How to: Optimise the Nokia N97 (v12)

It's all well and good for those that can actually get v12!

The poor folk in the UK that bought the unbranded version can't update to v12 yet. I'll put money on it that v20 doesn't arrive in the UK until 2010.

I'm considering the n97 as I don't see 3 getting the n900. However I also doubt 3 will bother updating the fW to v2.0.

If there were enough complaints to OfCom for instance, what do you think the chances are for legislation to be passed in the telecomms industry that every FW update must be supported by networks?

Just a thought...

Tahir

Flash issue is a huge problem for me. My cat just won't wait in a frozen position until I turn the light on! 😉

Seriously I think this is a major flaw in the hardware design of the camera cover especially in the white edition of the N97. The border around the flash is painted silver instead of black inside thus reflecting the flash light like a mirror. I get a white fog with decreasing intensity from left to right accross all flash photos. Not sure if this is related to the scratch I have on the lens cover glass.

Would be great if nokia would replace the lens covers having BOTH problems the scratches and the reflections fixed. Together with firmware v20 the N97 would become the perfect device for me even despite the new N900.

for those who cant update, why not change the product code to the available update one. then, viola can update already. js make sure, u remember ur original product code

Good article Steeve... all the tips and tricks, can also be used on other S60 phones. The little RAM and Mem C problem, also applies to 5800. Some things, like third part themes, could be a serious problem, even on S60 v3 devices, like N82 / N95. Keep the good work:icon14:

Steve,
with 32gb mass storage known to be pretty slow, are you still suggesting installing apps on it?
Did you notice diffrence in performance/startup time of apps from c:\ and mass storage?

czarnikjak

To the person that suggested changing product codes: That is only an option for those that no longer or do not have a valid warranty. It's not the perfect solution to everything.

Perhaps it's time that a respectable mobile news site tried to help with the firmware situation in the UK by using it's influence?

On the one hand I'm kind of bored with the endless stream of N97 articles on this site, it does seem a little OTT.

On the other hand, I think great, way to go! The N97 is the flagship handset and despite being somewhat slated in the blogosphere (as if that actually had any effect in real terms - those with the least to say in society shout the loudest), is selling in vast numbers and is a lot better than snotty 'pro' opinion. So it is good that you are focussing on it (especially with all those users out there) and helping people make the most out of it.

I now won't buy a handset without a Xenon flash so it's not for me (my N82 is marvellous and I look forward to the Satio) but good work for restoring the balance somewhat against the bitchy blogosphere 😊

Good article and I'll certainly send it on to my brother who's had a fair bit of grief with his N97 (taking S/W updates and not initially realising he needed to divert all S/W where possible to Mass Drive) but it's not really good enough for a top of the range (target market and certainly price-wise) product aimed in Nokia's own words at challenging the iPhone. If it requires so much modding and tweeking especially to official updates (or ignoring them and knowing which ones to accept/ignore) it's not really recommendable to anyone other than geeks, so very poor value for the price.

On top of which you recommend turning off one of the phone's key advantages; having live updating homescreen, not taking adavantage of new S/W such as maps (one of the promised benefits down the road promised at launch), not worrying that the camera is quietly destroying itself and not using the new Messaging App one key feature for my brother as a corporate user syncing with Exchange and he found the other messaging app. Not much value again for his $700 odd! And as peripheral issues NGage is going to be rubbish because of the hardware even if they get the service together and all gaming and "fun" stuff is going to be poor for same reason and it doesn't seem to be able to handle a not unreasonable amount of music.

When the phone was announced it attracted fairly immediate scepticism about the hardware and both prior to and at launch the AAS team all countered this saying it was too early to judge and the speed and capability of a phone cannot be judged by hardware alone without seeing how the software has been optimised. Not unreasonable but I thought at the time the RAM and the Proccy looked inadequate judging from the 5800 (great phone for price and released date) and that the N97 was meant to be top of the range all-comers challenger. For a product that wasn't exactly released speedily it's a bit of a mess and I think not unfair to say crippled by under spec hardware if it had the right amount of memory and a faster processor how much more impressive could this have been. On top of which Nokia could have spent the last few months improving on and adding gloss to it rather than desperately shoehorning the thing into working. The N96 was a dog at release and still is and this thing seems to be yapping a bit.

snoFlake

Compromise ... Compromise ... Compromise ... Nokia ... Nokia
Why should one pay 500� for that,
I'm bored of my N95 8gb, I guess N86 is the only option.

