Nokia N97 Firmware Updated To Version 11.2.021

by Mike Macias on July 1, 2009

n97-firmware-update

I’m amazed. Simply shocked. The Nokia N97 has just received a firmware update today and guess what. The update is available for North America – on the first day. This is extremely rare – if it has ever happened at all.  Normally the update first comes out for EURO versions of Nokia devices then days, weeks, sometimes MONTHS later North American versions get some love. Thankfully Nokia decided to included NAM versions of the N97 in today’s firmware update. Maybe this marks a new turning point for Nokia and North American customers.

As you can see in the screenshot my Nokia N97 firmware has been updated to v. 11.2.021. Some think this firmware update is not significant, but I think it brings a lot of stability fixes that are needed.  Yesterday Vaibhav from The Symbian Blog got his hands on a changelog that seems to be correct. Check it out below:

N97 Firmware CHANGELOG

USB detection error fix
-PC does not detect N97 or USB charging connection not detected.

Widget
-Home screen online/offline widget crash fix
-Fix for “Alphabetical and Number input are mixed in facebook until end key is pressed.
-Widget UI improvement – New facebook widget fixes a problem of Home Screen background visible on soft-key area.
-Browser fixes to improve widgets stability.

MfE related fixes
-Partial fix for Messaging/calendar entry lost.
-Mail for exchange calendar entry synchronization error fix.

UI transition error fixes

-(Portrait <-> landscape transition, there is a home screen corruption.)
-UI transition (Slowness and bad effects)
-Slow Touch UI response
-Picture of the device lock appears half of the screen when transitioning the UI sometimes
-Landscape: in some cases the soft buttons on touch (right hand) show the Home Screen in background (install maps.google.com)

Photos thumbnail performance and stability improvements

-Device performance deteriorates when lots of content in the device – especially photos
-Partial fix no display backlight illumination when unlocking lock-key – CAP Genius reported already
-New version of Accueweather to improve the “Connection error” situation
-Device reset when browsing with high speed packet access (for Malaysia)
-“Browser soft key UI doesn’t work after putting Chinese character with qwerty keyboard”
-Java fixes (TCK, Pre-install app disappearing, *#7370#*)
-Operator fixes (CMCC, Hutchson and Telefonica, Vodafone)
-Ovi store client now embedded in the core image

And just this morning Nokia posted this news…

This software release includes significant improvements in the software stability, especially email, imaging, USB detection, widget stability and display transitions. To enable you to get the most out of your Nokia N97, the release also includes an Ovi store client. Further application updates will become available soon. To get this software through your device, select applications > SW Updates and choose the software you want to update. Additionally this software release is available through the Nokia Software Updater at www.nokia.com/softwareupdates.

So go ahead and try to update your firmware.

How To Update Firmware On The N97

There are 2 ways, one being easy and the other being a little hard. I’ll show you the easy way first. The N97 supports User Data Preservation so all of your contacts, data, applications, etc should be left intact just the like it is right now. It’s still a good idea to back up the entire device in case something goes wrong.

Easy Way: Type *#0000# from the N97 homescreen. The Device Updates screen should pop up. Go to Options > Check for updates and pray that an update is found. Keep in mind you’re gonna need a data connection for this. For me I got the “No Updates Found” error. So if that’s the case you need to go to the next step. If you’re lucky, then just continue following the instructions on the screen. This method should not take more than a few minutes.

Slightly Harder Way: Go to your PC and connect your N97 to it in PC Suite mode. Launch PC Suite and open the Software Updater. You might need to update that software so allow it to do so. Make sure to have a nearly full battery or the software will make you charge your phone longer. Keep in mind your computer will need to download around 143mb so sit tight. Be sure to have your N97 securely connected and don’t let anybody disconnect it during the update. Follow the on screen instructions and all should go well. You might noticed 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 N97 firmware? If so let us know what you think about it. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

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  • Name

    “another thing i notices is that whenever i connect the device with the usb, the theme changes to default one till i disconnect it, this also happens when ur syncing and also when u do the content backup in the file manager.”

    Aha, annoying – yes – but if you're connecting via mass storage mode (i.e. using the N97 as a data stick) the message that pops up tells you “unable to access drive during connection”. If you've installed your theme on the 32gb memory (sensibly) rather than the somewhat limited phone memory, I'm guessing it won't be able to access it whilst you're in mass storage mode. Bit crappy that it happens during sync and content backup when you're (presumably) connected via PC Suite (sic) mode. SORT IT OUT NOKIA!!!

    On that note, bit shambolic that the phone tells you you can connect in PC Suite mode, when the phone comes with OVI SUITE and you cannot download PC Suite from the Nokia website (at least here in the UK) for the N97 – it tells you the software isn't available for that phone. Smacks of reverse engineering and trying to use a sh1tty piece of software that was already pretty slow for phones with little if any storage for one with 32Gb. Totally off-topic, but I would advise anyone experiencing massive slow-downs transfering files to/from their N97 using OviSuite to connect via mass storage mode instead. On Windows XP it works a dream! [as fast as any USB stick I've ever had, anyway...]

