New N97 Firmware! Mostly Bug Fixes & Stability Updates; Unofficial Changelog

by Mike Macias on August 18, 2009

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A week ago forum member Bunion posted about new N97 firmware on the horizon, looks like he was dead on.Yesterday Nokia gave N97 users a nice little treat. You can now update your firmware to version 12.2.024 for most N97 product codes. I updated my firmware last night without a hitch. Just be sure to have a fast and dedicated internet connection because the file size was just over 146mb. Don’t be expecting any new functions or features in this firmware, it’s mostly for stability – something the N97 was lacking at launch. There is not yet an official firmware changelog, but read below to see a few differences that I’ve noticed.


Unofficial Changelog

Here is what I’ve noticed so far:

  • applications launch much faster – especially noticeable in camera app and web browser.
  • Photos application seems much more stable.
  • Menu navigation faster
  • Theme Effects a little smoother, still lacking in eye candy. I suppose this will come in next firmware.
  • Web pages load a little faster.
  • RAM management much better. This is huge for me. Coming from the E71 (the most powerful smartphone I’ve ever used) the N97 RAM was a huge letdown. This new firmware addresses this issue and so far the phone seems much more stable.
  • Loudspeaker calls seem clearer (maybe just me).
  • Touch is more sensitive. It’s actually perfect.
  • Auto-rotate seems much better.

Here is a little something Blaxx from Howard Forums posted up:

Following cases have been corrected and/or improved:
- Fix for browser cache consuming more than specified in C drive
- Battery indictor showing wrong status (2-3bars) when charging completes
- Firmware over the air (FOTA) setting correction
- User interaction to device while FOTA may cause need for user to power on/off
- Fix for calendar entry lost
- Fix for mail that may get duplicated
- Fix to resolve GPRS access point selection even if WLAN access point is available
- Fix to not to ask user to do new profile while there is already one available
- Fix to display messaging application correctly when theme effect is set to ON
- Fix for Ovi store client may not properly installed if user has a client already installed earlier version
* Applications changes – Ovi store application is now updated.

I didn’t notice any of those bugs before the firmware update, but it’s nice to see Nokia acknowledging/fixing stuff.

Screenshot of Blaxx’s N97 and the RAM situation being improved…

N97 Firmware Ram Improvement

Nimbuzz, Music Player, Web, Gravity, and Seven are all memory hungry applications. The N97 was able to handle them just fine with the new firmware. Source

 

A Big Firmware Update Coming Soon?

I don’t have any facts, but I have a feeling this stability update set up the N97 for a bigger update. Probably sometime after the Nokia World event which is only a few weeks away. We’ve heard rumors of kinetic scrolling coming to the N97, we can only hope this will be part of the next firmware. Nokia also promised built in Skype support in the second half of 2009 along with new features, so maybe we will get lucky.

 

How To Update N97 Firmware

I don’t think an over the air update is available for this firmware, but I might be wrong. It didn’t work for me at least. Connect your N97 to the computer in PC Suite mode and update using Nokia Software Updater in the PC Suite cd the phone came with. It will want you to have a near full battery. You might notice the N97 will turn dark or blink a few times – that is OK. Do not disconnect or try to use the device until it has been fully restarted and is showing you the homescreen or asking you for the security code.

Have you updated your firmware? If so let us know what changes you’ve noticed. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

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About: Mike is the editor-in-chief of N97fanatics.com and a huge mobile fanatic. He also runs MaemoFanatics.com and the popular E71fanatics.com. Contact him via email at contact@n97fanatics.com or at his Twitter page.

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  • talv

    im still not getting it :( the type of my n97 is the RM-505 wonder when we will see it!

  • http://www.eduardo.kalinowski.com.br/ Eduardo Kalinowski

    Does the data preservation works, or does one need to backup first and restore afterwards?

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    Data preservation works just fine on the N97, although you might want to backup just for a safety precaution.

  • Mike

    It worked perfectly the updating and i also noticed those improvements in the new firmware. I'd be happy if Nokia would improve the themes effects, if they would include builtin Skype and SIP calls. This phone has a huge potential.

  • gazstoke

    Apologies if this has been answered in another post but im pulling my hair out here.

    Still on firmware v10, trying to upgrade to v11 however, when i run the software updater its telling me that there is no current updates available, even though my handset is telling me the update to v11 is available. I have the latest version of the update software, ive even uninstalled it and re0installed but still no joy, can someone please help me with this, i want to get v11 sorted especially with the upcoming v12 being released.

    kind regards

    Gaz

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    Be patient, I *think* big things are on the way next month.

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    Hi Gaz,

    What region of the world are you in? Sometimes it takes time to hit certain product codes or carriers. Is your phone branded?

  • http://twitter.com/benjezzy Amir B

    Is yours is branded like mine, it will depend on your carrier and not on Nokia. Took them around 20 days last time. Im on “3″ in the UK btw. Ill soon do an article on debranding if you'd like.

  • gazstoke

    Im on vodafone in the UK. Reading the vodafone forums people have updated to v.11. saying that not sure if they have a sim free n97 with a voda sim.

  • talv

    that'd be awesome im on 3 as well! i take it you havent received the update yet then?

  • A.G

    I have been working for Nokia and I can say that it's almost impossible to add kinetic scrolling to the existing UI. Don't expect it this year.

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    Hi A.G,

    Can you please explain to us why kinetic scrolling on the n97 is almost impossible to implement when we already have eye witness accounts of it working on S60v5? Thanks for your input.
    http://www.n97fanatics.com/kinetic-scrolling-th…

  • LessThanDoug

    I'm intrigued by this comment as well. We've already seen it in the web browser and countless applications, and like Mike said, its in most of the UI on the 5530. So, obviously its not almost impossible. The only thing the 5530 was missing is kinetic scrolling in the main menus where its not in list form but in icon form. There's also rumors floating around that it will be implemented in the next firmware update which is rumored to hit in September or October. I think I read that on allaboutsymbian.com.

