Nokia Belle Refresh Roll Out

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › Nokia Belle Refresh Roll Out

Technofreak

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#108559 31-Aug-2012 21:15

I was just syncing my E7 with Outlook via Nokia Suite and was surprised to get a message telling me there's an update for Nokia Belle - Nokia Belle Refresh.

I don't have time tonight to do the update but it looks like there quite a few bits and pieces in it in it. It seems the vanilla handsets, i.e. the ones without any carrier changes to the OS get it first followed by the carrier versions.

A new browser that supports HTML5, new widgets, a better music player, Microsoft apps and Nokia Maps 2 are built into the OS rather than being add on Apps. It looks like the N8 will get some extra built in imaging apps as well.

It looks as if the update can be done either OTA or via Nokia Suite.

This is pretty good support from Nokia.

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alexx

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#679948 31-Aug-2012 23:22

Is this a phone with a vodafone NZ product code?

Because I just checked with the SW update app on the phone and it states:

Good news.
Your N8-00 is already fully up-to-date.

I'm glad it wasn't bad news.

Edit: see you mention "vanilla handsets", so I guess that means that you have one of those.

#include <standard.disclaimer>

Technofreak

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#679976 1-Sep-2012 07:28

Yep mine is a vanilla version, parallel imported one. Hope to update later today depending on work or tomorrow.

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John2010

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#680012 1-Sep-2012 10:14

Since the roll out began a couple of days ago I have been wondering if Vodafone are going to make us wait almost forever again as they did for Belle (or maybe forget, or write it off totally).

Not wanting to sound too snidey, so am happy to point out that the Vodafone release of Anna came out with the first lot available from Nokia and was real happy about that. Would like to think they will be back on the ball with this Belle refresh update as it appears from accounts to be a well worthwhile one.

Perhaps someone at Vodafone can say?

mudguard

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#680121 1-Sep-2012 16:26

I'm not holding my breath. I have an NZ new, my brother has a parallel imported one. I will check his tonight!

Technofreak

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#680211 1-Sep-2012 20:55

I did the update today. It didn't go so well doing via Nokia Suite, for some reason the SB connection kept dropping off. I wondered later that the problem might have been the fact the phone was also trying to connect via Bluetooth. I chose the USB option as I figured the data transfer would be faster.

After trying Nokia Suite several times I went the OTA route which went as smooth as butter.

I had to work today so haven't had much time to really have a good play.

Things I've noticed so far, not much difference with the browser except the menu list button on the lower right seems to have less options, e.g. no history, the history is now one of the options under the "Star"button which also has the bookmarks and I think favourite or most recently visited sites.

There's a whole lot of new widgets, a bookmark widget, a Bluetooth ON/OFF widget, Calendar agenda view, 5 different clock widgets, one called mechanical shows the internal drive train of the clock which actually moves as the clock ticks which looks quite neat, mobile data tracker widget, a smaller version of the music player, Offline Mode ON/OFF widget, 3G ON/OFF widget. There's a few others I haven't mentioned, so plenty to choose from.

Otherwise it looks the same as before.

The Bluetooth and Offline widgets will be very handy for me. I go to offline mode several times per day, the only thing is when you go back on line the phone always defaults to the General setting it doesn't remember what you had selected prior to going offline. The Bluetooth one makes it quick and easy to select/deselect bluetooth which means I am much more likley to switch it off when it's not needed saving some battery life.

The Bookmark widget allows you to go directly to a website with having to open the browser first, a nice touch. What would be also nice is to be able to got directly to a document on the device without having to open Quick Office or Office Mobile.

Mobile Office now seems to be able to find documents on the phone which it couldn't do before.

As continue to play I'll no doubt discover more things. So far I'm pretty happy with the upgrade, there's some very useful improvements.

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John2010

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#682205 6-Sep-2012 11:14

It seems from Post #6 at http://forum.vodafone.co.nz/topic/10768-belle-refresh-for-n8/ that Nokia have again forgotten, as they did with Belle, that either or both of NZ and Vodafone NZ exist.

According to the release announcement by Nokia at Post #1 http://discussions.nokia.com/t5/Software-Updates/Nokia-Belle-Refresh-update-just-launched/td-p/1534746 operator approval is required for the Belle refresh update, so something needs to happen if we with Vodafone branded N8s are to get it

.

Thinking more and more the only way to get a phone that gets updates promptly, or at all, is to buy it overseas with a high volume country product code or parallel imported (which has always worked well in the past for us).

Wrong place to ask, but does anyone know off hand if 2degrees brand their phones they sell with plans?

Technofreak

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#682226 6-Sep-2012 11:57

I have a 2 degrees C7 at home which I haven't been using so don't know if it has got the update. It wasn't bought on a plan but will check to see if it has the update tonight. Will check it product code as well..

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Technofreak

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#682564 6-Sep-2012 21:28

The 2 degrees C7 has the update available. When you check for updates there is a message saying version 111.040.1511 is available for download.

The product code is 059B7B6 which is listed as variant "Apac2_new_zealand_frost_metal"which would appear to be a vanilla New Zealand product code.

Perhaps 2 degree is the place to buy some phones at least.

Further to my comment in an earlier post re the problems doing the update via USB I'm starting to think it's the MacAfee anti virus that might causing problems here.

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John2010

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#682650 7-Sep-2012 08:06

Thanks very much for that

.

Our Vodafone contract is up in February so unless they start supporting their branded phones properly and promptly (regardless whether that is primarily their's or Nokia's fault) then I will be looking to moving to 2degrees if their phones are still unbranded.

Will be quite a move, we have been with Vodafone and its forebears since the very first Bell South days.

Technofreak

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#682765 7-Sep-2012 12:07

We're with Telecom. The C7 is penta band so works on all three networks. Providing you bought the right handset you could still remain with Vodafone. Sure no handset subsidy but also no need for a long term contract. In some cases the current plan can be much better than any new offerings. Just buy a handset that works, put your sim in, and keep rolling with the old contract for as long as you want.

I see no good reason to buy a branded phone, unless the deal is very very very good. When you see the issues with support for updates with New Zealand network branded phones on the other forums, there is no incentive what so ever to buy a branded phone.

The only thing missing is the Telco logo and in the case of Telecom the icon giving access to your plan usage details which I can effectively put that on my phone as bookmark icon anyway so no real lose there. I've had experience with four unbranded phones, they all work very well and the updates are timely.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
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