yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
[UPDATE 11.10.2012]

Here is a new Report Sheet where everyone with a Serial xx26 and higher can report his FULL serial and Contact Details.

IMPORTANT: This Sheet can only be accessed by me (the Results page) and is only used to be forwarded to HTC. I kindly ask you to leave contact details for the sole purpose of possible further questions. Your data will remain with me and there will be no abuse.

Thank you.

LINK: http://goo.gl/5gAR8

What do we do that for? I am currently talking with another HTC Digital Consumer Communications Manager for the EMEA region and he is trying to find out about the new devices. If it is a lot of them, HTC wants to fix that in time. To be able to do so, they need to know as early as possible. So, your help is greatly appreciated and in the end, will help all. Thanks.
[HTC One S] captaineasychord:
Here's what I have been told by HTC this morning, having got my One S back from repair last week, but still having the home button problem:

"It's always our aim to ensure that our customers' issues are resolved first

time and I'm sorry that this has not happened in your case.

This was a fault that the HTC One S was having with some networks and it should of been resolved in the last update that was released and I apologies that it was not resolved.

I am going to contact the technical escalation team and see if I can find out why you are still having this issue.

I will be in contact as soon as I have some information for you."

I've found that setting my phone to "WCDMA only" prevents the problem. This means I get a bit of a worse signal, and seems to drain the battery faster, but at least it's a workaround until they come back with an answer. From what they've said about "some networks" I did some experimenting. At my work desk (where the problem is worst) I've also found that it doesn't happen with a giffgaff SIM, unless I set it to GSM only. So moving to giffgaff could also be a part solution but as I'm in a contract it would mean paying twice for my coverage and losing my number.

It's most definitely the GSM signal interfering with the button when the signal is low. Whether that's a hardware or software fault is moot, although I reckon it's probably hardware.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
WCDMA only is not even an option to consider for many. I myself hardly ever find WCDMA networks available unless i go to town. The small village i live in hasn't gotten 3G coverage from O2. I am thinking of changing my provider for two reasons since a while now: number one being the hope to escape the home button problem, number two being the coverage, which is just utter sh1t from O2. Also their pricing is rather outrageous compared to all the others.

[EDIT]

So, Gibarian, where are we standing now? Are you going to show us the way to the newspapers?

1.) Fact is, the rating campaign isn't going very well without constant motivation and,

2.) Some newspapers have already picked up on it (CHIP.de), so Phase 2 launchend itself? An open letter to all the others is about time and ideally be done from multiple users

You had been insisting on being in control on the progress. You need to show up here then and tell us when it is about time. Also we could begin to formulate this open letter here and pass it around so people can make their annotations and suggestions before we send it off. Other people could collect email-adresses from all the papers out there.

I would be particularly interested in covering other languages than just English, German and French.

While we are making good progress on the other thread (a new HTC rep turned up and is in touch with me now to find out about the phone quality problems) it seems like this thread is dying off somehow?

[EDIT 2]

My Device is back from repair with Arvato Services Solutions GmbH since a week, the problem is worse than ever (See here: http://youtu.be/kvPOZsk9I_I) and Mr. Willis has offered me a new device now - finally-

Things are moving too slow and Mr. Willis says this is because of problems for HTC to track, identify and analyze problems. Nothing new. He says HTC is fixing this problem (internal data flow, contact to consumers) too but since that involves adjusting of many company parts it is gonna take a while - we are waiting.

Can we not speed up the process by urging HTC to get moving? I think people that have been dealing with the issue since 6 month (for me it now is nearly 5 month) just deserve an uncommented exchange. Just straight away without ANY comment/question.

Can we not get this moving on? Where is the Boss? Gibarian? Did you now give up? Big words at the beginning and now nothing? What is happening? Do you want me to take this over? I can run this campaign no problem! I can talk to people and get help and get them moving. You are leaving a bad impression of yourself here mate. I really want to have this moving forward now!

This was supposed to be the parallel project to my thing with the technical side and the contact to HTC. Your non-presence here is about to ruin it all!
[HTC One S] Porkins:
Logged a review with HTC directly but I doubt they will publish it.

---------- Post added at 04:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------

In the UK I am now seriously thinking of taking my phone back and demanding my money back using my Statutory Rights "Unfit for purpose"; 6 months is a joke and I constantly get this issue as soon as the signal strength is low. The way HTC is handling this is going to make me a Samsung customer in the future. It is an utter disgrace and HTC should be ashamed.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Hey porkins,

i saw you reported to my new sheet. That was meant for the higher serials only, xx26 and up.

I deleted your entryt there. If you don't mind, please report to the old sheet in my signature. Thanks.
[HTC One S] Nexoez:
Hello!

Next semester I start developing for Mobile Devices at school. As for now, I'm a relatively happy iPhone user, but it lacks "openness". Also i think Android is a far better platform to get started with developing. I am pretty new at the Android scene, that's what I try to say.

