Read-only archive of the All About Symbian forum (2001–2013) · About this archive

The Nokia N86 wins the race to v20 firmware

479 replies · 138,356 views · Started 30 September 2009

The Nokia N86 8MP has gotten its v20 firmware upgrade a full week or so ahead of schedule, with v20.115 now available over the air (*#0000# on your homescreen) and via Nokia Software Update. There's a changelog below, but all you need to know is that this preserves user data and is a must-have - it's 8MB, large for an over the air update, takes over five minutes to apply and updates getting on for 6% of all OS files and modules. Read on.

Read on in the full article.

Brilliant update to the best camera phone atm, yup the Pixon12 needs a few updates to get past the N86 atm.

Nice, major improvements in camera department as expected, however many other major issues are not resolved like when images saved to mass memory, they don't appear under Captured or Months; Music icon from main menu is broken.... I was expecting more overall improvements, not just camera ones.

Cheers,
Miki

Not available for me (yet?) :frown: I also have the version RM-484 but my product code is 0586597. I hope I won't wait a month for the upgrade.

Photos and Music work fine for me. Mind you, I was playing safe and did a sync of data and then a hard reset - maybe UDP is what's scuppering you?

Music is ok, but all images I take are saved in "All" folder and not in "Captured", so "Captured" and "Months" are always empty. That was also an issue with v11.043 and I hoped they corrected this in v20.115 but unfortunately not. Is your Music icon (red/pink one)in main menu broken as well or not? Maybe I should do full update (over 140MB) via NSU to correct this....

Cheers,
Miki

Is it possible for the new Firmware update to be unavailable to certain product codes?

It's still not showing up on mine. I believe mine has a German product code (for T-Mobile), but I bought it unlocked, overseas.

Thanks for this changelog!

Firmware does not become available for all product code instantly. You may have to wait up to a fortnight (usually its not that long) for unbranded phones. For operator variants you sometimes have to wait much longer.

And occasionally product codes do seem to be forgotten. I think this happens because someone forgets to tick a box somewhere. I recall this happening for blue versus red 5800's early in the year...

miki69 wrote:Nice, major improvements in camera department as expected, however many other major issues are not resolved like when images saved to mass memory, they don't appear under Captured or Months; Music icon from main menu is broken.... I was expecting more overall improvements, not just camera ones.

Cheers,
Miki

Hi I'd like to be clear in understanding this issue.

Could you take a new picture and check if it is visible under captured?

Images which were not taken with your specific device will not be visible in this location but only under all. That's how this was designed to make it easier to separate your captured content from other images from other sources etc.

br

srw985 wrote:Any way to remove that silly Chat shortcut from the homescreen?
I'm never going to use it

Yes. menu > tools > settings > general > personalisation > standby mode > standby theme > select horizontal icon bar.

atb

Firmware update is not on the NAM version. Just like the E71 update.

miki69 wrote:Music is ok, but all images I take are saved in "All" folder and not in "Captured", so "Captured" and "Months" are always empty. That was also an issue with v11.043 and I hoped they corrected this in v20.115 but unfortunately not. Is your Music icon (red/pink one)in main menu broken as well or not? Maybe I should do full update (over 140MB) via NSU to correct this....

Cheers,
Miki

re music icon. Do you have a standard theme? If so please share an image if you can of the problem.

atb

Thanks for the quick response, Rafe!

I have a custom version of the old firmware: 11.043.55.1, with the "55.1" being the distinguishing part. I bought my N86 unlocked, unbranded in Canada (local dealer).

Should it matter that my N86 has a custom version of the old firmware? I really, really hope it won't be forgotten. If that does end up happenning, what can I do about it? NSU via PC?

Is Face Detection function only software dependent? If yes, can it be available for other devices in the future?

Samantha_ wrote:Is Face Detection function only software dependent? If yes, can it be available for other devices in the future?

No other products in Nokia's *currently available* portfolio are planned to receive this via a FW update. This is principally because of the [more powerful] dedicated image processor N86 uses is different to other current products.

DamianDinning wrote:This is principally because of the [more powerful] dedicated image processor N86 uses is different to other current products.

Since the N86 has a more powerful processor than other N-series, would it be possible to add D1 (720x480) 30fps video recording? It's just a small step up from VGA, and most other camera-centric phones already have it. What about smile and blink detection?

rvirga wrote:Since the N86 has a more powerful processor than other N-series, would be possible to add D1 (720x480) 30fps video recording (it's just a small step up from VGA, and most other camera-centric phones already have it)? What about smile and blink detection?

Re video res. There are multiple system issues with this which make it much more complicated than it sounds unfortunately. Whilst others may have higher res I think N86 does an excellent job in capturing very good detail in a wide range of situations with great sound.

Re blink OK that I can see merit in if implemented well. Very few cam phones IMO have done achieved this. Smile detection. Other than possibly self-timer use, you're going to have to convince me that this is not just a gimmick. I'd rather our sw people spent time on other things which 1. you'll use and 2. that will allow you to genuinely take better pics.

atb

Hi Damian.

Just got in from work now 11.30pm, so not had a chance to update yet etc.

But it certainly sounds like the Camera side of this Camera-phone baby, has indeed reached dizzying new heights for a mobile phone - so well done there.

Additionally, there is a list of other Firmware features that have been fixed, which sounds encouraging.

