Nokia N8-00 "Belle" firmware product codes and access to official Belle bug-fixes?

[insertrealname]

As it happens, my Nokia N8-00 is an out-of-warranty Canadian "Rogers" branded handset, product code 059D391, no longer actively marketed by the Canadian carrier, and that product code is not among the initial huge release of supported product codes for "Nokia Belle".

Rogers has never supported this phone very well, so after a *lot* of reading on how to change firmware, I used the Navifirm+ and Phoenix applications to update ("refurbish") my phone to the Nokia "Belle" product code 0599222, which seems to be the generic North American version (it comes with a complete set of maps for Mexico, USA and Canada, with English, French, Spanish, etc. languages). There were also a country variant versions for the USA, but I was worried that the USA carriers might have disabled, taken out or changed certain handset functions, so the generic N.A. version seemed a safer choice.

Everything in the upgrade process seems to have worked right: the upgraded handset performs its smartphone functions much better (the UX significantly faster!) than the original, it is almost a different device now. It's a worthwhile upgrade.

The one curious thing: the handset still lists its product code as the original Canadian Rogers, not the generic North American firmware product code I used for the upgrade. When I used Phoenix to change the firmware, I did try the menu point that changes the product code, but that required a "Tucson" password which I did not have, of course. So the product code is set in some kind of locked PROM area--but isn't the N8-00 hardware pretty much the same across all product codes?

Does anyone actually know if this inconsistency will this affect my ability to update the handset with the Nokia Suite or OTA, if Nokia releases any bug fixes for the Belle version firmware?

[3Gphreak]

I don't know for sure but my first guess is that it's because your phone is still locked. I paid $6.00 cdn to unlock my phone. Maybe you should unlock your phone and try to reflash again.

[mrrphone]

As it happens, my Nokia N8-00 is an out-of-warranty Canadian "Rogers" branded handset, product code 059D391, no longer actively marketed by the Canadian carrier, and that product code is not among the initial huge release of supported product codes for "Nokia Belle".

Rogers has never supported this phone very well, so after a *lot* of reading on how to change firmware, I used the Navifirm+ and Phoenix applications to update ("refurbish") my phone to the Nokia "Belle" product code 0599222, which seems to be the generic North American version (it comes with a complete set of maps for Mexico, USA and Canada, with English, French, Spanish, etc. languages). There were also a country variant versions for the USA, but I was worried that the USA carriers might have disabled, taken out or changed certain handset functions, so the generic N.A. version seemed a safer choice.

Everything in the upgrade process seems to have worked right: the upgraded handset performs its smartphone functions much better (the UX significantly faster!) than the original, it is almost a different device now. It's a worthwhile upgrade.

The one curious thing: the handset still lists its product code as the original Canadian Rogers, not the generic North American firmware product code I used for the upgrade. When I used Phoenix to change the firmware, I did try the menu point that changes the product code, but that required a "Tucson" password which I did not have, of course. So the product code is set in some kind of locked PROM area--but isn't the N8-00 hardware pretty much the same across all product codes?

Does anyone actually know if this inconsistency will this affect my ability to update the handset with the Nokia Suite or OTA, if Nokia releases any bug fixes for the Belle version firmware?

You have found the problem, the inability to change the product code on the N8.
None of the tools we have access to will permanently change the code. You can load other product code firmware, as you have obviously done.
The issue is that when you look up software updates, the wrong product code is sent to Nokia. If you update apps, widgets, and other such things, you will probably be fine. They are generally the same version for all product codes.
If you tried to apply a firmware update for the wrong product code, then you could have problems. The firmware has some differences depending on your region. You could end up with a brick, nobody knows for sure.
You can continue to flash new versions, you just can't use the updates. Since the Rogers firmware is rarely updated you probably will be fine, but no updates will show up even if released for the generic firmware.

[insertrealname]

I don't know for sure but my first guess is that it's because your phone is still locked. I paid $6.00 cdn to unlock my phone. Maybe you should unlock your phone and try to reflash again.

Oh, I should have mentioned I did also unlock my phone before the flashing (but I paid CAD$2 more than you!).

[insertrealname]

You have found the problem, the inability to change the product code on the N8.
[...]
You can continue to flash new versions, you just can't use the updates. Since the Rogers firmware is rarely updated you probably will be fine, but no updates will show up even if released for the generic firmware.

O.K., I really appreciate the detailed answer. As updates to the base software of the software are relatively infrequent, I doubt that this is a problem.

Two other related questions:

1) When I started the handset after flashing, once the onboard update application had done its automatic check the first time, it did find an update for the "Search Widget" (which I installed). Can I assume from that, that official Nokia applications on the handset, as distinct from product-coded base handset OS software, may actually get updates? Does the Nokia updating make that distinction between types of software on the handset?

