[Q] THL W3+ Jellybean Update - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I have had the THL W3+ (dual core) for months now and I have to admit that it is a great phone. However, I believe that it would run a million times better with Jellybean installed. It comes with ICS and there has been no update released (right?)
So I was wondering if there was any way to get Jellybean on this device. It runs the MTK6577 processor on which Jellybean has been installed on other phone so I don't see why the W3+ hasn't got the update yet.
Thanks in advance!

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
So I have had the THL W3+ (dual core) for months now and I have to admit that it is a great phone. However, I believe that it would run a million times better with Jellybean installed. It comes with ICS and there has been no update released (right?)
So I was wondering if there was any way to get Jellybean on this device. It runs the MTK6577 processor on which Jellybean has been installed on other phone so I don't see why the W3+ hasn't got the update yet.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I need jellybean for the same phone too. please do let me know when you get the update.
thanks.

---

thlmobile said:
I send a message to the customer service of this site in thlmobilestore.com, they said THL W3 + phone has been discontinued, and recently they launched THL W8 +, configuration is very good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there is no way I can get Jellybean on my THL W3+ ?

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
So there is no way I can get Jellybean on my THL W3+ ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess we have to wait for ThL to release an update, or wait for someone who can help us port jellybean.
I'm a novice but if I happen to successfully port jellybean, I'll post the link

---

luminelx64 said:
I guess we have to wait for ThL to release an update, or wait for someone who can help us port jellybean.
I'm a novice but if I happen to successfully port jellybean, I'll post the link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, that would be great! I wish I could help but I'm a newbie. I just know the technical jargon.
However, I just stumbled on a result on google in which a customer review said that "since the just new jelly bean update" the phone runs much smoother? I don't even know how to check for an update because I don't have the option under Settings > About Phone.

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
Thank you, that would be great! I wish I could help but I'm a newbie. I just know the technical jargon.
However, I just stumbled on a result on google in which a customer review said that "since the just new jelly bean update" the phone runs much smoother? I don't even know how to check for an update because I don't have the option under Settings > About Phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no option to check for update in the phone menus.
The update will be posted on their website http://en.thl.com.cn/Download/Index.html
About the review you came across, I've also seen it before.
Being desperate for jellybean update, I even registered on that website in order to contact the person who made that comment.
But I was dissapointed as the name wasn't clickable despite registration.
Right now, I even doubt that comment cos I've searched extensively for jellybean without success.
Maybe the person doesn't know how to check Android version.

---

luminelx64 said:
There's no option to check for update in the phone menus.
The update will be posted on their website
About the review you came across, I've also seen it before.
Being desperate for jellybean update, I even registered on that website in order to contact the person who made that comment.
But I was dissapointed as the name wasn't clickable despite registration.
Right now, I even doubt that comment cos I've searched extensively for jellybean without success.
Maybe the person doesn't know how to check Android version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any firmware you suggest? The one that came with my phone had issues with the G-Sensor and the update the official website offers doesn't let me have apps like Viber and Grindr.

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
Any firmware you suggest? The one that came with my phone had issues with the G-Sensor and the update the official website offers doesn't let me have apps like Viber and Grindr.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The firmware that came with my phone allowed Viber. And it's the same version on the website. You should click on "w3 dual core version" not "w3 upgrade" as that upgrade is meant for the MT6575 single core version only.
I saw a comment on the firmware talking about G sensor. I think it would fix your problem. it says " Oct. 8, 2012 update: 1. Optimize the shooting effect of rear camera; 2. Improve the compatibility of the G-sensor to solve the problems of some gravity sensor failure; "
Right now I'm using a firmware labeled ThL.w3.121113.6577.COM.EN
I got it from a Russian forum where they claimed it was the latest official firmware (contrary to what I saw in the linkhttp://en.thl.com.cn/Download/Index.html I posted earlier)
Before I recommend a firmware, what version are you running currently?

---

luminelx64 said:
The firmware that came with my phone allowed Viber. And it's the same version on the website. You should click on "w3 dual core version" not "w3 upgrade" as that upgrade is meant for the MT6575 single core version only.
I saw a comment on the firmware talking about G sensor. I think it would fix your problem.
Right now I'm using a firmware labeled ThL.w3.121113.6577.COM.EN
I got it from a Russian forum where they claimed it was the latest official firmware (contrary to what I saw in the linkI posted earlier)
Before I recommend a firmware, what version are you running currently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running the rom I found on needrom the website. Not sure which version it is. It comes with Samsung SIII wallpaper and sound effects. I don't like it though.
I tried to find the firmware you are using ATM but I can't find a download link. Do apps like Viber work on it? And the G-sensor?

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
I'm running the rom I found on needrom the website. Not sure which version it is. It comes with Samsung SIII wallpaper and sound effects. I don't like it though.
I tried to find the firmware you are using ATM but I can't find a download link. Do apps like Viber work on it? And the G-sensor?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I understand.
First, it's better you get this firmware http://en.thl.com.cn/Download/detail_55.html just click on download.
I advice you first of all install the one at link above and test it.
very soon, I will post the link to the latest firmware I'm running.
I need so search my browser history for it.

---

luminelx64 said:
Ok I understand.
First, it's better you get this firmware just click on download.
I advice you first of all install the one at link above and test it.
very soon, I will post the link to the latest firmware I'm running.
I need so search my browser history for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm finding it difficult flashing this ROM since I'm not sure which ZIP file to flash. There are no ZIP files, only RARs. And they include unnecessary stuff like USB VCOM DRIVER
Edit:
I think I will keep this frimware (the one I said I got from needrom). I just flashed gapps so App store works great. I'd love it if you could post when the Jelly Bean update comes out. I believe this phone could be great with a little more support. Jelly Bean would make it so much more smooth!