For my studies, I'm planning to buy a new Android phone.. The first eye-catcher was the One-S! It has a nice big screen, it's thin, has a nice camera.. All the sensors that we are going to use in programming.. (Accelerometer, GPS...). The price is also very reasonable for what the device has to offer! As I always do a bit of research on devices I'm potentially buying, i stumbled upon Sneakyghosts and this thread. The Helicoptering issue/bug looks like a nightmare for each user. You don't expect something like that from a device you've paid good money for.

As I read in this forum, people are convinced it's a hardware bug? Do you guys think it's worth waiting for HTC to fix it? I also looked at other potentially devices.. But none of them really 'matches' the One-S. The HTC One X.. (but i'm not really sure if it's to big for me..) the Sony Xperia S.. But the back cover feels a bit 'cheap' or the Samsung galaxy S2.. (I think it's a nice device, but i'm not fond of the design..)

Anyone good advice? Would it be worth waiting untill end of November? Or should I go for another device?

Your help is much appreciated!

Greetings
[HTC One S] usaff22:
I personally think it's an excellent device. If you have the home button proble, you should take it to HTC but many people don't have this issue.
[HTC One S] Nexoez:
I just find this weird.. Some have it, some not.. As I started to think al the One-S devices have troubles with it..
[HTC One S] gibarian:
Hi Sneaky,

I apologize for my long "leave of absence", but I have unfortunately been completely out for the past few weeks, due to some health issues. To make matters worse, my work has been stacking up so I now have to catch up big time. And, of course, we now get many demands (which is good business-wise, and yet exhausting) which means that I'm extremely busy right now...

Regarding this little campaign of ours, I was hoping that people would deliver the message on other forums to gather more "voices". Some people did, and that's great, but when I look at the spreadsheet, I feel that scores could be better. I wonder if people just don't know about this action, or if they indeed do know about it but just, for whatever reason, don't join in (or fill out the spreadsheet)...

Anyway, our action has not gone unnoticed as we get echoes here or on other forums, and that's a great thing.

I agree that waiting any longer to get more adherents will probably not be as fruitful as expected, especially since I will not be able to post around a lot in the coming weeks. Of course, if other people who are just as annoyed by this issue as we are were to take over, that would be nice... But I guess those who are willing to help already did so, and the others are mostly just bystanders...

That being said, I fully agree to your plan to move on and take it to the media now. Maybe people can start posting drafts of the letter that will be sent by all in the coming days...

It needs to be a common action I think, again to show this to be a common action. I am curious to see how many people will actually post drafts :)

I myself will try to work on it this weekend, but I do not promise anything. Anyway, I also want others to join in and express themselves here. This is to be a team effort.

ps: as I will be very busy in the coming weeks, your offer to help out (and you already did so a lot) is very much appreciated. :) I'll do my best to keep up, but I might be less active now. Again, sorry about that. And no, I'm not letting you out there to dry ;)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Hey mate thanks for coming back! I was really thinking you gave it all up! I was already getting angry even!

I can do a letter for us all if you guys wish. I would then post it here and people could leave some remarks if they wish and a week later we could send it off to every tech- and lifestyle- paper we find.

Cheers mate!
[HTC One S] LibertyMonger:
I don't think any of us on the Cincinnati bell network here in Cincinnati Ohio U.S. have this issue. This phone is their top phone they are still pushing. My family all have one, four of us. No sign of any home button issue. I did see my niece's camera go black once.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
It's not weird at all. In fact, a hardware fault in some devices is much better than a software fault because it means chances, that all devices have it are a lot smaller.

Hardware faults are usually limited to flawed production processes and the like and that means its always just some batches.

If you look at the spreadsheet you get a very clear idea about what is going on already now! It is most obviously centered around the march/april devices and getting a lot less afterwards. So the longer you wait, the better your chances to get one with a higher serial and less problems.

It is a very good device and i totally recommend buying it. Since you found us here you will also get the help you need if Mr. Willis keeps his promise.

He said he is working off the list now and that means people will get the help they need at some point.

The only bothersome fact here is this: Support is totally not up-to-date and the whole story is a pain to go through. Other than that HTC is totally willing to help you and if your troubles are getting too serious i can always try to put you through to Mr. Willis to get a more direct approach.

So, yes, please buy this fine piece of kit. Never would i prefer a samsung over this... hahaha...
[HTC One S] opiswahn:
Second that. I also hat the HomeScreen-Bug, but nonetheless, i bought another one on ebay for my wife, because even it has its flaws, it is a extremly fine pice of hardware. I had luck though, the second devise is a xx26 and showed no signs of the bug yet.

