It’s been a while since the N900 got its last PR1.2 update. The N900 was a very rough black diamond, but the last firmware and updates to several applications have made the N900 quite a polished device. As always, there’s room for improvement. Last year we wrote The N900 Fix list and we’re happy that several items were fixed in one way or another: OVI Store for the N900 has been enabled through the firmware update, Nokia Messaging now works in more regions and even though we didn’t get the full portrait mode support, the browser now fully supports it.

We also asked for Better Podcast support in the Music Player. On Symbian devices like the N97 the Music Player correctly identifies Podcasts and creates a Podcast folder. With the N900 there is no way this can be done other than using Playlist. What’s also missing is a resume feature, for Podcasts. Technically it wasn’t a firmware that fixed this, but rather an update the best podcasting app for the N900:gPodder. It now fully supports auto-resume, so we can remove that from the list. Lastly support for more IM services was our the list and even though we didn’t get that either we did get superb Skype video support. We have been hearing rumors that another update is in the  works. One year later,here are a few updates that could make a big difference on the N900:

1. Flash 10.1: The official word was that the N900 won’t be getting the Flash 10.1 update, but we’re still hoping that it will. Flash 10.1 means support for more Flash sites, hardware acceleration for Flash content and several enhancements for mobile devices. The N900 was actually the first device to run the Flash 10.1 before it’s official release. We don’t see why this can’t be added now that the final version is out.

2.OVI Maps with voice guided, turn-by-turn navigation. It’s seemed almost to good to be through. Free, voice guided, turn-by-turn navigation, for life. All the latest Symbian devices have it, except for the N900. The N900 does have OVI Maps and it does show you your exact position, finds you places and gives you direction. Sound good right? Except that it lacks voice guidance and many other enhancements that have made OVI Map a must-have feature.

3.Email Widget should work with Nokia Messaging. PR1.2 introduced us to the Email widget, but unfortunately it doesn’t work with Nokia’s own Nokia Messaging service! It’s a well documented bug that Nokia is aware of and hopefully they’ll get it fixed soon.

4.Equalizer: The N900 has a great finger-friendly and beautiful Music Player, and good sound quality and volume headroom that could make an audiophile proud,but strangely missing is one of the most basic features: the Equalizer.

5.Support for Live Messenger and Live Drive: Would it be great to have built-in support for Live Messenger and the ability to upload files to Live Drive’s 25GB storage?

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It’s that time again! You lucky folks in the UK should now be getting that orange notification icon, signaling that PR1.2 is FINALLY here. The rest of the world should follow on Wednesday, but were not sure yet whether it will slow release throughout the week or if every other region will get it immediately. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

If you don’t want to wait till tomorrow, you can always grab the update here and follow the steps in our How To Hard Reset the N900 guide.

Not sure what to expect from this update? Head on over to the Maemo 5/PR1.2 Wiki to get all the details.

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The Nokia N900 has received a small 16.2Mb over-the-air update that brings it up V3.2010.02-08 (PR1.1.1). This is likely an over-the-air only update that has started to hit many, but not all product codes and should reach most if not all by this week.

This minor update will make room for a second, major update that’s supposed to come out very soon that could bring Qt to the N900.

Other than make way for the upcoming major firmware, it also should properly support OpenGL ES 1.1 and fix a bug that I’ve been experiencing myself where the N900 can’t to a WiFi network until it is restarted. More of these community reported fixes can be found here.

What other changes have you noticed?

A minor firmware version 1.2009.44-1 has been released for the N900, that should set thing up and make way for the upcoming major update build 51 (PR-1.1).

The software is will be available as an over-the-air update (18.5Mb) or via the Nokia Software Update on the PC (160Mb+). N900 users connected to the Internet should receive a notification in the device’s Status Area that a software update of Maemo 5 is available. Alternatively you can go straight to the App. manager and go to “Update”, there you should see an update called ‘Maemo 5.”

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We’ve known for a while that the N900 is supposed to receive a firmware update before the year ends, bringing the much request portrait mode.

