[rasmus]

FYI: Interesting interview with some Nokia Firmware developers that worked on V20, I would say this is a rare opportunity to get to talk to the guys that actually worked on the product, which is cool - not too ofter I hear to much.  Personally i think i would have asked a few different questions, but here it is:

LINK to SOURCE at NOKIA ADDICT: http://nokiaaddict.com/2009/11/03/nokia-n97-v20-firmware-q-a-session/

Tonight I attended the WOM World hosted Q+A session about the N97 v20 Firmware Upgrade, along with a handful of other Nokia bloggers. We were all given chance to ask questions to both Frank Zillikens and Catalin Gheorghiu from Nokia.  Frank headed up the N97 v20 Firmware, and Catalin works on the Firmware Development Team. After the jump are the questions posed and the answers given, it took form of a text based chat so please excuse any errors, I’ve tried to correct them all!

We have been given the opportunity to have more questions answered via e-mail so as we only had time for 2, i’ll compile them all and e-mail them over. 

Q1 – Skype SIP, VoIP & Internet Radio What are the statuses of these? (Micky Fin – Nokia Users)

A1 – We have already VoIP into PR2.0 and we are working on the Skype to get the best user experience out to the field.

*We all noted the lack of response on Internet Radio.*

Q2 – PR 2.0 was said to introduce a new memory model. Can you give more details of this? I’ve observed that built-in apps do seem to use RAM a little more efficiently – do they share RAM better? (Steve Litchfield – AAS)

A2 – We reworked the application memory mapping model, which uses the RAM more efficiently and reduces the memory errors.

Q3 – Will this help 3rd party apps too?

A3 – Yes, this will help all the apps running in the device.

Q4 – What is the reason behind the exclusion of Internet Radio? Is this indicative of the direction Nokia is heading or a technology issue? (Kip Hakes – Nokia Addict)

A4 – We are currently evaluating the internet radio feature for N97, but it is still in early phase.

Q5 – Now it’s been discovered that there is an issue with Web Feeds and Automatic Updates where the auto update feature turns off almost randomly (I’m noticing it on reboots), is this a known issue and what is the status on this? (Kyron John – N97 Fanatics)

A5 – The PR2 release is so new for us that we have not noticed the problem. Nevertheless I will bring this up with the SW team.

Q6 – Copy/paste via the qwerty shift key works great in certain parts of the interface, but is absent from the Facebook widget and S60 Web. Would it be possible to ever have copy/paste throughout all apps on the N97? (Trenton – TrentSense)

A6 – As long as we use standard UI components the COPY/PASTE will work, if we use custom components then we need to implement the functionality at the component level

Q7 – Can you make the calendar widget more useful, showing details of future events. You should easily be able to fit the next 3 events and their subjects. (Mike Macias – N97Fanatics)

A7  - The calendar will show the entries for the current day. For instance, if you have no entries for today, it will show like the picture you attached. Do you guys feel that it is important to see the entries for few days ahead ? If this is the case then I will bring this input back to the UI team.

Q8 – Users found that formatting the phone and memory after the 2.0 update made the UI more responsive. Why is this? Surely there should be no need. Also where is the New Ovi Maps homescreen, shown on many press images? (Ibrahim Jogee – The Nokia Review)

A8 – You do not need to format the phone after the SW upgrade. The speed perception is a subjective matter and I can tell that I have never formatted my devices while testing 2.0 and it worked OK. If one formats the phone, of course all the legacy data will get lost and the phone will be more responsive giving the fact the is less data to deal with. Regarding  the maps – you can find since Nokia World from  the Beta labs. And for sure we are working on getting it more widely rolled out. Key here is a good user experience ! So, please be patient

Q9 – Will we see a an option for moving the browser cache and apps such as Nokia messaging into the E drive. Hacks can do this to an extent, but Nokia clearly doesn’t like people messing around in that area. Also, will we ever see Virtual RAM ala N900? (Vaibhav Sharma – The Symbian Blog)

