yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
I got some full dump of every /dev/block/bml* partitions from a friend who owns a SGS too.

I will compare them with dump from my device. This way I will probably be able to find where the ServiceMode Audio settings got recorded, and restore them to the defaults.

Right now my SGS is perfect from an audio standpoint (EQ Fixed, lower AMP gain => lower noise floor) but I can't help you anymore.

I hope I will revert back to the default settings everyone have.

Because being stuck without understanding what append is not fun :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] medimel:
hi supercurio

im back with a completely virgin phone.

full reset wiped.

got a procedure to test settings :

set change test change and back default value for each settings

to not mix results with hazardous tweaks nd hazardous results

goals :

- remove auto eq

- auto dynamic volume compression

(users note volume fluctuations (me too with some files low freq dynamic compression)

- found nominal gain to exploit chip in its own range to retrieve the 100db DR to avoid noise nd keep full dynamic

- find phone speaker compression settings to adjust volume and get less distortion

Hope ur work to save settings will be done soon
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] android53:
Does anyone else get audio artefacts when using the screen with music in the background? I'm getting something bad like static when I touch the screen. Only noticed it with headphones not ear phones
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] furstrated:
used to have that on jp3. music volume via headset is lower too in jp3. jg5/jm2 volume level 8 is equivalent to volume level 10 in jp3. i went back to jg5 after playing around with jp3.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Hi medimel !

How did you do the wipe ?

I agree on the procedure (but this is silly slow)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
With USB plugged into computer or monitor Hub yes.

No noise with the AC Charger or on battery.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Hey guys, if you're rooted, can you describe the content of your /efs directory ?

here is mine :

# ls -l -a -R /efs

/efs:
drwxrwxrwx root root 2009-12-31 23:00 .android
-rwxr-xr-x radio radio 2097152 2010-08-03 01:57 nv_data.bin
-rw-rw-rw- radio radio 15 2010-07-27 23:45 .imei
drwxrwxrwx radio radio 1999-12-31 23:03 imei
-rwxr-xr-x radio radio 32 2010-07-27 23:43 .nv_data.bak.md5
-rwxr-xr-x radio radio 2097152 2010-07-27 23:43 .nv_data.bak
-rwxr-xr-x radio radio 32 2010-08-03 01:57 nv_data.bin.md5
-rw-rw-rw- radio radio 1 2010-07-22 23:05 .nv_state

/efs/.android:

/efs/imei:
-rw-rw-rw- radio radio 3 2010-07-30 18:43 mps_code.dat
-rw-rw-rw- radio radio 23 2010-06-25 03:58 bt.txt
-rw-rw-rw- radio radio 17 1999-12-31 23:03 .nvmac.info

command (as root)

ls -l -a -R /efs

Critic informations are stored in these files.

nv_data.bin contains the IMEI in encrypted form, decoded by the radio firmware at boot.

It contains many other device-specific data (if not every)... and maybe, audio settings too.

Thanks !
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] studiominal:
HELP from Korea

I'm a Korean user of galaxy s (m110 not i9000) and I've been feeling that something unpleasant happens when I listen to music with my Sennheiser omx95

earphone especially when I set the stock EQ to get me more bass.

It feels like a bunch of part of the music is being clipped away or the output from some frequency is constantly changed that it almost waves in my ears :(

I switched to the stock earset provided by samsung and it was OK, of course sound quality wasn't satisfactory though.

Is it because the impedance of my earphone is too high for the device? (64ohms)

Anyway, I also tried the service mode you've let me know *#*#17...whatever :)

But you know, the service mode of domestic model(m110) quite differs from that of others. What I only see about 'audio' in the service mode follows as below.

AUDIO

[1] HANDSET

[2] HEADSET -> TX Value, RX Value, NS Mode, EC Mode, Rebuild Handset value

[3] SPEAKER

[4] BT HEADSET

[5] REBUILD ALL

Now that I feel like I have to alter some values in [2] HEADSET (especially RX), I've got to know what RX value exactly does about music playback.

