With more and more devices receiving the latest 2.3.4 Android Gingerbread version, it is the question of pride for some of the smart phone owners and we do understand that your hard earned money purchase in terms of Android phone should get the latest possible Android version. So, now we bring happy news for all the Samsung Epic 4G owners as you will now be easily able to update your phones with not 2.3.4 but yes the 2.3.3 Gingerbread version. There are whole new set of optimizations which have been done in this 2.3.3 version of Gingerbread for Samsung Epic 4G SPH D700. This built is EE 03 built and is much better than ED 12. Previously there was a release of ED 12 and which is a buggy one and has some issues with 4G, GPS and other apps like in the temperature sensor.
This software update can be performed to all the Samsung Epic 4G which are present all across the World and also updating your phone with this firmware won’t mean that you are rooting your phone or voiding the warranty as unless and until you root your phone there is no way that you will lose the warranty. Most of the phones comes along with the Sprint carrier, you can easily proceed and update your phone with the latest 2.3.3 version, as of now there is only Gingerbread update for 2.3.3 but as soon as we get any 2.3.4 update for Epic 4G we will surely cover the same in this blog. This update of 2.3.3 is dubbed as the EE 03 version and all other previous version which are buggy. Last time we saw on how you can update your Samsung Epic 4G with the 2.2. Froyo. Also, soon we will also soon see on how you can easily update your phone with the latest 2.3.4 update which too will be updated on this site.
With the super AMOLED display, faster 1GHz processor, slide out Qwerty keypad and an impressive 5.0 MP camera along with the LED flash makes this device different from other smart phones. So, let’s proceed and see on how you can easily update your phone with the latest 2.3.3 version of Gingerbread. Please note that you will have to follow the instructions carefully or else there is a high probability that you may spoil the device or may even brick the device and will not be a usable device due to improper software update. If you guarantee that all the below steps carefully followed only then we take guarantee that the software upgrade is hassle free and worry free. So, let’s proceed and see on what are the notable changes which have been made in the latest version. Also as of now the file system is of RFS built now but soon in the next built it will be an EXT 4 type.
Please ensure that you are installing this firmware on your Samsung Epic 4G phone and not on any other similar looking phones. Also, most importantly you are not rooting this phone and is the official Gingerbread update of 2.3.3 for your Epic 4G so you will not void the warranty if you install this firmware.
Improvements in 2.3.3 GINGERBREAD for Samsung Epic 4G D 700:
- The Android Market Place layout has been changed and now it more looks like the one which is being shown on the Nexus S 4G which basically allows you to download the protected applications and not to worry your phone will still be identified as the Epic 4G only and not the Nexus S 4G.
- FM Radio now works in this version as since it’s a beta built and also as a bonus you will also get the free Netflix application which can be downloaded in the due course of this article.
- For all those who loves the Gtalk video support, a great news for all you people as this version now supports the latest Video support in Gtalk.
- The Carrier IQ has been removed, though this can be added later using the small add-on as this firmware is the main stock firmware.
- You can now customize the CRT animation for screen off, and the over scroll feature can also be configured easily.
Wi Fi as well as the Wi Fi tethering feature works perfect and also all the security settings too works perfectly. Wi Fi tethering can now be used to power up to a maximum of 5 Wi Fi devices.
- The only bug which has been reported and doesn’t work is the LED notification. Again this feature has been reported as worked on some of the phones while some of the users say that this feature is not working in their phones.
- The overall user interface now loads quickly and is more fluidic than before. Also, the CRT animation for screen off, and the over scroll feature, are now available and the same can be enabled by choosing the setting from Settings > Display.
- Many of the users experienced issues in battery power which is now been sorted out in this version as the firmware and is now best optimized for the Epic 4G.
Pre Upgrade Instructions:
- So, just before proceeding to update, you need to ensure that you have synced all your contacts with your Google Account, all sms, applications, videos and music files which are there in your phone should be taken a backup or else the data will be lost. Anything which is in SD card will not be lost, so you can alternatively move to SD Card. If you are planning to store in internal SD Card then it’s preferred to store the data in computer as a backup as in an unlikely event the data in SD Card may get corrupted.
