Symbian Update Shows Nokia’s Challenge: Slow Progress
Nokia today released a software update for its newest Symbian handsets, noting “numerous tweaks and fixes” and most of the enhanced features under the hood improvements. The flagship N8, along with the new Symbian operating system arrived back in late September, along with the expectation of firmware enhancements in January. Delivery of the update a few days into February isn’t a big deal, but the lack of substance to this update illustrates a major challenge Nokia faces: It continues to move as if the year is 2001, not 2011.
The two most visible parts of Software Update 1.1 include the ability to accept meeting requests directly from email invitations and map integration with email invites to show meeting locations. The Nokia Conversations blog also mentions newly included games and an updated version of the Quick Office document editor software.
I no longer have my Nokia N8 review unit to get the update and test it, but even if I did, I couldn’t get it today. Even though the company is touting the availability of the new software today, it’s really only available now for one of the three devices: the C-7. An update to the Nokia Communications blog post clarifies availability with this statement:
The standard, non-customised version of the software is available from today for the Nokia C7. The software versions for the Nokia N8 and C6-01 will be available early next week. Country (SIM-free) and operator-specific variants will follow soon.
This illustrates a second issue: The more handset models one company has to manage, the more challenging it becomes to support them all from a software standpoint. Granted, the Google Android ecosystem mirrors this same problem because numerous handset makers offer different hardware variants, each of which supports different Android features and versions. But unlike Google, Nokia owns its ecosystem, just as Apple does; both make the hardware, the operating system and control the application storefront of their respective platforms. Yet one of these two is managing the overall process well, and one isn’t.
I’m sure Symbian handset owners will be happy to see this new firmware when it becomes available for their device. Indeed, the All About Symbian blog points out improved scrolling performance and landscape support for the dialer application among some of the changes. But when will the Symbian platform be rid of the old S60 browser? Where is the QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode? Why does the text box input method control the entire screen with text entry, hiding what the user was viewing with a very inelegant method?
It’s time to bring the “modern” Symbian platform up to date with these and other features, not be touting the ability to accept a meeting invitation from an email. It could well be that this firmware update — four months after the official N8 launch and 10 months after the platform’s introduction — is laying the groundwork for vastly improved functionality in the near future.
I’ll grant Nokia that, but there’s a recurring pattern here: It seems Nokia is always going take major steps forward with the next update, and rarely with the current one. I’m not sure this pace of progress bodes well for Nokia’s MeeGo plans either; if the first MeeGo devices arrive with gaps that will later be plugged by firmware updates, the new platform isn’t going to save the company from declining profits and market share.
I suspect that’s why Nokia’s CEO, Stephen Elop, said on Nokia’s most recent investor call, “Nokia faces some significant challenges in our competitiveness and our execution. In short, the industry changed, and now it’s time for Nokia to change faster.” That’s certainly the right message, but how long will it take to trickle down from the top?
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I agree Nokia needs to improve execution/implementation.
Yes, they need to highlight an update schedule and stick to it.
Like they just did.
I agree that having numerous form factors can potentially be very problematic for software updates for both Nokia & Android; however, I don’t necessarily think the cause is the hardware companies. I think carriers are the cause of this problem–they all want a slightly different model for their network to differentiate themselves which, of course, in general doesn’t really sway that many people because you can always find something similar enough on the network you want to be on.
It’s tantamount to choosing Comcast cable internet over Qwest DSL internet based on the modem–you just wouldn’t choose because of that. You choose based on price, service, speed, availability in your area, etc. . . yeah, I know smartphones are different but I think the general idea is valid.
That’s one thing I’ve been saying for a while–smartphone manufacturers need only have 2 to 4 form factors at most to cover the market–smaller & larger screened devices along with keyboard Vs no keyboard. That would also bring the cost of manufacturing down. . . but hey, what do I know. Maybe those small hardware changes really sell people.
Personally I hope Nokia does something amazing with MeeGo. I think it would be great to have another good open-source mobile OS in the market. Especially one designed from the ground up to run on a wide range of hardware–phones, tablets, and even netbooks. And what the heck, throw a dalvik VM on there and let people at Android apps ;)
engadget just release an article saying MS & Nokia announcing partner ship.