A9 – We have chosen the C: drive, since it has memory paging and therefore makes the apps running faster and smoother. With PR2 we have taken big steps to improve the memory handling mechanism and the PR2.0 memory status will allow users to run the apps in a smooth way. Getting virtual RM is not an easy task, we encourage users to install the apps into the big 32Gb memory and not get everything into the C drive

Q10 – Is there any truth to the suspicion that the v20 build on Nokia’s servers on that first Tuesday is different to the build that was available later in the first week? And if so, which exact problems were fixed? (Steve Litchfield – AAS)

A10 – There are no different SW versions out ! All are the same. But admitting here as well that we had a build problem for our MEA versions, so we needed to re-build those.

Q11 – USB Port has problems, often when connectivity cable or charger plugged in, the software don’t read it correctly.  You have to unplug, and plug in again.  Also when plugging in the USB to computer, sometimes it asks you to select the mode several times.  Also, a bug from V10, and V11 is still present, Screen Lock switch still has some issues in V20. (Micky Fin – Nokia Users)

A11 – We have improved the USB connection mode – but still: connect & disconnect from USB will bring the phone functionality to resumes to the point left.

Q12 – Some of our members are reporting losing data too when removing data lead, so clearly something is still wrong?

A12 – That should be prior PR2 and we listened to your feedback. If you still see this, please indicate.

Q13 – How is Ovi Contacts going to be expanded and when? more services added or mash ups with other Ovi bits, Ovi Files etc? (Kip Hakes – Nokia Addict)

A13 – We come back to this topic later.

Q14 – Would it be possible to have Multiple home screens? I assume that would greatly reduce the available RAM which is why it might not be possible. Is this something that you’ve already thought about? (Mike Macias – N97 Fanatics)

A14 – We’ll tackle this later

Q15 – Theme effects (transitions). We all noticed that most of them were removed between Nokia World 2008 and the phone launching in June 2009. I’ve found that turning Theme Effects on, negatively affects performance of the phone. Is there any plans to add the effects back to the phone or fixing the problem that exists with them now? (Kyron John – N97 Fanatics)

A15 – The Nokia World 2008 featured a promotional video of the effects – reviewing that video myself and ho problem with it …And personally I very much like the current effects

Q16 – Will we ever see threaded messaging and smiley support? If not why? (Ibrahim Jogee – The Nokia Review)

A16 – Our platform is under continues changes and improvements, stay tuned for the next releases, you will love them

Q17 – Will the browser get shortcuts to open Bookmarks etc from the QWERTY number pad like older S60 devices. E.g. 1 for Bookmarks, 2 for Find… (Vaibhav Sharma – The Symbian Blog)

A17 – With a touch device it is much more easy and convenient to use the finger than using the keypad to get a bookmark started. 

 Anyway there is it.  Here is my 50 cents:

I am calling BS to A1 - as we all know that VoIP WAS NOT present in v20.  Seriously. 

A7 - Yeah, anything other than "there are no entires would be useful"  I am surprised that Nokia were surprised that this was an issue, unless of course you are living day to day, at which point you don't need a calendar!

A8 - I think we all agree that flashing makes a world of difference.  To say it is unnecessary is just ignorant. I went from 5MB before flashing to 87MB after.  How that 'does not make a difference' is beyond me.

A9 - honest answer,  appreciate that.  But that sure does look like trouble if say I were watching a 30MB FLV on a website - oooops, there goes my C: drive!!!

A15 - if there is no problem with the effects, why are they off by default? Nobody else notices a performance hit when they are on? 

Q16 + Q17 - what a waste of a question !!! How about next time when you have a rare opportunity asking about oh, say, something important like HTML email or that Nokia Tune, or how to enable VoIP as quite clearly Nokia is claiming in A1 that is it already in v20...

[wilfridwong]

Hey Rasmus, thanks so much for posting!  Sounds exciting.  I too am a blogger, though not exclusively for Nokia.  And the media events in my part of the world certainly doesn't have those technical Q&A sessions (not the one I have attended).  Mostly for the product and service launch.