If you guys have the same menu like mine, please let me know. :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Bhonka:
I have the same. How to decrypt the file?

I have also noticed that JM2 volume is significantly lower than JG5.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Don't know yet how to decrypt this file.

I see that you have a .nv_data.bak too. Did you do something special at 21 jun 14h ?

About JM2 and the volume lowered :

Is the higher volume restored if you downgrade to JG5 ?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Bhonka:
Can't be from June since I only bought the phone in July. Unless the time was wrong at some point in time.

I flashed it to JM2 a few days ago.

Have not tried flashing back to JG5 as this JM2 is really stable and fast.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] furstrated:
jp3 volume is lower than jg5 too, jg5 level 8 volume is about level 10 in jp3
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Adevem:
thank you!

ohhhh. so that's the problem. earlier today I was plugging my headphones into the jack and was wondering why the sound is still getting out through the speaker.

i then went home, and tried the headphones that came with the boxset. well that worked but i noticed a 3rd stripe on the jack. i gave up all hopes of ever plugging any headphones into the phone anymore, as i'm not bothered to carry 2 sets of earpieces/headphones around.

i then CHANCED upon your thread, thank you so much man. it fixed it :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] medimel:
Hi supercurio

The only way to retrieve virgin phone i found is to :

- do a factory reset with ur current fw by tap *2767*3855#

- when flash with odin repartition enabled (if u done mimocan fix u have to reformat or delete sdcard ext 4 partition to nt retrieve old app)

- redo full reset *2767*3855#

- and then u got a virgin phone

Cant do my test cause of viruses on my computer.

Tell u when found something interesting...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] ^Sbk79^:
So, I'm not alone :D. I just stopped using the equalizer... it sounded like being closed in a (rotating) washing machine!

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=7462300&postcount=136
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] nickporwal:
I think they have lowered the volume because there are laws in some of the countries about the level of sound.i might be wrong.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] major_daz:
Does anyone here use stereo bluetooth? I'm having the same issue where there is alot of background noise when there is no music playing... then after about 3 secs it go to silent.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Hello studiominal from Samsung's home country :)

EQs in Samsung's music player alter frequency response and apply dynamic dynamic compression to avoid saturation, this is why you hear some strange volume variation.

Most actual music productions are already heavily (too much!) compressed to sound as loud as possible. Adding anther level of compression kills the listening experience, especially with headphones.

I belive that this is what you feel here ;)

=> this is not related to your hardware nor its impedance.

This menu looks like what you found on older Samsung devices, Spica is an example, with "REBUILD ALL" in the end.

I really did not expect several local Galaxy S variations to have different ServiceMode settings !

Does is means that the hardware differs too ?

You can check in /proc/asound/card1/pcm0p/info .

You can explore this menu and tweak settings if some look like those listed in the EQ Fix.

If you're root, based on what I know right now, I recommend you to backup your /efs directory. ServiceMode settings are probably saved in this directory.

It may help in case you want to reset some modification applied ;)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
cool

Hey Adevem !

Did you just... reboot ?

Output detection seems to be just confused sometime :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
I'll try but I don't think this will have any more effect than one single *2767*3855#.

Why ?

- *2767*3855# clears /data /dbdata /cache /sdcard /sdcard/sd

Flash with repartition writes bootloader & recovery, kernel, initrd, /system, wipes /cache, wipes /dbdata

- and then *2767*3855# does exactly the same as before.

/efs is never cleared −and NEVER should, because you would loose your IMEI−

I'll try anyway after backuping backups ^^ but I don't think it will help getting a "virgin" phone
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
You're right. In France there is a law that limits maximum sound pressure to 100dB.

A bit dumb and hard to get right because every headphone/earphone have different sensitivity levels.

If this measure is done with stock headphones, we get a very low output level here because those provided by Samsung have high sensitivity.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
I guess this is a totally different issue.

There is no analog conversion before your headphones −even if stereo bluetooth use a lossy audio codec to reduce bitrate−

Any noise will come from the audio circuit in the Bluetooth device itself.

After 3s, if goes to power-saving mode, killing any signal & noise.

