To those that managed to get the official Nokia Belle update yesterday, what is your verdict so far? I recorded a hands on video (twice in fact) using YouTube’s direct upload feature. YouTube failed the first time and then Chrome died the second time.

What I wanted to share from my end was that I’m really enjoying Belle. It’s amazing what they’ve managed to do on 2009 hardware. It’s smooth for the most parts, though it does stutter here and there, and gets worse if you have more things running in the background.

The web browser is much improved though it is not a fan of heavy websites at all. I like the new navigation bar that makes it much easier to browse the web. I detest that the browser bar still doesn’t fully incorporate search properly (instead you have to click ‘search for’ as if you don’t you’ll just lead yourself to an error page.

As mentioned, the phone is a lot smoother if you have less/no programmes running. I do dislike that I have to manage what’s open to get the phone running smoothly. I’m sure it’s less Belle but more the hardware that Belle has to deal with.

Other than that, I really like :

• the new homescreen with better widget implementation.
• easy shortcut addition – instead of having the shortcut bar and then editing it to look for shortcut – just add the shortcut app. And you can just have one if you want.
• the more consistent lay out – very important for overall experience.
• the drop down notification, nice quick access.
• Menu A-Z organization and the search button

I’m finding that having a lot of photos, you’re going to want to open Gallery for a while and leave it running whilst it refreshes your media. After getting the update, perhaps leave the N8 for about 20 minutes to sort itself out. If it’s still stuttering in places (like scrolling) then restart the N8. The whole update itself was pretty seamless. Connect to microUSB, check updates at Nokia suite, just click to accept the update and then done.

For those who are still waiting, it’s coming You definitely have a lot of good things to look forward to.

BTW, thanks to Yvonne from Nokia and co who have been replying to user questions in our comment section about Nokia Belle. That is pretty cool, no? (And yes, that is really Yvonne – confirmed in discussion through email).

• http://mynokiablog.com/2012/02/07/i-have-the-official-nokia-belle-update-d-nokia-belle-available-through-nokia-suite-d/
• http://mynokiablog.com/2012/02/07/nokia-belle-rollout-info/

So:

1. What do you like about Belle? What’s been done well?
2. What could do with improving?
3. Any bugs?
4. Any app incompatibilities?
5. How was the actual update process itself?
6. Are you still waiting?

Belle should appear soon, and I’m guessing most will have a reasonably positive response to the update, if not high marks then most will be in the category waiting.

You could in the mean time check out the availability Map for Nokia Belle

Vaibhav Sharma (or someone) tweeted about Belle availability maps yesterday and for some reason, I thought it was Maps for Belle. Well it is. Like the Lumia availability, you can see availability of Belle by checking out the link below.

Just choose the continent, and country and you’ll get a whopping list of handset info availability. Note that’s how many Nokia has to look after. No wonder Belle took so long. It reminds me of the Windows Phone update info – I think it’s great to let users know the status of the update (though I heard WP might discontinue that, which i think is stupid. Even if they have one guy who’s job is is to just work on that, that’s worth it).

http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/nokia-belle-update/nokia-belle-update-availability

Anyway, point is, kudos to Nokia for making this type of information more accessible to users.

This isn't the full list. It's too long to screenshot.

Hat-tip to Vaibhav

So with MWC just around the corner (Feb 27th) rumors have started to surface about what Nokia might unveil there, according to a source at forbes Nokias presence at MWC will be in the shape of:

run an unusual software feature normally found only on high-end smartphones.

Way to leave our minds roam freely in the cursed Rumor/dream land, well we’ll try our best, as far as I know there isn’t a specific software feature that lays the claim to “high-end smartphones” of course you have Voice Command/ Siri but that is present on all ranges of smartphones and even some dumb-phones. Of course just to add to the agonizing speculation we have no idea which OS this ‘special software feature’ is destined for! Could it be a new Feature phone (S40?) or maybe a low end S^3 device? possibly even a low end WP considering how all the Tango rumors have lead us to believe that Tango will bring increased support for cheaper lower range phones (smaller screens, no camera required….).

