Second hand imported S4 wont lock GPS

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Youi

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#1603198 2-Aug-2016 20:11

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful replies! It seems that I am going to be unable to make either of these phones pick up GPS as they are and flashing stuff (which I know nothing about) sounds like more then I can handle. I will return the phones and get my refund and then.. I still need a phone. I've done more research and I just feel severely overwhelmed. It was a big enough deal to find this phone and finally decide to buy it and now I have to go through that all over again :( Would it be OK to change this into a discussing on where I could get an Android phone with 2GB ram for under $300max (camera power doesn't really matter, battery life does matter, NFC doesn't matter - never used it for anything before, storage space doesn't realllly matter but would like a microSD slot)?

So far I've found:
$299 MEIZU M3 note - hardware looks fantastic but I am unsure about the strange OS, I really just wanted Android 5.0.1+ (again, I don't know much about this stuff/flashing etc and wouldn't really want to mess around with that kind of stuff if it meant I couldn't return the phone if something went wrong).
$299 Huawei P8lite - hardware is smaller/lesser but has 2GB ram and is already running Android 5.0.2 which is a big plus.
$299 Samsung Galaxy S4 Brand New - what I originally wanted but 'new' this time, but again, how do I know this isn't an import which is also going to have GPS issues?
$240 DOOGEE HOMTOM HT7 Pro - something random, my last phone was a THL so I'm not adverse to randomly branded phones if they are going to do the job, has 2GB ram and running android 5.0.1 which is good.

Or, any similar phones any of you would recommend that would fit my needs? Thanks again folks, the above answers helped me work out that I really do need to return the phones as getting GPS to work on either of them may never work.

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Youi

80 posts

Master Geek

#1603199 2-Aug-2016 20:13

Oh! And can someone please tell me how to wipe all my data off the two phones that I've got here, before I send them back? I thought I could just factory reset but it seems that isn't how the phone came and so the seller might have an issue with me returning it like that.

tripp

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#1603201 2-Aug-2016 20:16

The meizu is a nice phone, I had a play with it at pbtech and a friend ended up getting one.
@nikt should be able to tell you more about them but I would vote for it.
There is a thread about it on geekzone already :)

freitasm

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#1603202 2-Aug-2016 20:17

joker97:

10 mins! My many year old iphone can lock indoors in under 3 seconds

It may take some time to download the almanac and ephemeris data on first use. Yes, ten minutes at least.

@YouI for the price, the Meizu M3 Note is an incredible device. I have one here and it's recommended. Meizu M3 Note discussion here and Geekzoner @NikT is behind it...

My technology disclosure

tripp

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#1603203 2-Aug-2016 20:18

Youi:
Oh! And can someone please tell me how to wipe all my data off the two phones that I've got here, before I send them back? I thought I could just factory reset but it seems that isn't how the phone came and so the seller might have an issue with me returning it like that.

I would factory reset it. Just email the seller saying you will return them due to the issue and say you will reset them to remove the data.
They will just reflash them with whatever they already have done with them.

tripp

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#1603204 2-Aug-2016 20:19

freitasm:
joker97:

10 mins! My many year old iphone can lock indoors in under 3 seconds

It may take some time to download the almanac and ephemeris data on first use. Yes, ten minutes at least.

@YouI for the price, the Meizu M3 Note is an incredible device. I have one here and it's recommended. Meizu M3 Note discussion here and Geekzoner @NikT is behind it...

Snap :)

NikT

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#1603212 2-Aug-2016 20:40

Youi:

So far I've found:
$299 MEIZU M3 note - hardware looks fantastic but I am unsure about the strange OS, I really just wanted Android 5.0.1+ (again, I don't know much about this stuff/flashing etc and wouldn't really want to mess around with that kind of stuff if it meant I couldn't return the phone if something went wrong).

Incidentally, M3 Note is one of the products I help test. Happy to answer any questions. First up, here's an interesting one - modifying the OS, including root access, does not void the 24 month hardware warranty.

I'd really recommend stretching to the 32GB with 3GB RAM, though, it's a significantly better experience for $60 more.

Quite dig Flyme, especially the combination back/home button, though it's not for everyone. The extremely attractive ASUS Zenfone 3 range is coming up soon, although they'll be a bit pricier. If you're looking for near-vanilla Android meets bang for buck and have a strict $300 budget, don't overlook the Vodafone Smart range either (They were my gig last year, and I thoroughly test everything I shill to make sure it's genuinely good first).

EDIT Re: Returning the S4 - You can technically remove your Google account through Android settings, but PLEASE do not do this. The Android software on it has been tampered with, and you don't know what they've done to it. There is the very real possibility that keylogging software or malware could have been installed.

The presence of that disabled Superuser app could mean any number of things, but it should be treated as if the worst case scenario had occured. I urge you to change all passwords that have been entered into the phone, and properly purge it with a factory reset through recovery mode before returning the device. Hold down power, home, and volume up until the phone reboots into the red/yellow text-only Recovery Mode. Then use the volume keys to scroll to 'wipe all data/factory reset', and hit the power button to confirm.

Although you're not keen, I'd really suggest flashing it to the stock firmware for whatever region it is with ODIN to be on the safe side. There's a few steps to that, and I'm happy to walk you through it with a step-by-step guide if need be.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

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timmmay

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#1603220 2-Aug-2016 20:57

LG G4, got one for my Mum and she likes it, but I think it might be outside your budget.

Youi

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#1603225 2-Aug-2016 21:09

NikT:

don't overlook the Vodafone Smart range either (They were my gig last year, and I thoroughly test everything I shill to make sure it's genuinely good first).

