Dell Axim X51/X51v A05 and A06 ROM Updates Released

[Darius Wey]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20051121-X51v.jpg" /><br /><br />Dell has just released a new set of ROM updates for the Axim X51/X51v series. Both A05 for the X51 and A06 for the X51v, while named differently, add similar Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 1.1 enhancements, further to the addition of AKU 1.1 from the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44502">A04 ROM update released back in November</a>. In case you're wondering, these ROM updates will not enable Bluetooth stereo headset support as that's a feature included in AKU 2.0, not AKU 1.1. I guess we'll have to wait a little while for Dell to release that one (if at all). Anyway, what does A05 and A06 mean for X50/X50v owners who are running Windows Mobile 5.0? Absolutely diddly-squat at this stage. :(<br /><br /><b>Links:</b> <a href="http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=PDA_AXIM_X51&os=PPM&osl=en&deviceid=7638">Axim X51 ROM Update (416MHz and 520MHz) - Version A05</a> / <a href="http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=PDA_AXIM_X51&os=PPM&osl=en&deviceid=7643">Axim X51v ROM Update (624MHz) - Version A06</a>

[piperpilot]

I upgraded from A01 to A06 yesterday. For me, the upgrade has been a disappointment, as I was not experiencing the problems people have been posting about here. Since I got my X51v at Christmas, I have experienced problems with EXTREMELY slow WLAN performance--it takes FOREVER for the device to locate and load a web page that, on my old iPAQ, loaded almost instantaneously. Also, I access my work e-mail over the Internet via Exchange server, yet when I go to open a message, I don't get the message. Rather, I get a blank page with a series of numbers in the upper lefthand corner. If I refresh the page, then I get the message I was trying to open. If I delete the message, I get the same blank screen with numbers in the lefthand corner. I have to refresh in order to get back to my inbox. Very strange. So the ROM update did nothing to solve these two problems.

The A06 update has caused two additional problems for me. First, I run Marsware WeatherPanel on my Today screen. Following A06 upgrade, sometimes my weather icons appear and sometimes they don't. Further, the application used to allow me to manually scroll through the weather forecasts for the three cities that I track. Following A06, I can no longer do this and I have to access my settings for the application via the Today screen settings instead of directly from the Today screen itself. Very frustrating.

The second and more troubling problem caused by A06 is increased RAM memory usage when accessing music in Media Player. I generally have about 27MB of RAM available for applications at any given time. However, when I use Media Player, my available RAM drops to 7.7MB (according to BatteryPack). The RAM usage fluctuates from song-to-song (anywhere between 7MB and 16MB, which is very strange because all the tracks in my library are encoded at the same level. This degree of RAM usage was not the case before the upgrade.

[pivaska]

Have you noticed if the SC or CF cards still disappear at random times? That and sometimes it just won't turn on. I have to do a soft reset. I am at A04.

[piperpilot]

I never had either of those problems running A01 and still don't have those problems at A06.

[iPAUL]

Have you noticed if the SC or CF cards still disappear at random times? That and sometimes it just won't turn on. I have to do a soft reset. I am at A04.

I updated my X51v to A06 yesterday. The upgrade went smoothly but it appears that some/all of the problems still exist.

Since yesterday I have had one instance of the device not turning on when the power button was pressed (needed to soft reset the device to power on). :cry:

I have had no "White Screens of Death" and so far no "vanishing" CompactFlash card.

iPAUL

[pivaska]

Did you have to do a hard reset and if so did you do a backup and then restore?

[Darius Wey]

The A06 update has caused two additional problems for me. First, I run Marsware WeatherPanel on my Today screen. Following A06 upgrade, sometimes my weather icons appear and sometimes they don't. Further, the application used to allow me to manually scroll through the weather forecasts for the three cities that I track. Following A06, I can no longer do this and I have to access my settings for the application via the Today screen settings instead of directly from the Today screen itself. Very frustrating.

How did you install WeatherPanel following the A06 upgrade? Was it a fresh, manual installation, or did you restore from a backup image?

[piperpilot]

You have to do a hard reset following completion of the ROM update and you cannot restore from a backup. You must re-load all applications.

[piperpilot]

How did you install WeatherPanel following the A06 upgrade? Was it a fresh, manual installation, or did you restore from a backup image?

I did a fresh installation from the Marsware website. I thought the problem may have been caused by some hiccup with BatteryPack Pro 2.1 so I did a number of fresh installations, both with BP installed and BP not installed. Each installation, however, produced the same result.

[Darius Wey]

I did a fresh installation from the Marsware website. I thought the problem may have been caused by some hiccup with BatteryPack Pro 2.1 so I did a number of fresh installations, both with BP installed and BP not installed. Each installation, however, produced the same result.

