites to lock the first time seemed like a long time.

Since them, they seemed to lock quicker.

I also installed GCzII, which is a geochaching program, that also uses Google Maps.

Now on that program seetings are on Automatic and it is working fine. Not sure why.

This is what worked for me. No warranty applied.

I did goof one thing up, not sure how.

When all was said and done, my contacts did not come back. Luckily have only had the phone a few months and my old phone on hand. Went to Verizon and the resynced my phones so only lost a few.

Love the flashlight they added.

By: Ken2251

Ken2251 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:38:45 +0000

I updated to CFO 3.2 yesterday. The GPS has yet to lock onto a single satelite. I’m using Google maps. Anyone else having this problem?

By: misterecon

misterecon — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:22:18 +0000

OK, I did the software upgrade. When I use google maps, it uses the “my Location” to get me within 2800 meters, but doesn’t really seem to in a meaningful way. Is that the best it does, or are there settings that need changed somewhere? When I use Bing maps (formerly Windows Live Search) it can’t locate me at all. Any help?

Thank you.

By: PandaBarr

PandaBarr — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:28:12 +0000

*Updated*
Loaded the ROM last night. With a download taking 30 seconds, Syncing taking another 30 and an elapsed time of 6:45 minutes this is an update anyone with an Omnia should be doing. The weather-bug widget is pretty cool. Screens move quicker. The volume shows up with a crazy rotary-dial looking display. Overall it built on the touch-friendly-ness of the phone itself. And yes, the GPS for Google Maps works great. Oh, one more thing, the XT9 dictionary makes a lot more sense now. I dont have to go in and add “whst” = “what” or other mindless corrections the phone should have had. Youd be surprised how noticeable “im” autocorrecting to “I’m” is. Nice work.

By: Ashley K

Ashley K — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:26:59 +0000

Well since my car was broken into not too long ago and GPS stolen, the GPS unlock on my Omnia was a timely surprise that does the job for me day to day (especially since I don’t have to own a separate device) and doesn’t cost extra to use.

By: Far Quadrangle

Far Quadrangle — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:59:11 +0000

Who gives a rats arse about the GPS?

Give me a useable text/messaging input interface and I would be happy.

It has the most useless UI for input on email and text messages that I’ve seen. Fix that and maybe I would have one. For now I’ll stick with a Blackberry. Something you can actually type on.

By: PandaBarr

PandaBarr — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:15:53 +0000

Personally I’d look at it from a financial perspective. VZNav is what? $10 a month. Omnia’s been out for almost a year so.. $10(x number of customers with omnia – omnia owners who dont use VZNav) = Y Profit. Then they unlock it later down the line. So while everyone bitches and complains VZW is still making money. Did they *have* to unlock it? Nope. Have I ever met an Omnia owner who got rid of his phone just because they didnt want to use VZNav? Nope. Are there better nav apps out there for free which are worlds better than VZNav? Probably. But am I going to gripe and moan about all the gps-locked sand in my vag until someone actually listens? Negative.

Its unlocked now. Go upgrade and be happy with it.

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:42:21 +0000

I completely agree, Ray.

There are a lot of us out here who are, pretty much, handcuffed to Verizon. It really sucks that the GPS even had to be unlocked, but I’m glad that the tide appears to be turning on the Verizon lock downs.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:45:43 +0000

I don’t understand all the apologists for verizon. Are they employees?

The GPS was locked because verizon wanted it that way, then they dragged their feet unlocking it.

Yes I will stay loyal to Verizon because ATT sucks in my area.

Verizon has been famous for this all along. Used to do it to the wifi chips.

to letsbehonest: It is the principal of the matter, I am not “complaining just to complain”, it is a legitimate gripe.

If Verizon wants to avoid this type of negative push back, all they have to do is stop crippling their phones.

By: Nimrod

Nimrod — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:54:06 +0000

If you have a HTC Diamond, then just flash a custom ROM.

By: JD

JD — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:38:20 +0000

I’m one of the dozen or so VZW customers with a Touch Diamond. I hope they’re not done yet with the unlock rollout!!

By: Ashley K

Ashley K — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:18:37 +0000

Yes, this worked, I upgraded last night on my Omnia. I had to download 3rd party app (Google Maps works fine) to use the unlocked GPS. The UI has been slightly improved but in my opinion dings performance somewhat.

After you download the file and backup the files on the phone, the process takes about 10min to complete.

Thanks VZW (after 3 years having service)

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:16:09 +0000

Yeah, they might’ve kept me with this a year ago, but now i’m only going to accept phones w/ OS’s w/ app systems in place.

Oh, and thank for enabling a feature on my device that was native to it. Really generous.

By: Xoxotl

Xoxotl — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:20:49 +0000

@StevenGlansburg – Comparing a basic function like Cut & Paste with something like GPS is laughable at best. Granted, this should have been unlocked from the get-go, but pulling out “Cut & Paste = GPS” is really grasping at straws there.

I know AT&T lost one customer today. My friend at work has an iPhone. Apparently, while downloading the update, it bricked. AT&T told him to pound sound, but that would gladly sell him another iPhone for $99 if he’ll extend his contract. His answer: “No thanks, I’ve been eyeballing my friend’s Tour anyway. This is the perfect reason to go get one.”

By: VZW

VZW — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:44:46 +0000

The Omina Pro will be out VERY VERY Soon. The Omina Pro is the new verison of the Samsung Glyde.

By: Vic

Vic — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:56:50 +0000

Update works. From what I’ve seen theres alotta improvements. but the best thing is… GPS is finally unlocked and i can use google maps.

By: GoofyTMOhax

GoofyTMOhax — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:48:38 +0000

anyone know if this works with a factory unlocked gsm sgh-i900

By: gobrowms

gobrowms — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:16:42 +0000

Anyone try this yet? I get the feeling its not exactly going to be an upgrade.

By: David Thande™

David Thande™ — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:25:53 +0000

Hey Joe, Grr. What’s up?

By: letsbhonest

letsbhonest — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:26:41 +0000

Thats cool but lets stop complaining about lock gps is not like most of the people that have the phone are going to even use it we are just complaining for the sake of complaining . locked gps or not the Omnia is pretty awsome and you can say anything you want about Verizon but who doesnt like their phone having internet and voice service whereever you go lets be happy and look forward to the Omnia 2.

By: Zach Epstein

Zach Epstein — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:24:27 +0000

@Johnny Just click here

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:20:32 +0000

@ Anon

I think most people understand why subscribers tend to be pretty loyal to Verizon. The fact is, there are large swaths of the country where Verizon is the only game in town, particularly if you have any interest in 3G.