Personally I think it’s either going to be a dedicated Voice control system that can take apple head on (except for the fact that it wont set you back 600 dollars- come to think of it that would be a killer idea) or maybe some sort of swipe Ui on Symbian 3 devices? (now that Belles rolled out they can work on making it more amazing rather than having a million bugs to fix). Or possibly a extremely advanced gesture controlled screen that could be fully functional without the need for any buttons at all (extending on the N9s swipe interface)??

What do you think?

VIA

I’m sure there are alot of you who like me couldn’t wait for the official Belle rollout and switched over to Symbian Belle along time ago (about 4 months for me), you’ll be glad to know that for alot of you switching over to the official Belle (Just because it’s official) shouldn’t be difficult at all. The latest version of Belle CFW I was running was Belle delight, where under Version number it said something like 111.28 something (forgot it completely); all I had to do was connect my N8 to Nokia suite and TaDa I got the prompt to update to Belle.

Obviously I was a bit cautious cause I though this might be considered a ‘Down Grade” which as we all know is a big no-no for symbian, but thankfully it worked fine without  a hitch. Obviously I can’t be sure if it works with all variants of the Leaked Belle but hopefully it should (TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK!!)

And here’s just a little change-log between the earlier releases of Leaked Belle and the Official:

• Nokia Pure Font is the default font on the phone now
• New start up tone basically just two Dings “Ting- Ting”
• Something called “Chat Apps” – takes you to the web Ovi store

• I’ll add more as soon as all my applications are restored (can’t use the phone while they’re restoring)
• Something called “Nokia Recommends” which appears similar to the app highlights that came on the stock S^3
• F-Secure anti virus comes pre loaded onto the device
• As Does Microsoft Communicator
• Shazam and Quickoffice & Youtube are also pre-loaded (probably on C which means bye bye RAM)
• Swype is the default keyboard
• better haptic feed back
• smaller icons for shortcuts on Homescreen (Thumbnail/image is smaller)
• “Search Widget Update” is available in software updater
• Smoother kinetic scrolling
• Still “Big Clock” is the only screen saver available (not sure if people who went official all the way have more options)
• The Widgets that were leaked from the E6 a while back (data monitor small Music player and many more ARE NOT available)
• If you had the beta Nokia store it’s now been replaced with ovi store again, however you’re prompted to update as soon as you run it.

Thats about it for now, might update this later if I find anything else; did you find anything else??

Here’s a great video from Nokia to tell their users about the Nokia Belle update. With the same phone you get a totally new experience with Belle. I have it, and I totally agree. Gone are most of the annoyances from S^3/Anna, for the most part, it’s really great to use.

I’ll give mine a day or two to settle in to give a full verdict.

Congrats to the team who made this video I like the bold, confident attitude coming across in the video. Clear, engaging, funny and memorable. Great job!

Cheers AmmAR for the tip!

by nokia

Here’s a bunch of photos I’ve taken of the Nokia N8 with Nokia Belle. If there’s any particular portion anyone’s missed out I can add it later.

BTW, I can’t check the version number when doing *#0000#. N8 just freezes :s. Currently having problem with the gallery stuck on refreshing media. What does the BBC iPlayer and tap and tell do? Clicking on them doesn’t seem to do anything. (Apologies for the repeat images in gallery)

Nice little widget for the music player

Portrait QWERTY by default. Getting better but still annoying to use IMO.

Picking up Nokia account at the start. If you don’t have an internet connection you’ll have to do this at some later time. I’m not sure how, but this N8 decided to turn itself off thereby meeting this screen again at start up.

Drop down menu

New camera UI

Lock screen

Becomes transparent when you click

Alphabetical order option for apps

Video player

Yvonne from Nokia emailed to share the Nokia Belle update information, which many of us are getting on our Nokias today .

http://discussions.europe.nokia.com/t5/Software-Updates/Nokia-Belle-roll-out-has-started-check-here-for-all-details/td-p/1295109

Hi all,

good news to share! We are very happy to announce that Nokia Belle is now available for download for Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia X7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7 and Nokia Oro in the majority of our markets, for example:

• India, 
• Russia, 
• United Arab Emirates, 
• Turkey, 
• Poland, 
• UK, 
• Germany, 
• Italy, 
• Vietnam and 
• Indonesia. 

