N80 Issues

[Ben]

Well, I guess I should have expected it really.

There are a number of software issues with the Nokia N80 at the moment. My software version is 3.0614.0.3 and I'm experiencing restarts, crashes and loss of connectivity to the memory card - all noted at: http://discussions.nokia.co.uk/discussions/board/message?board.id=smartphones&message.id=5450

A later software version, 3.0617.0.6, has been mentioned. I'm not sure if this resolves the various issues or not.

[Hands0n]

Bah! Nokia (and everyone else for that matter) has got to stop beta testing their firmwares on the buying public. It has become de facto these days! Gawd help us if this practise migrates to the automobile industry!!

[Ben]

Apple consumers refer to the first release of a new product as Revision A. There's a well known mantra that anyone who buys Rev. A products is asking for trouble, and a culture of waiting for Rev. B, which from what I can gather is the first 'silent update' to a product that resolves various issues.

It looks like the same now well-and-truly applies to Nokia, and probably many many other technology companies also. With these devices now so overly complicated there just seems to be no proper way to test them. Nokia will, eventually, implement Over The Air software updates and this will probably be the best possible solution to the Rev. A phenomenon.

I'd love to know Nokia's excuse for not having OTA updates in the UK already.

[slogo]

i also have the said version (.....0.3)

i read i need to go to a nokia service centre where are these? orange shop.. plus im not going to send it anywhere and im not going without a phone!

[Ben]

Welcome to Talk3G!

Nokia Service Centres are typically Carphone Warehouse stores. You'll likely be without your phone for at least a day.

Find your nearest service centre here: http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,77483,00.html

I strongly advise only having your phone flashed (a repair, under warranty) if you are experiencing difficulties. Often new firmware can introduce new bugs - sometimes more annoying than the ones fixed - or simply not address the issue you're having. Your local service centre will know, from the Nokia bulletin, if the issue you are having has been addressed or not.

[Yssybyl]

just as a point of information about testing by Nokia, general practise is that once software for a new handset becomes available with basic functionality it is released to staff - everyone working on the project and everyone in the company *around the world* (who wants to) uses the handset as their primary phone for several months and there is an incentive to log as many problems as possible in order to try and get them fixed before release date. Unfortunately, with all the different operator versions around the world not everything gets spotted and even if it is, not everything can get fixed before release to the factory. The testing is as thorough as it can be (and I'm sure is in other phone ocmpanies as well) but invariably (like all software development) time pressures prevent everything being fixed before release.
end of sucking up to old company ;)

Personally, I think that Nokia could quite easily implement downloadable patches that could be done by the end user using PC Suite, preventing all this service centre rubbish... And as Ben says, anything *new* will be less rigorous than anything that's been out for 6 months or so (not to mention cheaper) and that's true of *all* technology companies, but they all rely on our "want it now" culture...

[Hands0n]

The notion of "self help" patches is something that the industry has to go to I think. It is done in the PC industry so why not handsets that are getting ever-more complicated OSs. Given the sheer volume of handsets of any particular make and model the traditional approach to supporting out bugs and issues is long outmoded.

Perhaps a [good] sign of this is the Nokia ringtone fix for the N70 that someone has posted elsewhere on T3G. If that can be extended to all bugfixes then we'll be moving into a better and more effective era of handset support.

[Ben]

Just successfully updated to 3.0617.0.6. Generic still, of course. Will keep you posted!

[slogo]

so how long did the download take?

are you still getting problems?

i was told it is the ram being stored on the phone and it reboots after its full?

[Hands0n]

i was told it is the ram being stored on the phone and it reboots after its full?

[Sounds like a] Memory Leak - a classic coding error. One would think that these sort of errors would be history in this day and age! But unfortunately not.

Now where did I put my Basic for Beginners book :D

[Ben]

The update fixed all reboots for me. I've had one loss of connectivity with the memory card, but at least the frequency has been less than before. No other problems to report.

[Ben]

Well talk of the devil. A reboot today when I opened the slide, and a loss of connectivity with the memory card.

It's still better than it was, but this latest software has lost its shine for me.

