Updating the N82 Firmware

Since I received a new N82 from Nokia service the other day, with none of my applications or data installed, I figured I might as well update the device to the new 30.0.019 firmware (check that link for the changes, courtesy of the Symbian-Freak). Firmware is the software operating system of your phone and some pre-installed applications. Think of it like the Windows operating system installed on your PC before you load it up with Office, Limewire, Gizmo, AIM, and all those educational games. It is called firmware because it is written to a chip rather than a magnetic hard drive.


Firmware installation:

• First, Backup your device!!
• Download the Nemesis Service Suite
• Nemesis is easy to use, and I wrote about it when Unbranding my N75
• Change your product code to 0558752
• Write the new setting to the phone.
• Check the setting by turning off and on the phone, reconnecting to Nemesis and reading the info. Product Code should be what you entered.
• Exit Nemesis
• Start the Nokia Software Updater (should be included with PC, Ovi, or Nseries suite)
• The updater should tell you it found a new version and ask if you are ready to update.
• Make sure you have a charged battery, connections are secure, and click Update!

Not much to say at this point, but I did a live Jaiku of my process and it went off without a hitch.  One great comment from iamnotdrtran was to remember to change the product code back to the original (in my case, 0563247) when you are finished.


Firmware impressions:

• 123 megabyte download, woah! I'm pretty sure Windows 98 was only 86 MB or so. Just shows you how much goes into these phones.
  
• Web is not my primary app on my phone, although I have found myself using it more and more. I noticed one site give me an error regarding no javascript. I never noticed this before and javascript is definitely enabled.
• The Symbian-Freak guide above said that it had the latest N-gage. I only had an N-gage demo and had to download the new version. Not a biggie, but misleading.
• Because I gave the phone a European product code, the firmware included a program called "My Nokia" which does nothing in the US and cannot be removed.  No biggie, but it's there.
  

I do not know if it is the new device, the lack of my many installed apps, or the new firmware, but the N82 seems a lot more responsive than before. The one thing that is the same is the many pictures and music loaded on my 2GB card, as this is the same card that was in the previous N82. Time will tell if the installed apps have a detrimental impact on the performance, but even with Jaiku, Step Counter, Contacts, and Web running, it is quite speedy.
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