Now we have confirmation that the N97 will also be getting an update before the year ends, specifically “mid-late December 2009.” No word yet on what it will bring, but at least now we know it’s coming.

In terms of firmware updates, the period between the current and upcoming updates is considered very short, clearly illustrating that a short period between updates is a sign of how important a device is to Nokia.

Via: N97fanatics

As we expected, firmware version 20 (Also known as V2.0) for the N97 has appeared in the very last week of October, keeping true to Nokia’s promise of an “October 2009 release.”

The firmware has yet to appear for some product codes and as a FOTA update on the N97’s SW Update app. The SW Update on the N97 does inform the user that an “important” “Phone Software” is available for the N97, but it doesn’t allow for updating over-the-air, well at least not yet. But it does point to the www.nokia.com/softwareupdate site to update the phone via the PC.

The download on Nokia Software Updater (NSU) ranges anywhere from 130 to 150MB and overall I can report that the update on my N97 went smoothly.

Improvements in firmware 20.2.019 are (Thanks to Allaboutsymbian):

• A reworked memory mapping model – this means that applications use the (relatively) limited RAM much more efficiently and you should rarely see any memory errors. Note that the available ‘Free RAM’ after booting is now a lot less (around 47MB), but don’t take this raw number too literally – apps apparently use less RAM than before
• Kinetic scrolling in the User Interface in all lists and larger-than-screen views
• The keyboard driver has been enhanced so that a long press on any key brings up its associated ‘function’ symbol (or number)
• Music player shows album art more reliably, plus extra MP3 ID3 information
• Half a dozen new social media and services widgets have been added by default
• Camera still and video improvements
• Improvements to stereo speaker volume
• Offline mode for homescreen widgets (shown below)
• Ovi Maps 3 is now included (shown below, saving 7MB of your C disk, compared to the current situation)
• Ovi Store client now integrated (saving more space) (Ovi Contacts also not in the final distribution as expected)
• More responsive touchscreen driver (so fewer ‘missed taps’) and the usual minor bug fixes across the board
• Improvements to Sync system (hopefully paving the way for more reliable syncing with, among others, iSync on the Mac)

The feature that stands out the most however is the Kinetic scrolling implemented throughout the UI, making the N97 feel like a completely new phone. This is especially handy in the Music Player. With the added speed and smoothness, this updates breathes much needed life in the N97, making it even more pleasant to use.

Skype is missing, but what we are hearing is that this will be added soon as an update in the SW Update application. We were also promised several new built-in widgets and apps, but I have yet to find a new app or widget other than Vlingo.

What new feature did you find in this new update? Did you find any other apps or widgets other than Vlingo? Let us know.

The highly anticipated firmware version v20 (also known as v2.0) was promised to be available sometime in October. The first reports indicated an “early October” release, with this later on becoming “mid October” and now we’re hearing “the end of October.” With less than a week to go before we actually reach the end October there are just two scenarios left. Either the firmware becomes available this coming week or will  be pushed back to a later date.

The last scenario is unlikely as it would indicate problems with the firmware that need to be ironed out. The reason why this is unlikely is because the N97 mini has just been released sporting the same firmware v20. A delay for the n97’s  firmware v20, would mean delays for the N97 mini’s launch.

Because of this were willing to bet that firmware v20 will start to roll out sometime this week, with a host of pre-installed apps, new widgets, kinetic scrolling, long press for alternative characters, more free Phone Memory, additional album art and info in the music player and other performance enhancement and bug fixes.

When do you think we’ll see firmware version 20?

Image: Courtesy  The S60 Blog

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Nokia has just release the long awaited firmware v20.115 for the N86 8MP. As expected, Nokia’s imaging flagship receives tons of camera related improvements and features, most notably Face detection, a first in a Nokia camera phone.