BTW I have no idea if EQ is applied to Bluetooth output as well. I hope not, it would be so dumb.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Ok I've done this.

Like i thought, it's the same as typing *2767*3855# one time. Nothing special.

Just a user data clear + internal & external SD wipe & format.

But right now I'm pretty confident that EQ settings − like every ServiceMode settings − are stored in /efs/nv_data.bin.

/efs comes from /dev/block/stl3.

Now I can strongly suggest making some backup of the /efs dir before trying to tweak extensively ServiceMode settings.

I could use some nv_data.* too for analysis purposes.

Please be so kind to drop me a message if you're interested in participating, knowing that it contains the sensitive IMEI information.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] android53:
Good news!

Audio quality seems much improved to me in the new african firmware!
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Hey android53 :) Improved how ?

Is this about I9000JPJG8 ?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] android53:
Yep that's the one

With headphones I think its sounding better. And is no longer causing static audio artefacts when I listen to music in the background, jm2 did that
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Interesting, i'll test this.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Adevem:
hey if by reboot you mean, restarting the phone. ye i restarted the phone and it works fine still. but do note that i am using the "Rock" setting in the EQ, though "Default/None" seems to work as well...

so long as it works! lol.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
I found no difference whatsoever in sound performance between XWJM2 and Arabic JPJG8.

RightMark Audio Analyzer results are identical, listening performance the same too.

− in some case you still can hear very light GSM noise −

PS : I found no difference between XWJM2 and JPJG8, beside regional specificities yet.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Quiksilver78:
I made the changes suggested.

Maybe my ears aren't properly trained but I didn't notice much of a difference (Firmware JG5)

I am more concerned over the fact that I am partial to SkullCandy Smokin' Buds earphones that don't work with this phone. I am stuck using Samsung's earphones that do sound like music is trapped in a can.

Would this or something similar allow me to use my own headphones?

Secondly, can the volume be increased as well? I am using the default Samsung player with Volume maxed out and it does sound a bit low, my old Blackberry 9700 produced louder tones than this phone.

Thanks!
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] furstrated:
i use a set of triplefi10 with modded cables to make them compatible, jp3 sound softer than both jm2 and jg5. i couldnt care less about the stock headset , which although good, by stock headset standard, is simply not just good enough. i think the triplefi also has lower impedance than the stock
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
another dead end

Hello mates !

Progresses of the day :

I got a copy of the /efs/ directory from another Galaxy S (thank you JimZ)

After booting with the foreign data ( /efs/.imei, /efs/nv_data.bin ...), the phone got a mock IMEI : 004999010640000.

After being quite afraid, I ran some tests :

Using the nv_data.bin from another −unmodified− Galaxy S is useless for my problem. EQ ServiceMode settings are not stored in /efs !

Hopefully, after restoring the whole /efs directory from a backup, my phone got the good IMEI number again.

This was a really tricky manipulation, and I have no real idea where to look for these damn EQ settings. Where can they be stored ?

furstrated, you were probably right in this message. Do you really think that settings can be stored in the sound chip itself ?

My last move would be to restore /dev/block/bml0!c from the dump of another Galaxy S

It represent a very low level acces to the whole NAND.

Again, this is a very dangerous operation ! :eek:

Guys, what do you think of that ?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Bhonka:
That IMEI issue is here.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=7475679#post7475679
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
Yeah I was aware of it before messing with /efs files ;)

I can would add that 004999010640000 IMEI can appear with valid nv_data.bin in case it don't match the real hardware IMEI.

That's why I strongly recommend a backup of /efs, because if you're IMEI data is lost you have no solution.

A must for everyone playing with Odin.

edit : added a post to the topic about IMEI
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Bhonka:
I was wondering if the stock music player might be able to help us since it has eq settings. Maybe it's communicating with the hardware or applying software EQ?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
You may check if CPU usage varies after applying EQ or/and Effects.

An API for hardware sound effect would be nice,... I wouldn't count on it :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] supercurio:
I did a quick check with CPU locked à 1GHz by another process to get accurate CPU % readings. Playing a mp3 file.