    Anyhow, back on topic. Have unbranded white UK N97. No firmware update either over the air or via NSU. 11 days and counting…

  • fabx360

    i am receiving an error 1706 while i am trying to instal nokia software updater to my pc. what can i do?

  • ctmitchell1976

    Hi – I'm in the uk and am not able to upgrade either. However I spoke to the 3 approved repair centre at a Carphone Warehouse (!) in Nottingham and they insist they can do it for me. Should I risk it? I'm thinking – yes. After all if they are an approved supplier it should be fine?

    Anyone know about this?

  • Sam

    “since the update, whenever i connect the phone to the computer using the usb cord or even bluetooth, the settings for sms ( storage) changes from mass memory to phone memory, same thing for camera…”

    I've had the same problem. Any known fixes? My N97 locks up almost every time I connect using PC Suite and I have to take the battery out to shut the thing down! Annoying!

  • sitati

    I updated the firmware on my UK unlocked black N97 a couple of weeks ago. After some of the scary stories of people's n97 being completely ruined during updates, I was quite nervous when I ran into a problem of my own – after the update, I could not get to my sms inbox. Every attempt produced a 'Memory full – delete some data' error message, even though no apps were open in the background.

    Just in case anyone gets the same issue, the fix was to open the web browser, clear the cache, exit and restart the phone.

    Can't wait for the Q3 software update that's supposed to bring us skype. It's supposed to be a fully-featured version, complete with sms and skype-to-skype and skype-out over 3g. iPhone's skype client is a joke (no running in background, no calls over 3g), but Windows Mobile have quite a nice one, hope ours is as good.

  • twcroy

    Gents,

    Any idea if the update software works on an iMac running Parallels Desktop or can I do it direct via Apple's software? I've tried it several times, in Silent profile, registered phone, don't think I have any encryption or phone passwords set, and still it detects phone and current version (10.2.012), locates updated version (11.2.021), begins update, but always comes back with “Software update failed Please check that your device is switched on and connected to your PC and try locating the device again”. Any help greatly appreciated. Tim

  • Mic

    Hi, I just changed the product code of my n97 from India to HongKong. But, there was nothing new in the applications. Except for the FM radio disappearing. No new applications added. I got the language pack with chinese, but appart from that everything seems the same.

    After changing the product code, when updating with NSU, it gave the following error:
    “Nokia Software Updater has encountered a problem during device update.
    Aplication is trying now to safely finish software update. Be patient as it may take some time (about 15min). Click Continue when it becomes visible.
    Interrupting the update before it has finished will cause severe damage to the device.
    While updating:
    -Do not disconnect the device from the PC
    -Do not remove the battery from the device
    -Do not switch off the PC
    We are sory for the inconvenience.”

    The above error occurred for 3 times, which means i had to start NSU for 3 times extra, but it resumed from the updating phone and skipped the downloading part as the files were downloaded previously. Then finally it said that it has finished successfully.

    I repeated the NSU again and it had the same outcome.

    Do you think its not done properly or are there really no new applications and extra stuff included in the new firmware.

  • majordouble7

    Thought I should inform everybody…I haven't had time to investigate this further as I am at work, but my Software Updater says it's loading Firmware Update version 12.2.024. Surprised not to see anything about it from the N97 Fanatics, but a thread on it may be on its way.

    In any case, like I said, I'm at work, so I haven't had a chance to look anywhere else about news on this new Firmware Update.

  • oscar123

    Right where to start on this piece of crap fone!!! The nokia n97 has got to be the worst handset they have released…It would be a great fone if it actually worked!! This is the 4th handset i have had and im still not happy!! The weather app does not work, the emails do not work, it keeps freezin me callin anybody, it wipes my fonebook, there are endless problems including a “Software Update” promise that i keep getting from vodafone!!! There are still no updates!!! One person tells u that it will all be resolved with a software update and now im told the problem wont be solved at all!!!!! This post is advice…..DO NOT BE TEMPTED BY THE NOKIA N97!!!!

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    The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of 'social location'. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their 'status' and share their 'social location' as well as related pictures or videos.The home screen of the Nokia N97 mobile computer features the people, content and media that matter the most. Friends, social networks and news are available by simply touching the home screen. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. The Nokia N97 is also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games. Both the physical QWERTY and virtual touch input ensures efficiency in blogging, chatting, posting, sending texts or emailing.

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  • arturoferrercampo

    Agree. N97 is a real shit. I went to the NOKIA center 6 times (10$ each time fucking bustards). It hangs, the prg from OVI store doesn't work, memory in Calendar full, the mssg-email doesn't work but they offer others additional. It is the worst tlf I ever had. The last is the calendar giving a mssg that is full and noway to remove it except if I do a hard format again.

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