Sounds like the Nokia official has been dodging the questions eh?  Duh.  Still no news on Nokia Internet Radio, lol.  Someone should have written that and sell at OVI Store.  It would have been a hot cake product.  I think we should pull funds and have it developed.

Thanks once again! 

[wilfridwong]

Rasmus, seems like you are a strong believer of phone reset.  Which one are you referring to?  *#7780# or *#7370#?

One is normal reset.  One is deep reset. 

[loriot]

Hey Rasmus,

Thank you for posting.

And to let you (en Nokia!) know: I agree with your remarks, especially about your comment on A7.

Message Edited by loriot on 04-Nov-2009 07:50 AM

[rasmus]

Wilfrid - I prefer neither of the two - I like the three finger salute, as everytime I do it I am amazed that my hands can bend that way, makes me feel like I have run a marathon!

THREE FINGER SALUTE 

[rasmus]

Loriot -

Looks like someone suggested this at the Symbian UI brain storm site - although they expanded it to be a double decker widget, which sounds like a great idea if you ask me.

http://symbianuibrainstorm.wordpress.com/ 

[loriot]

---

rasmus wrote:

Loriot -

Looks like someone suggested this at the Symbian UI brain storm site - although they expanded it to be a double decker widget, which sounds like a great idea if you ask me.

http://symbianuibrainstorm.wordpress.com/ 

---

I hope it get's enough attention from Nokai.

What I am wondering about is that the Q + A Session gives the impression that Nokia employees don't know what's going on in the field about the N97 and probably not even read what's written in the Nokia forum.

[alexeiw123]

rasmus, just a quick note to the end of your posts, are you not aware that the latest version of nokia messaging supports html emails now?

It sounds to me like whoever was doing the answering probably felt a bit in the firing line from those bloggers haha, it would have been hard to answer some of the questions, however it's about time they did a session like that, It's the first sign of nokia actually looking for customer feeback on the device.

[rasmus]

Errr - I hate saying it but that Nokia Messaging Application is garbage, and yes I have tried it out. I'll stick with the default app, here's why:

1.  Privacy is king - I am not going though a Nokia server (giving them my password and email addy) just to get my email.  I will go through my own servers.  I pay a lot of money for my email service to have it working an secure.  Going through Nokia's servers violates everything I believe in, and that is just another point of failure / breeching I don't need.  Might be good for Joe Blow - not for me.

2. Does it really support HTML email - or is it 'converted' on the server compliments of Nokia. 

3. The default app is better integrated wit the phone.  I like my texts and multiple email accounts under the one menu, not to mention the home screen widget. 

4. The GUI on the Nokia messaging app is terrible.  The default mail client is not a rock star either, but I am OK with it until they decide it is almost 2010 and every other phone on earth has a better app for reading mail.  My ipaq from 2000 has a better email app.....

[skkng]

Thanks for posting the transcript.  Kudos promptly clicked. 

Is it me, but my first reaction after reading it was 'meh...  it didn't really say anything...'

[Special1]

I bought the N79 last Friday and was completely in love with the phone until I upgraded to v20 on Tuesday night and now the phone will not make and receive calls.

I notice that there are a couple of other people who have posted a similar experience since the 28th Oct.

I phoned Nokia support and they have advised me that the phone needs to be returned to the nearest repair centre in order to solve the problem.  Does anyone know what the fix is likely to be?  I'm guessing they will return it to a lower software version.

[alexeiw123]

Ah ok, well just thought I'd let you know there is a html option, but if you really want to stick to the default email client then i guess its not an option for you. I never even set up my email with the built in client, just went straight to nokia messaging and I've found it good.

The HTML appears exactly like it does in my hotmail inbox on the computer, so 'real' enough for me.

The integration is a good point, nokia messaging is integrated but not completely, for example if I pull up a contact that has an email address saved, i can choose to write an email and it will open straight up in nokia messaging... however when i send a text message to that contact, it gives me the option there to switch it to an email, but it won't send it through nika messaging. Vlingo doesn't recognise it. there is a homescreen widget though, and it works well.

i will agree the interface is garbage.

 hmmm well i've gone OT

[raha_ang]

Overall im pretty impressed with the new software version but ever since upgrading i cannot lower/increase the volume in media player so i have had a headache since

Anyone else having this issue?

