Vodafone 845

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973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#399777 3-Nov-2010 18:56

This phone is very tempting, I've always had simple phones that just make calls and send texts, but having easy remote access to my mail would be very nice (I work from home so it's not a huge deal). Does anyone have any experience with what the battery's like on this phone? For example 1-2 short calls a day, a couple of texts and maybe 5 minutes of web browsing, how long do you reckon it would last on standby?

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Linuxluver

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#399856 3-Nov-2010 21:53

WallySimmonds: Is it worth doing web browsing on this phone at all? Looking at getting one of these for the gf for Christmas, seems like an alright deal.

The screen is at the small end of the scale, but bright, clear (IMHO) and easy to read if your eyesight is good. The letters are a little on the small side for some pages, but you can make them larger - usually - unless they are the "mobile" version which typically resists being made bigger.

It's an awesome little bundle of value for the price. If someone is determined to hate there is cause there enough to allow them to do that......but it does everything any ARMv6 Android phone running Android v2.1 can do.......and as far as I can tell it does a fine job, too.

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Linuxluver

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#399857 3-Nov-2010 21:57

meesham: This phone is very tempting, I've always had simple phones that just make calls and send texts, but having easy remote access to my mail would be very nice (I work from home so it's not a huge deal). Does anyone have any experience with what the battery's like on this phone? For example 1-2 short calls a day, a couple of texts and maybe 5 minutes of web browsing, how long do you reckon it would last on standby?

My rule of thumb for an active 3G-using smartphone is a full day on a battery. By that I mean 7am to 7pm. You might browse for 30 minutes. You might make a couple of of calls of about 15 mins each. You might play some tunes via the music player for an hour or two. If you do that, from what I can see so far with this phone (having got it this morning) is you should get through a day easily. If you use GPS a lot, then the battery will die faster.

With "Maps [brut]" this phone will do turn-by-turn nav for you! I put a spare 2Degrees SIM in it, set up the APNs and added 1GB of data for $20. I'm set for the month.

Seriously...I'm blown away by the value here for the $199 or $175.

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ThierryHenry

22 posts

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#399861 3-Nov-2010 22:10

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but this is my first Android phone and was wondering how do you put music on it? I put the phone into data transfer mode and put some mp3's on there but when I go into the music player the list is empty?

Linuxluver

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#399865 3-Nov-2010 22:19

ThierryHenry: Sorry if this is a stupid question, but this is my first Android phone and was wondering how do you put music on it? I put the phone into data transfer mode and put some mp3's on there but when I go into the music player the list is empty?

One (free) app you probably want to get is "Estrongs File Explorer". It does three things. First, it's a file manager on the phone. Second, it can access Windows / samba file shares on a non-domain network via wifi. Thirdly it's an ftp client (Google it if you don't know what FTP is), so you can ftp into another computer - at home or on the Internet somewhere - and download files. Using FTP on phone or PC, I can access my music at home on my PC from anywhere on the planet that has Internet access.

The ability to access windows file shares is pretty cool. You just set up the server (IP address and userid / password for that PC) and then it opens up all the shares on it. If you've shared the music folder, you can just copy songs to your phone's sdcard. If you don't have an sdcard, get one. Make a folder on it called "music" using the file manager on the phone....and just copy sings into it.

Also check out the "Meridian" music player from the Market. There is a free version. It's pretty good...and you can tell it where to look for music. Most apps are like that. You're driving. Think of your phone as being more like a laptop than a phone. Once you work out the mechanics of getting files off and on, you'll see what I mean. You can get files on and off many ways: USB cable, wifi, bluetooth, copy to sdcard with phone shut down, then put the sdcard back in and start the phone....probably the most basic of all. :-)

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pritishd

28 posts

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#399887 3-Nov-2010 22:55

WallySimmonds: Is it worth doing web browsing on this phone at all? Looking at getting one of these for the gf for Christmas, seems like an alright deal.

Yes, it does WIFI and 3G. She would appreciate the small size of the phone

ThierryHenry

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#399910 3-Nov-2010 23:27

Thanks Linuxluver, got the music working with Meridian...
Just one more thing, should I be able to access the internet if I havnt purchased a data pack? Im on 2Degrees and have plenty of prepay credit but I havnt bought a data pack
I cant even load marketplace

kyhwana2

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#399912 3-Nov-2010 23:28

ThierryHenry: Thanks Linuxluver, got the music working Meridian...
Just one more thing, should I be able to access the internet if I havnt purchased a data pack? Im on 2Degrees and have plenty of prepay credit but I havnt bought a data pack

Yes, you'll be on the casual 50c/mb thing.