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
I'm finding it difficult flashing this ROM since I'm not sure which ZIP file to flash. There are no ZIP files, only RARs. And they include unnecessary stuff like USB VCOM DRIVER
Edit:
I think I will keep this frimware (the one I said I got from needrom). I just flashed gapps so App store works great. I'd love it if you could post when the Jelly Bean update comes out. I believe this phone could be great with a little more support. Jelly Bean would make it so much more smooth!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, I assumed you knew how to flash using SP Flash Tool.
Anyway this is the link to the firmware http://yadi.sk/d/pSQ23rqr29rai
It can only be flashed using SP Flash tool. not from recovery as you did with your current ROM.
if you don't know how to use the tool, you might need to wait for jellybean update.
But hey... even if they release jellybean won't it be in the same format as the one you just got from their site?
they even bundled it with sp Flash tool.

---

luminelx64 said:
ok, I assumed you knew how to flash using SP Flash Tool.
Anyway this is the link to the firmware
It can only be flashed using SP Flash tool. not from recovery as you did with your current ROM.
if you don't know how to use the tool, you might need to wait for jellybean update.
But hey... even if they release jellybean won't it be in the same format as the one you just got from their site?
they even bundled it with sp Flash tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just learned to use it. That comment about the Jelly Bean update format being the same made me REALLY motivated.
I'm flashing the latest firmware from their official site although I'm pretty sure that is the firmware which doesn't support apps like Viber. Thanks a lot

---

luminelx64 said:
ok, I assumed you knew how to flash using SP Flash Tool.
Anyway this is the link to the firmware http://yadi.sk/d/pSQ23rqr29rai
It can only be flashed using SP Flash tool. not from recovery as you did with your current ROM.
if you don't know how to use the tool, you might need to wait for jellybean update.
But hey... even if they release jellybean won't it be in the same format as the one you just got from their site?
they even bundled it with sp Flash tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you help me reinstall this phone's recovery without using recovery mode? Is that possible at all? Because at this point recovery mode keeps flashing purple colours like the screen goes really weird and all I can do is just restart the phone back into the OS. And the latest firmware doesn't have google apps such as the play store so I need to flash those, but without recovery working I can't.

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
Can you help me reinstall this phone's recovery without using recovery mode? Is that possible at all? Because at this point recovery mode keeps flashing purple colours like the screen goes really weird and all I can do is just restart the phone back into the OS. And the latest firmware doesn't have google apps such as the play store so I need to flash those, but without recovery working I can't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That happened to me too when I flashed a recovery I downloaded.
The latest firmware I flashed overwrote the recovery to the default.
I'm pretty sure the official firmware you downloaded will solve the problem cos it's exactly the same version that shipped with my phone (version; Oct. 8, 2012). Viber and play store worked perfectly.
In case you only want the recovery back, here's how:
to flash a recovery using sp Flash tool.
what you need is an image file called recovery.img and a scatter file.
1. Create a new folder. Preferably in a path without special characters (just to be safe). example C:\User\recovery
2. Locate these two files inside the official firmware you downloaded, and extract them into the created folder.
recovery.img and MT6577_Android_scatter_emmc.txt
Switch off your phone and Do not connect phone to PC yet.
3. Run the Flash Tool and click on Scatter-loading and point it to the MT6577_Android_scatter_emmc.txt file
4. Only the RECOVERY option should be ticked by now.
5. Click on download then connect your phone using the USB cable.
It would download the recovery image to your phone and show a green circle as sign of completion.
That's it.
EDIT: Don't forget to backup your data
EDIT 2: Since you want to flash the official firmware, it will automatically repair your recovery.
in that case just skip steps 1-2 and start from step 3 above and when you get to step 4, all the options will be ticked.

---

thlmobile said:
I send a message to the customer service of this site in thlmobilestore.com, they said THL W3 + phone has been discontinued, and recently they launched THL W8 +, configuration is very good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they discontinue w3+ and refuse to update it, they will do the same for w8+, refusing to update to Android 4.2 or 5.0

---

luminelx64 said:
That happened to me too when I flashed a recovery I downloaded.
The latest firmware I flashed overwrote the recovery to the default.
I'm pretty sure the official firmware you downloaded will solve the problem cos it's exactly the same version that shipped with my phone (version; Oct. 8, 2012). Viber and play store worked perfectly.
In case you only want the recovery back, here's how:
to flash a recovery using sp Flash tool.
what you need is an image file called recovery.img and a scatter file.
1. Create a new folder. Preferably in a path without special characters (just to be safe). example C:\User\recovery
2. Locate these two files inside the official firmware you downloaded, and extract them into the created folder.
recovery.img and MT6577_Android_scatter_emmc.txt
Switch off your phone and Do not connect phone to PC yet.
3. Run the Flash Tool and click on Scatter-loading and point it to the MT6577_Android_scatter_emmc.txt file
4. Only the RECOVERY option should be ticked by now.
5. Click on download then connect your phone using the USB cable.
It would download the recovery image to your phone and show a green circle as sign of completion.
That's it.
EDIT: Don't forget to backup your data
EDIT 2: Since you want to flash the official firmware, it will automatically repair your recovery.
in that case just skip steps 1-2 and start from step 3 above and when you get to step 4, all the options will be ticked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you SO much!

---

iwillthinkofsomething said:
Thank you SO much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome.
Sent from my ThL W3 using xda app-developers app