[mob453]

Nokia N80
V 4.0020.0.1
25-06-2006
RM-92

oh dear another firmware update, and this one is a major overhaul as indicated by 4.00:rolleyes:

http://hunajatehdas.net/nokia/firmware/index_en.php?model=n80

[Ben]

Wow, I'm looking forward to this one! Let us know when somewhere appears for a download?

[mob453]

V 3.0620.0.3
16-06-2006
RM-92

seems to be latest

[slogo]

So what do i have to do to get this download, do i have to talk to anyone or can i just go into the shop and demand a download!

[solo12002]

Try looking here:

http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,1522,,00.html?orig=/softwareupdate

For all upgrades

[Ben]

Try looking here:

http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,1522,,00.html?orig=/softwareupdate

For all upgrades
Still no N80 updates on Nokia's DIY solution :( Come along Nokia, some of us have phones we want to update!

[SABI]

I have downloaded the new software update for my N80 (101 MB), but can anyone tel me how to install it on my phone.

[Ben]

Hi, welcome to Talk3G!

You can't just download and install firmware for Nokia handsets, they require special software (and usually cables) to transfer and install it. If you search the forums you'll find alternative methods, but they're not official by anyones standards.

The Nokia software update service, linked in the post above, is the official way. Unfortunately there are still no N80 updates even though I'm desperate for one.

Your best bet: Go to a Nokia service centre and have the handset flashed properly, or wait it out like me ;)

[Ben]

Still using 3.0617.0.6 here, generic, with no sign of Nokia delivering updates via the Software Update service any time soon - they're yet to provide user-servicable updates for any of the latest S60 handsets I believe.

I'm aware that my problems with my N80 are somewhat isolated. I'm tempted to do that which is a fate worse than death (go to CPW) and get it flashed there but the camera is still going to be ten times worse than my W900i's was. So, instead, I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to the prospect of an N73. From everything I've heard the N73 is a totally relentless workhorse.

What'dya reckon? N80 to N73 a bit of a crazy choice? Or the way forward?

[Hands0n]

What'dya reckon? N80 to N73 a bit of a crazy choice? Or the way forward?

I am staggered that the optics on the N80 are quite so bad. The W900i's camera is superb, even at 2Mpxl - but the camera does use a good quality lens, unlike the N80 apparently. I would feel very cheated considering the hype and the cost of the N80, especially SIM-free.

Your question is hard to answer though when the rest of the handset is considered. It is, by all accounts, a formidable handset in every [other] way. So, I think that if the camera is important and it must be a Nokia then maybe the N93 is the way forward, eschewing the N73 as an irrelevance. Although I do note that the Nokia website says of the N73


The Nokia N73 is a high-quality, 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, providing vivid photo quality for prints up to 10” x 8”. The mechanical shutter and advanced auto-focus reduce movement distortion, so your images are sharper, with greater detail, even in low light conditions.


Those optics will be critical in establishing a good quality camera device.

Given Nokia's [not so good] track record with the imaging quality of the cameras in their handsets I would want to see it in action before making any firm decision.

[Ben]

I'm hearing many reviews claiming that the N73's optics trump those even of the SE K800i cybershot phone which, let's face it, is no small claim - and the claims come, no less, from mobiletoday.co.uk's review panel!

It's the freezing when sending text messages that probably annoys me the most practically, but when I was importing loads of old photo's from my various handsets into Apple's iPhoto application the other night I realised that in the N80 my photo quality had really gone to pot. I threw iPhoto into full screen mode and was blown away at the clarity and sharpness obtained by the W900i at 23", while horrified at the pitiful blurriness and digital noise of the N80 :(

I'd go back to the W900i in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the bulk and the lack of a good web browser - Nokia's has stolen my heart. But oh, the Walkmanness.... *sob*

[Hands0n]

There, there. I know how you feel. I am going to be hard pressed to let go of my W900i come contract renewal. It has become a good friend, and a staggeringly well performing handset. I don't use it for browsing, having the T-Mob 6280 with WNW for that use.

But in every other way, the W900i's Walkman and the Cybershottedness of the camera keep that contented grin on my mush.

Oh, and I'm kinda glad that I didn't jump in for the N80 now. I'd hate to have spent out and been disappointed.