Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the day I take delivery of my N97 - and I don't know if I'm excited 😊 or fearful 😮.
I've read so much negative stuff in the last week I'm beginning to think I've made the wrong choice. I'm with 3UK so it's on contract. And that means I have to wait on their pleasure for any firmware updates. I waited 11 months for the first update for my N95 8GB and, if the N97 is as buggy as some say, that's a long period of frustration to look forward to.
What do you reckon - should I be looking forward to tomorrow or fearing the worst?
Will it be a :icon14:
...or will it be a :icon13:
If I was you, I would look into ways to debrand the phone so you can take standard firmware updates. Three are certainly the worst operator I have come across for delays with firmware.
Personally, if you can.t get an update for a while I'd not get one. In my opinion the phone isn't at a stage where is should have been released.
It's potentially excellent though so I've got high hopes for the 1st July.
Thanks for your comments, chaps. Not sure they made me feel any better...
How easy is it to debrand a phone from three? Never done it before
eccleshill wrote:Thanks for your comments, chaps. Not sure they made me feel any better...How easy is it to debrand a phone from three? Never done it before
do u use msn? if so add me [email][email protected][/email] and ill halp you, takes about 20 mins and its easy to do, the method i use works great xp, if you have vista we could still try it.
Thanks for that, Biggzy. I'll see how I get on for a couple of days - then I may be requiring your services!!! 😊
By the way, I use XP ( & I'll get one of my kids to explain MSN to me - they use it all the time...)
Yeah, a debrand is the answer. It may effect your guarantee but it's worth it to get the phone up to standard.
Hi eccleshill, I am also with 3 and picked up my N97 on Friday so don't worry, we're both in the same boat 😉
I have had no experience with 3 and their firmware releases but from what you say they're not good at it..!
It's very easy to debrand the phone but it does however void the warranty with 3.
Saying that, I don't think you will have a problem doing it.
The only concern I have is whether 3 can tell and/or whether we'll still be able to make free Skype calls and use MSN Messenger for free...
Anyone have any idea on this?
Edit: PS, although there are a few niggly bugs, the phone is still very useable, I'm very fussy when it comes to phones and I've never felt like throwing the phone out the window. It just needs a bit of love and attention in this next firmware upgrade.
Actually it was the availability (of lack) of theThree skype app that put me off debranding my Three E71. Is that app available from anywhere (not the standard Java app, the native Symbian app that Three pre-install and uses the mobile network to make sykpe calls)?
Hi
I have a branded N97 too - mine is branded to Vodafone. One review I read lead me to expect disappointment.
I can tell you that I am not disappointed. You can read my initial review at http://www.yaffles-corner.co.uk
Yes, of course there are bugs, but my machine has only locked up once, never crashed.
Thus far, I am a happy user of the N97.
FYI the Nokia shop in Manchester or selling unbranded N97's with a 2 year Vodafone contract for �40 a month and a free phone, yes about the same as the others but this is a generic phone with 2 year Nokia contract, no network gubbins to spoil things.
I got mine yesterday, �500 no contract. mixed feelings with the phone at the minute, several restarts, lots of scratching of the head, and a dodgy keyboard to get my head around after the superb E71.
Good luck.
I de-branded my Orange N95, quite straightforward to do. I bought a sim free N97, as I ddin't want a locked phone,a nd as I'm not in the UK much, whatever talk plan I get wouldn't be used anyway.
My phone has frozen up once so far, but since then it's been fine. I'm still getting used to it really, had the N95 for two years, so could use it blindfolded so to speak, whereas the N97 has a bit more to it, so takes some getting used IMHO - from the N95,
Its okay in terms of software, but think that the firmware upgrade will definitely improve it - fingers crossed!
nottmbantam wrote:My phone has frozen up once so far, but since then it's been fine. I'm still getting used to it really, had the N95 for two years, so could use it blindfolded so to speak, whereas the N97 has a bit more to it, so takes some getting used IMHO - from the N95
My thoughts exactly!
