The Nokia N97 gets v20 and a new lease of life
[Story updated] Yes, it's out. For some product codes at least, with a changelog below. The next-gen Nokia N97 v20.x.019 firmware (a.k.a. PR 2.0), the biggest, most ambitious and most eagerly awaited firmware update in Nokia's history, is now available via Nokia Software Update. In short, RAM management is better and you effectively get a lot more flash memory on C: (provided you go through a little wipe/update/restore data effort) - plus the delights of kinetic, intuitive scrolling in all applications, transforming the S60 5th Edition experience, and a mountain of smaller fixes. See below for the changelog and comments.
On the right, showing N-Gage, Maps, Web, Photos and Ovi Store, all loaded in RAM at the same time - with 16MB still free - a definite improvement!
You can check for updates by going into the 'Sw update' application in your phone. Although the Nokia N97 does include UDP (User Data Preservation), and you should be able to apply this update over the top of your existing v11 or v12 installation, for anyone with any technical knowledge, I'd strongly suggest taking a slightly longer route.
Firstly, I'd suggest a backup (to memory card or PC), just in case. And then a sync of your data (e.g. to Outlook or Ovi or Google), just in case(!) Then, if you don't want to apply the update straightaway, wipe your N97's C disk with the usual *#7370# (default password 12345) and THEN apply the update. Then you can restore your data and any document files from memory card, PC or online source in the usual way.
Doing what I suggest might seem like a pain, but this is a major operating system update and you will end up with a faster, leaner phone with more space on C: free (around 55MB flash disk free on a virgin v20 N97).
Improvements in firmware 20.x.019 are: (the x varies according to region and product code)
- 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 and the elimination of 'double-tap' (highlight and then action) operations in some parts of the interface
- The keyboard driver has been enhanced so that a long press on any key brings up its associated 'function' symbol (or number). Also, (e.g. after highlighting text) a long press on the shift key brings up a 'Copy/Paste' dialog.
- Music player shows album art more reliably, plus extra MP3 ID3 information
- Some new social media and services widgets have been added by default, depending on region
- Camera still and video improvements
- Improvements to stereo speaker volume
- Offline mode for homescreen widgets (shown below)
- The N-Gage client is now included (shown below, saving 10MB of your C disk, compared to the current situation)
(apparently not in the final distro after all)
- Ovi Maps 3 is now included (shown below, saving 7MB of your C disk, compared to the current situation)
- Ovi Contacts and Ovi Store clients 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)
- Under the hood support for VoIP (though clients and documentation for using this aren't yet public)
What's missing from the v20 firmware:
- A Skype client - this will arrive as a separate download in 'Sw update', ref VoIP support mentioned above
- Nokia Internet Radio - when, oh when, will Nokia realise that, while not a show stopper, it's a much-desired application that surely can't be that hard to adapt for a touchscreen?
Comments welcomed on all aspects of this new release.... [FX:Steve lights the blue touchpaper and retires.....]
Steve Litchfield, All About Symbian
Published by Steve Litchfield at 12:49 UTC, October 27th
Categories: Hardware, Miscellaneous
Platforms: S60 5th Edition
News Discussion
I have an unbranded uk device and I can't see the update in SWUpdate
Thanks
I've managed to get one today, SIM free for £369 UKP, and will be able to upgrade immediately, even if I need to change the product code and have the hpone as it was meant to be.
I will never be stupid enough to be an early adopter.
But i could see it on Nokia Software Update! Thank god. I'm downloading the 133.9 meg right now. I've got an unlocked Australian n97, code 0576124
I wonder if the Nokia servers are overloaded?
This happened to me last time there was a new firmware. I guess i just have to go get it reflashed by nokia... again.
P
no voip - how long one has to wait to get it ?!
i do not talk about skype but sip - the manual talks about it how to set it up - but the device lacks support for it ?!
poor - very poor
Amazing speed!
My trust in nokia is a bit recovered with this update.
Unfortunately I am quite disappointed: The VoIP settings did not change. Still no integrated SIP telephony! :frown:
Have been waiting for a long time to get back all of the functionality of my N95. How long does it take Nokia?
Yes, I want the integrated functionality as in my old N95. No, I do not use skype, nimbuzz, fring etc.
[B]Update:[/B] It seems that VoIP is available in v20. More information in later comments.
