[Review] HiPhone - A clone worth its name

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

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

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??

@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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

Guys don't buy this phone. I repeat...don't buy the phone.
Got mine in the mail yesterday.

Here is what you did not get from Tangmu's review:
- GPRS does not work on the phone.
- Works on dual band. Something called PCS Band. So if you leive in the US beware.
- No games as advertised( I really don't care about that)
- Phone is limited to 21 characters.
- Unusable Phone book
- You must navigate thru 3 or four steps to do anything
- MP3 player!!! LOL. Song name must be less than 18 characters or it won't show.
- Bluetooth!!! You have to reset everytime
- Bluetooh. Not stereo. You can listen to your music.
- Media Player. Good luck. Does not work.
- Pictures. Don't even bother showing it to anyone. they might sue for eye damage.

- Charger... you have to reset bcos it won't fit your adaptor.

Overall...
I won't sell this phone to my worst enemy.
It is not a phone. the only thing you can do on this hardware is play music if you setting are correct.
-No Email
-No SMS
-No MMS (Won't save your settings)
-Notepad (You can only write a word less than 18 xters)

DON"T BUY. Make these eBay sellers return this prodcut or make it usable.

Originally Posted by swiltse

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!

Can you let me know where you got a phone for that price? Thanks

@all
we do have to get all the infomations about this phone as possible to make it the phone we want it to be ....at least...
so please keep researching with your dealers etc to find out like ronson + sellstar

good work - gives us hope

Originally Posted by barneyroo

Can you let me know where you got a phone for that price? Thanks

eBay! After some searching I found a seller with good feedback who was selling several of these phones with OEM data cables only. It is sad though as when the 4gb iPhone was discontinued it was available on apple.com NEW (including all accessories) for 300$ until they went out of stock.

Make sure you find a good seller and beware of refurbs. Also, don't worry about getting one unlocked as its very easy to do if you put in some time and research it. Very happy with my genuine iPhone so far, and was able to slang my HiPhone on ebay for about the same price I paid for it!

Are there any news about the update?

It's out...but I can't find any videos to compare the new features to the old one. It's hard to believe they fixed EVERY problem. I seriously doubt it...

A new problem: You cannot text someone that is not in your phone book. Can others confirm this?

As I was told the loudspeaker bug is not fixed in v1.1. I also seriously doubt that they fixed every problem.

For updating the the i32 we need the name of the chip, wich is inside (MTK xxxxx) and the pinout of the phone! Can anyone take a pic of the chip?

Hi All, well I got my Hiphone yesterday and have to report I am very disapointed with it! to put things into prospective I have a Ipod touch so I can compare (sort of )the two products.
The ipod is perfect works great very smooth web access is first class in fact I stopped using the main pc at home the ipod is great and suits my needs.
The Hiphone is jerky I am having problems getting it to read my mp3 files I down loaded last night is the first no no and I cannot get the tinternet to work even though the settings are all correct and checked with o2(same as nokia 2650) I was told by the seller and then lets talk about the phone part I cannot see the screen outdoors and the bluetooth(BT) is connected correctly to the car built in BT unit but it will not divert calls to the BT unit???? and I am very good with gadgets and have even read the poor instructions which is rare for me but I cannot make it work.
The buttons are not very responsive compared to the ipod which are 99% perfect but this is a problem I have found today recieving calls and found several hard pushes to get it to accept calls .
the note taking bit I use a lot on theipod touch and the hiphone version is utter pants compared with the ipod the key accuracy is excellent on the ipod but hiphone I have found to touch below the button you want is best but still gets the wrong button time after time and is very frustrating to say the least

Conclusion:
Save your pennys and buy a unlocked Iphone or like me buy the touch which is so superb and a separate small phone or just save up but I cannot recommend the Hiphone do not get me wrong it's ok but not up to the Ipod by a ile more 30% ipod copy than 99% me thinks oh and anyone want to buy a HI phone 1 day old LoL:D

No news about 1.2 firmware update?