Nokia dishes out OS2008 Feature Upgrade for N810 / N800

The first official OS2008 update came to Nokia's internet tablets late last year, and those yearning for yet another can finally breath a sigh of relief. Reportedly, the company has pushed out the OS2008 Feature Upgrade for the N810 and N800, but we are told that users will still need to "reflash the device in order to install this release." Thankfully, future OS updates are slated to be provided over-the-air without the need to reflash. The changelog is actually quite lengthy, but the highlights include an open source email application based on Modest and the tinymail framework, simplified account setup and the introduction of Chinese character rendering support in email, browser and RSS feeds. Let us know how it goes, will ya?

[Image courtesy of Seartipy, thanks Ryan]

[jason @ Jun 24th 2008 4:25PM]

Doh! I just put mine on eBay the other day...

[Tor Slettnes @ Jun 24th 2008 6:23PM]

If you haven't sold it yet, you can still cancel the auction.. :)

Just saying..

[chickenator @ Jun 24th 2008 4:34PM]

wow!

[OK @ Jun 24th 2008 4:35PM]

Great, I just updated my tablet yesterday with the previous release and had to reinstall / download all of my programs. Here we go again.

[deyanimay @ Jun 24th 2008 4:57PM]

did you read?

"...without the need to reflash."

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ Jun 24th 2008 5:02PM]

>"...without the need to reflash."

No, that's hopefully with the next release, not this one. This one still requires you to nuke everything -- which is indeed very annoying, as I have both an N800 and an N810 that I need to nuke now...

[deyanimay @ Jun 24th 2008 4:56PM]

looks kinda like that Microsoft origami 2.0

[john @ Jun 24th 2008 5:16PM]

Are you really surprised that MS finally got around to ripping off Hildon (which is several years old)?

[deyanimay @ Jun 24th 2008 5:27PM]

no i'm not surprised i'm just saying its similar but i'm sure that its so crappy because its powered by vista.

[phanbouy @ Jun 24th 2008 5:07PM]

BBC 1!
BBC 2!
BBC 3!
BBC 4!
BBC 5!
BBC 6!
BBC 7!
BBC Heaven!

[Joylove @ Jun 24th 2008 5:08PM]

Lets' hope they let us go back to the Opera browser.

[paul @ Jun 24th 2008 5:26PM]

Absolutely. Opera was superior in every way to the current abomination.

[atezun @ Jun 24th 2008 6:48PM]

Unfortunately Opera is proprietary and regardless of how you feel about it, Nokia wanted more OSS involvement; so they switched to mozilla derived microb. It's the same reason we've got a new email client in Diablo. That said, I liked the opera browser...the old email client, not so much.

[ldrn @ Jun 24th 2008 6:26PM]

It was not.

Superior in most ways, sure -- but there were sites where the mozilla engine was needed.

Best of both worlds would be a return to being able to CHANGE the engine, since I know they already have that ability... or even better set up certain domain names to use the mozilla one.

[Tor Slettnes @ Jun 24th 2008 6:27PM]

Several aspects of OS2007 were actually superior:
* Opera browser (faster, despite a slower clock rate on the device; no AJAX though...)
* The fact that home screen applets stayed in place until you entered "layout mode" prevented accidental mess on your idle screen
* Longer battery life

On the other hand, OS2007 did not work with the EAP/802.1x configuration at my work, while OS2008 does..

I keep going forth and back between OS2007 and OS2008 regularly, since the grass is always greener on the other side. :)

[Sean Crago @ Jun 25th 2008 12:26AM]

In no way was the clunky pre-AJAX, badly broken and crash prone version of Opera in OS2005-2007 superior to the current Mozilla based browser. I fail to see how you can even say it was faster - it certainly wasn't for me. I can see how it would be beneficial to have multiple rendering engines available, just like it would be on any platform, but I've owned these since the 770 and have been very much impressed by the new Moz-based browser.l

[Chris1051 @ Jun 24th 2008 5:11PM]

So, I wonder- if I use the Backup provided in the Settings file, to the external card, will I be able to restore it?

[john @ Jun 24th 2008 5:35PM]

backup restores some things, but not everything. I think you still have to re-install applications, for example.

[Ryan @ Jun 24th 2008 5:53PM]

Yes

[john @ Jun 24th 2008 5:20PM]

Glad to see another version of the OS is out.

So, Modest is in. What about the new IM client structure, which should now support more than just Jabber?

[Panzerboy @ Jun 24th 2008 5:25PM]

I plan on upgrading tomorrow. However, once I'm getting the iPhone 3G I'll probably sell the tablet.

[john @ Jun 24th 2008 5:41PM]

If I go to anything over a NIT, it'll probably be the Gigabyte M528, or some similar Linux MID device. Depending on specifics, perhaps in combination with an Android phone, or S60 phone (or maybe just an Android phone, again depending upon specifics).

Nokia just doesn't seem to want to address certain issues that I think are important. Not that I expect them to just listen to me, but I will vote with my feet/dollars if someone produces something closer to what I want. The M528 might be it (depending on how exactly it handles storage, SD cards, and wifi).

[creepinshadow @ Jun 24th 2008 7:26PM]

Same here. as soon as iPhone 3G comes out i'll sell this sweetie in europe (i'm going there anyways.) sell it for 250Euros and i dont make any loss, i even earn!

PEACE OUT!

[atezun @ Jun 24th 2008 5:26PM]

You can now set the finger keyboard to be used by default. Very useful.

