The official Nokia N8 owners thread

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › The official Nokia N8 owners thread

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267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408090 23-Nov-2010 11:54

old3eyes: About ?$50 less that Vodafone is selling it for. ?Not much savings..

Its not so much the price... More the fact the the Parellel Impotered one would come unbranded...

cdouble

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#408093 23-Nov-2010 11:59

Starplay: Its not so much the price... More the fact the the Parellel Impotered one would come unbranded...

They'll likely have a non-New Zealand firmware though and might need reflashing to enable features disabled in those regions (FM transmitter, contact search, etc).

lyonrouge

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#408097 23-Nov-2010 12:07

Starplay: Its good to see that NZ is getting the same version as everywhere else... as with the X6 we only got the lesser 16GB version, not the 32GB (of which came out in a better colour combination too).

The one question I have I cant seem to find an answer for... So hopefully someone here knows...

Will NokiaNZ be directly selling this device? (i.e You can purchase a fully unbranded factory origional N8 direct from Nokia). As in the past this has been the major problem I have had... I really dont want to buy a branded model from Voda etc... So in the past for my Nokia's I have simply gone onto the NokiaUK website (www.nokia.co.uk) and purchased on origional device from Nokia and had it shipped to a friends house in the UK... and then they have shipped it to me. (Warranty isnt a problem like this as the NZ care centre can sort out any problems if the device was faulty).

So... Am I going to have to order the UK version again? Or can I buy it from NokiaNZ?

What a great idea, it's the warranty that is holding me back. I want a black one, but as a "bleeding edge" product it is bound to have hardware problems, global service for ligitimate product is the way to go, Australia has the same distribution agreements as here in NZ.

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408102 23-Nov-2010 12:25

cdouble: They'll likely have a non-New Zealand firmware though and might need reflashing to enable features disabled in those regions (FM transmitter, contact search, etc).

Really?... Might pass on Parallel Imported then... What exactly is re-flashing? And how do you do it? Does it effect the phone in any way?

Might just stick with seeing if I can get one direct from Nokia NZ or order from the UK again...

cdouble

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#408117 23-Nov-2010 12:47

Starplay:Really?... Might pass on Parallel Imported then... What exactly is re-flashing? And how do you do it? Does it effect the phone in any way?

Yes, see discussion earlier in the thread where someone noticed the FM transmitter option didn't exist in their phone. It was also missing on my parallel import purchased N8 and I didn't realise until I saw the post. Some regions disable it for legal reasons in their country to do with transmitting. I'm not sure why the contact feature in the dialer is disabled.

With Symbian phones the standard method of rebranding is to change the 'product code' of the phone using software available on the net, then using Nokia's standard software to reinstall the firmware for the new product code. Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to change the product code of the N8 yet.

This leads to the need to 'reflash' the firmware yourself. This does not change the 'product code' but installs a different regions firmware anyway. This does means you may have issues when the region for your 'product code' has an update and tries to apply it over your firmware which is different. If you're technically savvy and don't mind tinkering then you might be willing to take on this risk. I don't recommend it for a casual phone user.

Instructions for this process here:

http://www.nokiausers.net/forum/nokia-n8/37898-changing-product-code-installing-other-languages.html

Might just stick with seeing if I can get one direct from Nokia NZ or order from the UK again...

I hear the Vodafone branding for the N8 is not intrusive. I haven't seen a branded one yet though so it's only what I've heard from others.

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408124 23-Nov-2010 13:01

cdouble: I hear the Vodafone branding for the N8 is not intrusive. I haven't seen a branded one yet though so it's only what I've heard from others.

Yeah... I guess Ill pass on re-branding / re-flashing it....

I asked vodafone about what they brand and they told me they add all of their Vodafone Live stuff and re-do the menu... Really dont want ANY branding.

... Will try the Nokia NZ route... or Order from the UK.

... Does anyone know if the UK block any features... I imagine not... Have never had the problem before, but then again my last phone didnt have an FM transmitter.

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nikrolls

151 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#408125 23-Nov-2010 13:05

Nokia doesn't sell direct to market in New Zealand; the only way to buy our devices with NZ firmware is via the operators. This remains the case with the N8. To be honest it's very unlikely that imported devices will be any closer to what you want as they will have the firmware from where they were bought, and most come from countries where different features are enabled/disabled because of lanugage and radio restrictions. As Brent stated earlier in the thread, for what it's worth the only customisations that are added in Symbian devices nowadays are a link for Vlive, startup screen, access points, etc, no applications or undesirable modifications.

Nokia Care are only equipped to repair devices that originated in New Zealand. This includes out-of-warranty repairs. So there are quite a few Nokia things you are missing out on if you import a device, not to mention subsidy from your operator.

EDIT: I suggest you pop into a Vodafone, Digi or First Mobile store and check to see how the firmware looks. Most stores should have a live N8 available.

smgoverno: Can you try the Social client again today and let me know how it goes?

lyonrouge

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#408143 23-Nov-2010 13:29

nikrolls: Nokia doesn't sell direct to market in New Zealand; the only way to buy our devices with NZ firmware is via the operators. This remains the case with the N8. To be honest it's very unlikely that imported devices will be any closer to what you want as they will have the firmware from where they were bought, and most come from countries where different features are enabled/disabled because of lanugage and radio restrictions. As Brent stated earlier in the thread, for what it's worth the only customisations that are added in Symbian devices nowadays are a link for Vlive, startup screen, access points, etc, no applications or undesirable modifications.

Nokia Care are only equipped to repair devices that originated in New Zealand. This includes out-of-warranty repairs. So there are quite a few Nokia things you are missing out on if you import a device, not to mention subsidy from your operator.

