Bionic build 5.9.901....Initial impressions......and what we know so far

[Mbk]

It's over guy, glad you like .901.....others do not, including me...and I did run it for several hours, twice, with the same exact results both times....no better camera than .893 OTA, no better responsiveness, longer loadup on reboots, and regular drops from 4G to 3G when it does none on .893 for several days now...

like the one member stated, everyone has different results with every build thusfar, I'm just saying that you cannot automatically say that anyone not getting good results off of .901 must have a defective device or crappy signal is just jumping to conclusions without actual facts...that's all...
anyways, far too much energy on this back and forth...have a good one...I have no ill will towards you. I'll just remember that if you ever do need help I won't be the one to help you out...lol...J/K

 

[nateohio]

Now that we have both voiced our opinions numerous times, can we please get back on topic?

A week later- Still love the 901 build!

 

[Mbk]

I was never off topic.... I initially had poor results on .901 and it did not work well for me..... and my device and signal is not an issue since they work incredibly well on 5.7.893 and OTA 5.5.893.... just something about .901 craps out for me

 

[rdgxray]

I have poor signal at my house. Around -90...with the 9.01 update it seems to have improved to -86 or so. Fewer drops...but still have some at home. Funny thing is I only use 3g. No 4g in my area...only have cdma turned on. So why the drops? Are the 4g/3g radios not as good as the 3g only radios? Drops are supposedly caused when switching from 4g to 3g or wifi, then why do I have drops just using 3g? Everyone gives the 4g phones and verizon a pass because 4g is new. Why does 3g not work right on the 4g phones only using 3g? Should we says the 3g network is new? Are 3g radios new technology? Someone who understands this better than me please post and let me know why this is. Maybe my poor signal causes the drops? Never noticed anything like this happening on my old 3g phone...but I must admit wasn't watching for it like I do now.

 

[nateohio]

My bionic has always been rock solid on CDMA only, regardless of build. When are you getting drops? After phone calls?

Do you have any battery management or battery management apps installed?

 

[MyEntityRemains]

Just my two cents over this debate. for me, the .901 update is awesome. First of all, I've never experienced the data drops (except for Verizon outages) as some others have. My phone overall seems snappier. I've also never experienced the disappearing apps either. I experienced one BSOD, on the .893 update. The only drawback is, and always has been, is the camera. It will always be junk. It is a hardware issue, not a software issue. They can put all the bandaids on it they want, but it will always be crap! With that said, I have a very nice Nikon that I take pictures with. I do not rely on my phone's camera. In summary, I personally like this update and look forward to some more tweaks, either by optimizing .901 or other updates. We are 2-3 updates away from having the Bionic worthy of ICS anyhow.

 

[drice72]

All of my data drops also are occurring in a 3g only area. We don't have wifi here either (I don't have internet at home). I still have data drops with this new update, but nowhere near as many add before. My camera is shower and loses focus as well. other than that out works well. I have yet to experience anything bad using the wifi where I work.

A note on testing ROMS. Some people load a ROM, check that the home screen and other small things are right. Then just run it over a few days to see what shakes out. Some people have a check list they go by. If a ROM performs better or worse, it will show.

After first boot. Check sync on all Tue accounts you plan to sync. Check the home screens to see if everything is set the way you want it. Hit up a few Web sites to see data speed. Then reboot. How long does it take to get back up? Then start up an app that uses really heavy battery, data, and CPU. Like streaming a movie. If you run better, then the ROM, or update will most likely will be a step up. You may need a tweak here our there, but the main core is better. these things can be done and the results seen in just a few hours.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Forum Runner

 

[rdgxray]

It just drops data...not after calls..have no power or data management installed. I have it set to performance mode...because I want it to work all the time...battery has not been an issue. I have noticed with update it does switch faster when I turn wifi on or off. Not instantaneously like others have said. I can press wifi and count to 10 or 20 as it switches. Better than it was but not instantly. I am very happy with update. The word flawless does not describe it imho. I only notice data drop about once a day...not really a huge problem....I remember before 1st update it would drop all day long. It wouldn't connect for hours, now it usually resolves itself in a minute or 2. Last night it dropped and didn't come back after 10 minutes so I turned on wifi. I was planning on returning phone for nexus or rezound before 1st update, but after this 2nd one I am keeping it. Phone is tough, powerful, screen is bright and responsive, data is 98% reliable, it feels good in your hand, easy to operate 1 handed, had it 2 months not one scratch on screen, to many pluses to count...a few minor annoyances that hopefully will improve with updates. I take lots of pictures with the camera and close up family pictures are pretty good. Landscrapes of sunset just lack resolution. I accept this as it just being a phones camera. I would say 90 % of pictures are satisfactory. Oh! And best of all! It works great as a phone! Calls are high quality and reliable. That sells me on the bionic..It is my primary and only phone. I take call (work in medical field) and cannot be unavailable due to a coverage or phone malfunction.

