Clearing Up Some 928 "Denim Update" Confusion

[Insane Toad]

I've seen a few things in several posts about this update that can be confusing so I decided to clear them up in this post.

1. Verizon rolls out their phone updates in waves over a few days to a few weeks. Not everyone will have access to the update on day one.

2. You CAN get this update if you are on the developer preview program. You do not have to disable the app in order to get it.

3. Some people who have disabled the preview app have discovered that the extra + info app says that their phone has Denim without having to download an update. What you actually have is the software (current windows 8.1.xx as a member of the preview program) but not the firmware (from Verizon) update on your phone. You have to install Verizon's Denim update for you to have the whole package on your phone.

4. There maybe more that I have left out. Just remember that you do not need to jump through hoops to get the update. You just need to wait for Verizon to release it to you.

 

[steve cooper]

I just got denim on my 928 and I had DP still on. I live in Delaware. I will say the performance is noticeably better. That's about the only difference. The downloads and update only took about 30 minutes

 

[AV2RY]

NJ - still can't download update, turned off/on DP

 

[upsidedown]

Ditto. 928 with DP found update last night. Update worked fine. Faster camera performance and Softcard works! I see a small dot above the Wifi logo on the status bar. Not sure what that is.

 

[3earnhardt3]

Confirmed, updated last night with Preview for Developers on.

 

[MavvaZ]

Updated late last night without turning off the Developer Preview, then also had another update after that.

 

[Insane Toad]

NJ - still can't download update, turned off/on DP

You just have to be patient. I could not get my update until 45 min. ago. I do not know what formula Verizon uses on updates.... but they are not released to everyone at once unless the update is considered a "critical" update.

 

[reversalagent]

You sure you are not seeing an arrow? I see one now when there is a connection and it is either uploading/downloading data.

 

[StevePT]

Also, to clear up OS/firmware version numbers:

In the Settings -> About (phone name) -> More Info -> OS Version

8.10.14203.306 - No Developer Preview
8.10.14219.341 - Developer Preview (The higher version from what Verizon released is the recent update that added cellular data toggle to action center)

In the Settings -> About (phone name) -> More Info -> Firmware Revision number

3051.50009.1446.0093 - Denim installed

What's odd is the "Extras + Info" screen shows 3051.50009.1446.10437 not sure if this is a bug that they don't match or if the "Core Build ID" and "Firmware Revision Number" are not truly the same thing even though their numbering scheme is nearly identical.

Check your numbers and if you have what's shown above you're all up to date and setup with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 and Denim Firmware.

 

[pankaj981]

The 5000 string in the firmware revision tells me it's actually Cyan. The OS version tells me it's 8.1 Update 1.

So Denim for older devices = Cyan firmware + WP8.1 Update 1

Denim for newer devices = New firmware (real Denim for camera and other improvements) + WP8.1 Update 1

 

[EspHack]

now I need an explanation of what this update "improved" apart from a orange boot screen and arrows on signal icons

 

[pankaj981]

now I need an explanation of what this update "improved" apart from a orange boot screen and arrows on signal icons

Well technically you got the Cyan firmware, optimized for 8.1+ OS drivers. It also bought improved camera algorithms (I can't vouch for this since image quality is the same on older devices)

 

[stephen_az]

I've seen a few things in several posts about this update that can be confusing so I decided to clear them up in this post.

1. Verizon rolls out their phone updates in waves over a few days to a few weeks. Not everyone will have access to the update on day one.

2. You CAN get this update if you are on the developer preview program. You do not have to disable the app in order to get it.

3. Some people who have disabled the preview app have discovered that the extra + info app says that their phone has Denim without having to download an update. What you actually have is the software (current windows 8.1.xx as a member of the preview program) but not the firmware (from Verizon) update on your phone. You have to install Verizon's Denim update for you to have the whole package on your phone.

4. There maybe more that I have left out. Just remember that you do not need to jump through hoops to get the update. You just need to wait for Verizon to release it to you.

I am sorry but I have a 928 and 822 and neither could find the update with the DP installed but immediately saw it after a reset. I am not a believer in coincidence particularly with technology. People are making this far too black and white. It is entirely possible, in fact reasonable, that due to minor hardware revisions in a production run or local network variations or just quirks in the DP install that some phones may not see it. The fact is the OTA update was fully visible where I live but could not be seen with the DP in place. I am not suggesting no one can install it since that is obviously not true. That, however, does not mean everyone can install. Again it was a live update where I live but it was not available running the DP. BTW, I have also never seen VZW roll out updates over weeks. For reference I have been a customer since 2002 and have lived in 15+ places across the country and have worked literally nationwide. The longest I have encountered is probably about 24 hours.

 

[EspHack]

Well technically you got the Cyan firmware, optimized for 8.1+ OS drivers. It also bought improved camera algorithms (I can't vouch for this since image quality is the same on older devices)

oh dear... well cant get any worse can it? lets see how windows 10 pans out

 

[AR2186]

Anyone else notice you can now change the MMS apn settings? Dont recall seeing that in the past with my GF's phone, but its there now.

Verizon always hid that seeing so that you can't just buy their phones, which are unlocked, and go to another network. You could do it but mms/picture messaging/group messages wouldn't work. Now I think you can

 

[Funky Cricket]

The firmware says Denim, it's a bug, it's actually Cyan. We won't see Denim until end of 2015 at the rate Verizon sends it out. But it does look like it's 8.1? I'm on DP, and I'm working so I am waiting to download until I'm don't with this server down.

 

[StevePT]

The firmware says Denim, it's a bug, it's actually Cyan. We won't see Denim until end of 2015 at the rate Verizon sends it out. But it does look like it's 8.1? I'm on DP, and I'm working so I am waiting to download until I'm don't with this server down.

What are you talking about? Denim was released for the 822 and 928 and if people have properly updated their phones (turning off DP and then checking extras+info doesn't count) then they have Denim installed.

 

[pankaj981]

The firmware says Denim, it's a bug, it's actually Cyan. We won't see Denim until end of 2015 at the rate Verizon sends it out. But it does look like it's 8.1? I'm on DP, and I'm working so I am waiting to download until I'm don't with this server down.

That Cyan firmware you're seeing is actually the final Denim firmware as rebranded by Microsoft

 

[realwarder]

That Cyan firmware you're seeing is actually the final Denim firmware as rebranded by Microsoft

Yep. Denim on older phones = Cyan firmware with OS updates.

 

[savagegamer]

Also, to clear up OS/firmware version numbers:

In the Settings -> About (phone name) -> More Info -> OS Version

8.10.14203.306 - No Developer Preview
8.10.14219.341 - Developer Preview (The higher version from what Verizon released is the recent update that added cellular data toggle to action center)

In the Settings -> About (phone name) -> More Info -> Firmware Revision number

3051.50009.1446.0093 - Denim installed

What's odd is the "Extras + Info" screen shows 3051.50009.1446.10437 not sure if this is a bug that they don't match or if the "Core Build ID" and "Firmware Revision Number" are not truly the same thing even though their numbering scheme is nearly identical.

Check your numbers and if you have what's shown above you're all up to date and setup with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 and Denim Firmware.

My OS version is 8.xx.xxxxx.341 even after a hard reset, and I didn't install developer preview again. Also my revision number is 3051.50009.1446.0093, so I should be all up to date on my 928. However, I do not have hello cortana. If I do have it, it's not enabled.

So, does the verizon update come with "hello cortana?" If so, is there something extra that has to be done to enable it?

Thanks