Version 50 firmware, that is! Guest writer Jon Satherley has been a long time user of the Nokia 5800 and below he puts into print his summary and thoughts on the version 50 firmware that has given the device yet another new lease of life.
Read on in the full article.
I want to see a real Touch UI developed for Symbian rather than the abortion that they came up with for the 5800 then N97.
It is night and day between Android/iPhone and Symbian. Compared to the other phones, Symbian looks sleepy and less thought out.
How come there's already v50?? My firmware is still at v31 and I can't even update to v40
I have been a Nokia user since the mid-90's years - only strayed once to briefly try a iPaq - so I was all over the 5800XM when announced. Like you I have been keen for every update - I like some of the interface updates that appear iPhone inspired - but this is all follower not leader stuff.
My problem is the fundamental instability of the platform - e.g. the lock key sometimes doesn't unlock the screen but allows you to power down, or those unexplained restarts when browsing the web or in the middle of some other apps, or all my SMS messages disappearing, my email (Gmail) account disappearing and needing to be reset-up, and the periodic reformat of the memory card needed due to strange behavior that disappears afterwards etc. And yes, it's been back to Nokia twice - each time coming back with a slightly newer, but possibly not publicly released firmware update - but after a day or so of use the issues will start to be found.
Then we could get into the whole interface design issues with OviStore and Music Express which both seemed determined to prevent you from fully leveraging them.
The 5800XM and the failure of the series of updates to fix this platform have eroded any good will I have for Nokia - Android is my next stop and I don't think I will look back - would love to try the Android on 5800 hack to verify hardware vs software issues.
Just bought one for my wife, and yeah the interface is no iphone, but neither is the $200US (New Unlocked) that I paid for it. She loves it and it's stereo speakers are hand's down the BEST I've ever heard on a cell phone. Eagerly awaiting v50 for her RM-428.
As I stare down at my E90, I'm fairly convinced that this will be my last Nokia (At least for the foreseeable future). Either Dell Streak and the Samsung Galaxy S is my next phone.
Did anyone else notice that Nokia have left the User Agent profile as N97 when porting the browser to the 5800?
masnell wrote:IMy problem is the fundamental instability of the platform - e.g. the lock key sometimes doesn't unlock the screen but allows you to power down, or those unexplained restarts when browsing the web or in the middle of some other apps, or all my SMS messages disappearing, my email (Gmail) account disappearing and needing to be reset-up, and the periodic reformat of the memory card needed due to strange behavior that disappears afterwards etc. And yes, it's been back to Nokia twice - each time coming back with a slightly newer, but possibly not publicly released firmware update - but after a day or so of use the issues will start to be found..
I find it very interesting to read about instability, and wonder what's different from unit to unit, because I run a 5800xm through all FW versions 1 through to 50 and have not experienced any such problems.
Unregistered wrote:I find it very interesting to read about instability, and wonder what's different from unit to unit, because I run a 5800xm through all FW versions 1 through to 50 and have not experienced any such problems.
That should have read 11 through 50, not 1 through 50.
This firmware really does (almost) complete the 5800, you can argue about the details, but the browser is really ok now, and so is the menu navigation.
It must be the best value feature-complete (i.e. including Wifi, 3G, GPS, large (touch)screen, decent camera) smartphone there is at the moment, especially when bought second-hand.
The one big problem remaining is the tap-double tap controls. I honestly do not understand why Nokia does not include an option to switch to a 'long press for menu' system, or at least option. Also goes for the N97 etc. of course.
(I know it's coming for ^3, but it seems like such an easy feature to implement in ^1 as well. Maybe I am underestimating it)
Jhoravi wrote:How come there's already v50?? My firmware is still at v31 and I can't even update to v40
Well, I have unbranded n97 mini 0591930 and there hasn't been ANY firmware update released. They are just pissing on us, without even the courtesy of calling it rain... (to paraphrase)
Looking forward to it; I've only just updated to v40, which vodafone finally made available last week.
What's wrong with 0578218? I was able to update to v31 and no more further updates since then.
