Video tutorial: Debranding the Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
Posted by soHD in Firmware, Tips & Tricks, Video, tags: Debrand, Orange
A number of Orange Samsung i8910 Omnia HD users have been looking to try and debrand the phone, to get rid of all the Orange bloatware on the phone. Thankfully, it looks like a working solution has been found – the only negative appears to be is that it will cost you €15 to download the necessary files from share4gsm (a small price to pay considering the price of the phone though).
A site is also up and running called Debrandi8910 which details the step-by-step requirements in which to go about the debranding. Remember, this is only a debranding, it will not unlock your phone and allow it to be used on other networks. However, it will upgrade you to the latest XXIE6 firmware. Once debranded users see the following benefits:
- Phone feels faster and slicker
- Widgets that were missing are now back, including Facebook and Youtube
- BBC i-player comes pre-installed
- Support for Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, Myspace pre-installed
- Anti shake setting in camera now saves ok
The main negative seems to be that the firmware flashes into the Polish language to start with, so you need to remember where to change the language. Also, remember to backup everything before rebranding. Also, this only works in Windows XP and NOT Vista. Check out the debranding video tutorial after the break.
Update: Neil W from Debrandi8910 got in touch to say that it is offering the files needed to debrand the Samsung i8910 HD for just £5.
Thanks madpete!
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Just to let you know we are now offering the files required to deprand your i8910 for just £5.00
One question.
You get Orange Maps free when you get a contract from them, will that still be there?
If not, is it just a case of re-installing it again?
Cheers : )
can you change the language to arabic? or the available firmware is only polish with english support?
When the phone is rebranded you need to re-install any additional apps that you have either installed or orange have installed and you want to use.
Languages, are English, Magyar, Italiano, Polski
thanks Neil for the reply.. i was thinking to buy an Orange branded phone and thought it was easy to change the language like on nokia’s phone by changing the product code id…
now i have to wait till it get released in the ME
Hi Papa,
Depending on the release date, keep your eye on the forums etc, as they might be further firmware releases comming out for the phone which might solve your issue.
goes this site even have its own i8910 HD samsung were doing to send them. Sounds like a load of BS ?
thanks Neil
@Tom – As far as I know none of the ‘Ambassadors’ have received their phones yet. What I can tell you is that Samsung has been distinctly quiet and we’ve all been kept in the dark. Emails have been left unanswered and it is quite frustrating.
Maybe Samsung has changed their mind or maybe they’re waiting for the UK sim-free release? I really don’t know at this stage, but hopefully we’ll find out one way or the other soon enough.
…as far as is known, the files “Neil” is offering for sale are actually the ones originally posted by share4gsm. Essentially therefore, this is theft.
People wishing to debrand their i8910 should use the tutorials available on other websites and the files exclusively available from share4gsm.com
@Chappas – The Orange Maps Feature doesn’t actually work with the I8910HD, the only phone this currently works with is the Samsung Pixon.
I spent about 1 hour on the phone with Orange going through the features they have disabled and why, and also informed them of installation problems I was having and the Tech Guy said the Orange Maps App is for the Pixon, and isnt for the I8910HD when asking why bother putting it on the phone then he said the firmware are not unique to each phone and sometimes things get missed.
Don’t know about anyone else but as soon as I’ve finished installing XP on my other machine I’m debranding my phone. Oh I also checked to make sure it didn’t break the contract or phone insurance and apparently the only thing that would void the contract is if you Unlock the phone.
Thanks for the reply Chris ^-^
After everything I’ve read since the phone came out, I’m really starting to reconsider getting it with Orange next month when my contract expires with O2, and just waiting until other networks stock the phone (any word on this yet anyone?).
Really sounds like the Orange branding firmware really cripples the phone and some of it’s features. Don’t understand why they would add their own firmware in the first place though which just stops certain things from working as well as they should? What advantages does/could this give Orange anyway?
Hi guys can you change the SMS ringtone to anything you like? I know its a small detail but the little things that count!!
yes you can change ringtones to any you put in.with this phone you tend to have to look deeper to find the options like changing ringtones but once you have had it a few weeks it all becomes second nature
will this affect my orange contract i have with this phone?
Do not buy these firmware upgrades from these ‘rip-off’ merchants.
They are all free here :-
http://samsungi8910omnia.com/
ANyone know where you can get the orange firmware backup free?