F480

I've now got rid of my Samsung F480 and got myself a nice HTC Tattoo. The main reason I got rid of the F480 is because A. the touchscreen had stopped working and B. I completely destroyed the phone trying to get it into another chassis!

I'm liking the Tattoo which runs Android 1.6. One thing that is annoying though is the amount Orange seem to have customized it and the fact that not a lot of applications in the Android marketplace support QVGA. This means they are just not available. Apparently more VGA Android devices will be out soon so support should increase.

Anyway...

Here are a couple of interesting sites I've found along with apps to customise your phone.

PandaHome
Vastly superior home screen replacement compatible with loads of themes
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-nd-android-pandahome-jtj...

Layar
Overlays your camera with real time info (augmented reality). Great for getting the tube home!
http://www.layar.com/

How to Flash Your Tatto
Guide to debrand your Tattoo. I've not been brave enough to try it yet but sure I will soon!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5179788&postcount=1

Android 2.1 on the HTC Tattoo
A leaked user agent image confirming a 2.1 upgrade for the Tattoo some time soon!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5139802 Read more »

Revlin software have been very quiet about their new OS for the F480 and their Android port. Nobody seems to be able to get much info out of them either. Some people even believe its a scam so take a look at these links (translated from Dutch).

As 'japie' has said on the Revlin site 'Don't believe the HYPE!'. Read more »

The great Bolt mobile web browser has just been updated to version 1.5. Things seem a lot speedier on the F480 and personally I think it is far better than Opera Mini.

Find out how to remove the JAVA bar from it here

http://www.domsyard.com/samsung-f480/bolt-mobile-web-browser-f480-no-bar

...or go here with the standard F480 browser to download a version with JAVA bar already removed for you!

http://www.domsyard.com/sites/default/files/bolts2.jad

BOLT Homepage

http://boltbrowser.com/

It looks like RevLin Software are taking up the challenge of porting Android, Google's open source mobile operating system, along with their own OS to the Samsung F480!

If you haven't tried out the Bolt mobile web browser you should give it a go! It's a little sluggish but page rendering seems to be better than Opera mini and web 2.0 style sites with things like AJAX work very well.

One problem with it on the F480 is that has the JAVA bar at the bottom restricts the use of full screen web browsing. Its easily solved though! Read more »

This information is taken mostly from GSM-Forum.com, but I have compiled all the information myself and updated it with links for software and other information. Enjoy!

A couple of things you need to know first.

DISCLAIMER
This guide has been taken from several sources. Please do not blame me if anything goes wrong. Following these instructions has worked fine for me but I cannot guarantee it will work the same for you.

Make sure to backup all the content on your phone as everything will be deleted including your address book! Read more »