The US plays second-fiddle to Europe when it comes to wireless infrastructure advances and new device launches. It seems we’re always getting the short end of the stick with months-late handset launches and crippled smartphones (there are exceptions, of course). The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 hit US shores as the XPERIA X1a only after our Euro-counterparts were blessed with the high-end Windows Mobile smartphone. And, to add insult to injury, the XPERIA X1a launched in the US with cripppled VGA video recording – a highly touted feature on the XPERIA handset. A Qualcomm patent conflict kept VGA video recording down to a meager 10fps, while European XPERIA X1’s were zipping along with 30fps video recording.
But, things don’t have to be that way. Turns out, a simple re-flashing of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1a’s ROM with a new UK XPERIA X1i ROM will enable 30fps video recording. Previous UK-optimized XPERIA X1 ROM files disabled support for the 850Mhz and 1900Mhz frequencies needed to get 3G data speeds in the US, but this latest ROM enables 30fps VGA video recording while preserving 3G frequency support. Here’s how to do it:
- Download this package containing the new ROM and flashing tools
- Extract package contents to desktop
- Run HardSPL.exe
- Follow all onscreen instruction and wait for the device to restart after the color bars are gone.
- After the device is started and connected to your computer again open the folder Xperia X1a VGA 30fps and run the ROMUpdateUtility.
- Follow all onscreen instructions again and wait for the device to be updated.
- Allow the ROM to load and your device to restart
- Enjoy VGA video recording @ 30fps!
[Via: PocketNow]