[Review] HiPhone - A clone worth its name

Shoo · 02-27-2008

What Operating system is in the Hiphone. Is the firmware MTK-6226
/

triton · 02-27-2008

@shoo
how can we find out which os or firmware???

sellstar944 · 02-28-2008

Okay...I just got a HiPhone in the mail today... A couple questions at the moment.

A) Is there any way to EASILY adjust the volume?
B) Can you adjust the clock to 12hrs instead of 24hrs? It would be really unfortunate if there was only a 24hr clock.
C) Is there an auto update for the clock? I can't seem to find one! Resetting the date every time the battery dies or you take out the memory card is pretty stupid!
D) Can you adjust the brightness of the backlight? The I32 is MUCH more dim than the P168
E) Can you set a custom tone for messages?

I'm pretty aggarvated that none of these standard settings are available on the I32....

PS) Excellent review so far! However, the videos no longer work...new links??

swiltse · 02-28-2008

@sellstar944
I don't think any of those things are adjustable.

Some other criticisms I have so far:
1) The menus suck... To check messaging one has to go through messaging -> sms -> inbox -> (waiting...).
2) Scrolling through contacts is a nightmare if you have more than a screen full.
3) The default screen you get when composing SMS is the number pad. Why would I want to use the number pad to compose SMS when the on-screen keyboard is much easier to use? Set the keyboard as default!
4) It's very picky about media. Photos below something like 640x480 simply wont display, or scale down to be viewed or anything.
5) No VBR mp3s (about 90% of my collection is ripped or downloaded VBR)
6) .3gp support is hit and miss? Some movies work, others display without audio.
7) The camera is horrible. Looks like 320x240 stretched x2..
8) No games, slow USB transfer, webcam feature is there (sorta..)

I could go on, and on, but I think it suffices to say that the firmware for this phone seems like it was rushed and very poorly made. Back to my n80.

ronson · 02-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by triton

@ronson
where did u buy- cool u do have tech support -get in contact with them agian they should give us the adress etc . . - we flash for ourselves - -softwarebug grrrr-

please try to find out - i´t important for everything

software 3rd party software etc. . . .

I'll try to find an address. I bought the phone from HK eBay seller flytmobile

sellstar944 · 02-28-2008

I just talked to my supplier and the I32 IS getting a firmware update. I don't know how it will be applied just yet.

This could be like the transition from the P168 to the P168+, though I hope it isn't.

Also, they delayed the release of the T32 for another month to add another CPU to it. Apparently the new word on the street is that the T32 will have a Dual CPU processor. Maybe one for the GUI and another for Windows Mobile??

ALSO ALSO.... I heard from the same supplier that the M8 might not feature WiFi, since it's not the wireless standard in China. I guess WiFi is not supported there... But he said they might put it in there "secretly" for international sales. I don't know what that means...so take it with a grain of salt.

nice2know_u · 02-28-2008

sellstar944, Jack Wong confirmed that the M8 will have wifi, but they will hide it with software in China

So no need to worry. Also you can see the wifi chip on this picture.

steverae · 02-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiltse

@sellstar944
I don't think any of those things are adjustable.

Some other criticisms I have so far:
1) The menus suck... To check messaging one has to go through messaging -> sms -> inbox -> (waiting...).
2) Scrolling through contacts is a nightmare if you have more than a screen full.
3) The default screen you get when composing SMS is the number pad. Why would I want to use the number pad to compose SMS when the on-screen keyboard is much easier to use? Set the keyboard as default!
4) It's very picky about media. Photos below something like 640x480 simply wont display, or scale down to be viewed or anything.
5) No VBR mp3s (about 90% of my collection is ripped or downloaded VBR)
6) .3gp support is hit and miss? Some movies work, others display without audio.
7) The camera is horrible. Looks like 320x240 stretched x2..
8) No games, slow USB transfer, webcam feature is there (sorta..)

I could go on, and on, but I think it suffices to say that the firmware for this phone seems like it was rushed and very poorly made. Back to my n80.

Hi, These and more are reasons why i declined ordering a Hiphone and got the real deal... ebay special - no box or out, just the phone and data cable but for the price, i can't complain, i've already unlocked it and am now running on my old t-mobile contract.

A big thanks to tangmu for all his help on saving me from wasting £100+ on one..... as for your english, if i could speak german as good as you speak english i'd be laughing.

sellstar944 · 02-28-2008

Found another crappy problem. You can only save numbers with like 10 characters for the person's name. How idiotic is that??

swiltse · 02-29-2008

That's funny, I just did the same and bought a new 4gb iphone (just the phone) for 350$ to replace this! Haven't got mine yet but will be unlocking it and using w/ t-mobile!