For Nokia 500, Nokia Belle will be made available within the next few weeks.
You can find,

- an overview about what Nokia Belle is all about via http://europe.nokia.com/nokia-belle-update

- the availability of Nokia Belle for your country via http://europe.nokia.com/nokia-belle-update-availability

- and all the latest FAQs via http://europe.nokia.com/nokia-belle-update-faq

Also check our story with more details about Nokia Belle in Nokia Conversations.

To update your phone, you’ll need to connect it to a PC via a USB cable and then start Nokia Suite (make sure you have the latest version 3.3.86 installed) – as Nokia Belle is a major upgrade, it is not possible to update over the air / OTA and the update also won’t be available in Nokia Software Updater. For a step-by-step guide,  you can check the Nokia support pages and we have also done a video that tells you everything you need to know. Please note that the update to Nokia Belle removes your apps & music licenses, but you can re-download compatible apps easily via Nokia Store and your music licenses can be restored by playing the respective track. (We’ve done more detailed explanations in the FAQ pages, so check here for more infos.)

If you get a notification on your phone that the Nokia Belle update is available for you and it doesn’t show in Nokia Suite, please make sure that you have the latest Nokia Suite version 3.3.86 installed and then use the refresh button there.

pS: And last but not least, I also want to use the opportunity to introduce Suvi aka Kerttu, who will keep you up to date with news about software updates in the future. Welcome to the Forum, Suvi!

BR,

yvonne

 

Ah, something a lot of you can say today, “I have the Official Nokia Belle update”. Many of you have been commenting that you’ve actually got it today. I wasn’t expecting anything until tomorrow but surprise surprise it’s there. I’m guessing a lot of us have been skeptical as to whether Nokia would deliver it on that 8th of February date, and even stranger that we got tipped yesterday that it would be here today, and it is (Kudos ICEMan and DM). For those who don’t have it yet, at least you know the roll out has begun.

I’m currently updating it as we speak.

I know it has been available through other means by way of leaked firmwares but I’m not one to put updates by unofficial means on any phone.

Backing up…

Downloading the update

Ooh, it has just restarted I think I have Belle Will update in a mo.

It’s trying to get my Nokia account but it has wiped the phone and cannot connect to the wifi until I put the wifi details in again.

It will also try and find some bluetooth devices to get contacts.

And here she is. Belle on the N8. Soo nice

Things looking good so far. Not the smoothest operation (noticing some stuttering) but come on, remember what hardware this is on – it’s pretty decent for that. It’s much smoother if there’s nothing happening in the background.

As per some screenshots on dailymobile forums, the Symbian Belle/Nokia Belle firmwares are apparently available on Navifirm. They are seen for the Nokia N8, C7, E7 and C6-01 so far.

http://forum.dailymobile.se/index.php?topic=62064.msg814617#new

It is apparently expected to appear officially tomorrow via the normal Nokia Software Updater routes according to Michal.

Sources: forum.dailymobile and symbianmobile

Cheers ICEman and Machal for the tip!

Right, I’d like to check around more but I have a bus to catch :S

If you go on Nokia Mexico’s site, you will notice that they have some instructions for updating to Symbian Belle/Nokia Belle, with the N8 as the demo device.

http://www.nokia.com.mx/aplicaciones-mapas-y-mas/nokiabelle

There aren’t any dates here but it does look like the Nokia Vietnam Belle update page that disappeared.

DM who tipped this in also has a link that claims everything is still good to go for Feb 8. The blog has a screenshot from Nokia Care Spain.

http://oviclub.ning.com/profiles/blogs/nokia-care-confirma-la-llegada-de-belle-a-partir-del-8-de-febrero

In similar news, ICEman tipped in this link which is not yet working (and he notes this). He says 7th of February, which is today (Source: @khotabychua).

Nokia Belle will be available for N8, E7, X7, E6, C6-01, C7 & Oro starting 7th of February!
Nokia 500 will have to wait a bit. By default it’ll have max. 4 homescreens, and a special version of Angry Birds

http://europe.nokia.com/nokia-belle-update-availability

Cheers DM and ICEman for the tip!