Acer Liquid M330 - Windows Mobile 10 Anniversary Update Issue

raphfern

Good day!

 

I just purchased my new Liquid M330 a few days prior to the release of the Windows Mobile 10 update. When the update was released, I immediately downloaded and updated the phone. The update process went smooth. However, after the update, I realized that there's a problem with the navigation bar and the display. It seems that the nav bar overlays the lowest part of the touchscreen resulting to the inability of selecting whatever is under the nav bar. 

This is in all likelihood a bug of the update but is there a way to revert back to the previous build or can the Acer Windows Mobile team provide us a firmware update? I tried using the Windows Mobile Recovery Tool but there is no available firmware at Microsoft's servers.

 

Please help. Thanks.

unichips

Yesterday's Windows 10 Mobile cumulative update (build 14393.321) resolves the scaling and touchscreen calibration issues in my Liquid M330. (It also resolved the similar issue in the Nokia Lumia 635.)

terranovarunner

You're lucky. I had the same problem and spent two hours on chat with Microsoft where I was told to try each of the recovery tool images because one would probably work. I ended up with a bricked phone. Nice work Microsoft and Acer. At least Acer offered to replace my phone after 10 minutes on the phone with them.

raphfern

Thanks for the info. The store where I bought the unit also advised me to go to an Acer Customer Service office. But I'll just wait a week or two. Hopefully, an update to the update will solve the problem. 

chuck-wi

User raphfern is right, but I would like to add to the description.

 

I have had my Acer Liquid m330 as a happy user since purchase on May 18, 2013... received by mail. Nice device, but failed to be supported properly by the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update (1607).

 

There are two issues witnessed that are related.

1) The applications assume the pixel count above the bottom controls (back arrow, window logo, search spyglass) is more than the Liquid m330 has to offer. In other words, the applications that have a hamburger menu at the bottom seem to have the menu falling behind the bottom controls. Only the top edge of application hamburger menu is seen. This is a problem for all applications. But there is one happy exception to that today with one application that was updated through the automatic Store updates.

 

2) The touch screen pixel count is misaligned to the display pixel count. It appears that the pixel count is aligned at the top, and misaligned at the bottom. For all applications--and especially annoying with the keyboard on the bottome--when I press icons or keyboard keys near the bottom of the screen, my touch registers action against something displayed lower than my finger touch. This renders the use of the keyboard almost impossible.

 

Here's the exception to the issue #1. Microsoft Mail application was updated today. Surprise, surprise! Microsoft Mail has the hamburger menu at the bottom displayed in a way that doesn't fall behind the bottom row controls (backup arrow, windows logo key, search spyglass). What does this tell you? It tells you that Microsoft application engineers realized that the new display API in release 1607 understands how to scale the display according to the display count of the device! For those of us that followed the release of the Acer Liquid m330, we know that Acer chose to build a device with a horizontal to vertical pixel count that is a bit unusual. Windows 10 Mobile initial release worked fine with this display size and ratio, but 1607 fails to respect the pixel count ratio special case.

 

I love my Acer Liquid m330. It's a great device for the price. Clearly, the Windows 10 Mobile software development team is challenged to produce releases on time and with quality for all devices.

 

I took my issue to Acer support by chat. The chat agent was super fast and polite, but his only instruction was "do a reset." I did a reset, even though I figured it would not work. In fact, it did nothing to improve the situation because the reset will not roll back the operating system to the previous operating system. There are no instructions on-line for Acer to roll back to the previous operating system and the support team apparently doesn't know how to do it either. If you have a Lumia device, there is a Phone Reset tool. There was for Win Phone 8.1, and I used it. I don't know anyone that used that tool on a Win 10 Mobile Lumia, but I see there's a new version of the Phone Reset tool for that device and operating system combination. Acer doesn't have that tool for us, but I suspect that we could send our phones into their service center for them to do it--if that wouldn't overwhelm the team.

 

Let's see if Acer can come through with a solution. They are obviously courageous to market this phone to a small level of demand. But if they show success at a small level, they'll have success to build on when Microsoft gets their act together. If we look at how Acer has done with the 2-in-1 tablet/laptop market, we see success at a favorable price point. If they repeat that with the Windows 10 Mobile, they will likewise get great reviews.

chuck-wi

I'm sure the store has pointed you in the right direction. I tried the customer service by chat, and they weren't ready to support me with a fix yet.

 

I'm still using my phone, but is very awkward at the bottom third of the screen. Every touch of the screen registers a touch lower than where I press. At the bottom of the screen, it's about 5 mm off where it should be. This makes the on-screen keyboard really fustrating. Nearly unusable, but not quite.

unichips

There's a bug with very similar sympotms in several Microsoft/Nokia Lumia devices after they are upgraded to the Anniversary Update. The most recent Fast Ring insider build of Windows 10 Redstone 2 (14926) promises a fix for the affected Lumia devices.

 

Hopefully, two things will happen:

1) They'll backport this fix to a cumulative patch for the Anniversary Update sooner than later.

2) The same fix will also work for the Liquid M330's extremely similar sympotms.

unichips

Yesterday's Windows 10 Mobile cumulative update (build 14393.321) resolves the scaling and touchscreen calibration issues in my Liquid M330. (It also resolved the similar issue in the Nokia Lumia 635.)

john1331

Hi,

 

I'm in the Philippines and may I ask, does the update applies to all regions/countries? Do I have to set the region settings of my phone to 'United States' to get this?

 

My build is 10586.107. How did you get that build (14393.321)?

 

Thanks!

raphfern

@john1331: You have to sign in to the Windows Insider Program at the Updates and Security feature. The Windows Insider Program is actually for developers; but even if you're not a developer, you can still enroll. You'll get updates that an average user won't get as it's like a beta program. But remember, if for some reason you want to go back to the normal (and seldom) updates - you'll have to reformat your phone. You have a choice between Slow and Fast Rings. I prefer the slow one since you don't have to update your phone every week. 

chuck-wi

@john1331. I would agree that the Tuesday, October 13, 2016 update for Windows 10 Mobile fixed the screen scaling and digitizer location problem seen a the bottom of the screen rectangle.

I don't have my Liquid m330 on the Windows Insider Build program. I am witnessing the update that arrived as a "normal" Windows 10 Mobile user on the Acer Liquid m330, and it appears that the screen size issues and digitizer issues are gone. I have not checked every app to see them all fixed, but for all the apps I have used, the screen behavior is correct now.

Let's hope that the Microsoft partnership with HP and the Microsoft Surface phone plans are both driving the success of the Windows 10 Mobile operating system, because that success will continue support us on non-Lumia phone devices.

chuck-wi

That should be "Tuesday, October 11, 2016"

raphfern

Thanks for that info, chuck-wi. Being in the Windows Insider Program gets you confused of whether the update is for some or for everybody. I don't think this specific M330 issue was ever mentioned in the change log when I checked it from some blog post.

john1331

Thank you for your response raphfern
I am downloading the 14393.321 update now without signing up for anything.
chuck-wi I am hopeful too coz these past few days I was at the edge of owning an Android phone again

gari

Hey, guys! I am interested to know if M330 has got the Anniversary Update - without the need to join insider program?

 

From the latest post I'd say that it has got it, but I want to ask just to me it sure.

chuck-wi

Yes, the 1607 anniversary update is working on the Liquid m330 Windows 10 Mobile device.

gari

That's great, thanks for your reply! :-)