All About Symbian - Symbian, Nokia and S60 unwrapped.
The Nokia N97 gets v21 and further tweaks
Published by Steve Litchfield at 8:16 UTC, February 1st 2010
Well, it missed the original rumoured deadline (last Thursday), but it's here now - v21.0.045 firmware for the Nokia N97 (classic), available via NSU as a 143MB download, featuring 'better call reliability and smoother touchscreen scrolling'. Comments welcome if you can add to the changelog/overview below. In view of the limited free space on disk C:, see below for my installation recommendations. (The previous firmware version was v20, the first to bring in Symbian^2-like full kinetic scrolling in all screens.)
Installation
1. Back up your data to memory card, using the tool in File manager on your N97.
2. Install v21 via Nokia Software Update on a Windows PC. Over-the-air updates to v21 will be available 'shortly'.
3. All your data *should* be maintained, but I'd strongly recommend doing a hard reset afterwards anyway, i.e. *#7370# from the homescreen dialler.
4. Restore your data (but not settings) from your memory card, again in File manager.
5. Set up any email/Internet/Bluetooth settings/pairings as needed.
What's new
The software contains many fixes and improvements on the earlier releases including:
- More free RAM after booting
- Improved call reliability
- Smooth touchscreen scrolling
- Browser improvements (among other changes, the toolbar stays out of the way more)
- Music player improvements
- Cleaner default (black) theme
- Improved image and video stability
Notes
- After a hard reset, there's now 53MB free on disk C:
- After removing the Facebook and AccuWeather homescreen widgets, the N97 now boots up with around 59MB of RAM free
- Disappointingly, Ovi Maps 3.3 (free) isn't in the firmware, though of course, it's an easy add-on from 'Software update' on the device, from maps.nokia.com or from the Ovi Store.
Steve Litchfield, AAS
News Discussion
krisq
Steve, could you check if the newest maps are already in ROM?
Thanks.
BTW 5mb of RAM more seems pretty good :icon14:.
Thanks.
BTW 5mb of RAM more seems pretty good :icon14:.
malerocks
Any chance of something like this coming to the mini as well soon?? :)
malerocks
Quote:
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Originally Posted by krisq
BTW 5mb of RAM more seems pretty good :icon14:.
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Unregistered
It makes no sense to put maps in ROM, because it is something that you expect to be updated regularly - more often than mature firmware. If it were in ROM, then as soon as you get the first update you will have a redundant set wasting in ROM and a downloaded one anyway. Makes more sense just to occupy the one place.
5MB is a very good improvement if you bear in mind that Symbian can do a lot more with 5MB than other OS.
Nokia seem to have been mobilised, a lot more happening these days.
5MB is a very good improvement if you bear in mind that Symbian can do a lot more with 5MB than other OS.
Nokia seem to have been mobilised, a lot more happening these days.
krisq
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
It makes no sense to put maps in ROM, because it is something that you expect to be updated regularly - more often than mature firmware. If it were in ROM, then as soon as you get the first update you will have a redundant set wasting in ROM and a downloaded one anyway. Makes more sense just to occupy the one place.
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This way we HAVE to install new/ free maps and we have to sacrifice space from C:. If new maps were already in the ROM, I would have a choice to install any new update if I would want to.
malerocks
Quote:
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Originally Posted by krisq
It's illogical to leave old version of the maps in the ROM. What for??
This way we HAVE to install new/ free maps and we have to sacrifice space from C:. If new maps were already in the ROM, I would have a choice to install any new update if I would want to. |
Quote:
| makes no sense to put maps in ROM, because it is something that you expect to be updated regularly - more often than mature firmware. If it were in ROM, then as soon as you get the first update you will have a redundant set wasting in ROM and a downloaded one anyway. Makes more sense just to occupy the one place. |
seki
no update for asian codes yet :(
Correction : its now Feb 2 here .. and all is well at least using a Singapore code gets me the update.
it was 151MB for my update.
Just a quick reminder .. use NSU and not Ovi Suite to check / update
Correction : its now Feb 2 here .. and all is well at least using a Singapore code gets me the update.
it was 151MB for my update.