The N97 is in many areas much better than the N95. There is a much better (larger) screen, a better browser (kinetic scrolling makes a lot of difference) and all the enhancements that made it into Symbian during the past three years, e.g. getting rid of the manual access point selection when surfing etc.

I would wait only 2 more months. Then v20 should be available and the camera issues fixed. There is also quick progress at the third party software front.

So I would recommend to get an N97 or an N97 mini in November to replace your N95.

Unregistered wrote:To the person that suggested changing product codes: That is only an option for those that no longer or do not have a valid warranty. It's not the perfect solution to everything.

Perhaps it's time that a respectable mobile news site tried to help with the firmware situation in the UK by using it's influence?

Thake you phone into an authorised Nokia shop and have them do it "officially" then.

I did the code change. Then changed the code back again, had the phone in for a SIM contact issue and it was done under warranty OK.

When a friend took a 5800 in where the firmware wasn't available for his code, the Nokia shop upated the firmware anyway.

It's a good article, but it also shows the problems with the N97, in that it won't allow you to properly use many of the features that ought to be its main selling points. Why pay for a phone that has 32GB onboard mass memory if you can't actually use it to store your music collection?

Just about every little thing Steve says about the N97, ALSO applies to the N86 too...

It's Free Internal Storage (not Mass Memory), was 54MB when my N86 arrived on Saturday.

Now, despite me telling it to install EVERYTHING I have added to the phone since, to the E: drive (8GB Mass Storage), my Internal memory Storage (C: Drive) is now down to a paltry 20MB and falling fast.

Because as Steve says, my Maps Update went to C: without giving me a choice... My Quick Office Update went to C: without presenting a choice, and the N-Gage stuff is all on C:

So it sounds to me Steve, like this is a major issue, and indeed design shift, for new Nokias, to have LESS Free Ram, less Free Internal Storage, AND lots of stuff that only gets installed to C: without giving me a user choice.

Indeed, I can safely say, that as my first FP2 Nokia (after loads of FP1 devices), I am HATING the new OS...

It's slow - if I read a text message, then click to reply, I have to wait several seconds before it takes me into the actual typing editor... And this was at clean boot on Saturday when it arrived - it's the slowest such Nokia I have EVER owned for this aspect!

...It's buggy - it's crashed on me loads, and I have had to fully turn off sensor rotate for now, as when I lock the phone with a numeric keygaurd, if it rotates the screen as I am doing it, when I unlock the phone, it won't re-rotate to the correct portrait orientation, and whatever hangs it, does it so bad that a power off can't even be done, so I have to keep battery pulling it...

...It has some major flaws - the option to Copy / Duplicate a contact, which every single Nokia Series 60 phone I have ever possessed has, is suddenly GONE from the N86 (that is, find a contact, and then "Duplicate" it, as a copy, ready for the addition of extra info, for a contact that is thus similar - all prior phones have this - the N86 does not let you "Duplicate" a contact).

...Being FP2, Swim doesn't work on it - so not only is it bad enough that even now, Symbian has ZERO way to automatically schedule Syncs, the only thrid party tool that automated this, now does not work either. So much for this being PROGRESS.

...By the same token, no current "quick restart" applications work, even now, due to the changed API's and SDK's or whatever, that FP2 brings.

...And no matter what I seem to set or change, pressing and holding in the Zero key, as the quick shortcut for Nokias to load up the internet, takes me to a list of Bookmarks, rather than to an actual Homepage I have set, even though I have looked in all the settings i can think of, to allocate a specific homepage - if anyone knows the answer to this one, please yell!