Perhaps your best move would be to (1) ensure you have the latest version of WeatherPanel running, and (2) submit a bug report to MarsWare. It could just be a matter of MarsWare tweaking a bit of code so general compatibility is maintained between WeatherPanel and the updated system files in A06. From an overall perspective, it's easier for a third-party developer to change his/her program than for Microsoft/Dell to modify the entire ROM image.

[gilbertovp]

and (2) submit a bug report to MarsWare. It could just be a matter of MarsWare tweaking a bit of code so general compatibility is maintained between WeatherPanel and the updated system files in A06. From an overall perspective, it's easier for a third-party developer to change his/her program than for Microsoft/Dell to modify the entire ROM image.

Well, I dont think we will get WeatherPanel updates... http://forums.marsware.net/viewtopic.php?t=868

:cry:

[piperpilot]

Wow 8O

Anybody know of any good alternatives to WeatherPanel?

[Darius Wey]

Well, I dont think we will get WeatherPanel updates... http://forums.marsware.net/viewtopic.php?t=868

Er, wow. You learn something new everyday. 8O

Wow 8O

Anybody know of any good alternatives to WeatherPanel?

Normally, I'd have a lengthy list, though some aren't fully compatible with Windows Mobile 5.0 at this stage. So, I'll keep this list to just one:

PocketWeather by SBSH (http://www.sbsh.net/products/pocketweather/)

It's packed with features and works well in Windows Mobile 5.0.

[pivaska]

I have a 51V and use Pocket Weather which has worked flawlessly for me. I track about 6 differnt locations and it was well worth the money. Version 1.2.2 is out and can do landscape, vga etc.

[gilbertovp]

Wow 8O

Anybody know of any good alternatives to WeatherPanel?

I use SBSH PocketWeather... http://www.sbsh.net/products/pocketweather/

[pocketpcadmirer]

Wow 8O

Anybody know of any good alternatives to WeatherPanel?

I use SBSH PocketWeather... http://www.sbsh.net/products/pocketweather/

sbsh would a bit of overkill if you just want to know the weather. I currently use spb pocket weather and it doesnt put a lot of burden on the my magician's cpu

Sunny

[ChrisW]

I'm guessing that most of us haven't gotten around to installing A04 yet. Between the improvements there and the new ones in A06, how compelling is this upgrade?

I'm dreading having to re-install everything, and have been putting it off so far.

Also, any word on the SD-card-must-soft-reset-to-power-on problem? Or the SD-card-drains-battery problems? I suffer from both of these.

[shindullin]

I have the A04 ROM and I have discovered discovered that under both the A01 and the A04 ROM's the CF card sometimes disappears randomly. HOWEVER, under both ROM's when I look at content under Resco Explorer 2003 (still works with my WM5 device) it never disappears and I can always find the CF card. This leads me to believe that the regular file explorer and Word are the problem rather than the ROM and no number of updated ROM's are going to fix the issue. Not unless Dell starts shipping Resco File Explorer free with the new ROM.

[Zidane]

I doubt that it's File Explorer as I use Resco exclusively and that's where I always noticed the problem.

[pivaska]

I have noticed the disappearing CF card with E-Sword and Total Commander as well.

[PetiteFlower]

I wonder what would happen if someone tried to install it on an X50....probably a bricking but if anyone is brave enough to try it, please let me know!

[flooder]

Darius Wey Anyway, what does A05 and A06 mean for X50/X50v owners who are running Windows Mobile 5.0? Absolutely diddly-squat at this stage. :(


So this is the second update for the 51 and none for the 50 w/ WM5. I feel that Dell really pull the wool over our eyes. This is my third Dell product, but I bought it this summer with the free upgrade to WM5 promised. I didn't realize that it was for the first release buggy version only.

[PPCRules]

I didn't realize that it was for the first release buggy version only.
A04 and and A05/A06 are also buggy.

Why would Dell rush to issues user-installed X50 upgrades that will only generate more support calls? Once they have things figured out, I'd expect an X50 version. As it is, Dell is using just the X51(v) owners to do the beta testing on the changes. It's easier than having another model thrown into the mix.

Dell did give X50 owners the WM2003 rollback.

[Muntasser]

dear Dell. Tell the c*ckj0ckeys in the ROM upgrade dept. to fix/ REBUILD the WM5 release on the X50 first. Its utter carp and an embarassment to early adopters everywhere.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Hmm, guess I'll stay with my current X50v build then... :worried:

[Don Tolson]

Comment from muntasser aside, I've been running the WM5 update for X50v now for a couple of months.