  • A.G

    Hi,
    what I mean is that they cant't release a new firmware and then suddenly all lists have kinetic scrolling. What they probably can do (but quite tricky, they must add a window on top of the listbox what translates the touch events into scroll events) is to add support for it in the S60 listboxes that many applications use. But what about all places where scrolling in handled manually? It won't work in 50% (wild guess) of the 3rd party applications.

    What they probably will do is to release tools and guidelines for programmers so that they can add support for kinetic scrolling in the custom controls.

  • alakdan

    Where can I get the app showing on Blaxx's N97 screenshot?

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    It's called handy taskman and costs $20. You can also look for JBAK Taskman but you must sign the application. I will make an article this week about JBAK Taskman with an upcoming version that is already signed if you'd like to wait.

    Here is the link to Handy
    http://onlysymbian.mobihand.com/product.asp?id=…

  • tiger_eye888

    Hi Mike,

    Would like to ask if you have used Epocware Handy Taskman.. is it any good?

    Cheers.

  • talv

    what network are you on? im on Three in the UK and they havent released the firmware to us yet ive been trying like 5 times a day incase they have lol! but yeah it is a real bummer!!!!

  • Andi

    Just Checked and no update for T-mobile UK cant wait for update. Love phone. Managed to get ovi maps three installed for it as my maps 2.0 wouldnt work which was built in lol

  • wolverine2031

    well I updated my phone with the new firmware version 12.2.024, only for it to crash, go into test mode, reinstal the original firmware and now it will not recognise the new updates or instal them, any suggestions?

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    Are you sure it's now on the original firmware?

  • Name

    How did u get ovi maps? I have been looking every were for ovi maps!
    i also have maps 2.0

  • Erik

    the new firmware feels great!. i can feel the difference when i changes the screen orientation between portrait and landscape.

    the smoothness for one is noticeable. really a great firmware upgrade!

  • Shrieky

    I'm from india and the v12 firmware has still not some on NSU for my region code, and today i read somewhere that nokia is releasing a new firmware mid september. Damn when will that get released in India if the v12 still hasn't come out

  • Andi

    When you go to the official nokia site as if you were going to download ovi maps. then instead of selecting n97 select the 5800 as they use the same software and it will install. Sorry for the delay

  • Name

    It's ok
    And thanks dude, hope u enjoy your n97

  • Turk

    for some reason i only get the 12.0.024 firmware
    is it the same as 12.2.024?
    im sure it isnt but every time i try to update it says im up to date.

  • putualbertolee

    @Turk:

    I think they're the same. I remember I read somewhere the second token in the version number (which in your case is 0) indicates the region or something like that.

    http://nokiapp.com/2009/08/30/nokia-n97-firmwar…

  • Wen

    anyone have the bugs on not showing shuffle n repeat icon(shuffle on n repeat all) when playing music, and internet connection won't disconnect after closing ovi store app

  • wolverine2031

    firmware shows it as reset it self, phone is working ok, though will not upgrade. on another matter since last night it fails to recognise who is calling me or texting me even though my contacts is set to phone memory only and I have not changed any thing on the phone either… lol :( ( i have tried in vain to change all contacts to start with +44 instead of 07 as thst appeared to be the problem. However the problem is still there so have now changed my contacts back :( (….

  • roh

    Can any one can help me how to get firmware version 12 for n97 in Austrlia, cuz software uppdater is no help to me. thx

  • Eric
  • bozza86

    I also have an RM-505 and was wondering the same thing, though I also can't seem to get the 11.2 firmware =(

  • roh

    dont think nokia have any concern about Ausatralia, really sad… any sug… mine network 3. did any other oz network get firmware update?

  • Mike

    Followed the instructions here as I was unable to change product code through NSS, it's just as simple. Simply read, change and then write to the phone and you are off. I installed v12 straight away and also suffered a few teething problems after reboot. Rather than my screen go funny, the screen unlock function decided to stop working had to take the battery out a few times and keep hammering the keys upon boot to allow me to do a hard reset (*#7370#). Must add that I have no idea how to implement the hard reset option shown on this site. Where is the ctrl key on the N97 keyboard??? I just used the Once done things returned to normal and i now have a Euro code N97 updated to v12 firmware. The phone ui hangs alot less which was the main improvement I was looking for. Anyway thanks for the guide it works very well although beware of the slight issues upon reboot.

  • richardhula

    CTRL key is the upshift key (on left). Press & hold CTRL + Spacebar + Delete (backspace) key whilst pressing power button for hard reset.

    Latest software version for RM-505 phone is 12.0.0.24. Software version 12.2.024 is for RM-507 phones (North America).

  • Ash

    Hi Mike,

    This might be an unusual question, but do you know what theme is used on 'Blaxx’s N97' pictured above…

    Cheers
    Ash

  • http://www.n97fanatics.com Mike Macias

    I believe he is using Shi by tehkSeven. We previewed it here on the blog and it can be found at http://www.tehkseven.net

  • sheikh asher

    Guys the above is an interesting read but can someone please tell me what version we are at in the UK, my SW update only give version 11? version 12 looks brill please help?????

  • Omar

    I downloaded the new firmware version V12.0.026 for my N97. There is no changes to my phone. I live in the UK. Not sure if it is the right version for the UK. Type RM-505. Need help. Thanks

  • Omar

    I downloaded the new firmware version V12.0.026 for my N97. There is no changes to my phone. I live in the UK. Not sure if it is the right version for the UK. Type RM-505. Need help. Thanks

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