N85 Tips/Tricks Thread

C

calvincoetzee

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
318
Reaction score
0
Location
North-West
Had the Nokia N85 for three weeks now, great phone, good all rounder.
Has replaced my iPod as well thanks to the 3.5mm jack and 8GB SD.

However if you get this phone through Vodacom I can suggest using NSS to change the product code to EURO 1 (0555817) and flashing it with generic software.

Also if you choose to flash the phone just do a format afterwards since the my phone had some issues afterwards (Green call button + "3" + "*") while starting the phone.

I would like everyone to post their experiences with this phone, software related as well as hardware.

My device is still intact, I'm very carefull with it although it still picked up a small chip in the plastic and scratches around the keypad.
 
my phone has a very wobbly slider...not very stable

tha battery cover is a bit loose

oh, and about 7 weeks ago i sent my 2 week old n85 to get fixed as the front navigation panel just peeled off...could not fix it myself as it was glued on...

have not seen it since...

been using my old se w910....

every time i phone the mtn hrvc they say they are still waiting for spares...

so am pretty angry

i will never get another nokia again

for the 2 weeks i did have it, i must say the screen was amazing!
 
My slider is also a bit wobbly, but there is the North American version of the phone where the slider is tight, a bit to tight as there problem is that it scrapes the keypad everytime it slides, causing the black finish to come off.

The wobbly slider does not bother me that much, everything on the phone is a bit loose but that isn't a bad thing in the sense that when you apply preasure onto the phone then it has some spare movement before inflicting strain on the plastics.
 
I've had mine for just under 2 weeks now, enjoying it!!! It replaces my N95 and it's a worthy successor. I've pouched it from new in one of those plastic R60 jobbies but I wouldn't mind getting a decent leather pouch, question is where?

The phone's not perfect, sunlight legibility is atrocious and the navi wheel thingy is a waste of time.

I'm pretty impressed with the build quality actually, seems as solid if not more solid than my N95.

Battery life is good if not unbelievable, video camera good, camera, was expecting more from it but still good.

Had issues with the photo browser where it was taking ages for photo's to appear in focus but it seems to be quicker now that there more images stored to the 8GB sd card.

FM transmitter works relatively well although not something I'm lightly to use all that often.

Only change I've made to the phone is an upgrade of the firmware. (to 11.047).

All in all it's pretty much an updated version of the N95 which is fine by me, N95 was/is a great handset and I'm enjoying the familiarity of the N85...
 
left nokia a while back for sony ericcson but glad i made the decision to come back. N85 is brilliant. Has virtually replaced my pda (used mainly for pdf and ebook browsing) Internet and wireless features excellent.

Happy with build quality although now and then do notice a wobbly feel.

Camera great during day but at night not the best.

Overall a great buy.

calvincoetzee said:
However if you get this phone through Vodacom I can suggest using NSS to change the product code to EURO 1 (0555817) and flashing it with generic software.

Also if you choose to flash the phone just do a format afterwards since the my phone had some issues afterwards (Green call button + "3" + "*") while starting the phone.
Click to expand...

Got mine from vodacom. Just wondering why the need to change product code and how?
 
reason to upgrade firmware.

Sagewan said:
Got mine from vodacom. Just wondering why the need to change product code and how?
Click to expand...

Vodacom uses the vodafone firmware, by debranding the phone you get the latest version 11 firmware, all the features enabled and no Vodafone branding left behind.

There are a whole bunch of improvements rolled out on the new firmware.
I have noticed an improvement in the phone especially the camera which no opperates well, previously every 5th picture would come out horrible while processing the image, that problem is gone now as well.

Change log

New features and applications:

- DVB-H accessory support (SU-33W)
- Nokia software checker application
- Support for Nokia MU-44 16GB microSD memory card

Changes/Improvements:

- Bad sound quality using BT headsets (CAP 97705)
- Cannot display the video under edit menu (CAP 99698)
- Keypad no response after make call with slide close (CAP 99169)
- Problems with finding contacts starting by “CH” (CAP 97026)
- Music player keep searching new songs when activated (CAP 97082)
- Message type changed to multimedia message (CAP 99880)
- Video recording quality improvement
- Imaging quality improvements, better colours saturation and flash
- Defaul setting change: Closing slide doesn’t disconnect call
- Short slide key illumination applied for Java application compatibility
- “Video call” is shown in Options when highlighting a contact in Space UI.
- Not detecting always wall charger -> Not charging
- 2G cannot connect to GPRS service in some cities in China
- Non stop Music Player “Library update”
- FMTX: The audio is routed to DUT speaker after receiving a message when FM
transmitter is transmitting audio.
- Predefined contacts does not support Chinese characters
- APN setting for Vodafone Mobile connect “Promt Password is set to Yes”
- Audio >> downlink quality
- Some of the S60 key presses are not registered by device
- Google Maps application not working with “Vodafone live!” access point
- Network level icon is not shown during VT call
- ITU is not responding when MO is done where slide is closed and opened when call
is established
- Long press of Media keys prev/next not working correctly for local videos
- DTMF tones sent from prepaid line to *600 (or *400) are not received by NW
- OFR_pop-up at boot about positioning
- Orange enterprises APN is used by default in the email Wizard
- Pod cast: messed up characters
- All key presses are not registered by device
- E-mail address limiting to max 30 characters
- SMS converting to MMS if more than 20 recipients
 