- Next up remove the SIM card as well as the external SD cards if any in your phone, just to make sure that in an unlikely event the data in it doesn’t get corrupted,
- Ensure that you have kept original USB cable handy which you have got with your Galaxy S II GT I9100,
- Additionally, ensure that your phone has at least more than 50% of battery power left, this is just an advisory which if followed then you will not experience any difficulties as while updation of the device the battery consumption is at a maximum,
- Ensure that your computer / laptop which runs on a XP, Vista or Windows 7 OS the firewall and other antivirus programs are disabled and also you should have admin privileges to download and install the software including the drivers and also along with this you will be requiring the USB port on your computer which supports USB 2.0.
- Last but not the least ensure that your phone is Samsung Galaxy S II GT I 9100 and not any other phone as if you proceed installing any other phone then there is a high possibility that you will brick your phone after which your phone will become un usable or will turn into an expensive paper weight.
Procedure to Install Gingerbread 2.3.3 on Samsung Epic 4G:
- First up you will have to download the Gingerbread Upgrade package which contains Odin flash tool, the EC 05 firmware file which is nothing but the 2.3.3 update, CWM 0.2.5 update which is the one click root for your phone for your convenience.
- Now, after downloading the firmware package, you will have to unzip the same. Please note that while unzipping the folder you will be prompted to enter in the password, enter the password as “androidadvices.com”.
- So, after extracting, you will have to open the Odin and then you will have to switch Off your device and then need to switch ON in the download mode after this from your computer keep the Odin program opened.
- The download mode in the Samsung Epic 4G can be entered by long pressing 1 and then press the power button after which you will get a yellow triangle. Now as soon as you see the yellow triangle, you will have to connect the phone with the help of USB to the computer while keeping the Odin as open in the computer.
- Now, you will see that the ID:COM lamp will glow yellow which will mean that all the required drivers have been installed successfully and you are ready to flash the device.
- Just click on the PIT option and select the file “victory_8G_100528.pit” and then after that click on the PDA file to select “SPH-D700-EC05-8gb-AAD”. Please note that apart from these two files don’t select any other files or else the flashing process won’t be successful. Please note that this firmware can only be applied to the 8 GB version.
- After loading the files as mentioned below, ensure that you have unchecked everything on the left side of the window except the “Auto Reboot” option which should be ticked.
- Now, after selecting the files, you will have to now wait for the process to get over and then after few minutes of time the device will be rebooted and then you will find that the Samsung Epic 4G will now be on the latest 2.3.3 Gingerbread version.
- So, now when you have successfully installed the latest firmware you will now have to install the Modem for your Samsung Epic 4G as the default modem is bit buggy, so to install the modem you will have to again switch off the phone and then you will have to get into the download mode.
- The download mode in the Samsung Epic 4G can be entered by long pressing 1 and then press the power button after which you will get a yellow triangle. Now as soon as you see the yellow triangle, you will have to connect the phone with the help of USB to the computer while keeping the Odin as open in the computer.
- Now, again you will see that the ID:COM lamp will glow yellow which will mean that all the required drivers have been installed successfully and you are ready to flash the device.
- After this select the PIT option and select the file “victory_8G_100528.pit” and then after that click on the PDA file to select “EC03-modem-AndroidAdvices” file from the unzipped file. After this ensure that you have unchecked everything on the left side of the window except the “Auto Reboot” option which should be ticked
- After selecting the files and double checking the same, just click on the Start option to initiate the modem installation process and at this time don’t interrupt the process or else you will again have to procedure right from the start.
- So, as soon as the device is rebooted you will see that the firmware is updated successfully with the new stable and speedy modem.
- So, in this way you have successfully installed the latest firmware along with the latest modem on your Samsung Epic 4G phone. Please note that you can alternatively root your phone by installing the CWM3.0.2.5 one-click application which is there in the downloaded package in your Samsung Epic 4G phone.
Install Gtalk Video and FM Radio in your phone if there are any issues,
For installing the Gtalk Video as well as the FM Radio, you will have to first copy the apk files of FM Radio as well as the Video Gtalk in your phone and then you will have to install the same in your Epic 4G.
Install CRT Screen Off / Over scroll:
For installing the CRT Screen / Over scroll option in your phone, you will have to first unzip the file which is named as “CRT_ScreenOverscroll_EE03_AndroidAdvices” to get the apk file and the same needs to be installed in your phone.
So, in this way you have successfully installed the latest Android 2.3.3 on your Samsung Epic 4G. Please note that since you have updated your firmware, all the APN Settings will be cleared. So, to access all the data services / MMS / Internet, you will have to get the Internet settings from from your Service provider. Do let us know if you face any issues or problems in the comments section below as we will try to solve the same.