Windows Phone Italy

Samsung Epix owners got a wonderful little surprise the other day -  A full blown ROM upgrade that is supposed to address all of their problems.

Did it?  Let’s take a look...

As I’ve covered in my column the last couple of weeks, (and has been covered extensively in AT&T’s Samsung Forum, I’ve had a great deal of trouble with my Samsung Epix on the AT&T network here in the States.  It’s been so bad, in fact, that I was able to swap out my Epix for a Samsung Propel Pro, also on the AT&T network.

“Samsung has released a software update for the Samsung EPIX (i907) which is recommended to be installed.  This update includes software improvements and additions.  The software update contains several patches that addresses or implement new functions.
To obtain additional information, please click here.”

Epix users will want to download this and install it ASAP, as this will likely be the LAST update from Samsung for this device.  It is supposed to resolve all known issues, including the device’s Unresponsive Power Button, and includes the Fix for Samsung Epix Notification Errors, as well as the aforementioned SLOG Dump.

There are a couple of gotcha’s though:

1. If possible, don’t use the Vista compatible update. Upgrade the device on an XP machine. There have been a number of problems reported in the forum in a well followed SLOG Dump thread regarding the performance of the Vista ROM upgrade (interested readers should start checking things out on page 30 (or so) of the thread...).  The Vista file craps out when it goes to upgrade the radio ROM (the most important piece of the ROM upgrade, in my opinion).
2. Plug your phone directly into your PC’s USB port, and NOT into a USB hub. I don’t know why, but it ALWAYS seems to make a difference. The USB signal seems to be somewhat degraded through a hub.
3. Many users have upgraded their Epix and have reported back that things are going well. I am urging caution.  The radio problems that culminated with a SLOG dump accumulated over time. A quick ROM update and a quick call or two (or even a couple of hours of “close” observation aren’t going to be enough to call the issue resolved. It’s going to take a while (weeks, if not longer) of use and observation before you’re going to have enough mileage on the phone, post ROM upgrade, before you’re going to be able to be certain the issue is gone. 

Most Epix reviews, mine included praised the Epix and the short amount of use it got in the review. It wasn’t until a month or so POST review that everyone started having issues.

If you’re an Epix user, download the ROM upgrade. Install it on an XP 32bit PC, and then let it bake in for a couple of weeks, THEN let us know how things are. If things go the way I hope, then all should be well.

I jumped ship a couple of days before the ROM upgrade came out and traded mine in for a Samsung Propel Pro. I’m happy for now...as long as it continues to work as it did out of the box.