So overall, I have to say, FP2 has left me with a MUCH less able device, than any of my previous FP1 handsets, and this includes low powered ones such as the 6120c, not just my E71, E90, N82, N95 etc. And I don't just mean the API issues - it's slower, has glaring omissions, and comes with a small amount of free internal memory which gets smaller and smaller all the time due to this issue of not having a choice WHERE to save, for all applications we add.

So to the user who said "I think I'll go for an N86 instead", let me assure you, that despite none of these issues ever being mentioned on reviews on here, it's got all the problems I mention above too. And I am on the current latest firmware as well.

Is an updated sync profile enabling iSync on the Mac also intended for v20? I think Nokia seriously should consider a smaller phone lineup so that they can pay more attention to the software.

If you wish to optimize your N97 you can always sell it and buy the samsung i8910 or wait for the n900. LoL

Does anyone find it really funny how all the Nokia lovers (Not normal users, who couldn't care less about Apple, amen!) keep banging on about Background processes and Multi-tasking and how rubbish Apple are for not allowing it on the iPhone etc etc when the N97 is seriously crippled because of it?

I kind of applaud Apple for not including this feature and keeping with the smoothness of the UI, shame about the 3GS though, as that phone could probably pi$$ all over multi-tasking and then some 😊

Irony wrote:when the N97 is seriously crippled because of it?

Methinks you exagerate. I'm regularly running 10 or 12 apps at the same time with no problems. You'll only hit RAM problems on the N97 v12 if you use multiple homescreen WRT widgets and if you then start really hammering the device with Nokia Messaging, Web and N-Gage.

For normal use, I'm really quite enjoying the N97. Surprisingly so, in fact. With the long-press thing fixed, I may even grow to like the keyboard..... 8-)

I guess an article like this may be a little upsetting to many N97 owners.

Rather than give us a "tresure map" on how to avoid to be eaten by the S60v5/Nokia beasts along our trip on the promised land, they should have delivered what their advertising promised on the first place.

Your article may be resumed like this:

* Don�t use WRT widgets
* Don�t use OVI Maps (I don�t use it anyway)
* Don�t use too much of the 32GB Flash (only to store PDFs or backup your PC)
* Smartphone OS: Don�t use it. (ie don�t install apps) they consume RAM / NAND Flash (C: )
* Don�t use Quick Office
* Don�t use Bluetooth
* Don�t use your N97 to play NGage games
* Don�t trust the GPS. It may give you erroneous locations
* Don�t install themes
* Don�t use the camera. You have to open the lens cover to use it, and it may scratch the lens
* Don�t record videos on short distance people. Ask them to take a couple steps back because you have an N97 (watch your step on the cliff)

For the record: I AM NOT AN APPLE FANBOY. I own a N97 and for 2 months it gave me nothing but problems. Most of the advices in this article had to be painly learnt by me on this time.

Note: English is not my first language, so I apologize for any typo or misspelled word.

slitchfield wrote:

For normal use, I'm really quite enjoying the N97. Surprisingly so, in fact. With the long-press thing fixed, I may even grow to like the keyboard..... 8-)

I am really looking forward to the Mini version. At the moment for me and my personal requirements there is no phone out there that can compete with the 5800, although I find the 5800 slightly too big it still has almost everything else I want.

The N97 mini looks like it will be a 5800 with a slide out qwerty, so an improvement on the 5800 should suit me well. Still a bit big but just about acceptable, the only real downer with it will be the cost at launch. I will not be an early adopter anyway, I'll wait for the price to fall, the 5800 is perfectly good to be getting on with for now.

Seriously getting annoyed with the lack of C:\ space. Once it gets into the 10Mb free mark the phone becomes noticeably sluggish.

It has to be Nokia Messaging (~10 mails a day, synced for 7 days) & Maps that are using it - have installed everything else to the 32Gb drive and used Xplore painstakingly to check file sizes of everything I can see on the drive, remove cache/temp files etc.

When the 32Gb drive works as well as it does (and it IS a lot quicker than the memory stick in my N95), why did Nokia even give us the option of using the C: drive?

And more to the point - why have they not optimised Messaging for E:? It's ridiculous having to uninstall and reinstall it regularly, especially as the Nokia Messaging server that takes your password frequently times out...

Not a good look.