[StreetStealth @ Jun 24th 2008 5:48PM]

This looks very nice, but the main question that is still in my mind is:

IS THERE ANY DECENT PIM SOFTWARE IN THERE THIS TIME?


I've wanted to get a Nokia tablet ever since I first laid eyes on the sexy high DPI screen of the 770, but the lack of a usable calendar/to-do/address book has kept me away ever since. If Nokia would just put some dev dollars into that instead of buying up GPS companies and other operating systems, the N800/810 would really be a good alternative to the iPod Touch.

[Panzerboy @ Jun 24th 2008 6:01PM]

The changelog doesn't mention PIM at all so I suppose you're out of luck. So buy a nice and expensive Symbian smartphone from Nokia, those have PIM apps :-)

[atezun @ Jun 24th 2008 6:58PM]

I use pimlico, which I love; unfortunately, it's not yet been running in diablo.

[BoxOfSnoo @ Jun 24th 2008 8:22PM]

Nope. In fact, very few application changes... Modest being the most significant.

Of course, all of the Chinook stuff I tried just works.

[rento @ Jun 24th 2008 6:07PM]

Now, if that thing could make calls... eh Nokia? Uh!?

[BoxOfSnoo @ Jun 24th 2008 8:26PM]

Nokia has a device for that, called... uh... a phone... or something like that.

[Shahryar @ Jun 25th 2008 12:23AM]

Sort of with you rento.

I have my N76 w/ T-mobile as my primary phone and the HTC Mogul/PPC-6800 w/ Sprint as my secondary phone which I use for my more PDA needs. I would love to replace the Mogul with a variation of a Nokia N810 WiMAX w/ cell phone functionality if it existed (I want WiMAX because I live and work in the in MD/DC area and WiMAX is rolling out here soon).

I don't think I could get or keep a 3rd gadget on me like this though - I would like for it to replace something.

[Chris1051 @ Jun 24th 2008 6:25PM]

I think I have it sussed. I have Version 4.2008.23-14 And the backup restored everything - except I have to re download apps.

I created a backup using my external card, removed the card, and then updated the software. Then Started fresh, (from reboot after software upgrade) and then chucked in the card and did a restore. It asked me if I wanted to use older versions, I at first said no, but then when after the restore, the settings werent right, I went back and did another restore this time selecting Yes - to replace the new files with old ones. Now I have a screen similar to the old one. with all my feeds and connections etc.

I wonder if I did it right?

[Rod Munch @ Jun 24th 2008 6:27PM]

Woo to the Pacman clock!

[Ian @ Jun 24th 2008 7:39PM]

Drats.
My WInzip says it can't recognize or unzip the file.

Why me!!!!!

[BoxOfSnoo @ Jun 24th 2008 8:24PM]

Not sure what you downloaded, It's probably not a zipped file... get the Nokia Internet Tablet Software Update wizard and download/install it through there.

[io @ Jun 24th 2008 7:46PM]

long live the canola !

[xconan @ Jun 24th 2008 8:10PM]

For the chinese characters does anyone know if it supports HKSC? Lot of mainland Chinese and Taiwanese still lack certain Hong Kong characters...

[totalundone @ Jun 24th 2008 9:33PM]

I really like the N800/810 but the lack of a pim hurt it for me (I want one to use as a PDA and then some). Can anyone in the know tell me if there are any good pim software available for the N810?

[weckman @ Jun 24th 2008 10:01PM]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but as I am unable to find information regarding this even on the official sites, can someone please tell me whether this in a multilingual update or just for the US/UK? I'm in need of the German version. Thanks!

[nVidiot @ Jun 24th 2008 10:30PM]

Until they release the patch that makes this run at an acceptable speed* I'll be passing. I've owned both the n800 and n810 and both were complete dogs IMO; I was disappointed by all the rave reviews of these products. Oh well, bought them on Amazon so returning was a breeze.

*I realize no patch will do this. It is my opinion that mobile devices are not yet powerful enough to handle acceptable computing while maintaining proper battery life.

[John P. @ Jun 24th 2008 10:54PM]

Am I missing something, but doesn't that interface look like a complete mess? Who the he|| are they trying to kid with that junk?

[OK @ Jun 24th 2008 11:58PM]

The picture is some random person's cluttered home screen. It does not look like that by default. See http://www.pocketables.net/2008/02/review-nokia-n8.html for the default home screen (although they changed the background in this release) as well as more interface pictures.

[Ethan @ Jun 25th 2008 3:08AM]

Wow. Usually they make you buy a new phone.

[po @ Jun 25th 2008 12:49PM]

This version is still buggy, after flash OS2008 cannot install several apps, canola2, maemo mapper, skype... but the support for big5 charts are alright.

[Kasi Viswanath @ Jun 25th 2008 2:29PM]

Well, U were too fast to call it buggy!

If some apps are not working with this release of the OS2008, then it is some compatibility issues which eventually & almost certainly will be sorted out pretty soon.

[Robby @ Jun 25th 2008 8:35PM]

AFAIK, all of those apps you listed work fine. The only problem people seem to be having is with Rhapsody (and small issues with the Modest mail client). If you haven't noticed, those apps are in the Maemo Extras repository for Chinook.

Maemo Mapper and Canola work fine for me in Diablo.

[AngryPenguin @ Jun 26th 2008 8:25AM]

once again the 770 owners are left out in the cold.

[LTM @ Oct 18th 2008 11:32AM]

@totalundone

I'm using Gpe and it gets the job done

http://www.cobb.uk.net/NokiaIT/index.html#gpe