ThierryHenry

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#399936 4-Nov-2010 00:57

kyhwana2:
ThierryHenry: Thanks Linuxluver, got the music working Meridian...
Just one more thing, should I be able to access the internet if I havnt purchased a data pack? Im on 2Degrees and have plenty of prepay credit but I havnt bought a data pack

Yes, you'll be on the casual 50c/mb thing.

Ah its not working for me, I went and added the APN settings from the stickied thread at the top, anything else I need to do to get it working?

andrewcnz

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Ultimate Geek

#399946 4-Nov-2010 06:42

Turn on data roaming you may be in a area where you roam on Vodafone.

Linuxluver

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#399967 4-Nov-2010 08:25

ThierryHenry: Thanks Linuxluver, got the music working with Meridian...
Just one more thing, should I be able to access the internet if I havnt purchased a data pack? Im on 2Degrees and have plenty of prepay credit but I havnt bought a data pack
I cant even load marketplace

You need to set up the APNs in your phone.

From the main screen:

Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks (It's toward the bottom) -> Access Point Names

Then create two APNs. The details you put in each for 2Degrees are the "sticky" post at the very top of this Android forum.

Key concept to get your head around: Pressing the "Menu" button will give you the options available to you in the screen or app you're looking at. It's called "context", if you don't know. So when you get to a page or screen and don't know what to do, try pressing "Menu"...and anything you can do (or access to sub-menus will then appear on the screen at the bottom. I say this because the APN screen is just blank and you need to press Menu to create an APN - and to save it when done. Or delete it.

I bought a $20 1GB data pack. If you don't buy a data pack I think you default to 50 cents / MB - which is $500 / 1 GB. (I may be wrong there....but data is definitely more expensive if casual).

Get a datapack. You just txt "BUY 1GB" to 233 and they take the cash off your credit. The data lasts 30 days, so make sure you use it. :-)

(3GB is $50)

Also check the 2Degrees broadband coverage areas on their web site. It's pretty much AK, WN, CH & DN. Anywhere else and you're on Vodafone (through 2Degrees). APN info doesn't alter. But you want to be on a National Data pack.

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Linuxluver

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#399977 4-Nov-2010 08:42

ruderger:
jonherries:

Can run skype (plus wifi is sweet) - be good to know the performance

Does it really run Skype? that's awesome, I thought Skype need a higher screen res?

I wasn't able to see Skype in the Market, but sideloaded the Skype APK from an AppMonster backup of the app installed on my other phone. It seems to have installed OK. I haven't tried to use it yet. Skype's web site just says it needs Android v2.1....nothing else. No mention of ARMv6 or 7.

UPDATE: Skype installs OK and logs in OK. It lists the people online. It can list various groups. But if you try to actually use it for IM or calls it Force Closes, restarts and re-logs in (if you set it to auto-login).
So...I can check status of people on Skype, but can't actually contact anyone by text or voice. I've tried it only on 2Degrees 3G. I've tried wifi, too. No good. Maybe the small screen size isn't supported by the calling dialog screen.

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kyhwana2

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#399978 4-Nov-2010 08:49

pritishd:
kyhwana2: Picked up one of these from dickies, it's at home charging now. When I get home it'll be getting a custom ROM. ;)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=741643

Just a heads up, wifi Does not work on that.

I installed Celestial Teapot. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=802893

Hmm, you're right, except I couldn't get wifi working on CT either.. Is there any custom firmware with working wifi?

pritishd

28 posts

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#399986 4-Nov-2010 09:02

Hmm, you're right, except I couldn't get wifi working on CT either.. Is there any custom firmware with working wifi?

not really sure why. Works fine for me. Maybe post in the XDA thread or PM the developer

kyhwana2

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#400004 4-Nov-2010 09:40

rez: Anyone know if the DSE $175 deal comes with the $200 vodafone credit offer?

Nope, it doesn't. Didn't see anything in the box about it either.

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