If i needed a third device i'd still buy another OneS instead of anything other!!!!!
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Thanks @Terrorcrew from android-hilfe.de for sharing this link:

http://www.chip.de/news/HTC-One-S-Probleme-Neues-vom-Pannenkoenig_57834622.html

CHIP.de is not letting go of the Bugs in the One S. They bug HTC for it but HTC is backing off and trying to avoid personal confrontation. There is some more HTC Citations in there though.

Comment:

most interesting part in my opinion is, that chip noticed that HTC is quite shy of communicating with customers directly. There is still no public apology or any statement towards the Home Button Issue or any of the other issues...
[HTC One S] zoesdad70:
I feel your pain Sneaky, really I do.

I've been in contact with Richard today and have been basically been told that HTC will take as long as they need to take before telling anyone about this problem. Meanwhile everyone's phones are getting old, airtime contracts go unused or partially used and patience runs out.

Rather than give negative reviews on site, I think the time has come to use social networking to highlight this issue. HTC have several Facebook pages and are probably on G+ too. If anyone is a journalist, or is friendly with one, perhaps a story or two in the media, even the online media, would raise awareness. They've been quiet for the last six months, the One S is still on sale and no permanent fix has been found that will remedy every handset. Poor show.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Poor support.

The more I think of it, the more obvious it is: the issue is really only hitting a minority, hence HTC is not taking it that serious.

What seriously bothers me is rather that we could have had an easy replacement and HTC have their peace and we would have peace too.

Since its not a big number of phones it would have been the most effective strategy to replace rather than fussing about like this for half a year.

God if I think of this it makes me so sick. Even if it was 60.000 phones not 600 it would still be manageable.

My phone is getting worse every day now again. Again been like 3 or 4 days before it began again...

[EDIT]

I am expecting another answer from Richard Willis. I have told him about our little thread here as a response to him being very open to me about HTC's intentions and attempts to overcome this problem. I also said that we are holding back with going into the media on a greater scale because we still expect some movement from HTC.

I am currently reluctant to go into more publicity until i can be quite sure that HTC isn't moving.

I recommend to not unfold more activity unless we have good reason.

Richard Willis basically let us know what HTC is doing. This is not much more than we already know:

HTC has successfully solved the MAO issue. HTC is still investigating ways to securly overcome the Home Button Issue. HTC is not aware of a widespread bad reception / call quality issue. HTC will eventually come forward with a public statement but only once they have a secure grip on what is going on.

HTC has decided not to publicly communicate on the issue as long as they have no definite facts.

My Position on this:

I believe I have to look at this as two separate things: the public approach as the one side and the real handling of the problems as the other side.

I can totally understand the company's decision to not go into a public discussion on a matter they have no secured facts on. (This is what CHIP.de was calling "shy" to deal with customers directly)

However, i disagree as i believe it hinders good customer communication and trust-building.

Despite disagreeing, I personally won't encourage further publicity at this time because i doubt it will help users in the short term.

I will however encourage further action if Richard Willis sends the "wrong" signals. This being: if i can read from his comments that HTC is neither intending nor willing to change their general attitude towards their customers in the long run.

Concluding:

For me, this is moving a bit away from the Home Button Issue towards a more general question towards HTC's customer service approach. While i tend to give up on the Home Button Issue resolution i still see a need to fight for better customer relations.
[HTC One S] martinowski:
Well I don't care about "intentions and attempts"... I'm having the problem NOW...

Basically, by not stopping sales, they are accepting the fact that they sell bugged devices. And since that is the case, they have to take responsibility and SOLVE the problem for those few who have the misfortune of getting one of these devices. And this would be a REPLACEMENT!

They can work on the issue in their HQ for as long as they want to, but in the meantime, as long as there is no FIX, replacement is the only way. It would be different if this problem was only just arising... I'd grant them some time to analyze the situation. But since this is old news, and dubious Mr. Willis is looking back at half a year that this problem has not been solved, there are IMMEDIATE STEPS to be taken.

What they are doing right now is a shame... Really... How dare they?!

I could get on and on with this, explaining how my phone is partly unusable, how it costs me money every day that this problem persists, how I cannot even sell the phone because I'm a decent person and I dont lie to people, and how replacing 600+ phones should not be too hard, but in the end, it doesn't matter anyway...
[HTC One S] benno4403:
Ridicilous

HTC should really fix the home button issue / problem that is present! it is driving me crazy and hit me on several one s phones :( not happy with it!

BASTARDS
[HTC One S] sourcez:
I am thinking the same, small claims court is definately on the cards!

Thank you all for this thread, god knows how I missed this the last time round! I've added my phone to the list (I think it's the correct one). I've been having a wonderful time being told repeatedly by HTC support to "wait for the next ota update".....
[HTC One S] stackc:
Hi Lads,

Been following this issue for a while as I have this home button problem as well.