EDIT: I suggest you pop into a Vodafone, Digi or First Mobile store and check to see how the firmware looks. Most stores should have a live N8 available.

smgoverno: Can you try the Social client again today and let me know how it goes?

Can the user get rid of these? Especially loathsome "VLive!", I was so put off by my last Nokia and it's hardcoded access to VLive! (I have to navigate around the menu to open the browser without VLive! poison. I'm so very keen on the N8 but also very very cautious that I don't get trapped into any more operator fiascos.

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408152 23-Nov-2010 13:44

nikrolls: Nokia doesn't sell direct to market in New Zealand; the only way to buy our devices with NZ firmware is via the operators. This remains the case with the N8. To be honest it's very unlikely that imported devices will be any closer to what you want as they will have the firmware from where they were bought, and most come from countries where different features are enabled/disabled because of lanugage and radio restrictions. As Brent stated earlier in the thread, for what it's worth the only customisations that are added in Symbian devices nowadays are a link for Vlive, startup screen, access points, etc, no applications or undesirable modifications.

Nokia Care are only equipped to repair devices that originated in New Zealand. This includes out-of-warranty repairs. So there are quite a few Nokia things you are missing out on if you import a device, not to mention subsidy from your operator.

EDIT: I suggest you pop into a Vodafone, Digi or First Mobile store and check to see how the firmware looks. Most stores should have a live N8 available.

smgoverno: Can you try the Social client again today and let me know how it goes?

Whats the difference between NZ firmware and firmware from overseas? Will updates still be available? A friend of mine has a 5800 from Switzerland and everything worked fine and it has no branding.

Why would an overseas device not be what I want... Its simply the carrier branding I dont want on the device (when spending quite a bit of money... I should be able to choose whats on my phone).

Umm... as for undersirable modifications... If I ever saw ANY carrier banding on the device is would drive me crazy... So I think I would classify that as undesirable. (I dont want to have Vodafone splashed everywhere on it).

Re: Nokia Care... I called them and told them what I was planning to do and was reassured that they could fix any problems etc... as it still had its manufacter warranty. I was told that if it became faulty etc... just let them know and they would get it sorted.

Subsidy from your operator... lol never heard anything more halerious... was with Vodafone On Account for over 9 years and never got anything from them.... Moved to 2degrees now and have had more from them in the few months than I ever got from Vodafone.

So basically... If you buy a phone overseas and then move to NZ your screwed... Great one Nokia!.. I always held more faith in you than that.... In fact I used to think you were the top brand... Not anymore.

Thanks for your help anyway

So bascially... Is there anyway to get an unbranded NZ Nokia N8?

Would it be possible to find out what the differences are between the NZ and UK N8?

lyonrouge

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#408153 23-Nov-2010 13:50

ouch, that was a bit harsh, I think they have just lost their way

nikrolls

151 posts

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#408215 23-Nov-2010 14:22

Simply assuming that you were looking for unmodified NZ firmware rather than unmodified firmware in general. Obviously this is all up to personal taste.

To be fair, no modifications are hard-coded in Symbian: shortcuts can be moved and removed, homepages can be changed, themes can be swapped ... like I said above, I suggest looking at one instore to see his little really is modified.

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lyonrouge

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#408226 23-Nov-2010 14:26

What's with the Silver only?

nzmate

36 posts

Geek
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#408365 23-Nov-2010 16:19

Look here guys, Everyone has a preference to a phone, so go and try it out and then you can decide. For me personally I had to flash my phone for one good reason and that is to have Arabic language on the phone and it worked perfectly, there is no other reason to flash the phone

WARNING (Do not flash your phone if you have not done it before or dont know what flashing is. PS: not involving flash gordon)

Mobile network applications and little bits can be removed easily, This is one of the first phones that can work on all mobile networks in NZ.

Only thing I could not find for the Nokia N8 is the accessories (Leather pocket thingi)

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408371 23-Nov-2010 16:29

nikrolls: Simply assuming that you were looking for unmodified NZ firmware rather than unmodified firmware in general. Obviously this is all up to personal taste.

To be fair, no modifications are hard-coded in Symbian: shortcuts can be moved and removed, homepages can be changed, themes can be swapped ... like I said above, I suggest looking at one instore to see his little really is modified.

What are the differences between NZ firmware and just firmware?

I just got off the phone to the Vodafone Guy... The first thing he told me about the branding is the thing I hate the most, start-up and shutdown logos and Vodafone Live etc...

I guess seeing as there is no other option I will have to settle for a branded Nokia N8... Hmm it doesnt seem to have the same feel or make me as happy... Now it just seems to be 'another phone'... Is it really still worth $1000 when I cant choose what to have on it? - Is there anyway to remove this very intrusive branding?

Does Nokia not want customers to be happy?.. Just got off the phone to the call centre as well who told me they have unbranded N8's but they arnt allowed to sell directly to the public in NZ... So I got on the phone to Brightpoint to see if they would get one shipped for me... and then a reseller to stock that one device on hold and I could pick it up... They said they would see what they could find out from Nokia and then get back to me...

Do you know at all what are the differences between the NZ and UK versions of the N8?

Do you work directly for Nokia here in NZ? - Is there anyway they can do an unbranded model? Im happy to pay more for it... It really means a lot to me not to have any branding...

Thanks

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#408378 23-Nov-2010 16:37

nikrolls: To be fair, no modifications are hard-coded in Symbian: shortcuts can be moved and removed, homepages can be changed, themes can be swapped ... like I said above, I suggest looking at one instore to see his little really is modified.

Is there anyway to remove all of the Vodafone stuff? Or have it sent back to Nokia to be re-loaded with origional software?

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