It bricked my first X50v, but the replacement unit seems to be holding its own. However, I'm experiencing many of the problems described by the X51v owners, plus a few more --

a) Disappearing CF card -- only fixable with a soft reset.
b) Apparently greatly reduced battery life (without turning on Wi-Fi) -- I'm now having to put it in the charger every night
c) Inability to turn on/no response to power button. Sometimes this is fixed with a soft reset, sometimes needs the cradle and a soft reset
d) Many more 'memory errors' where you need to press the Contacts button to complete another soft reset.
e) Decreased sensitivity/slowness to wi-fi network.
f) Overall slower response initially. It seems to pick up some speed as the memory management settles in.

I'm suffering through this so I can try to be of some help to the Dell engineers, but I can tell you, I've been seriously considering either returning to WM2003 se or putting the Dell aside for a while. It's just not reliable under WM5.

[pivaska]

Either Dell is living on a nother planet and the wifi is not working there either or they are just not reading forums like this and making a quick apology for getting such junk out. I am not installing A06 because there is no reason for me to do it yet. Specificaly I am looking for the fix for the CF card problem as well as the problem with turning on. Unless someone knows of a to die for reason that I should. Does anyone know the Dell email address for the group that is responsible for releasing this rom upgrade?

[rodkar]

I just upgraded the new ROM and is still in the process of re-installing all the programs. My initial feel is that the amount of time it takes to soft-reset is noticeably faster than just before the upgrade. That could be because I still don't have much to load at startup... But I don't recall noticing speed improvement in soft-reset immediately after I had the 04 update though.

[Darius Wey]

sbsh would a bit of overkill if you just want to know the weather. I currently use spb pocket weather and it doesnt put a lot of burden on the my magician's cpu

Be warned. Spb Weather has not yet been updated to fully support Windows Mobile 5.0. While it still works most of the time, it has the tendency to have the odd hiccup or two.

[OSUKid7]

Both A05 for the X51 and A06 for the X51v, while named differently, add similar Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 1.1 enhancements, further to the addition of AKU 1.1 from the A04 ROM update released back in November (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44502). In case you're wondering, these ROM updates will not enable Bluetooth stereo headset support as that's a feature included in AKU 2.0, not AKU 1.1.
So I just upgraded to A04 last weekend, and I'm not looking forward to having to reinstall everything yet again. What, exactly, does this upgrade change? I'm not really sure what AKU 1.1 offers.

[Darius Wey]

So I just upgraded to A04 last weekend, and I'm not looking forward to having to reinstall everything yet again. What, exactly, does this upgrade change? I'm not really sure what AKU 1.1 offers.

The AKUs are like service packs - they patch a few bugs and add a couple of new features (including Bluetooth profiles for devices using the Microsoft stack). Sadly, an AKU revision history doesn't exist, so no consumer will ever know the full list of changes.

With regards to AKU 1.1 and the Axim X51/X51v, I'm guessing the most notable enhancement in A06 is the addition of a couple more Bluetooth profiles. While an OEM might introduce an AKU into a ROM update, it's up to them to select which profiles to enable and disable. I'm guessing A06 opened up a couple extra profiles - nothing more, nothing less.

[OSUKid7]

With regards to AKU 1.1 and the Axim X51/X51v, I'm guessing the most notable enhancement in A06 is the addition of a couple more Bluetooth profiles. While an OEM might introduce an AKU into a ROM update, it's up to them to select which profiles to enable and disable. I'm guessing A06 opened up a couple extra profiles - nothing more, nothing less.
Alright, well I guess I'll upgrade then. I'm definitely missing the larger number of Bluetooth profiles that my iPAQ had. Any idea if the Bluetooth headset profile is supported yet?

[Darius Wey]

Alright, well I guess I'll upgrade then. I'm definitely missing the larger number of Bluetooth profiles that my iPAQ had. Any idea if the Bluetooth headset profile is supported yet?

To my understanding, the hands-free profile hasn't been added yet. Maybe in a future update? :(

[OSUKid7]

To my understanding, the hands-free profile hasn't been added yet. Maybe in a future update? :(
Ah, can't say I didn't expect that...but yeah, hopefully in a future update. :|

[Gomedog]

As far as an alternative weather program, Omega One's Journal Bar (www.omegaone.com/journalbar/default.htm) seems to be working just fine on WM5, granted I'm still on AO1. Kinda pricey - $30, but gives you stocks, news, sports, movies, TV, etc also. Will let you know how it works once I upgrade to AO6.

[shindullin]

Did the A06 update an soft resets are actually SLOWER than before (both A01 and A04 ROMs). CF card is no longer disappearing, although it took a few weeks before the CF card started to disappear on the previous ROMs. So far so good, (knock on wood).

[Gomedog]

Also just did the AO6 update. Omega One's Journal Bar is working fine. Was getting a constant gwes error when loading back my programs, but a couple of soft resets have stopped the errors.