Might as well merge if they go to WP7
Nokia may well be moving slow with their firmware updates but at least the N8 is a very solid phone to start with. Compare to the N96 and N97 which had hundreds of serious bugs even months after they were available. Yes the browser is crap but Opera is a great replacement and as for the keyboard that is not the end of the world but on the whole the device works very well.
There is talk about this release being staged so that any last minute problems can be ironed out before hitting the devices that are the most sold, I don’t know if this is true or not.
If you want to see the huge progress nokia is making take a look at some of the things on Beta labs like bubbles, bots and situations. I’d advices anyone who wants to comment about Nokia’s lack of innovation to watch these videos.
http://youtu.be/RSRuY_9ZMsY
http://youtu.be/xZQyPEz_H4M
http://youtu.be/ik2YNxDKFIg
All valid points, but innovation isn’t the issue here: execution and management of base progress is really what I’m talking about. Bear in mind: it’s 2011 and mobile web adoption is moving extremely fast. Yet, as you say, “the browser is crap.” That’s an strategic flaw in this fast paced market, no?
Kevin, I don’t get your point. It’s been very clear since December that PR1.1 would be little more than a bug fix and was aimed for January/February. here we are in early February and, right on time, here’s PR1.1.
I think you’re confusing this with PR2.0 which was promised for Q1. Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t we still have almost two months of Q1 to go?
Kevin,
I understand your points but after visiting the International Funk Austellung (IFA) in Berlin last year I had a chance to test the N8 and the Samsung Beam (Projector Handy) out and now truly understand why devices take a while to launch—namely that are so complicated. The same thing goes for the updates because the manufacture wants to get it right the first time around. With that written I for one am very satisfied with the N8 and it updates thus far. I wish I could say the same for the Samsung Beam that never made it past its launch in Singapore.
APS,
I second your thoughts.
BTW, there is something seriously wrong with the commenting system here at gigaom. Sometimes comments show, sometimes they don’t. Right now it shows “5 comments” but only one is actually showing. Other times it just won’t accept comments–post the comment and it’s just gone.
Maybe that’s why they will probably choose WP7 – so MS does all the software work for them. Too bad MS is not exactly a fast company either. Also, I’d like to see how fast they can trickle down WP7 to sub $100 phones.
It’s been public knowledge for months now :)
http://forum.dailymobile.se/index.php?topic=38297.0
You should stay up to date with what’s happening on Symbian blogs and forums.
“Q1 2011
The first Symbian upgrade for 2011 will include more than 50 enhancements, including a more intuitive Web browser (7.3.1.7) user interface with basic ‘back’ button. This upgrade is planned to be made available in Q1 2011. PR 1.1 will include touch smoothness and the Browser is improved.
QA PR1.1 Released for Nokia N8 on navifirm. ChangeLog: http://forum.dailymobile.se/index.php?topic=38297.msg483271#msg483271
Nokia will also release the Nokia E7 in select markets in February 2011.
PR1.1: January 24th (Monday next week, 3 days) Seriously, this has to be out soon. It might be due so close to PR2.0 there’s no point having PR1.1, just bundle the damn thing into PR2.0
PR2.0: February 15th (during MWC) – The 50+ Update pack.
PR3.0: Summer << Anything before September? PR 3.0 is when Symbian UI completely changes to what was expected to be Symbian^4."
I understand that Nokia may be meeting their own schedule (although reading comments around the blogs today indicates that many Symbian owners expected more with PR 1.1), but the point being made here is that the schedule is too slow in this fast-paced smartphone market.
But that is exactly the point, Kevin. Those of use who actually own S^3 devices have known about this schedule for well over a month.
The fact a few squawkers on Twitte rmay have jumped the gun and convinced one or two people they were getting any more today is irrelevant.
I mean by all mean criticse them for delaying the N8 and again the E7 but for goodness sake this is on time!
Yes, Nokia appears to be meeting its own schedule, but how does that schedule compare with how quickly the market and expectations moving? That’s what I was trying to get at. I think Stephen Elop was alluding to the same point when he made the comment I quoted in the post.
