I think it is just software conflicts somewhere, a bad tweak, cab, reg edit....what phone symbol you are referring to, the one you posted I have seen before, the odd one at times appear when first booting and ppc still trying to know what the phuk is going on with it
no signal, no data....think it is just one step before t finds life.
I will definitely take that thing back if it misbehaves like before, could be a bad flash...i dunno really.Good luck and thxx for keeping us posted