Last edited:
changing firmware

wow. sounds like alot of good reasons to change the firmware. have noticed the picture quality problems myself. Had a SE K750i previously and its 3.2MP provided better quality photos ;-(

How exactly do i go about changing the firmware?

and am i going to lose everything thats currently stored on it ?

will try googling the above but if you guys can point me in the right direction i'd appreciate it.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
calvincoetzee said:
I can provide a guide for you, you wont loose everything, but I found after the update nothing really worked anymore so I just reset the phone again.

Alternatively you can wait for Vodafone to authorise the firmware update on Vodacom network.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. but to just to clarify - is it a good idea to do this or not?. I mean i don't want to go through everything and then find its not working properly. also i installed additional software like isilo and mobipocket reader - will these work after the reset or does it all have to be reinstalled. and what about game activations etc.?
 
To answer your questions,

Yes your programs will still work afterwards, because I advice that you do the reset after you would just have to reinstall the applications.

After the reset you can activate the games again using the keys they give you in the box, I did so and my games activated.

For Nokia maps you go to my liciences and go update, it then finds that you have xxx amount of days left.

You can trust this works as I have my N85 from Vodacom and all these programs still work.

I think it's a good idea because it's not branded by Vodacom, so you get your fully unlocked product just the way Nokia intended.
It's just a better phone, less buggy afterwards, and the camera is working really well.
 
Last edited:
problems I have had with my three monthish old n85... [N85-1, with latest firmware]

-When first bought i had the "- Non stop Music Player “Library update”" error but Reset factory defaults fixed that
-Under the navigation buttons it started to crack...no idea why but its there..
-Speaker volume seems to have decreased somewhat..
-wobbly slider..
-Camera gives me error where it says I should restart the phone (happened 3 times, guess its just software)
-the slider caused the bottom of the keypad to become scratched (I guess nokia doesnt test them like they used to)
-and something with the charger-software aint working - sometimes the phone shows that its still charging up to an hour after i take it off charge

but...I still love it!

FM transmitter Great!
Installed Garmin Maps on it and GPS works flawlessly!- highly recommend over Nokia maps
Video quality Superb!
Transition effects when using menu/videos/photos
Search function is good when looking for specific messages/files you cant find

What I dont like is that its un-hackable, so installing of unsigned files kinda impossible
 
probs

Hey, just a few questions

has anyone elses n85 restarted a few times when it is charging?

also, when i am talking to someone the earphone works fine, then i cant hear the person any more or they sound very soft then works fine again. very irritating...

any ideas?
 
So I finally received my Nokia N85 today after signing the upgrade form a month and a half ago. Excitedly I rushed back to the office to open up the box and play.

BUT...

As I picked the phone up out of the box I noticed the front camera (for 3G Calling) had shifted across and most of it was now hiding under the front panel. Fired up the phone and confirmed that the camera had shifted and was no obscured!!

ARGH!

Took the phone straight back to Autopage and lodged an out-of-box failure.... now waiting to hopefully see if they can get me another one before the weekend.....

Anyone else had an out of box failure before with a new cellphone? This is definitely my first one!
 
So I received my replacement N85 and I am very happy! Blown away by the phone actually. Coming up from an E65 the jump has been huge in a good way. New phone is perfect except for the top left of the x missing on the keypad and the slider is a bit wobbly, but I am happy to accept this because my tight E65 scraped the keypad badly. Have installed the Garmin software and this hits the Nokia maps out of the park and works exactly like a proper Garmin - SAT lock on is done in an instant and even indoors. Screen is amazing and battery is coping very well with me playing on it constantly. Love the FM Transmitter in my vehicle. The screen is amazing. I LOVE THIS PHONE! Lastly - transfer speeds from pc to phone using the cable is very quick and USB charging is the shiz :-) And regarding the software - it came out of the box with 11.04 and has no Vodacom branding at all. I am on Vodacom with Autopage.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X