Actually the firmwares are the same when it comes to operation and functionality of the phone. All the fixes being introduced are the same too. Sony Ericsson probably have to cater their phones for different regions, different locality with different language groups, different network operators and their operating conditions and telco contract.

So the hardware platform which is the phone we're talking here and the core firmware is the same. Its just the locality and region that'll decide on different content to be put on the phone, like languages, writing languages, etc. SE probably divides the world market into different regions like APAC, SMEA, etc so they name their firmwares differently to denote the region the phone is supposed to be in. The CDA is the region code assigned for the phone and everytime SEUS detects the phone, it'll look for the CDA to find its region. Then it'll look through a database of firmwares available for the particular region. (If I'm not mistaken).

That'll explain why some of you having Chinese writing capability but when you run SEUS, that capability is lost when you upgraded the firmware. The more permanent fix to this is to change the CDA entirely which only 3rd party flash utility and service like Wotanserver.

I've done it before. Its actually quite safe if you know what you're doing. So I suggest doing some reading and familiarized yourself with the procedures so you would know what to expect. Wotanserver's website do have a well thought of manual of how to go about this. Thank you!

The SIM and USIM card are meant to be backward and forward compatible. As long as the telco side has activated your account to use 3G services, any SIM card will work.

The only difference with the USIM card is UMTS authentication and encryption.

I agree that the frame rate of the video call (hence, how smooth is the video) is dependent on the network strength. At higher network strength, the effective data rate will be higher as well. Clarity however also depends on the network because your image have to be transported to the other side of the call, going through the network. A higher effective data rate will of course guarantee the minimal loss in data.

Assuming that we have the full theoretical data rate, of course phone lens (though I think its minimal) will at some point improve images. The secondary camera at the front of the phone is the usual 330K (up to 640x480) CMOS sensor running at maybe 15fps or lower depending on signal quality. Meaning at each second, the sensor will feed 15x (or lower) 330K images to the phone's transceiver.

On the other hand, the primary camera at the backside of the phone is a Cybershot compliant 3.2MP camera. Thats a 2048x1536 resolution thats maybe 200-300kB of data per frame. At 15fps it'll be enormous. So I doubt thats the case. If the 3.2MP camera is usable for 3G Video Call (I haven't tried this before), its actually sampling images at a smaller resolution, near 330K. There's no special lens here in the K800/810, but I doubt Carl Zeiss lens would do any difference on a phone. One point to note although at IMAGING MODE the K800/810 is able to take pictures at 3.2MP, in VIDEO MODE going through the same lens and same sensor its only outputting video at 320x240@15fps which is way smaller than 3.2MP.

So my point is, do not expect 3.2MP performance and hence a better video call from the backside camera.

Hey there,

Yes, in this case an old SIM card, a pre-GPRS or EDGE one will not work. I'm sorry that I might have overlook his post. But I meant to mention the popular discussion around here with regards to a normal SIM and an USIM. Then again, your explanation holds some truth.

I'm not sure video call is a 0.1MP or a 0.3MP (330K). Maybe I should hit the google for some information. But its definitely not 3.2MP as the impression gives you if you choose to use the primary camera at the backside of the phone. I only care to explain that to the masses.

You got me right at that point that K800/810 only does video at 176x144. I'm sorry about that and I have overlook the specifications, again. But at the same time I did not say K800/810 is using Carl Zeiss lens either. This is what I said:

There's no special lens here in the K800/810, but I doubt Carl Zeiss lens would do any difference on a phone.

I did say K800/810 isn't using any special lens here and still there is no difference in 3G video call image quality. I did doubt that a Nokia comparative model with Carl Zeiss lens would do any better too. Anyway their front cameras aren't Carl Zeiss anyway.

Since we're at the topic of signature lenses, how does the K800/810 camera fair compared to a similar one of Nokia with Carl Zeiss lens, LG with Schneider, etc? Don't get me wrong, K800/810's camera quality is top notch and an industry standard and guess what? Its not using any signature lens. What's important here is in-camera post processing methods and approaches. Methods and approaches with regards to exposure and the many parameters of camera photography. Do remember here that Sony and as a result Sony Ericsson do have experiences with consumer cameras and their recently acquired Konica Minolta's camera division.

