The Nokia Guide

Firmware update v21.0.016 for the N95 now up

The N95 owners can’t complain, they’ve been getting firmware after firmware that brings the first version of the N95 up to up to speed with the same software enhancements  as the N95 8GB. The newest v21.0.016  firmware isn’t as major as the previous one, but packs quite a few important updates and enhancements. Most notably are the Flash Lite 3 which brings full flash support to the browser allowing you to view Flash-based sites like Youtube and Web runtime is included, meaning that standalone widgets are now possible. Other changes include standby-time improvements and improvements to Bluetooth headset interoperability. Steve from AllAboutSymbian is also  reporting about a few extras added in the firmware like:

-Better handling of entering lots of text into web page dialogs

-Speedier Gallery

-Faster Java runtime, so Java apps start faster

What’s wrong with these two scenenarios?

What I’ve got here is the Nokia N95 8GB with the latest version 15.0.015, it’s fast, there’s plenty of RAM and hey it even has Flas Lite 3 support to view Youtube sites. “So what’s problem?” is something that you’re probably asking yourself right now. Have a  look at this short video clip and you’ll quickly see what I’m talking about.

As you can see the Gallery takes no less than 18 seconds to open up after a fresh boot. You would expect that opening and than closing the app would have some implications as to how fast it will open up the next time, but closing the app and opening it again takes the same 18 seconds. This is a bit sad considering that the N95 8GB takes  the same amount of time to boot up, as shown here in this video clip! An app that takes as time much to open up as the device takes to bootup? Looking at a similar device with similar specs like the N82 shows that it opens up the gallery a lot faster, how come? Imaging is an important part of the N95 8 Gigger and it’s for this reason it’s easy to see that the Gallery is going to be accessed a lot, so I’m hoping this issue gets  the necessary attention and is fixed in the next firmware update.

Nokia N95 8GB firmware v15.0.015 adds Flash Lite 3, Web Run time and much needed speed

It’s strange how things work out sometimes, just a few days after I posted my N95 8GB fix list, Nokia goes ahead and releases v15.0.015 that seems to take care of some of the biggest issues I had with the N95 8GB. In points 1 and 9 I talked about the Gallery and Search being extremely slow. As luck would have it, AllAboutSymbian is reporting that both are faster and are also kept resident in memory (even after pressing 'Exit'). I talked about how the writing and reading from the built-in 8 Gigger was a little slow. Again the guys over at AllAboutsymbian are reporting some speed increases when it comes to the memory as “Doing an 'Image store' from PC Suite only took 30 seconds to scan my device, rather than several minutes on v11 firmware.” As a bonus Nokia has decided to add both Flash Lite 3 with full support in the native S60 browser and Web Run Time (WRT), the run time for Nokia's new Widget platform. I do have to say that Flash lite 3 is something that I didn’t expect at all on the N95 8GB, for some strange reason I expected to see this only on the upcoming S60 touch UI devices. In the end I’m glad that it’s here and it basically means YouTube for all! For those of you who wanted to see the cat play the piano all day, you got it! Sadly the firmware is not available for my product code, but I suggest heading over to AllAboutSymbian and the Symbian Guru, where the guys have already managed to get their hands on the latest firmware.

I really applaud Nokia for this massive improvement, but as always work is never done, so I suggest taking a look at the other 8 improvements that are left and some of the suggestions that my readers have come up with. 2 down, 8 to go….

More juicy details on that upcoming N95 Firmware

If you’re an owner of Nokia’s classic dual slider, the N95, there might be some reason to hold on to your device just in case you’re thinking of going the N95 8GB route. After the screenshots tipped up yesterday, today Symbian Freak has the juicy details regarding this magical firmware that is not only supposed to bring things like Demand Paging, the new Search app introduced on the N76 and new folders and application including the N-Gage app. If that wasn’t enough the device’s free RAM jumps from 18-20Mb to almost a whopping 30Mb! No word if the new multimedia menu has made its way into the old faithful, chances are it will. Symbian Freak is talking about V20, while the screenshot yesterday showed V21. Honestly I have no idea what it will be callled but I hope it comes. It seems out of memory days are going the way of the Dodo, well for the N95 at least. I hope Santa comes early this year, especially after making a stop in Finny. :)

Interim firmware version7.38.0.2 for E90 released, version 7.40.0.2 on the way (with A-GPS)

One of the best places for anything Symbian, in particular Symbian-based Nokia’s is Allaboutsymbian. Steve is informing us that some E90 users have gotten their hand on a new firmware that includes the much-talked-about A-GPS. It seems that this firmware version 7.38.0.2 is just an “interim release in a few markets.” Apparently the full release will be numbered: 7.40.0.2 but now word on when we can expect this. I have a feeling that we might see this in the next couple of weeks. What other new features do you think they will include in the next release?

Have 56k user updating their firmware been forgotten?

I remember the days where you had to go to a Nokia Service Center(NSC) just to get an update. If you had an NSC in your country at worst you would spend a few hours driving there and back. But for many of us (Yes me included), getting an update meant going on vacation as these NSC’s where in far- away countries. Looking back it’s pretty obvious that the situation has gotten A LOT better, as we can now update our devices right at home and that evil Pop-port is finally gone for good! The miniUSB on many new Nokia devices has also made the update process more secure.