Now, you're just being silly and not understanding what I was saying:

* Don�t use WRT widgets

* Don�t use OVI Maps (I don�t use it anyway)

* Don�t use too much of the 32GB Flash (only to store PDFs or backup your PC)

* Smartphone OS: Don�t use it. (ie don�t install apps) they consume RAM / NAND Flash (C: )

* Don�t use Quick Office

[QUOTE]* Don�t use Bluetooth

* Don�t use your N97 to play NGage games

* Don�t trust the GPS. It may give you erroneous locations

* Don�t install themes

* Don�t use the camera. You have to open the lens cover to use it, and it may scratch the lens

* Don�t record videos on short distance people. Ask them to take a couple steps back because you have an N97 (watch your step on the cliff)

Nearly all the above caveats can be fixed in software though. The N97 v12 is no different to the N95 v11, I reckon. And look how that turned out. In 6 months time, with the N97 at v32 firmware, we might be all be praising it as the most troublefree and stable touch smartphone. 8-)

shadamehr wrote:It's slow - if I read a text message, then click to reply, I have to wait several seconds before it takes me into the actual typing editor... And this was at clean boot on Saturday when it arrived - it's the slowest such Nokia I have EVER owned for this aspect!

I think this is my biggest disappointment with the N97. One of the big advantages of S60 was/could be, speed of operation when you are comfortable with the location of everything, but I too find it much slower than any previous N-Series or E-Series handset I've used.

In the case of the N97 we'll see what the new firmware brings, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they have skimped just a little too much on the CPU and RAM in recent devices (driven by a plan to become more profitable perhaps?) and no amount of clever programming will save them. I look forward to being disproved by v2x.

It's nice that someone like Steve posts suggestions in optimizing the Nokia N97 to improve its performance. However, this is also the downfall of the device. I believe that an ideal phone (take note, "ideal" - not perfect) should work pretty well without optimizations out of the box. It's good that Nokia provided upgrades as a way of improving the phone.

It's a marvel that Nokia still managed to grab a chunk of market in spite of the devices' mishaps w/c is probably due to the N97's effective marketing campaign. I'm betting that majority of N97 owners do not belong to our "Geekdom/Phone-smart" stypes and could care any less about RAM and performance issues and care more about the Nxx model index, satisfied to know that they have Nokia's flagship device. Same goes for the 5800 XpressMusic.

Unless the N97 proves really worthwhile, I'm sticking with the 5800 as my primary phone. The other part of the apps compatibility "void" is filled by my WM6.1 device.

I don't really understand how you can have only 10MB on the C: partition after upgrading all the programs of the N97.
I don't have one, I just have a N86, but even after updating everything and installing the n-gage client on the c: partition, I still have 38MB on C: and it's only used as a cache memory for the web browser. Everything else is installed on the E:, and often by default (podcast, n-gage games, downloaded files, france 24 cache, etc...). Furthermore when you connect the phone on your computer you can't see what's in the c: (on windows, I should try on Linux).
I also have a question about "Sw update": what is the meaning of the size in the "Sw update"? Is it the size of the downloaded update or the size of the installation?

Now, you're just being silly and not understanding what I was saying:

I WILL NOT engage on personal qualifications here. I though we were talking about a smartphone (perhaps from different points of view)

Of course, if you surgically disect my comments you�ll find an explanation or justification for everyone.

IMHO what you are missing here is the "big picture". And yes, I fully understand all what you are saying.

I�m not making an "independent" and "non-interested" opinion about a product I don�t know or have. I OWN AN N97. And the only reason I may feel silly is for having decided to buy it.

By the way, Did you pay for your N97 Steve ? Or it was handed to you to review it ?

Please understand that my opinion is biased by the fact I paid USD800 for a supposed marvel and it is very far from that. It�s not supposed I must use the phone with a "minefield map" on hand in order to avoid to step on any bomb the may hav left there.

It�s supposed I should be using it to make my life a little easier.

I would like to keep a liitle more chating here, but I now have to go to restore again all my N97 data after last night bricking.

