Nokia has announced that the long-awaited update for the N900 is available and already being released to UK users. The global release will be tomorrow (May 26), so you N900 users based in Nigeria should be on the lookout. Before this, the most up-to-date firmware was version 3.2010.02-8.002.
Some of the new features and improvements that come with this update (version 10.2010.19-1) include:
- Qt 4.6.2 is now preinstalled on the OS.
- Improvements to email
- Mail widget
- Changes for the video recording in the Camera Application
- Can dial USSD Codes
- Improved Ovi Maps user interface
- File Manager is now able to share any file and/or folder
- Portrait mode now available in MicroB web browser
- Status area is now reachable in portrait mode
- Re-arrangeable application menu
- Video calling can be accessed through contacts
- Modified Virtual Keyboard
A number of new games have also been released for the N900, including: Jurassic 3D Rollercoaster, Zen-bound, Angry Birds (level pack), Sygic, Kroll, Weatherbug, and GoGadget. Ovi Store is also got updated on this firmware.
From Nokia Conversations:
Email has been improved with the ability to accept or decline an event invitation right there in your inbox, and Facebook IM chat has also been bundled in. The release also brings with it video calling, allowing users face-to-face chatting anywhere.
An additional update you will be pleased to hear about is portrait browsing on the internet is a-go on the N900. Ovi Maps also gets the update treatment with changes to the UI, improving the experience of finding your way around. And finally, there’s also a change to the menu system UI with the first level now customisable.
Nokia has now also finally put an end to hopes for the N900 eventually running MeeGo, the replacement OS for Maemo that is the product of a collaboration betweeen Nokia and Intel. Sorry, folks, MeeGo will not be available for your beloved N900:
Many of you have been asking whether the new MeeGo platform will be supported on the N900 once it’s device-ready. Although Nokia N900 devices are being used for platform development and testing purposes by those involved in the MeeGo project, we don’t have plans for a full scale commercial MeeGo upgrade on the Nokia N900.
That settles the MeeGo for N900 angle; doesn’t it?
Back to the update, this sounds promising, and I am looking forward to downloading and installing the update OTA tomorrow. If you own an N900 and get it on your device, let’s know what you think of the new features.
PS: OTA upgrade should not delete any of your files, but just to be sure, please backup your phone before going ahead.
This post was written by
Mister Mobility – who has written 927 posts on Mobility blog.
Founder, Mobility blog, serial lifestyle entrepreneur, speaker, & writer. Charming, passionate, tenacious & non-conformist. Will dance! Follow him on Twitter @Mister_Mobility.
Related posts:
May 25th, 2010 at 12:28 pm Browsing with
Too BAd Nokia left out MeeGo upgrade. I was beginning to think that Nokia was committed to the new platform. What it just shows is that Intel is On Their Own for now.
However, the updates are only incremental and not a giant Leap and Device changing upgrade!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 25th, 2010 at 12:57 pm Browsing with
Nokia not making MeeGo available for the N900 does not translate to their not being committed to the platform. It means that MeeGo will be available on only new devices. It is a marketing/sales strategy to get subscribers to purchase new devices.
Still disappointing sha. Which geek wants to be left out of the newest thing?
The N900 is so complete already that I am not sure that any firmware update released for it can possibly be described as a “giant leap and device changing upgrade”.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 25th, 2010 at 1:50 pm Browsing with
@Yomi Adegboye. Thanks for your comments. Elucidating.
“It is a marketing/sales strategy to get subscribers to purchase new devices.”
All the same, that is one gripe I have with Nokia. Instead of innovating something compelling to make you change your mind in a future MeeGo release, they prefer to starve you off the MeeGo firmware updates immediately while they’ll offer newer devices running MeeGo right from the Box, so that you’ll buy the newer phone. Why not allow one these updates for the present N900, as well as bring a compelling newer device out at the same time? In this later case they will maintain customers’ loyalty!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 25th, 2010 at 1:57 pm Browsing with
Afewgoodmen,
That’s Nokia for you!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 7:34 am Browsing with
I’m in the UK on Vodafone. I got a Maemo update notification last night (25May). I tried to update via OTA but it said that I had to use Nokia Software Updater (NSU). I launched NSU and it told me there’s no new updates for my phone. Oh Nokia……….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am Browsing with
itambrose,
Perhaps the current firmware on your device is the Global variant, hence the message that no update was available for your device as at yesterday.
Give it a try again today.
Till now, I am yet to receive an update notification, but the day is still young….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 11:21 am Browsing with
@Itambrose. I understand your plight. I felt rushed too while attempting to upgrade my phone OS, when there was an available update then. I had to wait 24 hours before finally getting the confirmation to update!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 3:21 pm Browsing with
Yippeeee! I got my update notification at 12.41 p.m. today, backed up my device and proceeded to install the new firmware. I now have it running on my N900.
Will provide feedback on what the new firmware is like on the N900 in an upcoming post.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 10:33 pm Browsing with
Conversations Inbox Desktop Widget is gone – also missing from widget list. Have tryed to delete & reinstall with no luck.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 10:43 pm Browsing with
Since MeeGo is presently being run on the N900 for development purposes, installing it on the N900 shouldn’t be much of a problem (at least for reverse engineers) once it’s available. There is a version of Maemo known as Mer, which runs just fine on the N900.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 26th, 2010 at 10:54 pm Browsing with
Rune,
That is strange. After the update, I found all my widgets, shortcuts, files and applications intact. Incidentally, I had the Conversations widget and its still there.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 11:26 am Browsing with
If u dont want to wait for the update, go to thenokiablog.com for a tutorial on how to do it manually.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 3:52 pm Browsing with
MeeGo 1.0 for N900 released?! http://bit.ly/cJIJ9I
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 5:30 pm Browsing with
Yes, abayomi, Nokia’s statement was that there won’t be commercial support for MeeGo on the N900.
MeeGo 1.0 (the currently available version) is no more than the complete OS core that lets you boot up to command line. There is no graphical user interface. Basically, only developers and extreme geeks will look in that direction. Still, we can expect a user interface towards the end of the year.
With an active Linux community backing it, I can imagine that eventually when the handset user interface arrives, even I may be tempted to damn the consequences and upgrade my N900.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 5:59 pm Browsing with
Latest news on this update is that MeeGo update will also be available for download. Although this download is for developers and perhaps may not be an official download for the N900.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 6:07 pm Browsing with
Index of /MeeGo/releases/1.0/core/images/meego-n900-open-armv7l
That’s the download link for the Nokia N900 MeeGo OS! Any one brave enough to give it a try?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May 27th, 2010 at 6:14 pm Browsing with
Afewgoodmen,
See my previous comment above.
Why would I want to download and install an OS without a mobile UX? Run my N900 via command line only? In this age of super-fluid mobile UX?
No, thanks. For me, that would be a bad case of bravado, not bravery.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0