 

[RK KINGKONG]

ok gentlemen my question is im on the 893 OTA update doing fine atm ..... i want to try this upgrade , all i have to do is put the zip file on my SD and flash as i would anything else correct ...? wipe data etc & flash if anything goes wrong i can always just revert to my back up correct ?

also in the future when the official one comes out i should be able to grab that right ? im 4ever rooted deodexed stock official OTA 893

thanking you for your help in advance

 

[rdgxray]

I tried my camera out extensively today. I would say 1 in 20 pictures took a long time to focus. Worked better than I thought it would.


Sent from my A500 using DroidForums

 

[nateohio]

ok gentlemen my question is im on the 893 OTA update doing fine atm ..... i want to try this upgrade , all i have to do is put the zip file on my SD and flash as i would anything else correct ...? wipe data etc & flash if anything goes wrong i can always just revert to my back up correct ?

also in the future when the official one comes out i should be able to grab that right ? im 4ever rooted deodexed stock official OTA 893

thanking you for your help in advance

Not that simple, there is a method to roll back that was developed by the guys at roozwiki and P3Droid developed a one click script for it. Butt I haven't tested it a and my knowledge of it is limited.

Is it as simple as flashing a nandroid backup, no its not. To my knowledge at least. I think a few guys floating around here have done it, MBK being one of them. Maybe ask him for guidance.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums

 

[Snipe_AT]

ok gentlemen my question is im on the 893 OTA update doing fine atm ..... i want to try this upgrade , all i have to do is put the zip file on my SD and flash as i would anything else correct ...? wipe data etc & flash if anything goes wrong i can always just revert to my back up correct ?

also in the future when the official one comes out i should be able to grab that right ? im 4ever rooted deodexed stock official OTA 893

thanking you for your help in advance

Have to be stock(can be 4ever rooted) 5.5.893 and use stock recovery to boot. Not CWM.

I'm not the CEO of Verizon; but, it should be supported because its been pushed OTA.

Sent from my Bionic Beast via Tapatalk

 

[Snipe_AT]

Not that simple, there is a method to roll back that was developed by the guys at roozwiki and P3Droid developed a one click script for it. Butt I haven't tested it a and my knowledge of it is limited.

Is it as simple as flashing a nandroid backup, no its not. To my knowledge at least. I think a few guys floating around here have done it, MBK being one of them. Maybe ask him for guidance.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums

If he's on the .893 OTA he should be able to update via stock recovery. I'm not sure if he being deodexed is going to make a difference. But the worst that could happen is an error and abort.

KINGKONG I'd say you're good to go.

Sent from my Bionic Beast via Tapatalk

 

[Alastrionia]

ok gentlemen my question is im on the 893 OTA update doing fine atm ..... i want to try this upgrade , all i have to do is put the zip file on my SD and flash as i would anything else correct ...? wipe data etc & flash if anything goes wrong i can always just revert to my back up correct ?

also in the future when the official one comes out i should be able to grab that right ? im 4ever rooted deodexed stock official OTA 893

thanking you for your help in advance

given that I've done the entire going back to stock
and to the multiple times I screwed my phone up over this debacle
and finally getting back on track I've got some experience on this

if you run the 901 OTA, you will not be able to just restore your old backup and call it good.
won't work.

as was found with custom ROMs over at rootzwiki, you need certain system/lib files in order to get the radio working with 5.9.901

if you apply the update, don't like it, then restore your old "system" back, you won't have those files in place
and you're phone will not work like it should.

it's a buyer beware situation. the 901 could be a huge increase for you. or it could make things worse for you.

going forward is easy, going back is definitely not so easy (1 click method or long manual method, it's a pain to have to do it)

 

[Alastrionia]

And it's been a bit now since loading 5.9.901 and then loading up Kin3tx with the modified files
and before that being just pure stock / rooted 5.9.901

overall my phone does seem snappier when opening apps, switching tasks, etc. but it also does seem hotter. at least the system info widget I have installed thinks so.
I don't have 4G, don't know when I will. But for 3G and wifi , and even the handoff between them, the difference for me at least
was negligible. some days it works fast, other days it acts like it had a brain fart, lol.

it's a toss up as far as I'm concerned. but that's me and just my evaluation of it.