See you around

slitchfield wrote:
v3.3 is quite useable. For a month anyway, until the underlying GPS issue is fixed

Hi Steve, lurv your articles man 😉 But I must interject here with a correction for the benefit of all those poor souls suffering.

Which GPS issues? Do you mean the ones that people have been reporting and moaning about? Did Nokia tell you they'll be fixed in software?
The underlying issue is in hardware, any other glitches are part of the Ovi Maps 3.0 experience.

slitchfield wrote:
It gives good locations. it's just not that good at giving a continuous stream of them at the moment.

How do you mean? Loses GPS connection and reconnects? Or freezes? Thats because the beloved device can hardly hear the GPS signals so does the best thing it can, it stops reporting until such time as it can make sense of it.

For those who are wasting their time waiting for some micracle fix in a future firmware - STOP. Return your phone immediately.

I noticed my N97's GPS accuracy was way below par, typical accuracy (use GPS Data not Ovi Maps to determine this) fluctuating all over the place. My replacement arrived yesterday (on V11) and all the GPS glitches fixed. No more cut outs/recalculation/loss of GPS/flutuations.

Perhaps Steve your unit isn't affected by the same GPS issues that plague the rest of us? I've noticed you're on V12, so its not a UK model branded or otherwise, perhaps a EURO one? (next time you announce a firmware update, please report the product code used lest there be an angry mob). Is it normal retail version you purchased or a cherry picked edition from Nokia?

So to reiterate, if you discover that your GPS is playing up, try testing other devices to get a feel for what you should expect. If problems persist, send the darn thing back. Nokia are able to make some that aren't so shoddy.

Peace.

marlboro35 wrote:Please understand that my opinion is biased by the fact I paid USD800 for a supposed marvel and it is very far from that. It�s not supposed I must use the phone with a "minefield map" on hand in order to avoid to step on any bomb the may hav left there.

Oh indeed, I take your point and agree. There's no way I'd currently recommend a new user to go out and spend a fortune on an N97 in its *current* firmware state.

What my article was trying to do was encourage those who might have ALREADY bought an N97 to optimise it and survive the interim period until the v20 firmware without selling it off as a bad job.

rafiii wrote:I don't really understand how you can have only 10MB on the C: partition after upgrading all the programs of the N97.
I don't have one, I just have a N86, but even after updating everything and installing the n-gage client on the c: partition, I still have 38MB on C: and it's only used as a cache memory for the web browser. Everything else is installed on the E:, and often by default (podcast, n-gage games, downloaded files, france 24 cache, etc...). Furthermore when you connect the phone on your computer you can't see what's in the c: (on windows, I should try on Linux).
I also have a question about "Sw update": what is the meaning of the size in the "Sw update"? Is it the size of the downloaded update or the size of the installation?

Rafiii,

I posted earlier in this thread, curiously, to say that all of the issues Steve raises about the N97, apply TO MY N86 - that's the actual phone I have.

I could tell you one by one, my handset history, but suffice to say, I'm onto around my 67th handset now, and of them all, one was an Ericsson, two were Sony Ericssons, three or four were WinMo devices, and two were Imate devices.

All the rest, well over fifty, were NOKIA handsets.

And I have to say, the N86 is the slowest, most bug ridden Nokia I have ever owned, and I have already tried two firmware re-installs, and a full change to the none-branded firmware too, to see if it helps, and believe me it doesn't.

Even just earlier today, I spotted a Google Street View car near where I live (I'm already in an area done last time, so curious why it should be back). I took a photo of it, in standard landscape format, holding the phone as if it were a camera. And the resultant photograph, was in PORTRAIT format once I went back into my Gallery to view it. The fourth such time this has happened. I can understand it FAILING to rotate a portrait photo, so that it appears correct in the Gallery. But CHOOSING to rotate a photo ALREADY taken in Landscape anyway INTO Portrait..? Give me strength!

I give up with this phone - the sooner there's a new Firmware the better - it needs it far more so than the N97 - the N97 is just getting more coverage, as it's arguably meant to be seen as the current Nokia Flagship device.

