FirmwareFirmware Change :R6G04 (Latest) :
~ Calendar Day View now comes in half-hour interval
~ USB charging option and USB Display on connection option is now moved to "more" menu
~ Improved overall speed
~ Much faster camera focusing speed
~ Camera focusing interface now comes with a center square bracket to let you know where you are focusing.
~ Camera focus status icon will not refresh immediately if focusing mode is changed using shortcut key (4).
~ In File Manager, selected file's properties now left 'Read Only', 'Hidden' has been removed.(thanks to karlcheong)
~ Fixed these problem "Arranged software icons inside specific menu would go back to original location if memory stick removed (if the software is installed in memory stick) (thanks to karlcheong)
~ Previously during text entering the three box which show 中 and 英; now has been change to 中 and En (only on chinese firmware, thanks to karlcheong)
~ The black triangle (HW indicator) on center right of the screen on some menu has been change to transparent (only on chinese firmware, thanks to karlcheong)
~ Hand Writing's color now fixed, black color with white outline. Not like last time you get to choose from various colors. (only on chinese firmware, thanks to karlcheong)
R6F41:
~fixed battery meter showing 98% when fully charged
~new camera interface
~improve in overall speed when transition is switched on
~sliding transition effect removed
~writing and indication arrow are now with white borders (doesn't exist in HK/SG chinese firmware though)
~camera green tint reduced as reported by some user
R6E30 :
~ reported improved battery performance by some user
R6D23 :
~Original P1i firmware
How to check your firmware versionGo to Main Menu > More > System information
under the organizer, the last five words is your firmware version (example : R6xxx)
How to update the official firmwareIf you do not have the latest firmware, you can simply use SONY Ericsson Update Service (SEUS) to update the firmware online. To do this, you need the USB cable, P1i with fully charged battery, a PC with SEUS installed and an internet connection. Download SEUS from
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/download/1...up-2.7.12.4.exe. After the installation, just proceed with on screen instruction and it should be relatively easy. Upgrading firmware through SEUS is an official method and is fully covered by warranty in case anything happen during flashing. Take note that upgrading the firmware will
ERASE EVERYTHING inside the phone.
Latest firmware does not released for all region at the same time, if you're eager to get the LATEST firmware once they are released, proceed to read about Generic World CDA and how to hack them below. Chinese firmwareSome of the set doesn't shipped with Chinese firmware and therefore you cant read nor write mandarin character on P1i. If you just need chinese support to read the messages and characters from your files, simply go to the FAQ section below and read the instruction on how to get mandarin character reading by using the font substitution method. If you need a full Chinese support with both reading and input as well, proceed to read about CDA, methods of changing the CDA and finally flashing HK/SG firmware below.
Keep in mind chinese firmware have few differences such as i) no white borders in handwriting system ii) Slower handwriting recognition iii) no anti-aliasing support on fonts iv) have an extra lunar calendar
What is CDA :» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
CDA is a numeric code from SONY Ericsson to differentiate the phone from from each region. Sometime different region has certain different software and region tweaks. The numeric code can be found by going to Main Menu > More > system information and refer to the number after the backslash under CDA line. Commonly known CDA can be found here :
http://uiq3.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/CDA/P1i Why change the CDA :» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
As mentioned above, CDA define which region you are in and thus what kind of firmware you will get.
When a firmware upgrade is available, it first released for Generic World (CDA 1,2 and 3) and later to other region as they need to localize the firmware to different region. Since GW always get the goodies first, altering the CDA to GW would enable you to always get the latest firmware first.
If your phone doesn't come with Chinese input support by default, you can change to i) Singapore Chinese CDA (/95) to get the Singapore firmware which has pinyin and mandarin handwriting input or ii) Hong Kong CDA (/74) to get Hong Kong Chinese firmware that has Pinyin, Stroke and Handwriting as input. You will also get extra Lunar Calendar and Chinese-English/English-Chinese dictionary. The side effect of Chinese firmware is the handwriting recognition doesn't work as fast as the all-english firmware. It is recommended that you do more reading and research about this matter before start messing around with them.