2) Lets's say Nokia does make substantial bug-fix updates over the next year (without changing the major version, only the minor version of the base OS). I would use the Nokia Suite to backup my handset, as well as to sync all my photos, music, etc. files onto my notebook (as I do every week), then use then Navifirm+ and Phoenix to reflash with the entire updated firmware. To save time, is using the "restore backup" function of Nokia Suite after flashing an entire updated firmware a bad idea, since it might restore old internal OS settings and software that have been revised by the update? Or does Nokia Suite just backup and restore user data? Normally, I'd go the safest route, which is to manually reconfigure everything on the handset back to the settings I used before the update, and use Nokia Suite just to sync the files back onto the handset. But is this really safer?

[mrrphone]

1) When I started the handset after flashing, once the onboard update application had done its automatic check the first time, it did find an update for the "Search Widget" (which I installed). Can I assume from that, that official Nokia applications on the handset, as distinct from product-coded base handset OS software, may actually get updates? Does the Nokia updating make that distinction between types of software on the handset?

2) Lets's say Nokia does make substantial bug-fix updates over the next year (without changing the major version, only the minor version of the base OS). I would use the Nokia Suite to backup my handset, as well as to sync all my photos, music, etc. files onto my notebook (as I do every week), then use then Navifirm+ and Phoenix to reflash with the entire updated firmware. To save time, is using the "restore backup" function of Nokia Suite after flashing an entire updated firmware a bad idea, since it might restore old internal OS settings and software that have been revised by the update? Or does Nokia Suite just backup and restore user data? Normally, I'd go the safest route, which is to manually reconfigure everything on the handset back to the settings I used before the update, and use Nokia Suite just to sync the files back onto the handset. But is this really safer?

1) I think that the software update function on the phone does check with Nokia for both types of updates, firmware and apps.
Nokia decides on their end what to make available based on the handset apps request to server. If the handset product code and firmware meet the requirements for an update, it notifies you. App updates from Nokia seem to go to any handset with the firmware version in that region. I have used that on many different hacked and custom firmwares. For firmware upgrades the server is checking the product codes, because that can cause major issues on incompatible hardware. That was more a problem with the different Euro/NAM/MEA/FarEast hardwares on other phones.

2)If the Nokia suite backup is of different firmware than it restores to then you get limits on what gets restored. Nokia suite has gotten better about getting things restored without causing issues when changing to updated firmwares. Nokia sets those parameters and we have no way of knowing the limits there. Some settings will get restored, and some apps usually make it.
The question you ask, is it safer, I believe depends on how much stuff you have done to the phone. For me, the phone is CFW/hacked most of the time, with multiple unsigned apps. When I make major changes to firmware, I rebuild the old slow way.
If I am upgrading to a firmware with few changes, I usually let Nokia suite make a run at restore, and if doesn't work out, reflash and rebuild the slow way.

Good luck

[Yarrenbool]

I reluctantly purchased an iPhone 4S a few months ago even though I really liked my Nokia N8. The main reason is that I really needed a couple of apps that were available for iPhone/iPad but not for the N8.

I've kept my N8 hoping that with Belle it would still be a good spare and occasional main phone. I even clipped my original SIM and purchased an adapter so I can swap the same SIM between the two phones.

Now I find that Nokia are not going to release Belle for my never-locked Canadian N8. I've no desire to learn how to use the other ways possible to install Belle on a Canadian N8 as my main phone is now an iPhone.

Anyone want to buy a Canadian unlocked N8 along with its standard accessories and other accessories I purchased for it? I have no idea how much to ask for it nor how to SAFELY go about selling it. (I would give a special deal on it to anyone living in Québec City who wants to buy it for cash.

[insertrealname]

Others will know more than I do, but one way to ensure that no private information on the phone remains for any future purchaser is to go to Menu button --> "Settings" --> "Phone" --> "Phone management" --> "Factory settings" --> "Delete data and restore" and OK the action.

That does two things: it deletes user data and programs on the internal 16GB memory and restores all the factory settings. If Rogers-specific applications (e.g. music store) that Rogers added to the phone are not somehow protected, they will be deleted as well--if the future owner becomes a Rogers customer, maybe these Rogers applications will be restored from the Rogers update server, assuming one is available and added in the phone's update application, but I'm not sure about that.

The Craigslist page for Québec City quebec.fr.craigslist.org has some advice for selling stuff. I don't see any problem selling it quickly if you make a nice advertisement on Craigslist, with stock photos and some links to reviews of the original N8 which point out the weak/strong points e.g. http://www.lesnumeriques.com/telepho...9800/test.html http://www.clubic.com/smartphone/sym...-nokia-n8.html You can mention that the phone is compatible with pretty much all GSM mobile phone carriers and has a very good music player and camera, i.e. no need to buy those two gadgets--the N8 does it all... (although a warning "This is not an Android or an Apple smartphone" is probably a good thing, because those two have pretty much defined the device in N. America). You can look at "completed listings" on ebay.ca to get an idea of prices: http://www.ebay.ca/csc/i.html?LH_Ite..._Phones&_fln=1

[insertrealname]

1) I think that the software update function on the phone does check with Nokia for both types of updates, firmware and apps. [...]

Thanks for further clarification.

[way2quik]

My N8 looks astounding on Belle.
However, those on .609 have issues uploading photos from gallery to Social beta.
"Feature not supported." Definitely a Social Client bug. Downgrading Social allows sharing gallery photos to Social.