But believe me, I can give you a list of bugs a mile long, for the N86. Today, choosing to reply to a message, it took SEVEN seconds to get me from clicking "Reply" to the editor actually appearing on screen to let me start typing. Running at the time, all I had was ShoZu, and my Music Player (which was open, but not even playing though). Nothing else, no Contacts, Web, or other background apps. Two applications, even reasonably big ones like that, have never even made my previous Nokias so much as bat an eyelid!

But getting back on topic...

You question how it can have so little free Internal Memory on the C: drive, if people are installing to E: Well let me tell you, it DOES!

I got mine on Saturday.... Now despite the specs stating that it has 74MB free C: memory, I accept this is partly used by stuff, and sure enough, on clean first boot when it arrived Saturday, this was at around 54MB or so free. Since then, every single application I have installed THAT HAS GIVEN ME A CHOICE where to store it, has gone to E:

Nevertheless, thanks to Nokia Messaging being C: only, an update to QuickOffice being C: only, and an update to Nokia maps being C: only, I now look and find I have a mere 14.2MB free on C: To make matters worse, N-Gage tells me there is a new update and do I want to download it. Now given that I KNOW this is going to go to C: only, and not give me a choice, as I know it weighs in at up to 10MB and I only have 14.2MB free, I have had to say NO.

Now, someone tell me how this qualifies as a SMARTPHONE under the circumstances.

And like I say, whilst this thread was originally about the N97, I hope Steve does not mind me making it go ever so slightly off topic, when my purpose is in flagging up to him and all others, that the issue he raises is NOT an N97 one only, but can readily be applied to any of the current crop of new Nokias that are launching with a similar arrangement to the N97, of which the N86 is just one such example.

Indeed, as outlined, I have installed EVERYTHING to E: that has the decency to give me a CHOICE in the matter. But even then, I am genuinely down to just 14.2MB free remaining on my C: drive, and that is before I even contemplate doing the N-Gage update.

You could, as Steve does, suggest I do not use/install any of the said updates that do not give a choice where to store it. But forgive me, how does that make my SmartPhone smart? And above all, this phone is meant by all concerned, to be an UPgrade to all of my last handsets. If I could run what I want on my last handsets, how is this an UPgrade?

Like Steve says about the N97, a new Firmware update can fix things in a couple of ways. Firstly, and most simply, it can come with all these updates (Messaging, N-Gage, and Maps at least), already in ROM, thus freeing up a fair bit room in C: already. However, this is indeed only a short term fix, in as soon as there is another update to each of these, we are right back to square one.

What is absolutely essentially needed, is a entire sea change in policy with Nokia, whereby EVERY application, or update, gives us a CHOICE where to install, even those that are in effect, patching or updating an application already in FIRMWARE/ROM memory.

Until Nokia make this policy change, anything we do is a far less than satisfactory workaround (in Steve's words in short, don't actually install anything - mmmm....) and even then, nothing more than a short term fix anyway.

And I am not convinced Nokia are even minded to make this policy change.

Steve, what's your view on this...?

It's clear N Series devices (not so much E ones though), are now launching with much LESS free Ram and Internal Storage than they ever used to.

So do you think Nokia will actually get wise to this HARDWARE problem, and at the very least stop making it EVEN WORSE by giving us a decent SOFTWARE solution - i.e. everything possible goes into ROM, and anything and everything else CAN be installed fully to E:

As if not, then the current Software policy, is simply making an already well documented HARDWARE issue, far far worse.

Is that not about the size of things here Steve maybe mate...?

And note to Nokia - POOOOOOLease.... A Firmware update/fix for the N86 please, just as fast as the N97 one, to fix some of the myriad bugs it has, but moreover, to get the current C: only installable updates into ROM, AND to ensure that any future updates can wholly be installed to E:

Nokia - You've saw fit to give us ever smaller and smaller Free Internal Storage with these new devices. At least have the decency to therefore let us not even touch this at all, and install EVERYTHING we want to, wholly into E: Mass Storage instead, leaving the small internal Memory you have elected to offer us, at least free anyway!

Hope this lengthy post helps add lots of info to Steve's original debate on the N97, not just flag up issues with the N86, as in truth, the reason for the issue is completely COMMON to both devices, and surely more too.