T-mobile Pulse - Android touch phone.

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

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Joined
22 Oct 2002
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2,059
Location
Hull, UK
I managed to have a little play with the new T-mobile Pulse Android touch screen phone in my local T-mobile shop today.
pulsepic.jpg


I was pleasantly surprised at how well it was made, not up to Iphone standard but felt solid. The buttons felt strong and solid to push, I tested the responsiveness of the touch screen and on the whole it was very good. The only problems I encountered was texting in landscape mode, the space bar was very close to the edge of the screen and often did not respond to touch, I have small fingers and all the other buttons responded well.
The phone was very responsive when opening applications and the screen scrolled smoothly.

The shop had only just got them in stock on Saturday and they could only sell on contract plans, they would be selling on payg for £179 in a couple of weeks time.

Even though I only had a short play with the phone but I was very impressed, the clarity of the screen was excellent, responsive to touch inputs, build quality was up to scratch. I can see this phone becoming very popular. If it had of been available on payg today, I would probably have shelled out the dosh for one.

Anyone else purchased one or had a play?
 
I bought the phone 8 days ago from T-mob shop in Hull and on the whole I do like the phone and the whole Google/Android (linux kernal) experience. I bought it on PAYG and just stuck my contract sim card into the phone, setup all my email accounts and away it went. My only concerns are that registering keystrokes in portrait mode can be a bit hit and miss and sometimes the battery life is appalling.
Don't run 3G networks preference with Wifi on and your browser left open or you will zap the battery!! I managed to go from a full charge at midnight, no use overnight, then battery dead at 3.20pm!!
There are some useful apps on the market, I do like the BBC, NYtimes and Fox widgets, Twitdroid works very nicely and like having Accuweather back. Just need some more airport info apps!

Having used an iphone 2g for a year and loved it, the T-mobile is good competitor to the iphone, it isn't better, it isn't vastly worse, I suspect it will not be a big seller as the big names Samsung, HTC, Motorola are now bring out Android phones and these will attract the mainstream buyers. I suspect most people would think Huawei to be a poor Chinese phone maker, but they produce some serious communication and telecommunications equipment.

A good phone for people who can see beyond brand names.
 
I was having some problems entering url s in Opera, was I could not get the virtual keyboard to go off the screen but then I found out you had to press the menu button and then select the tick to have the URL selected and then the keyboard minimised again.
Not the best way, but it works.
The Fox widget sometimes shows an error but manages to sort itself out eventually. I am quite pleased with the phone and I think it will grow on me even more.
I love to listen to online radio stations, my usual phone, Nokia E71 streams music so well having Nokia internet radio, Realplayer. The Pulse doesn't support as many codecs but I have managed to get m.moodio.fm to stream all of the channels I want at 32kbps rate so it I am quite happy at the moment.
 
The E71 is a good screen, I use Opera and Skyfire Browsers and it works well, but the 3.5in screen on the Pulse is lovely to look at and is just as good as the Iphone.
Browsing experience on the Pulse is better but doesn't support Flash yet, where as the E71 is smaller but has good zoom features, better codec support and a vastly better battery life.

If the Pulse had the battery life of the E71, flash support and better codecs it would be absolutely superb and would be better than the Iphone. Android is good and it has a rosy future ahead of it, but Iphone and Apple will hold the high ground for sometime yet.
 
There is a known issue with some Pulse's that the usb socket becomes loose and can cause problems with charging. I would return the phone to T-mobile as it will still be under guarantee.
 
Just a quick heads up, the T-mobile has now got official 2.1 support. T-Mobile Hungary have released the 2.1 upgrade. Head over to Modaco Pulse forum for more info.

Just installing now on my unlocked T-mobile pulse.
 
It is very nice!! Live wallpapers, exchange support, official twitter 2.1 client, improved googlemaps, improved virtual keypad. Overall the phone feels more responsive, apps open faster, so far I am very impressed.
 
Ol!ver said:
So, just to check, I can just update this the same way I would any other update? No need to root etc?
Click to expand...

No need to root as this is an official T-Mobile Hungary 2.1 update. Don't worry it installs in English and supports 2g and 3g UK T-mobile settings. Copy the DLOAD folder to your SD root, and then do update from the Phone and away you go.
 
Why would you want to go back to 1.5? This isn't a cooked, slimmed down rom. This is from T-mobile's and Huawei labs and has been designed for the Pulse. This is the real deal. T-Mobile UK will be releasing the same update very shortly.
 
mglover070588 said:
I am experiencing all sorts of bugs with 2.1 android. I hope 2.2 is out soon.
Click to expand...

Modaco now has a Vanilla 2.1 update from Sweden Tre network. I installed it on Friday and I it is the best 2.1 version yet. Runs very smooth and is branded with Huawei splashscreen and no network customisations. It picked up the T-mobile apn settings from my sim and connected immediately to sync with Google servers.

Give it a try, I restored to 1.5 using Huawei roll back update, installed T-mobile 1.5 December update and then installed Tre 2.1 update. Very pleased with the outcome.
 
Tesla said:
Didn't realise one was supplied, just ordered one on a £15pm tariff on T Mobile website.

Is everybody on 2.1 now? Is it reliable?
Click to expand...

You maybe very lucky and get the new enhanced version of the 8220/T-mobile pulse that has an extra 128mb of faster ram! Huawei have quietly released a 'big flash' version of the phone. The extra ram makes the phone run smoother and you can far more apps and should make installing 2.2 a better experience as well. Check out this thread for a link to find out if your new phone is the 'big flash version' http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18166026

Keep us updated of which version you get.
 
Tesla said:
Is everybody on 2.1 now? Is it reliable?
Click to expand...

I run Fibblesan's FLB1.1 version of the 2.1 uodate with launcher pro, rooted, apps2sd etc, runs well but I am using a crap 2gig micro sd, I need to get a class MicroSDhc card and it will run better. I think the Pulse is one of the best phones around for the money, and at £15 a month inc internet, it is a bargain.
Enjoy the phone.
 
On the phone go to :-
Settings -- SD Card + Phone storage --- Internal phone memory .
If internal phone memory is shown as below 60mb you have the 'small flash version', if you have over 100mb you have the 'big flash version'
 
escobar'97 said:
Just wondering if anyone can help me with this 2.1 update??

I've d/l the update.Unzipped the folder.Tranfered the update to my s/d card.Then when i follow the update method i get the following msg on screen.."The upgrade package is not detected.Confirm the upgrade package,and then perform the upgrade"

Can see the files in file manager,but i'm stuck why it wont update???

Any one got any ideas????
Click to expand...

unzip the update file and transfer the folder marked 'dload' to the root of your memory card. Then run the update software.
 
I am running the flb1.31 rom but you need to have the phone rooted and amonrecovery installed. I am very impressed with this rom, very smooth and slick.
 
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