Must admit after nearly two days it's more a question of :icon14: than :icon13:
there was one embarrassing moment, though. My wife chose to make her first call to me at the exact same time as my son sent me a text message - and I didn't know what to do! There I was, with a group of friends showing them my latest hi-tech toy & explaining how 'smart' the device was, and a call and a text comes in in quick measure - and I didn't know how to answer the call! (I had to look at the manual to see how you answer a call...oh dear)
The only major problem I've faced is stopping the wi-fi tuning itself on. I've deleted Accuweather, which wanted to tell me every five minutes what the weather is (I can always look out of the window...), and gone into the wi-fi settings to stop auto connect & to only start manually - but it still suits itself several times a day. Anyone any suggestions?
Overall, I'm pleased with the device (I'm sure I'll get used to that keyboard!) and am very impressed with the build quality. Even the touchscreen is a lot better than I feared it would be. They'll be making a Discovery Channel documentary on that hinge one day - "Great Engineering Feats In Tech", or something. :tongue:
Well, after a week and a day, whats my verdict? It's an :icon14: for the hardware... and :icon13::icon13::icon13: for the software.
I've had an unbelievable last few days. Visited my son in Manchester over the weekend and took some pictures and a few videos of my 15 week old grandson and everything seemed fine. Then the freezing and wobblyness started.
I kept getting low memory messages (although I had 18 to 20 MB free ???) and messages asking me to close down some applications - though there were no applications open (except the 'menu' and 'home' icons). Couldn't get to my music. couldn't use the web. Couldn't connect to my PC via USB. Couldn't use the keyboard for text messages. Then the real problems started.
This (damn fine-looking) brick deleted all my videos! (including a few I'd downloaded from the BBC iPlayer) and some of my recent pictures (though not all!)
What pictures are left I can't look at ('not enough memory'😉. I can't listen to my music ('close some applications down'😉. I can't back-up the device (USB not recognised).
There's no update for the software available (I'm with 3), I've re-booted the device several times (it's sitting on my desk now with the back off and the battery out), all to no avail. I suppose the next step is a hard reset - anyone any advice on how I do this?
The funny thing is, it works as a phone - but that's all it does. And I've hardly downloaded anything. The nokia photos thingy and the Buzz widgets (which both worked fine for the few days I could use the software) are about all. And I've deleted all the installed games, non of which would open up anyway, except that 'rock guitar' game - the only one which works! (and why were none of the installed games, except the guitar one, in the 'games' folder?)
If I can't work out what the problem is by the weekend, it's going back. Potentially good as it may be, I don't want to pay �35 per month for something that MAY be good at some stage down the line. As it stands, It looks like I've got a beautifully designed �500 hinge.
ps - just put the battery back in. Can't look at my photos - not enough memory.
eccleshill, this happened to me until i took everything off phone memory (in c drive) and put it on memory card
angie x
Right ! Here is a thread about how to keep C: disc clean . It's written for 5800XM , also S60 V 5 device : http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/84082/&highlight=Save+memory
😊 Regards jApi NL
Thanks for your advice, guys. In the end I did a hard reset - and my photos & videos came back. Yeah!
However, all my contacts disappeared (I guess this is normal). No worries, I did a back-up a few days ago, lets use the 'restore' option. Did this (USB is recognised!) & got all my contacts back. Yeah!
Then I noticed all the photos and videos I'd taken in the last few days (since the back-up) had gone again. Not 'yeah'.
Are those recent video clips & photos still there on the mass memory but with broken links? If so, can anyone suggest a way of retrieving them, or are they lost forever?
I'm glad my phone is now back to normal (although that's a relative term) but, at the moment, I don't feel all that confident with the N97. In its present state I honestly couldn't recommend this phone to anyone. Unless you have the patience of a saint. And a link to AAS.
eccleshill wrote:
I kept getting low memory messages (although I had 18 to 20 MB free ???) and messages asking me to close down some applications - though there were no applications open (except the 'menu' and 'home' icons). Couldn't get to my music. couldn't use the web. Couldn't connect to my PC via USB. Couldn't use the keyboard for text messages. Then the real problems started.
Go to Apps->Office->File Manager, and look at your C: Phone Memory. If it is low, then there's your problem.
As a note, never install any app, and never keep any data (Music, Pictures, Video) on Phone Memory. I have about 30 MB free on phone memory and never encounter problems with running many apps at the same time.