According to Allaboutsymbian this update bring the following updates:

Camera improvements:

• Improved still image quality
• Improved video quality
• Face detection added
• Red-eye removal added (Nokia note: “this is image processing which removes the red-eye. You need to be in red-eye reduction flash mode for it to be operational. Other flash modes it is disabled as there is a small shot to shot impact due to the extra image processing.”)
• New focus point indication – this shows where in the scene the camera is focussing
• Improved Close-up focus. (Nokia note: “As a result you will find in most situations you can focus much closer than before. The new focus point indication will also help in confirming which part of your subject is used for critical focus checking”)

Significant bug fixes to:

• Web
• Music store client
• RealPlayer
• Ovi Maps
• Here and Now
• N-Gage client
• Nokia Messaging

Other improvements:

• Automatic VoIP re-registration.
• Ovi Chat shortcut on the homescreen
• new Ovi services splash screen
• Ovi Store client

The update is quite  large at 7557 kb (for a firmware-over-the-air update) and is accessible from the home screen by pressing *#0000# or by going to the Software Update application. We’ll be taking a look at the new camera features very soon.

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Nokia N97 firmware version 12.2.024 is now available via Nokia Software update and Nokia Ovi Suite 2.0. Today’s firmware can be considered remarkable due to the fact that I can’t remember one single firmware being so widely available from day one! Usually EURO models are the first to get the update, followed by the APAC models, while NAM devices sometimes get it months after the initial release. From what I’ve seen the firmware seems to be readily available among APAC, EURO and NAM devices at the same time.

For me this also marks an important transition from Nokia Software Updater to the all-in-one solution that is OVI Suite 2.0. Lately I was committed on only using OVI Suite 2.0, with the exception being Nokia Software Updater for my firmware upgrades. OVI Suite is Nokia’s all-in-one solution that is set to replace many of their current software products like PC Suite, Software Updater and Map Loader. Despite being a BETA release, firmware upgrade via OVI Suite went smooth and fast. Could this mark the end for Nokia Software Updater (NSU)?

As for the N97, it seems noticeably faster, whereas before I constantly had to deal with slowdowns. Transition effects also seem to work much smoother, but no signs yet of new features. No word yet on the exact changes and fixes, but usually those pop-up in a few days.

Worth noting is that  today’s update isn’t considered a a major firmware judging by the slight jump in firmware v11 to v12, despite the rather large 130+ Mb file size. We do have confirmation that Nokia is planning a firmware update that includes lots of features and functions, planned to be roll out in the second half of 2009.

What has been your experience with the N97 firmware v12.2.024? Did you try OVI Suite 2.0 to update this firmware?

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By now we know that the Nokia N97 support page is up, indicating that N97 has begun shipping. In typical Nokia tradition, this should make the N97 available in about 2-3 weeks. In some cases it will even pop-up in some random town much earlier than this.

But what’s ahead? If Nokia’s latest press release  is to be believed, we can expect a few extras for the N97. It says that: “The beauty of this Nokia device is that taking it out of the box is just the beginning. As with any computer, people can constantly improve and refresh their Nokia N97 with new features, functions and fixes so they can do even more with the device.” We can safely bet that they are talking about the familiar firmware upgrade that fixes bugs, improves performance and adds new features. Nothing new there.

But the press release goes on saying that: “An exciting roadmap of new features and functions is planned to roll out in the second half of 2009.” Are they talking about new features and services for all devices or something specifically for the N97? Considering the fact that it was a N97 press release it looks like Nokia could be planning some new features and functions for the N97. Apparently these won’t ship with the device, but should roll out in the second half of 2009 as some kind of a “feature pack.”

All of this makes sense as Nokia has been actively updating their devices with firmware updates and even using alternative ways to do this, just look at the recent Flash lite 3.1 update for the 5800 XpressMusic. This could just be taking it to the next level! One reason for the release in the second half of 2009 could be that they were already pushing the N97 towards a strict deadline and bringing these updates at a later time would help them meet this deadline.

But the question question is: what new features could they add to the N97?

Confirmed: An entire set of new features are coming for the N97, including built-in Skype integration. We’ve also received information about built-in support for several social networks.

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