How to flash to GW1 CDA/firmware (Flashing to the real latest firmware spoon feed guide by shufflerz) :» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
01. Download and install XS++ ->
Here02. Download and install SEUS ->
Here03. Start XS++, check 'SMARTPHONE CONNECT', and press 'Connect'.
04. Turn off your phone, remove the battery for 2 seconds, and put it back, and hold on 'C' button, and connect your phone with USB cable.
05. Select 'GDFS', and press 'backup GDFS'.
06. After done, unplug the USB cable.
07. Restart XS++, check 'SMARTPHONE CONNECT', and press 'Connect'.
08. Remove the battery for 2 seconds, and put it back, and hold on 'C' button, and connect your phone with USB cable.
09. Under 'Write Smartphone CDA/Version change', select 'P1i_R9G007_R2A03_R6D23_CDA162022_1(GW1)_R6D22.gdfs', and press 'Run Script'.
10. After done, run SEUS and follow every steps given.
11. Wait
12. Wait
13. Done, unplug the USB cable, remove the battery for 2 seconds, and put it back, and turn on your phone.
14. Wait
15. Wait
16. You should have the latest firmware of installed in your phone already.
p/s/i: For safety, please do not miss any one step, or your phone will explode and half of the Earth will gone.
p/s/ii: FLASH AT YOUR OWN RISK.
How to change to Singapore /95 chinese CDA/firmware» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
i)Download XS++ from
http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?showtopic=16338ii) tick smartphone connect
iii) press connect
iv) turn off your phone, remove and put back the battery, connect the USB cable while holding C button.
v) select GDFS and press backup GDFS
vi) unplug the USB cable
vii) restart XS++ (not necessarily but i found my XS++ to be error without restarting it)
viii) turn off your phone, remove and put back the battery, connect the USB cable while holding C button.
ix) download the "cda95.zip" and unzip it into the text file
cda95.zip ( 222bytes )
Number of downloads: 431x) open XS++ and reconnect the phone as mentioned above
xi) go to GDFS section and load the txt file as script
xii) Run the script
xiii) Disconnect and run SEUS
xiv) Update your phone as usual and voila
How to flash to Hong Kong /74 CDA/firmware :» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
i)Download XS++ from
http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?showtopic=16338ii) tick smartphone connect
iii) press connect
iv) turn off your phone, remove and put back the battery, connect the USB cable while holding C button.
v) select GDFS and press backup GDFS
vi) unplug the USB cable
vii) restart XS++ (not necessarily but i found my XS++ to be error without restarting it)
viii) turn off your phone, remove and put back the battery, connect the USB cable while holding C button.
ix) select the Hong Kong /74 CDA from the drop down menu and execute.
x) disconnect the phone
xi) start SEUS and update the phone
The risk of altering the firmware/CDA through XS++ / Method of resurrection if the phone got bricked : » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
There's always risk when messing around the ROM. General rule of thumb should be DO NOT disconnect USB or power off the pc during the process. All the steps mentioned above should serve as guidelines and you are on your own risk by doing them. Also keep in mind although updating firmware through SEUS is covered under warranty terms but altering the CDA using third party software (XS++) will VOID your warranty.
If you're so unlucky and got your phone bricked, follow the following resurrection steps :
i) Download XS++ from
http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?showtopic=16338ii) Download the P1i Ressurection package here :
http://www.se-nse.net/gbrooks3/XS%2B%2B%20Dev/P1_CCPU.zipii) tick smartphone connect
iii) press connect
iv) connect the USB cable while holding C button.
v) go to flash section
vi) load the zip file under smartphone flashing section, DO NOT UNZIP THE FILE.
vii) tick flash CCPU (remember, ONLY TICK CCPU)
viii) Execute and wait it to finish
ix) you should now proceed to turn on the phone and see if it is resurrected
*Some of the information above is originally posted at www.esato.com kudos to them!
This post has been edited by fx_53_xt: Feb 24 2008, 03:56 PM