So what is the problem then, you might be asking? Well, I didn’t have any problems until I had to experience what our friends with 56Kbps connections have to endure. A few days back I had sold my N95 (yes I’m getting the N95 8GB ASAP) and needed to restore everything to factory defaults. Doing a firmware re-install using Nokia Software Updater (NSU) was one way of achieving this. My DSL Company had problems so many subscribers had their connections lowered to slow 56k-128k. With fast connections it sometimes seemed as if the previously downloaded firmware was cached on my drive and quickly applied to the phone when you wanted to do a firmware re-install. My connections is back to normal, but during the entire ordeal the update itself took hours just to download the huge 100mb+, not fun at all. If nothing new was added to the previously installed firmware, why not save it on my drive just in case I plan to re-install the firmware? Or couldn’t they somehow include a download manager where users with slow connection could download the huge firmware file in small junks or pause when they needed to go offline? Yes I know that many places have fast connections, but what about the rest that isn’t as lucky? While we’re on the subject of firmware update, Nokia has updated the NSU to include basic firmware information. Shouldn’t they include this information in NSU? It should somehow tell you if there’s a new firmware and what’s exactly has changed right in NSU. Things have improved a lot but 56k user seemed to have been forgotten.

More info on that N76 firmware...

Symbian-Freak has posted more info on the N76 firmware v30.0.015 I had talked about earlier here and here. I don’t know how these guys manage to do it as they are always the first to get the complete firmware change log. As you may or may not know Nokia has started publishing what new features have been added to the latest firmware. As for this latest update they mention that the update adds Nokia Maps 1.0 and Search 4.0 (including the "My Content" search option from active standby) and that the software also includes several Browser and cover interface improvements. Now let’s compare this to the more detailed change log of firmware v30.0.015:

New Features:

-Nokia MAPS 1.0 Installed to the application folder

-Search application updated to version 4.0, includes ‘My content’ search and link from the active idle display.

Improvements from previous SW release: 

-Browser jams in WTAI call

-Browser exits on some WAP pages

-Cannot access SIM phonebook when Hong Kong Chinese language is selected

-Cover interface not working with PoC call

-Device reboots when camera started in cover interface while receiving a video call

-Incorrect missed call notice displayed on cover interface

-Keypad locked note does not disappear in Visualization view

-No Chinese calendar display

-PoC "talk 1 to 1" loops if call received.

-Protected audio file cannot be attached to MMS

-Web Browser does not erase user login information after initial use ofGmail

-E-Mail configuration cannot be pre-defined for operator variants

See the difference? A lot less user-friendly, but definitely more detailed. Nokia how about giving us two versions: the simple one and one especially for the I’m-an-advanced-S60-user-and-want-to-know- everything- about- my- device crowd.

Firmware info now directly available from Nokia!

Nokia S60 users who have been asking for more info about the firmware updates can finally rejoice! Nokia has listened to us and are now providing more info on software updates. The info is a bit limited as it only talks about the major features added and not the detailed stuff we usually find in the change logs floating around the net, but hey it’s a start. Let’s take for example the N76 software version 30.0.015 released on the 25^th of September 2007. They are mentioninng that the update adds Nokia Maps 1.0 and Search 4.0 (including the "My Content" search option from active standby). This software also includes several Browser and cover interface improvements.  As for the Nokia N76 Software version 20.0.041 released on the 26^th of July 2007 it adds: (A2DP – Bluetooth Stereo), Improved Bluetooth connectivity with HDW-2, Camera improvements, Browser improvements including secure page viewing and large file downloads.

I’m still left wondering for example what camera improvements they made and what has been improved in the Browser and cover. So maybe they could add more detailed info in the future, but I’m happy that they listened. Thanks Nokia! If you want to know what has changed in the latest software releases, head on over to this page.

Thinking about it, it would be even better if this added to the Nokia Software Updater (NSU). I can see it already, right before you update it tells you what has been fixed and if you would like to apply the update.

Firmware v30.0.015 for the N76 Adds Search on Active Standby

A new firmware v30.0.015 for the N76 has found its way into the wild and is dated 26-08-07. Tried updating my N76, but no updates. I’m not sure if this is already available on NSU, but it should become available the coming days and weeks. Notice the new Search feature in the Active Standby just like the N81 and N95 8GB. No word yet on the change log. If you’ve managed to get this update what changes have you noticed? If you do get a hold of the change log leave me a message in the comments section.

Update: Tried updating my N76 again and this time it did find the latest firmware for my product code. It’s currently downloading as I’m writing this and later on I will be reporting back with my findings. It’s not a huge 100MB+ download a la N95, but it’s still a big download at 72.1MB. Thinking about, maybe Nokia should make it possible for us to download firmware updates separately. I know some of you still have the good ‘ol 56K modem and being able to download the firmware in parts using those download accelerators would be very helpful.

Firmware Version 10.0.035 available for the N76

Well its official a new firmware update is available for the Nokia N76. The biggest feature added is A2DP. Nokia seems to have found a new friend in the form of the stereo Bluetooth standard as they seem to be adding the feature left and right which of course is a good thing, but I find it strange that they would keep quite about a feature that would help sell a product. Well, the fact is it’s here and I’m pretty happy about it, nice work Nokia! At first I thought that there was no update as the firmware numbers seemed to be the same, but looking more closely showed that just the last number changed indicating a not so big firmware change going from 10.0.032 to 10.0.035. This can directly be seen in the download size as it comes in at a smaller then usual 69.9MB. I know that it’s still a big file, but comparing it to the 100+MB for the last N95 update help to put things into perspective. No official change log yet, but I’ll try to get one ASAP. In the mean time if you do get hold of the change log, let me know in the comments section.