[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] earthling3m:
Why did I buy a Samsung Galaxy Gio? :(

Is the Galaxy Gio a failed Samsung product? Or are all their phones unreliable?

I'm a non-developer, Android newbie, bought my first Android phone (Samsung Galaxy Gio) just weeks ago along with a 16GB SD card. I was previously a Palm, Windows Mobile and Blackberry user. Please remember I'm a non-technical ordinary person, not an expert like all of you.

I thought I was getting a good deal - a cheap 2011 Android phone from a major manufacturer, with a good screen resolution - WRONG!

I love all the apps and customisability of the Android world. But I soon realised that buying this cheap Samsung phone was not a good idea. Battery life sucked, internal phone memory was limited, and firmware upgrade through the horrible Samsung Kies software proved impossible.

But the worst part is the random phone shutdowns any time of day or night. Because of these shutdowns, this Galaxy Gio is the worst phone I've ever used. I wonder if it was a mistake to buy a Samsung product. I'll never throw my money on a Samsung product again. Even the cheapest Nokia is more reliable, because at least I can trust it to not shut down before my morning alarm. It means my 2011 high-tech smartphone is no longer reliable for waking me up reliably, or reminding me of anything at the right time, or even acting as a simple always-on cellphone. I have to take it out of my pocket and keep checking to see if it's on and looking at it just to be able to get calls or reminders.

I might have been better off getting a non-phone tablet for playing with apps and getting a simpler yet reliable phone by another maker. Can't wait to sell this phone and get one by any maker except Samsung. Maybe an iPhone would have been more reliable - though what attracted me to Android was the freedom and customisability - I love to tinker around with my phone like you guys.

Through my own limited newbie research here and elsewhere I managed to use ODIN to upgrade to first the unofficial and then the official 2.3.3 firmware, and then also root the phone. Battery life improved, but I lost the Urdu language keyboards - and THE RANDOM SHUTDOWNS CONTINUE. In fact after this last upgrade to 2.3.3 official, the shutdowns are worse. I tried the recommended solution of setting tghe W-Fi sleep policy to "never" and the phone still shuts down whenever it wants, even when battery power is sufficient.

The only improvement in 2.3.3 is to power management and battery life. Disappointingly, the new ROM doesn't even seem to have the improved Gingerbread keyboard (or is that for HTC only?). I couldn't yet successfully partition the SD card or learn which app to use to move all apps to SD card (I would prefer to move all apps to card).

Am wondering if the unofficial leaked 2.3.3 was more reliable - or maybe I could try the custom ROM Gio Pro 1.1 (if that's the latest).

It's sad that Samsung promises an official firmware upgrade through Kies but I wasted weeks on Kies and it doesn't work. It only once successfully downloaded new firmware but then couldn't update the phone - the flashing failed and doesn't work through Kies now. It's a shame for Samsung to bring out a faulty phone and not offer a proper way to upgrade firmware. Because I had to upgrade myself, I lost the Urdu language keyboard - and all in an effort to have a stable reliable smartphone. Also I heard that the upgrades have a faulty compass.

I don't know if any Gio ROM solves the shutdown issue while also retaining the Urdu / Middle East keyboards/language/customisations. I basically use English but Urdu keyboards and language options are good for occasionally reading/writing Urdu smses for lyrics, etc. (I'm a singer too). I have no idea where if anywhere to get a normal official 2.3.3 or 2.3.4 firmware that has Urdu and is customised for my country and doesnt have a faulty compass (which I believe the custom ROM GioPro has, a faulty compass). Any advice would be welcome. You XDA developer guys are great, thanks for your continued hard work and help. Please remember I'm a newbie and not that technical.