No effect :

/system/bin/mediaserver Cpu Usage : 2.9%

Jazz EQ :

/system/bin/mediaserver Cpu Usage : 6.7%

Musical Clarity Effect :

/system/bin/mediaserver Cpu Usage : 6.7%

Jazz EQ + Musical Clarity Effect :

/system/bin/mediaserver Cpu Usage : 8.5%

Conclusion : Software effects, probably accessible to other apps because integrated into mediaserver, and properly optimized ! (low cpu usage)
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] IntenZeD:
Are there any good game controls that works with the emulators available?
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] xfox:
use the WiMote
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] SquidgyB:
xfox, if you have some way of getting wiimotes working with the Galaxy S, please do share it with us...
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] kenkiller:
please, do share how you managed to do it when no one else has. :D
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] Trezzz:
from what i've heard so far, you cant use the wiimote as it uses the old bluetooth 2, while the sgs uses the newer bluetooth 3

But if you've found a way, do share
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] Insin:
There are a fair few controller threads around identical to this.

The ZeeMote is rumored to work with the SGS and looks like a nice option.

MyMemory.co.uk are selling them for £11.99 but are out of stock.

Some guy on the 'android modaco' forum bought one and is trying it tonight. I cant post a link to the thread but if you Google 'zeemote samsung galaxy s' you should see it in the hits.

Aside from that, you could wait for the new update and see if Samsung have included support in their Froyo release for HID devices so you could use a WiiMote.
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] NZtechfreak:
I'm the guy with one at Modaco, already had it actually. You can get 'em really quite cheaply, finish my night shift in a few hours so will give it a crack then.

I'm really waiting for the cyanogenmod ROM for our Galaxy S (they have announced they are working on it), then I'll be able to use my Datel Bluetooth Wireless Wii Classic Controller for emulators, which is quite a bit better than the Zeemote.
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] Insin:
That would be great. I have tried playing games using the on screen controls but it just doesn't work. Without a physical control to feel my finger keeps drifting into no mans land. And besides, why would you want to obstruct one of the best features of thee phone, why?
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] NZtechfreak:
Confirmed: My Zeemote works with PSX4Droid and GameBoid with the GamePro drivers. Will post a youTube vid after I sleep a bit!
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] NZtechfreak:
Video uploading to youtube now, but going to take a while...
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] NZtechfreak:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8y5Z_Xc7fI
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] OrionTC:
Has anyone tried the bgp100? Looks a bit flimsy but large amount of buttons programmable.

Ps. Wtb wiimote :(
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] Piny12:
I don't wanna know who the **** invented that awkward piece of plastic.
[Galaxy S I9000 Accessories] NZtechfreak:
It should also work with the GamePro drivers.
[General Topics] Tharamis:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128772296

"Another exemption will allow owners of used cell phones to break access controls on their phones in order to switch wireless carriers."
[General Topics] TexUs:
Apple's restrictive obsession finally bit them in the a$$...
[General Topics] monty_boy:
This is fine and dandy indeed, but do you really think the wireless service providers aren't going to throw heaps of lobbyist money to thwart this effort?
[General Topics] Mikey:
All phones in the USA should come sim unlocked prior to buying the phone. Carriers should worry and concentrate on their data supplied and packages.

Not worry about "locking" down cells lure buyers to their company because they sim locked the phone to their network.

USA needs too learn a few more things from Europe.
[General Topics] Hepæstus:
Yes but what about the case of Verizon phones where they don't use SIM cards? would they be required to switch to an "unlockable" phone setup? I'm thinking no, in which case what you may see in the case of other carriers is that their special phones (like iphone) are going to be locked down in the same manner as Verizon, i.e. SIM cardless
[General Topics] TexUs:
It's apparently a done deal.

The DOJ has also launched a probe into the legality of the Apple/ATT deal... Something like 90% of their cases always win. So in other words, when the DOJ launches an investigation against you, you're screwed (they basically have the case built, just not officially).