Kevin, it looks like you’re being pretty solidly rebuffed and corrected in the comments here. You then say that the point you were trying to get at was that Nokia’s update schedule is not keeping pace with the market in general (noting that you didn’t spin the article that way in the first place, only when you were challenged). The only real example you seem able to give is the web browser (that old chestnut, *again*). That is a very weak argument.
Why is your argument weak? Well, because
a.) everyone knows about the browser, 100 times over!
b.) It’s ONLY the browser. I know Americans seem to think THE most important thing on any PHONE or convergence device (which all smartphones are clearly trying to be now) is the browser (?!?) regardless of anything else (hey, who cares if the signal is rubbish on an iPhone, the browser is great!??!)
c.) Nokia browser, as always, is not ACTUALLY that bad, if people ACTUALLY use it, rather than (as most critics do) not actually use it in depth and just go along with the tide and bitch about it. The browser faults are that it’s not slick and smooth while the page is loading, and the javascript engine is slow. To counter that, please show me an iPhone that loads Flash. Go on, show me. Where is it? You know, Flash, that thing so MANY website use, and for way more than just ads.
d.) It is EASY, even for a beginner, to load Opera 10.1 on the phone. Instant great browser. On a par with Android or iPhone browsers. Something that Nokia critics like to keep very, very quiet about because it undermines all their stupid, weak arguments against Nokia/Symbian.
But the key issue with your arguments against Nokia’s schedule is, as others have said, that the N8 is ALREADY in a wonderful state. Please show me where folders were on the iPhone since inception? Where multitasking is on the iPhone today (iPhone does not have multitasking no matter what Apple Marketing tells me)? Where full featured bluetooth stack is on Android and iPhone like on the N8? Where full featured HDMI out is on iPhone or Android (N8 can drive phone screen and HDMI out independently and at different resolutions, as shown on Nokia’s BigScreen app, and handle the UIs on both – where is this on ANY competitor phone?). Where is Dolby Surround Sound out on any other phone? Where is the physical robustness on any competitor to the N8 (iPhones break from a waist height drop! Androids are universally cheap and nasty plastic). Where are the GREAT cameras on iPhone or Android? Where is the superior audio out handling through the headphone socket and/or full Bluetooth headphone support in competitors to the N8? Where is the superior battery life on Symbian rivals? Where is an Android phone as cheap and powerful as the N8? Where is the history of Google and Apple rolling out the updates users want on time and without industry criticism?
You’re getting the picture, right? I could quite easily go on. And on. And on.
Where are YOUR similar articles to this one, Kevin, about Google and Apple not keeping up with their update schedule for their arguably simpler, less mature, and less full featured (and more expensive!) devices?
Why exactly are you writing this article and spinning it (again) against Nokia/Symbian?
Where is your answer to all my questions above?
Appreciate the questions & opinion. Both of us could pick and choose certain features that excel or are lacking, so there’s little point to debating the situation in that way. My best answers to your questions are probably questions themselves though: even with all of the solid features and functions of the N8, why are sales not booming in a way that’s boosting Nokia’s smartphone market share? Where are the comments about how wonderful the user experience is or how that’s attracting new customers to the Symbian line of handsets? Features are one thing, and I’ve always said that Nokia builds a great phone, but user experience is key in this market and, in my opinion (which doesn’t seem way out of line from most others, the overall user experience is lacking.
In any case, you’ve missed a key point because the article is not about a small update being late, because this was a small update and it basically launched on time. The point is: Nokia may be meeting their own schedule, but are they moving fast enough to keep up with the rest of the market. I don’t believe they are, while you clearly do: it’s that simple and of course, time will tell.
Considering the N8 was launched in September/October 2010 the upgrade path seems reasonable. PR1.1 with a bug patch release in four months after launch and PR2.0 with new features/UI upgrade weeks after.
Could you define the ‘speed of the current market’? Android 2.2 to 2.3 took six months.
I agree with your article wholehearted, and I do like Nokia. Had some great nokia phones over the years. At this stage of the mobile game however, I simply do not understand why they dont fix the obvious first. Web browser and keyboard. Seems like its the low hanging fruit that would win them the most praise. Its not like the web browser or keyboard conplaint is a new one.
Jack1059,
I can understand your statement about the browser but the complaint about the keyboard is not called for. I use Swype and it is almost a perfect resource. You might want to check out the uber: Nokia Beta labs for proof.