Just a quick reminder .. use NSU and not Ovi Suite to check / update
j d
After i isntalled the update, my theme (NSeries2) has changed from grey to black. Am I the only one? Maybe there was corruption or something
symbianst3ph3n
The unofficial changelog
-Homescreen loads faster
-Auto-rotation is much more snappy
-Overall the device is faster
-Not much visible improvements in the music app so far as well as the video player
- Photo viewing and flicking through photos is quicker
-No visible changes in the Settings
-Applications in general load quicker
-Web browser loads pages more quicker
The unofficial bug list
-Kinetic scrolling has degraded in places like the *Calender app or Settings*
-Music Application still has a bug *Playing a music and sliding out the keyboard then pressing the down button is supposed to turn down the volume but instead it restarts the music, same applies for the up button*
-When typing fast on dialpad, it lags
-Kinetic scrolling is actually slower and choppier, it has degraded
-Homescreen loads faster
-Auto-rotation is much more snappy
-Overall the device is faster
-Not much visible improvements in the music app so far as well as the video player
- Photo viewing and flicking through photos is quicker
-No visible changes in the Settings
-Applications in general load quicker
-Web browser loads pages more quicker
The unofficial bug list
-Kinetic scrolling has degraded in places like the *Calender app or Settings*
-Music Application still has a bug *Playing a music and sliding out the keyboard then pressing the down button is supposed to turn down the volume but instead it restarts the music, same applies for the up button*
-When typing fast on dialpad, it lags
-Kinetic scrolling is actually slower and choppier, it has degraded
Unregistered
V21 may be "available" but on past form it will be months until it actually arrives for UK phons. Oh, and Maps 3.3 won't install - just gives an install failed message on V20. Ho hum. Another moment of frustration and annoyance delivered to you by Nokia!
Unregistered
first thing after an update is faster web browser and i like it..rest of the improvements have been mentioned
Unregistered
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
V21 may be "available" but on past form it will be months until it actually arrives for UK phons. Oh, and Maps 3.3 won't install - just gives an install failed message on V20. Ho hum. Another moment of frustration and annoyance delivered to you by Nokia!
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Kukeltje
I have had no problem installing maps 3.3 on FW 2.0, worked like a charm. And maybe you should bash your Telco for being so late with customized FW instead of Nokia.
I got a Vodafone branded phone in the Netherlands, unbranded it do be independent of Vodafone and now have the v2.1 fw... so...
I got a Vodafone branded phone in the Netherlands, unbranded it do be independent of Vodafone and now have the v2.1 fw... so...
avensus
No update yet for the last batch of UK Sim Free phones (0585162)
Checked via Ovi, Nokia Software Updater and OTA just in case.
Currently running 20.0.19, and on my recent format I had 56Mb free on C: so don't know if this update takes something away or installs extra rubbish. Why they can't leave Qik and Boingo as seperate apps I don't know.
Where does the update install Quick Office? And is it the latest version or do I need to use C: drive space downloading the version 6 update again! (When I get to update my phone that is! :rolleyes: )
Quote:
|
Latest available software for Nokia N97, product code 0585162 Version: 20.0.019 |
Currently running 20.0.19, and on my recent format I had 56Mb free on C: so don't know if this update takes something away or installs extra rubbish. Why they can't leave Qik and Boingo as seperate apps I don't know.
Where does the update install Quick Office? And is it the latest version or do I need to use C: drive space downloading the version 6 update again! (When I get to update my phone that is! :rolleyes: )
juwlz
Hi Steve
What are the Music Player improvements?
The one thing in V20 that really bugs me is that if you get to Music Player via Recently Played (and therefore from the home page widget), "back" now takes you back to where it was launched from, rather than back to the folder containing the podcast (in my case) is in as it used to on earlier firmware versions.
Also, is it yet possible to put podcasts in playlists, or to sort podcasts into ascending order of date, rather than descending? For some strange (according to Nokia) reason, I like to listen to my podcasts (especially those that are serialised radio programmes!) in the order they were made available, rather than most recent first.
Julie
What are the Music Player improvements?
The one thing in V20 that really bugs me is that if you get to Music Player via Recently Played (and therefore from the home page widget), "back" now takes you back to where it was launched from, rather than back to the folder containing the podcast (in my case) is in as it used to on earlier firmware versions.
Also, is it yet possible to put podcasts in playlists, or to sort podcasts into ascending order of date, rather than descending? For some strange (according to Nokia) reason, I like to listen to my podcasts (especially those that are serialised radio programmes!) in the order they were made available, rather than most recent first.
Julie
krisq
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by juwlz
The one thing in V20 that really bugs me is that if you get to Music Player via Recently Played (and therefore from the home page widget), "back" now takes you back to where it was launched from, rather than back to the folder containing the podcast (in my case) is in as it used to on earlier firmware versions.
Julie |
slitchfield
@avensus: Sadly, Quickoffice is still at v4.2 - you'd have thought they'd have worked the free upgrade in there..... So yes, you'll have to update again.
KamHo
Contact phone numbers now sync automatically with my car's Bluetooth Handsfree System without me having to run an add on program.
JulianG
Quote:
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Originally Posted by KamHo
Contact phone numbers now sync automatically with my car's Bluetooth Handsfree System without me having to run an add on program.
