New Internet Tablet "Diablo" update released

Posted on 29 June 2008, Last updated on 11 November 2019 by

Click to see N8x0 models

It looks like the folks at Nokia are still working hard as ever to improve the user experience on the Nokia Internet Tablets, specifically the N8x0 models. While the new update isn’t OS2009, it offers some significant improvements to OS2008 that were frustrating to users. I can tell you personally how annoying it was to have to reflash my N810 if there was an update to the system. No back up media meant that I would lose all of my applications and data, and for those that did back up the process didn’t always work correctly.

The Diablo update will turn on over-the-air updates that install incrementally. The User will now be notified of updates to the official OS as well as third-party applications right on the home screen. Previously, one had to manually go to the Application Manager and refresh all sources (which could take several minutes if you have a lot of sources installed). Nokia calls this update feature SSU or Seamless Software Update, I call it SHBTTBW or Should Have Been There To Begin With. The least they could have done was made it possible to back up to your computer before reflashing. At least it is here now, though ironically you’ll still have to reflash for this update, but hopefully never again. Additional improvements include an updated email client based on Tinymail and Modest. The old default mail app was very buggy, an d most people ended up using Modest installed via third-party sources anyway. Now they just need to do the same with the Wayfinder GPS app and replace it with Maemo Mapper.

Source: [Maemoapps.com]

9 Comments For This Post

  1. Will says:

    I thought that you had given up on the N810 as its browser was far too slow?

  2. Vishal says:

    Hi, Does this model support WIMAX. I was keen to know which UMPC’s are slated to launch with in built WIMAX support.

    Thanks,

    Vishal.

  3. Brook Zerihun says:

    Ok, have to say this is the second time with this device. The first returned within a day. This will be the first week with this device, and while I can overlook some of the limitations, I cannot understand why there are no third party Navigation applications. If anyone has any info on third part apps I am willing to pay. Please let me know if there are additional repositories.

    I have to say the large screen is very nice and the instant on, so much better than waiting for the system to boot. I did the update to the new system; the updates are easy and effortless. I would like to see a section for new items that are available, or recently added section.

  4. benz145 says:

    Brook, look up Maemo Mapper, it is free and much better then the crippled Wayfinder trial. The only problem is that Maemo Mapper doesn’t have any built in maps, so you need to find your routes ahead of time, which Maemo Mapper gets from the internet. Also it isn’t the most user friendly piece of software, you’ll need to read through the documentation to get a good understanding of the features.

  5. turn.self.off says:

    when it comes to third party navigation software, the single biggest supplier was bought by nokia iirc.

    beyond that, one mostly find dedicated boxes from garmin, tomtom and similar. as in, they are more interested in hardware sales then in software licensing deals.

    and i can understand them, as its much more likely that a customer will buy a new hardware device, then upgrade a app.

    hell, there are people wondering how they can get around the trial period on the wayfinder package on the nokia without paying…

    as for the “should have been there from the start”, in a perfect world, sure. but nokia approached this as “yet another phone”. as in, firmware and features controlled by nokia. its not the first corp that think they could do that with the linux eco system, and it will not be the last. but they are at least learning from their mistakes.

  6. Senior Dad says:

    They named this firmware update correctly.

    I promptly downloaded and installed Diablo when it was first available. Wow! thought I, faster browsing, no more updating and lots of cool stuff.

    That was until I noticed that my battery bar was visibly dropping–I went from 6 to 8 hours of Wifi, full-bright use on a single charge to under 2. In addition, I lost my Adblock plus (“It works for me said the Maemo/Linux pro, you must be stupid.”), my phone/pda (Oh, we decided to stop recognizing PDAs as phones, kthxby, But you can fix it by installing this simple script into sudo-intellectual, make rooty using xterm when you’ve got nothing else to do, and you may have to change it around some, depending upon your local weather conditions).

    It took 48 hours of downloading and rewinding to return my N800 to the same long-life coolness it had prior to meeting el Diablo.

    You’ve been warned.

  7. turn.self.off says:

    all i can say to that is whiskey tango foxtrot…

    sure, i have seen issues reported, but that big a drop in battery life?

    and having a phone that reports that its a pda sounds broken on the phones side…

  8. Senior Dad says:

    @turn.self.off

    Yep, if you look over on that Tablet site, some folks are reporting that the thing was noticeably warmer–as in temperature, after the update.

    That was my first indication that something might be amiss, my N800 was actually emitting quite a bit of heat from the battery compartment. Well, that and the fact that you couldn’t download the maps “update” from the Navicore/Wayfinder web server…still.

  9. turn.self.off says:

    sorry to say, but i cant relate to either of those…

    no extra heat buildup that i have noticed, and no big issues downloading gps maps.

    however, it could be that there is a bug in the power save for the wifi. i would not notice as my home router needs me to turn it off for reliable connection…

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