I emailed HTC a couple of months ago and they told me that R&D were aware of the issue and that I should check in again soon.

So about 2 weeks ago I got onto HTC again and they told me that a Fix was released for this and to check for updates. I checked and nothing showed up. Was then told that it can take 45 days to come through OTA.

I might be in the wrong section for this but I am wondering if these OTA updates are added to the custom ROM updates?

Its been about 3 - 4 weeks since this release according to what HTC have told me...
[HTC One S] PulpzillA:
could mean the JB update?
[HTC One S] stackc:
Could be, although bout a month ago, I rooted my phone and installed a JB custom rom but the issue is still there.

I dont know enough about it to be honest, to know what the update will be...

I was thinking of going back to stock rom if I thought that any update wouldnt come through to a custom rom. I dont know what to do now though!!! :confused:
[HTC One S] sourcez:
Well they are insisting I send the phone back to have them repair it. Suppose I have little option other than to buy another to tide me over for the week or more that they have it.
[HTC One S] stackc:
Thats strange. I wonder if HTC are telling me fibs!!! This is what I got from HTC...

"I'm sorry that your phone is not showing any updates. Due to localization, testing, and partner approvals, updates do not roll out to all devices at the same time. For devices on a wide variety of carriers and in many countries, roll outs can take up to 45 days from the initial update to reach everyone.

If your phone has not received the update after the 45-day period, navigate to Settings>About>Software Updates to have your device manually check for updates. If your device still does not show an update, please contact customer support.

I must make you aware that it does not normally take up to 45 days for the update to be sent to you this is just a worst case scenario.

Regarding your question on manually updating the phone I'm sorry to say that this would not be possible as all Android updates are sent out OTA (Over The Air)."
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Well mate what makes you believe that an OTA would be sent out to custom firmwares? Those have been altered and are thus named "custom". HTC does neither like nor support those. So why and how should they release OTA's for custom ROM's?

There is a slight flaw in your logic. Think about it. You will know whether or not to expect an OTA from HTC while running custom firmware...
[HTC One S] stackc:
Not sure what flaw you are referring to... I asked if the OTA updates are

added

to the custom rom updates. I never thought that an OTA would be sent out directly to a custom firmware.

Anyway, this may be of interest to some people. I had rooted my phone with a custom rom in the hope that it would solve the home button issue. It didnt. So I decided to go back and put the latest RUU (HTC Europe) on the phone. That was Saturday and the issue has not reoccurred since then!

It was only 3 days ago but this home button issue was occurring multiple times every day so hopefully it is gone for good! :good:
[HTC One S] sourcez:
I'd already been through all the hard resets etc and simply said I wasn't happy that my phone was unusable quite frequently. They replied with:

"The next step HTC can recommend is booking the device into repair, of which we can then update the device for you that will resolve this fault. I do apologise for this as it is not ideal but if you wish to proceed, please see my steps below."

So unfortunately it's going back to HTC.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Then i am truly sorry mate. I totally misread your post then.

Of course those OTA's are added to (i only know for sure about Viper One S) the custom ROM's but usually only if a RUU becomes available because those OTA updates cannot be extracted - they only contain diff code and are merged into the existing system. They don't contain full stuff that could be used. There's a way to dump an updated firmware to disk and then use that as a base but some devs consider that a dirty way and prefer to wait for a RUU from HTC. Mostly, they'd choose that way only if the RUU doesn't become available.

But take Viper for instance. It is running based on the current 2.31 international Firmware. Then take Zarboz latest Kernel. It is based on HTC's 2.38 Kernel, which is nearly the latest. It was released to Vodafone only. Now there is a 2.40 Kernel which had been released to Bell Mobile in Canada. That didn't make a good combination with the 2.31 firmware so Zarboz put it aside again.

Get the idea? Components are used the way they fit best and give the best results to the user. You can be dead sure Viper runs a hell of a lot better than the stock Firmware. The only serious flaw i know about is, that with the 2.38 Kernel and the Camera from Viper you get distorted sound on video captures. Use the viper stock kernel (2.31 kernel) and its gone.

And regarding your gone home button issue: chances are, you will get disappointed. The chance to solve it with a RUU flash is at maybe 5% against 95% of users coming back whining after any period of a few hours to up to 3 month (that was the latest someone came back).
[HTC One S] stackc:
Ok, thanks for that. That makes perfect sense. Just checked there and the RUU version I downloaded and have running is 2.31 as well.

Up to now, this issue has not reoccurred but what you are saying makes sense about it coming back. I guess I'll just work away until I have an issue. If and when that happens, the latest roms out there might include this update that HTC told me that have released (about 6 weeks ago now).

Thanks again and I'll post any developments...
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Sorry to say but HTC is just full of $h¡t when it comes to their supposed fix. There's no such thing. No-one has had it fixed in software apart from a lucky few.

Sent from a phone