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KamHo
Quote:
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Originally Posted by JulianG
What car have you got, does this mean that Nokia can sync with BMW et al as the Iphone does?
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Unregistered
My experiences so far:
The good:
- The WebKit browser seems slightly faster.
- Launching apps also generally seems a little faster.
- Haven't the checked the exact RAM available, but I can run "Raging Thunder" game while having Music Player running and playing plus SMS/Email app open at very least, so that is an improvement (Raging Thunder is HEAVY in terms of RAM usage).
- Music Player:
- Album art (for first album) under "Artists" is now displayed, which is nice.
- Otherwise it seems to work more or less the same, for better or worse.
The bad / indifferent:
- Kinetic scrolling is more or less the same, can't really feel a big difference.
- Observed a single WebKit browser crash (spontanious quitting). Could be random as usual.
- I really hate, what Nokia has done with NSeries2 theme, esspecially the Widgets...it looks like shit.
Things I haven't tested yet, but will test soon:
- The WSOD problem on phone re-start: Hopefully this is solved now, so that I don't need to carry the charger around everytime I restart the phone (to prevent the WSOD).
In general I think this firmware improves the phone.
But goddammit Nokia, why change the themes.....FFS. Not a deal-breaker but unneccessarily annoying.
The good:
- The WebKit browser seems slightly faster.
- Launching apps also generally seems a little faster.
- Haven't the checked the exact RAM available, but I can run "Raging Thunder" game while having Music Player running and playing plus SMS/Email app open at very least, so that is an improvement (Raging Thunder is HEAVY in terms of RAM usage).
- Music Player:
- Album art (for first album) under "Artists" is now displayed, which is nice.
- Otherwise it seems to work more or less the same, for better or worse.
The bad / indifferent:
- Kinetic scrolling is more or less the same, can't really feel a big difference.
- Observed a single WebKit browser crash (spontanious quitting). Could be random as usual.
- I really hate, what Nokia has done with NSeries2 theme, esspecially the Widgets...it looks like shit.
Things I haven't tested yet, but will test soon:
- The WSOD problem on phone re-start: Hopefully this is solved now, so that I don't need to carry the charger around everytime I restart the phone (to prevent the WSOD).
In general I think this firmware improves the phone.
But goddammit Nokia, why change the themes.....FFS. Not a deal-breaker but unneccessarily annoying.
delanz
Installed on mine.
Observations:
Music Player.
***********
1. detected more songs than previously when refresh music library.
2. more album arts displayed.
Photos.
*******
1. Faster scrolling.
2. Zoom on image will load the high resolution version, previously a hit and miss.
System.
*******
1. Free ram after booting - 52mb (up from 45mb)
2. Apps loads faster
Observations:
Music Player.
***********
1. detected more songs than previously when refresh music library.
2. more album arts displayed.
Photos.
*******
1. Faster scrolling.
2. Zoom on image will load the high resolution version, previously a hit and miss.
System.
*******
1. Free ram after booting - 52mb (up from 45mb)
2. Apps loads faster
krisq
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Unregistered
But goddammit Nokia, why change the themes.....FFS. Not a deal-breaker but unneccessarily annoying.
|
slitchfield
It'll be to do with the fact that the new default theme is lighter and uses less RAM, I suspect. One small contributor to the overall RAM gain. As you've seen, if you then install a heavy 3rd party theme and then do something graphical over the top, it's not surprising that operation is slower - not that I'm defending Nokia, the processor in this thing should have been faster etc
avensus
3 things I would still like for N97:
1. Nokia inbuilt server app (like Home Server on N95) / DLNA like on the Samsungs,
2. Nokia Internet Radio (Touch),
3. The ability to choose a Music Player default watch folder so it doesn't pick up ringtones. (And similarly for the Pictures folder so it doesn't pick up icons/graphics and pictures from applications that you've installed.)
Obviously they don't deem (1) popular enough, (2) if we haven't got it by now Nokia aren't interested in it anymore, and (3) seems so basic of a music player function that it should be there.
No doubt by then Nokia will have released another flagship phone, and give me some more things to find flaws with. I hate being a tech head. :D
1. Nokia inbuilt server app (like Home Server on N95) / DLNA like on the Samsungs,
2. Nokia Internet Radio (Touch),
3. The ability to choose a Music Player default watch folder so it doesn't pick up ringtones. (And similarly for the Pictures folder so it doesn't pick up icons/graphics and pictures from applications that you've installed.)
Obviously they don't deem (1) popular enough, (2) if we haven't got it by now Nokia aren't interested in it anymore, and (3) seems so basic of a music player function that it should be there.
No doubt by then Nokia will have released another flagship phone, and give me some more things to find flaws with. I hate being a tech head. :D
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