No ovi maps, no n-ngage or contacts or whatever.
meh
RM-505
20.0.19:
0576124: RM-505_APAC_AUSTRALIA Black
0591376: RM-505_APAC_AUSTRALIA Black
0576208: RM-505_APAC_AUSTRALIA White
0591377: RM-505_APAC_AUSTRALIA White
0576129: RM-505_APAC_Bangladesh Black
0576211: RM-505_APAC_Bangladesh White
0576120: RM-505_APAC_CAMBODIA Black
0576132: RM-505_APAC_CAMBODIA White
0576128: RM-505_APAC_EMERGING ASIA Black
0576210: RM-505_APAC_EMERGING ASIA White
0575297: RM-505_APAC_HONG KONG black
0575841: RM-505_APAC_HONG KONG white
0575724: RM-505_APAC_INDIA Black
0576213: RM-505_APAC_INDIA White
0576121: RM-505_APAC_INDONESIA Black
0576133: RM-505_APAC_INDONESIA White
0576119: RM-505_APAC_MALAYSIA Black
0576131: RM-505_APAC_MALAYSIA White
0576126: RM-505_APAC_NEW ZEALAND Black
0576209: RM-505_APAC_NEW ZEALAND White
0576123: RM-505_APAC_PHILIPPINES Black
0576207: RM-505_APAC_PHILIPPINES White
0575722: RM-505_APAC_SINGAPORE Black
0576130: RM-505_APAC_SINGAPORE White
0575266: RM-505_APAC_TAIWAN black
0575829: RM-505_APAC_TAIWAN white
0575728: RM-505_APAC_THAILAND Black
0576135: RM-505_APAC_THAILAND White
0576122: RM-505_APAC_VIETNAM Black
0576212: RM-505_APAC_VIETNAM White
0592448: RM-505_CHINA3G_China PRC 3G silver
0589790: RM-505_CHINA3G_CHINA PRC 3G White
0576356: RM-505_EMEA_ALPS_QW Black
0576435: RM-505_EMEA_ALPS_QW White
0576364: RM-505_EMEA_BALKANS_QW Black
0576462: RM-505_EMEA_BALKANS_QW White
0576411: RM-505_EMEA_Baltian_QW Black
0576488: RM-505_EMEA_Baltian_QW White
0585556: RM-505_EMEA_Belarus_QW Black
0585574: RM-505_EMEA_Belarus_QW White
0576351: RM-505_EMEA_Benelux_FR_QW Black
0576420: RM-505_EMEA_Benelux_FR_QW White
0579050: RM-505_EMEA_Benelux_NL_QW Black
0579054: RM-505_EMEA_Benelux_NL_QW White
0579051: RM-505_EMEA_BULGARIA_QW Black
0579055: RM-505_EMEA_BULGARIA_QW White
0576410: RM-505_EMEA_CIS_QW Black
0576487: RM-505_EMEA_CIS_QW White
0581899: RM-505_EMEA_CIS_QW_2 Black
0581901: RM-505_EMEA_CIS_QW_2 White
0576366: RM-505_EMEA_CZECH_QW Black
0576468: RM-505_EMEA_CZECH_QW White
0576412: RM-505_EMEA_Estonian_QW Black
0576489: RM-505_EMEA_Estonian_QW White
0570817: RM-505_EMEA_EURO_QW1 Black
0576350: RM-505_EMEA_EURO_QW1 White
0574380: RM-505_EMEA_FRANCE_QW Black
0592009: RM-505_EMEA_FRANCE_QW Black
0576423: RM-505_EMEA_FRANCE_QW White
0592010: RM-505_EMEA_FRANCE_QW White
0576355: RM-505_EMEA_GERMAN_QW Black
0576430: RM-505_EMEA_GERMAN_QW White
0576375: RM-505_EMEA_GREECE_QW Black
0576474: RM-505_EMEA_GREECE_QW White
0576377: RM-505_EMEA_HUNGARY_QW Black
0576480: RM-505_EMEA_HUNGARY_QW White
0576413: RM-505_EMEA_ISRAEL_QW Black
0576490: RM-505_EMEA_ISRAEL_QW White
0576358: RM-505_EMEA_ITALY_QW Black
0591374: RM-505_EMEA_ITALY_QW Black
0576459: RM-505_EMEA_ITALY_QW White
0591375: RM-505_EMEA_ITALY_QW White
0579053: RM-505_EMEA_MALTA_QW Black
0579056: RM-505_EMEA_MALTA_QW White
0576406: RM-505_EMEA_MOLDOVA_QW Black
0576486: RM-505_EMEA_MOLDOVA_QW White
0576368: RM-505_EMEA_POLAND_QW Black
0576472: RM-505_EMEA_POLAND_QW White
0576363: RM-505_EMEA_PORTUGAL_QW Black
0576461: RM-505_EMEA_PORTUGAL_QW White
0576402: RM-505_EMEA_ROMANIA_QW Black
0576481: RM-505_EMEA_ROMANIA_QW White
0576403: RM-505_EMEA_RUSSIA_QW Black
0591865: RM-505_EMEA_RUSSIA_QW Black