Another thing i CANNOT wait for is a decent messaging service, Q16!

Something like the iphone one with messages appearing in a log with emoticons etc...

Come on nokia

[wilfridwong]

Rasmus, you say that Nokia Messaging Application (which I presume is Nokia Email) is garbage and rather stay with default mail client (which I presume is the one that bundle with SMS and etc).  How do you make default mail client work for you though?  It lags so badly that it even affects my SMS function.  I opt to download the header + truncated message during each sync and at times it takes forever to open up.  And right after the sync up, it would ask if I want to connect to the mail server and if I do, it will take a long time to be operation again.

Nokia Message Application to me is lightning fast.  Emails are download and sync'ed in the background (or what it appears).  The "read" is sync'ed.  And there is a "Sent" mailbox rather than having my email sent it back to my Inbox as a record.  In my humble opinion, the default mail client is not at all usable.   

[miniMAXIME]

hi voip is clearly included - you either need an extra voip settings application offered by nokia as extended voip settings or your voip provider must send the settings via sms to you (OTA) !

otherwise the answers were empty air - but what you expected anyway ! they keep their mouth shut - competition is everywhere !

ciao 

[danniiffxi]

---

Special1 wrote:

I bought the N79 last Friday and was completely in love with the phone until I upgraded to v20 on Tuesday night and now the phone will not make and receive calls.

I notice that there are a couple of other people who have posted a similar experience since the 28th Oct.

I phoned Nokia support and they have advised me that the phone needs to be returned to the nearest repair centre in order to solve the problem.  Does anyone know what the fix is likely to be?  I'm guessing they will return it to a lower software version.

---

Special1 have you tried a hard reset? it solves many problems.  turn the phone off and open the keypad, hold space, shift and delete buttons down and turn the phone on, let the buttons go after about 5 seconds. the phone will work like it just ou of the box,, oh you might wanna ack up your phonebook and other bit first.. stuff on the mass memory will not be deleted

[as4ysf]

I update the Software with the version 

V 20.0.027

Dated 30-10-09

Still the problem exist    shal I sell the phone or what ??

N97 - EDIT LABEL feature... *** VERY IMPORTANT ***

We need this main feature. Its the main resion why we still keep using Nokia Phons!!

I have over than 1300 Contact each have many numbers with different edited labels ..

Regards,

ave over than 1300 Contact each have many numbers with different edited labels ..

Regards,

[froschy]

I was just having a look back at this post on the Q + A Session and had two thoughts:

- Did Nokia ever address the questions that they deferred by saying they will get back to them later?

- On Q9 the answer from the engineers that it was not an easy task to get Virtual RAM is a cop-out.

They admitted that the c: drive has memory paging and that this make apps run faster and smoother. That implies that apps installed on the mass memory won't run as fast or smoothly. I suspect that a lot of problems with apps are caused by being installed on the mass memory.

So where does that leave N97 owners, Nokia are very unlikely (like a snowballs chance in...) to recall N97s to have more memory fitted, so it goes without saying that Nokia should work on Virtual RAM from the Mass Memory as long as this can be accessed as fast as the c: drive (I don't know if this is even technically possible).

The decision to put such a small c: drive on the N97 was a terrible one, especially when you consider the position of this flagship device in relation to Nokia's move towards service with the Ovi Store and the additional overhead of the homescreen with widgets. Nokia all but acknowledged this by increasing the c: drive in the N97 mini. All I can hope is that Nokia have learnt from the bad publicity that this penny pinching exercise has caused and that whoever made the decision has either lost their job or been demoted to the most junior position in the company.

Frustrated N97 owner. 

[froschy]

Bump!

Still no update from Nokia? 

[Fender77]

Nope, guess they forgot I would really love Skype...