Thank you for mentioning this, somehow this one had managed to escape my search! The hardware looks fantastic, its got basic Android 5.0.whatever which means I don't need to do anything tricky. Stupid question though: its made by Vodafone, but is it locked to them? Id like to stay with 2Deg as all our house stuff is with them. At the bottom of the noels page for the phone, it says "Carrier: Vodafone. Network Locked: No", does this mean I can use my 2Deg with it?

NikT

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#1603228 2-Aug-2016 21:13

Youi:

Thank you for mentioning this, somehow this one had managed to escape my search! The hardware looks fantastic, its got basic Android 5.0.whatever which means I don't need to do anything tricky. Stupid question though: its made by Vodafone, but is it locked to them? Id like to stay with 2Deg as all our house stuff is with them. At the bottom of the noels page for the phone, it says "Carrier: Vodafone. Network Locked: No", does this mean I can use my 2Deg with it?

The ultra is unlocked, you're good to go on 2d.

Please see the edit to my post above, though!

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Youi

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#1603232 2-Aug-2016 21:25

NikT:

The ultra is unlocked, you're good to go on 2d.

Please see the edit to my post above, though!

Thank you again! Looks like that might be the phone for me, I think ill go and meet one in the wild tomorrow and see how it feels in my hands :)

And yes, I read the edit, I have just started the 'wipe all data/factory reset' on the first phone and will do the second; will also change passwords although its a pain in the arse - I can never remember them anyways so it doesn't matter if they are new lol. Can you please give me a quick idea of what "flashing it to the stock firmware for whatever region it is with ODIN to be on the safe side" would entail, so I can see if I have enough brain-power available? Thank you again, I really appreciate the help.

NikT

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#1603237 2-Aug-2016 21:41

Youi:

Thank you again! Looks like that might be the phone for me, I think ill go and meet one in the wild tomorrow and see how it feels in my hands :)

And yes, I read the edit, I have just started the 'wipe all data/factory reset' on the first phone and will do the second; will also change passwords although its a pain in the arse - I can never remember them anyways so it doesn't matter if they are new lol. Can you please give me a quick idea of what "flashing it to the stock firmware for whatever region it is with ODIN to be on the safe side" would entail, so I can see if I have enough brain-power available? Thank you again, I really appreciate the help.

It's a bit plasticky - which should be just fine coming from an S4. ;)

To reflash, step one is to ID the software that's on it. Hit *#1234# and note the CSC version number. Search for that on sammobile.com and you should find the right build. Make sure it's for the i9505 variant (One of many, though it was by far the best version of the S4). Download it - slowly - and grab a copy of ODIN from the xda-developers forum post that'll pop up in a Google search. Extract the large downloaded Samsung software file when it's done, and you should have a big tar.md5.

Hold down home, power, and volume down on your phone to enter Download Mode. Connect it to your PC and allow time to install drivers. Meanwhile, extract everything in the ODIN zip file and start the program. Hit the PDA button, then select the extract tar.md5 file from earlier (Don't press any tick boxes in ODIN without Googling first). All going well, ODIN should detect your phone and automatically start pumping the replacement build over via USB with lots of whizzing download bars. Leave it until it's all done, your phone should reboot, and assuming you factory reset before flashing, should be at the welcome screen.

It's straightforward once you've done it a few times.

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Youi

80 posts

Master Geek

#1603264 2-Aug-2016 22:44

NikT:

To reflash, step one is to ID the software that's on it. Hit *#1234# and note the CSC version number. Search for that on sammobile.com and you should find the right build. Make sure it's for the i9505 variant (One of many, though it was by far the best version of the S4). Download it - slowly - and grab a copy of ODIN from the xda-developers forum post that'll pop up in a Google search. Extract the large downloaded Samsung software file when it's done, and you should have a big tar.md5.

Hold down home, power, and volume down on your phone to enter Download Mode. Connect it to your PC and allow time to install drivers. Meanwhile, extract everything in the ODIN zip file and start the program. Hit the PDA button, then select the extract tar.md5 file from earlier (Don't press any tick boxes in ODIN without Googling first). All going well, ODIN should detect your phone and automatically start pumping the replacement build over via USB with lots of whizzing download bars. Leave it until it's all done, your phone should reboot, and assuming you factory reset before flashing, should be at the welcome screen.

It's straightforward once you've done it a few times.

Thank you for writing this out, I appreciate it :) I don't however, think I feel comfortable doing this, I know its probably second nature stuff for a lot of people on here but I have an anxiety disorder and the thought of trying to do this and stuffing it up and not being able to get a refund etc is all too much for me. I have factory reset/wiped data from the two phones and changed all passwords, I hope that will be enough and boo hiss to the seller who is potentially doing dodgy things .. how on earth do I leave Trademe feedback about all this? lol.

Batman

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#1603285 3-Aug-2016 07:02

Next time anything on trademe assume it may not work, so if it does you feel happy, if not you don't get too upset. Use seller feedback to estimate such probability. Also ask if Phone has been flashed.

Find out from seller first before you get too upset, could you return it?

kinsten

240 posts

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#1603653 3-Aug-2016 15:24

I had similar issues with my phone I got from Grab One some time ago, the phone itself worked great, the GPS only worked when Data was not enabled (useless), so google maps had to be loaded, then mobile data turned of, then gps enabled with google maps running offline.

Until today!

I just downloaded and installed an App called "Angry GPS" (not available on Google Play). I had another GPS app installed "GPS Status" which was interferring. uninstalled GPS Status, and now my GPS is working PERFECTLY. I cannot believe it.

But seeing as you can actually send your phone back, I would probably just do that as its better to have something that works off the shelf 1st time, rather than something that required a lot of hacks to make work.

See end of my other post if your interested.
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=181403

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