Putting signature lenses to the presence of camera phones are a natural thing to do. It gives good impression to the users. DSLR cameras and optical instruments have been exposed to these lenses, why not putting these names to consumer phones, consumer cameras even if they do little improvement? Next we will have signature console gaming on consumer phones.

p/s: Anyway I'm not posting to agree or disagree with you. I just thought I could share. Not hard feelings. :-)

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Added on August 23, 2007, 8:20 amHey wartever,

If you're trying to take an object not close to the camera lens, check that the following is true:

Macro focusing disabled
Scene mode not set to DOCUMENTS. Try AUTO

If you're trying to take an object that is close to the camera lens, check that the following is true:

Macro focusing is enabled OR
Scene mode set to DOCUMENTS.

The K800/810 camera button is a 2-step one. The first one or half-pressing it would do the focusing and further pressing it will take the shot. Before taking a picture, always half-pressing it to focus. Wait for the frame or the crosshair to turn green or wait for the beep to sound. Once that is done, focusing is obtained and you can re-compose the picture. Do not change the distance from your camera to the object, for example moving backward or forward. If you do that, focusing will be lost and you'll have to do it again. Once that is done, take the picture.

If you care on taking photography in low light condition for example night shots. Note that using the flash will always light up the subject but sacrificed the background and hence you see nothing behind it. Thats because using a normal flash would speed up the camera shutter speed and not a lot of light goes through the shutter fast enough. Try using NIGHT LANDSCAPE or comparable and use the flash to light up your subject. That way you'll get good exposure for subject and a little improvement in exposing the background.

If the light is enough to expose your subject, disabling the flash and try using either NIGHT LANDSCAPE or AUTO mode. Disabling the flash will slow down the shutter speed to compensate for light lost. As a result you'll get more light through the lens but at the risk of camera shake.

Hope this helps.

This post has been edited by davidmak: Aug 23 2007, 08:20 AM

Haha. Sorry for being too artistic then. Some do some don't. Point noted and I'll assume your side too. Keep the ego cool and smooth. Cheers!

Yeah, its really not that important now with lithium rechargeable batteries. A good charging system which comprises of a simple controller would be the security guard for you. There are usually a few methods to guard the charge rate and charge time:

1. Temperature - If it exceeds certain temperature the charge system will stop. Some batteries have a characteristic when it is near to full charge, the temperature will suddenly go sky high.
2. Voltage - Some batteries when nearing full charge, the battery voltage will encounter a small but sharp drop.
3. Timer - Maximum time of recharge session

As depicted from a source:

"For li-ion the charging method is constant current - constant voltage (CV-CC). This means charging with constant current until the 4.2V are reached by the cell (or 4,2V x the number of cells connected in series) and continuing with constant voltage until the current drops to zero. The charge time depends on the charge level of the battery and varies from 2-4 hours for full charge. Also Li-Ion cannot fast charge as this will increase their temperature above limits. Charging time increases at lower temperatures"

Manufacturers typically employ the strategy of trickle charging their batteries where the charge rates is high during the first 20-30minutes (thats when the battery is hot) and then slowly lower down to a certain degree. When the battery is near 90% full, it'll lower the charge rate to a minute degree. And it'll keep pumping small amount of energy to constantly trickle charge the battery every now and then until it'll almost full like 99%. Also there's no such thing as 100% charged (not to say its impossible), the meter you see on your phone is just a firmware reading interpretation from the charge IC.

So no worries on keeping your time, just take it easy. Of course at the same time there's no need to leave it there for extended period of time.

reference link:

http://www.electronics-lab.com/articles/Li...ruct/index.html
http://www.nec-tokin.com/english/product/me/tech/index.html

p/s: sorry for the long post again. :-p

Haha, sorry can't help it. Kekekeke

Actually I thought it might solve their problem and questions once and for all so they can be comfortable with their purchase decisions and start enjoying their products earlier. And maybe contribute back to the forum.