N-Gage client queue gets hijacked

They shouldn't waste their time supporting the old N73, N93 and N93i. It's about time the users of these models updated anyway to at least FP1.

Focus on the future and leave these models in the past where they belong.

I hope you've brought an asbestos overcoat korndog... 😉

Incidentally, FWIW; I don't think the order of that list has much meaning, they're probably just highlighting models which people are most likely to buy in the near future.

I don't think app downloads make much difference anyway, the only way N-Gage will spread to a large number of people is if it's included in the firmware.

Yeah, you're gonna need the asbestos all right.

It's about time the N93 users upgraded to FP1?

How about if Nokia upgraded the N93 to FP1 instead?

I paid top dollar for the then flagship N93, which was used in the Next Gen N-gage promo material over 2 years ago. 2 months - yes, two months later, Nokia stopped releasing firmware updates for the N93, leaving several show-stopping bugs in place. How about, for example, after having taken a fantastic photo of your kid, having the phone telling you "Not enough memory to finish the operation. Close some programs first", and then not saving your photo? And this still happens after a total wipe of both the memory card and phone memory.

So, Nokia stopped giving us updates two months after the phone was released. I wonder how people would feel if they stopped getting Windows updates two months after they bought it?

That's the firmware problem. Then, on top of that, we seem to be getting N-gage last of all, even though the N93 is the oldest N-gage compatible device. We've been waiting for close to two years now!

Then there's the issue with other software that Nokia releases, such as newer versions of the web browser. We don't get those either. You'd think that a flagship phone would be fully supported for at least two years! Note that I'm not referring to technical support (which we still have), I'm referring to support in the form of new versions of software that we've already paid for.

Phew. I don't normally complain like this, but this stuff really irks me. I've considered switching to Windows Mobile, but... well... the Nokia devices are just too sexy, I can't leave them alone! I guess that sums up how I feel about the N93. I love the hardware, but the software needs updating!

Note that I'm not referring to technical support (which we still have), I'm referring to support in the form of new versions of software that we've already paid for.

...how have you already paid for the new software? Have you paid some kind of extra subscription to Nokia on top of the price of the phone?

When you buy a device all you're getting is the device and whatever comes with it. Unless there's a specific promise of firmware updates, you can't rely on manufacturers to provide them.

I'm talking beyond just phones here, TV set top boxes have a similar situation to the N93: they're sold for a certain period, and if the sales are disappointing they don't receive many firmware updates in the future.

The only way to avoid this is to wait and see how a device does before you buy it, or to try the launch firmware and make sure you're happy with it.

So, Nokia stopped giving us updates two months after the phone was released. I wonder how people would feel if they stopped getting Windows updates two months after they bought it?

I think the problem is that most people never update their phones, because most people don't even know what firmware is.

If most people never update their phones, and those who do update don't pay any extra for it, then there's not much reason for manufacturers to bother with updates on models that have sold badly and are no longer on the market.

I'm not defending this situation by the way, I'm just saying that's how the manufacturers would see things, so that's how they behave. Companies (and people for that matter) do things if they have an incentive, and there isn't much incentive to do firmware updates on products that flop.

One thing that might change this is the OTA update system, where they can provide small updates straight onto phones without wiping any user data or settings. That could become very popular with ordinary users, which could make regular updates a selling point for phones.

Well, I can understand them. Looking forward to the release of the N96, I might be holding off my purchase waiting on if and how the whole ovi/ngage stuff will be implemented on it.

@tzer2: people will probably also start upgrading their phones reguarly if they connect it with their pc/mac and get a notification everytime a new update is there...

Tzer2 wrote:...how have you already paid for the new software?

I said "new versions of software we've already paid for". The software in question is Symbian, and the software that comes with it. I've paid for that. If Nokia doesn't distribute new versions to existing users for free, then they run the risk of loosing those customers to someone who does. They are, of course, free to do as they wish, but it is my opinion that when I've bought something that doesn't work 100% (see my camera example above), the manufacturer should fix it.

I'm talking beyond just phones here, TV set top boxes have a similar situation to the N93: they're often sold for a certain period, the sales are disappointing, so they don't really receive firmware updates in the future.

I think the problem is that most people never update their phones, because most people don't even know what firmware is.

Firmware updates just aren't an issue when it comes to the mainstream market.

Yes, I agree. That's most likely the reason why Nokia hasn't updated the N93's firmware recently. But I feel that they are morally obligated to do so - because the phone I bought from them is broken.

But I feel that they are morally obligated to do so - because the phone I bought from them is broken.

If it's broken, i.e. if it doesn't do what they advertised it as doing because of some manufacturing fault, then they are LEGALLY obligated to fix it if the phone is still in guarantee.

If it is still under guarantee, try to get Nokia to fix it if it doesn't work properly. If they won't listen go to trading standards about it.

The software in question is Symbian, and the software that comes with it. I've paid for that. If Nokia doesn't distribute new versions to existing users for free, then they run the risk of loosing those customers to someone who does.

The problem with that argument is that 95% of people who buy Symbian phones don't know what "Symbian" is. They just think they're buying a Nokia or a Sony Ericsson or a Moto or a Samsung.

Most people regard a phone the same way they regard a toaster or a fridge, they expect it to carry on working but they probably don't expect it to receive new features in the future. They see what it's like in the shop, they read the reviews (which are almost all based on the first firmware), and buy it on that basis.

Looking forward to the release of the N96, I might be holding off my purchase waiting on if and how the whole ovi/ngage stuff will be implemented on it.

That's definitely the best thing to do with any device, wait to see if it has what you want before buying it.

It almost certainly will get N-Gage as it has clearly been designed with N-Gage in mind (it has N-Gage gaming keys for example), but it's worth waiting until N-Gage is actually released on the N96.

@tzer2: people will probably also start upgrading their phones reguarly if they connect it with their pc/mac and get a notification everytime a new update is there...

...how often do most people connect their phone to a computer though? 😞

But you're absolutely right that a notification system would get people updating regularly (even hardcore users miss out on updates because they don't know about them!). It would be even more effective if the update notice appears on the phone screen itself, then people can't miss it.

Have I got it right that the N78 does actually automatically notify the user that an update is available?

Nokia's latest internet tablet firmware does now do this, not just for the OS but also for all the applications installed on the tablet, so when an update is available an icon appears in the status bar.

I have started to think to get hacked version of the N-Gage application and cracked version of the N-Gage games for my N73. Gone are the days when I thought to support Nokia wholeheartedly. Thanks Nokia, for dumping the N73, N93 users (at least it seems like that). At least I won't have any moral obligation while using cracked games, as they don't seem to consider me as a potential customer. Thanks again.

One interesting thing that I noticed is, 6220 Classic is not on the list. That means (or at least it appears), Nokia aren't working to make it compatible with N-Gage. Great! They are trying their best to screw up the platform.

Considering the N96 was added to that list after the N78 I'm a little surprised it's already gotten functionality, considering the N78 has been out 3 months longer and STILL hasn't!