Hi, a good and fair article I would say. Really can't understand the moaners, I have an N97 and with all the problems the phones had, I think I have more right to moan than a 5800 owner, I'm not moaning, just making a point. The iPhone, Android, Google etc comparisons in relation to the 5800 are really unfair, for the cost of the phone, with the latest firmware I think it represents fantastic value for money. As for the tapping thing I really don't see the problem, I have friends with fruit phones who often have to go in and out of apps by mistake, not an issue with 5th addition. A lot of it is personal taste, I like symbian, it's not perfect, but it's evolving and it is supported, plus if you don't like it, try something else, but it may cost you a lot more to get it, and the grass is always greener !!
Does anyone recommend using "Nemesis" software (or similar) to change the product code of a 5800XM to download the latest firmware version?
I so wish I could relate to those who have not experienced the instability of the 5800!
To put my experience in perspective, I have been using an E61 for almost 4 years, and an E71 for over a year. I believe I am a power user, and have pushed them well beyond the limits of what most users will ever try. They have both exhibited extremely good stability. I quite like Nokia and Symbian, though I certainly have my lists of things I would change on each device.
Coming from this background, I got a brand new, unlocked, unbranded North American 5800XM around Christmas, thinking it would be a cool toy. I gave it the same sort of treatment as my other devices (installing many apps, but physically keeping it in pristine condition). Unfortunately, it is severely unstable.
The most hideous failure was the instant, total eradication of all of my messages and email settings. When Google search autocompletion provides multiple potential options for 'Nokia 5800 lost _____', something is seriously wrong.
But it didn't stop there. The thing also exhibited erratic alarm behavior, the camera app crashing (requiring the camera process to be killed on every single reboot of the phone to make the camera work at all), the MdSServer process terminating on every reboot (maybe tied to camera failure), and the web browser crashing totally almost every time I tried to use it.
These are just the severe, inexcusable, total failures...this does not account for the design nuisances, such as the slow QWERTY keyboard response. I am less worried about those, when basic functionality is simply not there.
Can we start to collect details about which 5800s are stable and which are not?
- What product code? Mine is a 0577454.
- What firmware version? Mine was on V31 most of the time I've had it, under which all of the above flaws existed. They just released V40 for this one, and it still has at least some of the bugs (browser, camera app, and MdSServer issues). I don't trust it with my primary SIM to find out if messaging is still unstable...I cannot afford to lose everything again.
Has anyone identified a cause or fix for any of these problems, especially the fatal messaging one???
irm86 wrote:Does anyone recommend using "Nemesis" software (or similar) to change the product code of a 5800XM to download the latest firmware version?
I changed my code (using other freeware, not Nemesis) and it works perfectly. There has been no problem with warranty as I got the garbled screen problem fixed after I changed the code. No problem.
As for those people gonig on about instability and bugs, I don't have them so they need to try and identify what exactly has destabilised their phone. A setting, an app? Hard reset and start again.
Hi I've used Nemesis, without a problem and it got me up to date early, if you need to have phone repaired change product code back after update !
Does the dialer right now have letters on it with the v50 firmware update?
If I change the firmware of 5800 RM-428 to RM-356 (which has the v5) does it break 3g? So far I have at&t and 3g with the 850Mhz band.
Unregistered wrote:I want to see a real Touch UI developed for Symbian rather than the abortion that they came up with for the 5800 then N97.It is night and day between Android/iPhone and Symbian. Compared to the other phones, Symbian looks sleepy and less thought out.
You can't just say "rabbit" and a "real Touch UI" appears before your eyes. Development needs time.
Some people are just sooo childish with their whining.
Besides, what's the point of whining here anyway??? This is about the new Nokia 5800 firmware v50.
Just wondering why they removed the option of double-tapping the screen three times in a row to get the page overview. That being said it would be nice to have a possibility either to redefine the double-tap option zoom level or to have the browser opening pages in fully zoomed out mode. I guess I've gotten spoiled by the nexus one and its fabulous native browser. I still love my 5800, nokia and s60 but small things like this push me towards other platforms.
Finally is it possible to enter some hidden browser settings/hack the browser to change the zoom level for double-tap action?