Like I said earlier, Apple shot themselves in the foot with this one.
[General Topics] apxi84:
the problem si that there still lowed to put these restrictions on in the first place. there should be an option in a menu somewhere that says hey do you want to only user the appstore or would you like to be able to sideload apps. from those ive spoken to over 90% of people don't understand what a root or jailbreak is.
[General Topics] Mikey:
Verizon and have been switching their phones over to sim compatible ;)
[General Topics] Hammerfest:
is there a reason why the MOST IMPORTANT site isnt linked...

https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/07/26

GG KK THX BYE!
[General Topics] newalopez:
But... Warranty? will be void still? I don't see nothing about this.
[General Topics] TexUs:
Ummm... Maybe the NPR article took this out of context.

This seems to mean that the carrier can still lock them, they just can't refuse to unlock them after purchase (IE, after becoming "used").

This is all about copyright... In other words, you bought the device you can do what the hell you want with it and Apple can't sue you.

This doesn't mean the App Store is going away or anything else, it basically just establishes into law that Apple can't hold someone at fault for using a device the way they want to use it.

If you do things to the device that aren't supported, you're still SOL. If you pour anti-freeze into your oil of your vehicle, for instance, Toyota or whomever isn't going to support it if you don't follow their manual.

So yes, they still have every right to void your warranty. However as usual, flashing back to stock firmware will net you warranty terms again obviously.
[General Topics] Gootah:
Hhmmm...

How will this ever be enforced? Will the carriers do in store unlocks for "used" phones? Can me and a friend buy phones, sell it to each other for $1 and get them unlocked on the spot!?

...this is gonna be CHAOS! lol
[General Topics] TexUs:
No it won't be chaos... It really doesn't change much. Instead of doing it after 180 days they're required to as soon as it's "used" (I guess as soon as you buy it??). It also establishes more of a no-questions-asked policy versus having to tell them you travel internationally or something.

The main gist of this thing was aimed at Apple, this just happened to be a side affect.
[General Topics] bootk:
Well at least here in my country (Portugal), new law was approved this month, now carriers must unlock all phones for free at the end of the contracts.
[General Topics] gbhartia:
In my opinion there are two sides to it :

1) If the Service Provider (Sprint, AT&T etc.) gives a subsidy or discount as part of the contract, they should be allowed to network lock the phones since the consumer has not paid the full price of the phone and not fulfilled the contract. However, with the completion of the contract, the service provider should unlock the phone for free.(I am only talking abt the network lock here)

2) If the consumer has paid the full amount, then the phones should come unlocked.

As far as 'Jailbreaking' or installing softwares is concerned, the consumer should have the right to do so in any of the above 2 cases since he is the owner/user of the phone. The Manufacturer or Service provider has NO right to lock that portion. However, they should have the right to void warranty as there is a chance that the user may install potetially harmfull sofware on the phone thereby damaging it.

However, if the law comes that people are able to network unlock their phones legally, there is a chance that the service providers might stop subsidising the phones and ask for upfront payment.
[General Topics] rmeneses86:
i highly agree with you! they should work on providing better network, and data coverage i.e. ATT. they do have a fairly big clientele but is there service worth me moving from tmous. i dont think so. my x girl has att and she can barely get coverage in her house and we live in a city you would think got excellent coverage. SAN FRANCISCO!
[General Topics] rmeneses86:
i think they should just phase out with the CDMA phones little by little and start intro'ing with the GSM'. same goes for sprint
[General Topics] hedcayce:
Truth be told, CDMA is a superior technology but that's a debate for a different thread.

As far as Sprint and Verizon are concerned, their phones are just as "unlockable" as GSM handsets. MVNO carriers like Revol wireless and Page Plus live off of old beat up verizon and sprint phones. They simply need to be reflashed. With a little google-ing, it can be done fairly easily.
[General Topics] phatmanxxl:
say goodbye to phone subsidies
[General Topics] greenstuffs:
Great deal. Now it would be a better deal if carriers stop installing crap and bloat that you can't remove or not giving root access to the phone owner which is silly imo, lets see how many are willing to buy a computer without admin rights.