MANUALLY Updated to ICS ....works ok + GUIDE

[m4dj]

Hi ! Today I decided to take a risk and update my phone to ICS. After reading some posts about the bug for photos I was little worry.

I didn't want to wait more as the SI number is on the list but nobody can confirm when and if my provider will accept the ICS.

I used flashtool and ST15i_i_4_1_B_0_431_Unbranded.ftf file. This came with all languages included.

After a couple of hours of playing with the phone by installing and configuring all the apps that i had before . Here are first impressions:

- Small Led notification works when SMS arrive. It blink once. I never paid attention how is working neither on gingerbread

- Photos looks ok

- I have tried to make a short movie in HD. No lags for now. In gingerbread I have a lag every 5 seconds or so...

- I have turned screen animations and transitions (this option is located under settings - developer options

- For now no crashes

- Phone seems responsive and fast as gingerbread. I didnt noticed any decrease in speed (I have installed all application that I had also before on 2.3.4 with the same widgets)

- There is a performance assistant where by default two of the services are disabled (ant + and facebook inside xperia)

- Some of the widgets are resizable and thats nice

- On the lock screen there is a alarm notification, sms and i suppose also some other things can be accessed from here

- I dont remmember from 2.3.4 but there is no auto brightness option so i use a widget for brightness togle , also installed invisible brightness aplication - very good one.

- there is no separate volume for notification . If you need it try some 3rd application for volume settings

- alarms settings have a new UI. I preffered the old one, because the new one has smaller numbers when setting the alarm....

- UI for taking photo is also renewed. Older was better ...to me

For now I am very happy with ICS. If i discover some issue i will post here. I will try to take some photos tommorow and see if everything is ok.

This is the procedure I took for installing ICS:

1. Installed flash tool (flashtool-0.8.0.0-windows) and installed  updates for it (flashtool-update-0.8.x-0.8.6.0-windows) link: http://androxyde.github.com/

2. Put the ftf file in the location where the flashtool is installed: C:\Flashtool\firmwares

3. delete all other firmwares if any located in there

4. I dont know if it a must, but I have disabled some options in avast mobile protection about usb debuging and disabled an administrator in this application. I have also enabled usb debuging in the settings of gingerbread. I have start the flashtool. 

5. Check flash mode - ok . Select a firmware from the list. Check wipe data, wipe cache, wipe app log and check also no final verification. click ok.

The photo appear with the instructions.

6. Power off the phone. Plug the usb into the PC . Press down volume button on the phone and while keeping it pressed plug the usb into the phone.

Flashing ebgins. It takes a couple of minutes. When finished wait because it says that the phone will automaticaly restart. i didnt waited and turned the phone on. First it takes a minute to start , it seems that stuck on boot logo but wait for a minute it will pass.

The ics is installed. To be sure I have started SUS and click repair...folowing the instruction.

Hope it helps. If you dont want to wait go for manual install.

here is a ftf file for xperia. its a unbranded with a lot of languages selection. also all other keyboards included.

link:  http://linkanonymizer.net/?http://d01.megashares.com/dl/0HPi5iO/ST15i_i_4.1.B.0.431_Unbranded.rar

[#2]

Can not get ftf, All download slots for this link are currently filled... If it not so hard to do, may be some can upload it to different share?

[#3]

got it! thanks. I'll feed back tommorow about upgrade. And I'll post here othere public link to ftf file, in several minnutes.

[m4dj]

Just discovered that ICS make also better usage of RAM. Thats what i think, because

I see that when I use Dolphin browser when it comes to closing it, the browser exit much faster then on 2.3.4. Also after exiting the browser the icons are not reloading again on main screen. Realoading of main screen always happened to me when I was using gingerbread....

LINK to ftf file (ST15i_i_4_1_B_0_431_Unbranded) :  http://www.sendspace.com/file/ii0dsc

Just follow the instructions I gave before or check the forum for instructions about manual update.

Its easy. just a couple of clicks..

[#5]

here link to download fimware http://yadisk.cc/d/ahfcYS9j2YB

[Uliwooly]

1) backup your current firmware

2) manuallyupdate

How to manually update 2011 Xperias to android 4.0.4 build number 4.1.B.0.431

http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/38251

Don't forget to mark the Correct Answers & Helpful Answers

[Borek]

You still suggesting to backup firmware - but there is NO repair option in SUS - how to backup fw without repair option in SUS ?!?

Let me show you:

Or I'm missing something?

And as you can see - still no update...

[somebody]

Try using pc companion, repair the phone and after that check the folder X:\ProgramData\Sony Ericsson\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs (where X:\ is you system drive) and there should be many files, you'll need the biggest two to proceed with flashtool...

[Uliwooly]

just be patient, you will get it

Don't forget to mark the Correct Answers & Helpful Answers

[Gamer2DBone]

@ somebody

THX mate, that list is what I was looking for.

I will now download 4.0 and install it.

Once again, THX for the help.

[#11]

Hey! Morning or something like that! Yesterday about 5 oclock AM I installed ICS on my expiria according to your steps that you've described. Thanks a lot! One small difference is that I have to install flashtool driver for my device, flash tool said me about it, when I was trying to flash my mini. So take into account that you will have to set up legasy mode (in properties of Flashtool-drivers.exe) with Windows Vista (I'm win7 user). Other things are the same, as you wrote.

some improvements that i've noticed

- display blinking is seems to be gone.  (previously sensor of light caused blinking of screen when brightness was not set to 100%). Now I set up about 40% level of brightness and it works fine.

If I'll notice some issues, I'll post them here.

Thanks a lot one more time.