If you really want to fix this, copy out all your critical data, and then do a *#7370# on the dial pad. This will completely wipe your phone memory and return it to preset. Then go to File Manager and you will see (hopefully) the memory is maxed again. This time round, be very careful you don't put any software or data to Phone Memory. You could actually also set your Mailbox in Messaging to be kept in Memory card (or mass memory, I forgot) instead of phone memory.
eccleshill wrote:Thanks for your advice, guys. In the end I did a hard reset - and my photos & videos came back. Yeah!However, all my contacts disappeared (I guess this is normal). No worries, I did a back-up a few days ago, lets use the 'restore' option. Did this (USB is recognised!) & got all my contacts back. Yeah!
Then I noticed all the photos and videos I'd taken in the last few days (since the back-up) had gone again. Not 'yeah'.
Are those recent video clips & photos still there on the mass memory but with broken links? If so, can anyone suggest a way of retrieving them, or are they lost forever?
I'm glad my phone is now back to normal (although that's a relative term) but, at the moment, I don't feel all that confident with the N97. In its present state I honestly couldn't recommend this phone to anyone. Unless you have the patience of a saint. And a link to AAS.
All my photos went from my c drive after i did a hard reset, i can't find them so i presume they've gone for good - at least we'll know what to do should we need to do this again 🙄
angie xx
eccleshill wrote:
Are those recent video clips & photos still there on the mass memory but with broken links? If so, can anyone suggest a way of retrieving them, or are they lost forever?
Hopefully broken links. Have you upgraded the firmware because this problem was supposed the be fixed on the new one (can someone confirm?)
Use File Manager and have a look in mass memory under Pictures --> Camera and then in the the folders which are sorted by date. I've got tons of snaps in there which don't show up through the normal photo app.
Hope they are still there! :icon14:
windylim wrote:Go to Apps->Office->File Manager, and look at your C: Phone Memory. If it is low, then there's your problem.As a note, never install any app, and never keep any data (Music, Pictures, Video) on Phone Memory. I have about 30 MB free on phone memory and never encounter problems with running many apps at the same time.
If you really want to fix this, copy out all your critical data, and then do a *#7370# on the dial pad. This will completely wipe your phone memory and return it to preset. Then go to File Manager and you will see (hopefully) the memory is maxed again. This time round, be very careful you don't put any software or data to Phone Memory. You could actually also set your Mailbox in Messaging to be kept in Memory card (or mass memory, I forgot) instead of phone memory.
Whoops. Just seen you already found them! Note to self - read thread more thoroughly!
windylim wrote:Go to Apps->Office->File Manager, and look at your C: Phone Memory. If it is low, then there's your problem.As a note, never install any app, and never keep any data (Music, Pictures, Video) on Phone Memory. I have about 30 MB free on phone memory and never encounter problems with running many apps at the same time.
If you really want to fix this, copy out all your critical data, and then do a *#7370# on the dial pad. This will completely wipe your phone memory and return it to preset. Then go to File Manager and you will see (hopefully) the memory is maxed again. This time round, be very careful you don't put any software or data to Phone Memory. You could actually also set your Mailbox in Messaging to be kept in Memory card (or mass memory, I forgot) instead of phone memory.
OMG yeah ...... there they are, all my missing photos !!!! thanks so much xxx
BanziBarn wrote:Hopefully broken links. Have you upgraded the firmware because this problem was supposed the be fixed on the new one (can someone confirm?)Use File Manager and have a look in mass memory under Pictures --> Camera and then in the the folders which are sorted by date. I've got tons of snaps in there which don't show up through the normal photo app.
Hope they are still there! :icon14:
1. No, I haven't been given the option of upgrading the firmware yet. My operator in the uk, 3, haven't made it available yet.
2. Thanks for that great tip of where to look in file manager - they're there! Think I'll keep them there until I do my next back-up (tonight! Lesson learnt...) then I might re-name them & see if they re-appear in gallery again.
Once again, thanks BanziBarn (& all the others who've made suggestions), you have all been a great help. :icon14::icon14:
Update on this missing picture thing. Most of my missing snaps have turned up in the Downloads section of the photos app. So, i'm thinking, maybe the phone knows if it took the photo or not and only shows such snaps in the captured section, putting all the rest in downloads? When you reset the phone maybe it forgets which photos it took?