But no mention of a whole raft of issues that currently make the phone unusable for a great many people, and as much as I am over the moon about the camera features, to be truly honest, there was nothing about the camera as it stands now, that prevented me using it, or prevented me using the phone.

So if it does transpire that all the major system bugs and problems we have flagged up have not had a chance to be fixed in this release, due to it being a prior work in progress before we pitched in with our "Issues List", could you nevertheless try to keep us happy, by giving us an assurance that you will convey any unresolved bugs on to the relevant team.

Rest assured, we wholly understand that Imaging is your forte and remit here, but as I mentioned earlier, the camera as it stood, was never preventing us from using our phone, whereas the many serious system bugs and issues ARE.

So that being the case, even just an assurance that any of the major issues that still remain after v20, if we convey them to you, you will ensure the correct people get to know about them - that would be brill mate...

Can we graciously pressurise you into that mate?

*lol*

Thanks, hopefully in advance of a "Yes".

And well done on such great camera features too - without doubt!

Late comers may also find this thread informative (Nokia N86 next firmware to include Face Detection: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/88182/)

----

Perry D. No that should not make a difference.

It can be worth trying NSU via the PC as well. Some people seem to find this method more reliable.

However patience is probably the best thing here!

-----

I've been playing with the face detection stuff - defintely impressive watching the square follow the face around - I can't really judge how much difference it makes, I suspect it'll be more a case of better photos without me realising (as it should be)... I'm looking forward to trying out some fancy focusing in better light conditions too.

For those that use Ovi Maps an update to 3.1 is available (via Sw update on the phone - I was alerted automatically - nice to see this). I definitely noticed the improved compass lock - seemed to take just one flick.

I also appreciate the ability turn off Ovi Contacts without losing other homescreen plug-ins. I'll probably put it back when Ovi Chat has better IM network federation / support.

And thanks to Damian for answering so many questions.

shadamehr wrote:Hi Damian.

Just got in from work now 11.30pm, so not had a chance to update yet etc.

As said before this was more maintenance in practice than new features.

However, the camera did get attention here so I understand how you come to this view. I suggest you run the update first.

The change log doesn't do justice to the amount of work involved to deliver this release and the number of refinements. I'm not going to go in to detail here and answer each and every point but as also said before this forum and many others are sources for collecting feedback. We then look at all the collective feedback. When I checked the actual data re feedback through our call centres etc the data for N86 is low suggesting the vast majority of people are happy. In your case and some others I understand there are points you would like to see attention. I think we have addressed the vast majority. If there are points which you feel we have missed then we'll try and address those in a future update. I know the people involved will value this feedback.

BTW yes a specialist subject for me maybe imaging but I was responsible for concepting this product along with others which have not yet seen the light of day. You can't do that JUST by knowing about imaging 😊

atb

DamianDinning wrote:snipped...

The change log doesn't do justice to the amount of work involved to deliver this release and the number of refinements...

I think that statement alone, is hugely encouraging.

If not though, the rest of what you said, not quoted here, about still feeding it through/people watching these forums etc, is good to hear too.

So thanks again Damian.

Oh, and call you a one trick pony...? Me...? Never.

*lol*

And as a side issue, I'd be interested to clarify a point...

As a certain other forum, users there are claiming there is no update for the Models that are normally the first to work, with no success reported for the EURO 1, EURO 2, and EURO 3 handsets, nor the UK 1, UK 2, and UK 3.

And as these are normally the very first to be available (Euro codes anyhow) if what they say is right, this is curious.

Coupled with Damian saying it's available from NEXT week, (EDIT - I think that just meant for the NAM version) if I read it right, it makes me wonder exactly WHAT sort of phone the Editor has, to have been able to update, if it is true the normal suspects this time are not yet working.

Maybe that, or perhaps it's another one of those issues where Nokia have flicked the switch for FOTA updates, but forgot to do so for the PC Suite based Updates.

I can't say myself if mine works, and what code it is thus for, as mine's still doing the requisite full backup first (UDP regardless).

Hi,

I have an N86 8MP, bought new and SIM-free, only one month old, product code 0587771, bought in Hong Kong.

It's STILL stuck on 10.086... Nothing newer available through NSU or FOTA... Really pissed off about this. Can anyone advise me who to email/call/shout at to make sure my product code doesn't get forgotten? I know I can change the product code but don't want to as I don't want to invalidate my warranty or anything.

Thanks 😞

Mines now V20.115

Custom version 20.115.54.1, using RM-484.

Got the update trying yesterday so ... Having fun with the face detection.
Awesome.

DamianDinning wrote:Re video res. There are multiple system issues with this which make it much more complicated than it sounds unfortunately. Whilst others may have higher res I think N86 does an excellent job in capturing very good detail in a wide range of situations with great sound.

Re blink OK that I can see merit in if implemented well. Very few cam phones IMO have done achieved this. Smile detection. Other than possibly self-timer use, you're going to have to convince me that this is not just a gimmick. I'd rather our sw people spent time on other things which 1. you'll use and 2. that will allow you to genuinely take better pics.

atb

Given the excellent technique of zooming in video mode, does the n86 also use it for stills photos? e.g. if we set the picture resolution to 2MP and then zoom to take a still, then does it use the full sensor to avoid loss of detail?