0576484: RM-505_EMEA_RUSSIA_QW White
0591866: RM-505_EMEA_RUSSIA_QW White
0576352: RM-505_EMEA_SCAND_QW1 Black
0576425: RM-505_EMEA_SCAND_QW1 White
0576353: RM-505_EMEA_SCAND_QW2 Black
0576428: RM-505_EMEA_SCAND_QW2 White
0576365: RM-505_EMEA_SERBIA_QW Black
0576467: RM-505_EMEA_SERBIA_QW White
0576367: RM-505_EMEA_SLOVAKIA_QW Black
0576470: RM-505_EMEA_SLOVAKIA_QW White
0576360: RM-505_EMEA_SPAIN_QW Black
0576460: RM-505_EMEA_SPAIN_QW White
0580747: RM-505_EMEA_Swiss_QW Black
0580748: RM-505_EMEA_Swiss_QW White
0587797: RM-505_EMEA_Syria white
0576357: RM-505_EMEA_TURKEY_QW Black
0576458: RM-505_EMEA_TURKEY_QW White
0576405: RM-505_EMEA_UKRAINE_QW Black
0576485: RM-505_EMEA_UKRAINE_QW White
0576554: RM-505_MENA_ALGERIA black
0576573: RM-505_MENA_ALGERIA white
0575743: RM-505_MENA_ARABIC 1 black
0576558: RM-505_MENA_ARABIC 1 white
0576503: RM-505_MENA_ARABIC 2 black
0576569: RM-505_MENA_ARABIC 2 white
0576504: RM-505_MENA_EMBARGO NON GPS black
0576570: RM-505_MENA_EMBARGO NON GPS white
0576500: RM-505_MENA_KSA black
0576567: RM-505_MENA_KSA white
0576502: RM-505_MENA_LEVANT black
0580177: RM-505_MENA_LEVANT COMMON ENGLISH BLACK
0580187: RM-505_MENA_LEVANT COMMON ENGLISH WHITE
0576568: RM-505_MENA_LEVANT white
0576555: RM-505_MENA_MEA B black
0576574: RM-505_MENA_MEA B white
0576553: RM-505_MENA_NORTH AFRICA black
0576572: RM-505_MENA_NORTH AFRICA white
0576562: RM-505_MENA_SSA FRENCH Black
0576578: RM-505_MENA_SSA FRENCH White
0576560: RM-505_MENA_SSA Multi Black
0576566: RM-505_MENA_SSA Multi White
0576561: RM-505_MENA_SSA PT Black
0576577: RM-505_MENA_SSA PT White
0576559: RM-505_MENA_SSA1 Black
0576565: RM-505_MENA_SSA1 White
0576563: RM-505_MENA_SSA10 Black
0576579: RM-505_MENA_SSA10 White
0576564: RM-505_MENA_SSA11 Black
0576580: RM-505_MENA_SSA11 White
0587796: RM-505_MENA_Syria Black
0575744: RM-505_MENA_UAE black
0576576: RM-505_MENA_UAE white
0580749: RM-505_MENA_Venezuela black
0580750: RM-505_MENA_Venezuela white
20.0.24:
0576556: RM-505_MENA_FARSI black
0576575: RM-505_MENA_FARSI white
RM-506
20.1.21:
0572794: RM-506_CHINA _CTR CHINA black
0575821: RM-506_CHINA _CTR CHINA white
RM-507
20.2.19:
0576117: RM-507_NAM_ARGENTINA black
0576118: RM-507_NAM_ARGENTINA white
0580761: RM-507_NAM_AUSTRALIA_850 Black
0580762: RM-507_NAM_AUSTRALIA_850 White
0575402: RM-507_NAM_BRAZIL black
0576116: RM-507_NAM_BRAZIL white
0576557: RM-507_NAM_ISRAEL 850 Black
0588543: RM-507_NAM_ISRAEL 850 White
0575401: RM-507_NAM_LTA black
0576114: RM-507_NAM_LTA white
0575400: RM-507_NAM_NAM black
0576111: RM-507_NAM_NAM white
0583786: RM-507_NAM_NEW_ZEALAND_850 Black
0583788: RM-507_NAM_NEW_ZEALAND_850 White
0583785: RM-507_NAM_PHILIPPINES_850 Black
0583787: RM-507_NAM_PHILIPPINES_850 White
Sure, but take a look at above list. There is almost every country in the europe but not UK - again.
BTW - my phone is unbranded...
Cheers
And is this maps3.1 with the enchanced screens/icons/Michelin/Lonely Planet guides or is that the maps 3.01 just bug fixes stuff.
Before if you touched the screen with a swiping movement it was interpreted as a scroll - not any more...
Only way to use it is by opening the keyboard and using d-pad :(
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