Firmware of N95 explained/discussed All N95 versions

[Icehouse]

It seems that the firmware between the N95-1 and N95-2 and N95-3 are different and thus need to be updated accordingly based upon which model of N95 you have.

If this is true, I was hoping that those of you who know would please explain the differences between the different models of N95 that are being sold.

As a example:

- can a N95-1 be updated with N95-2 firmware?
- can a N95-2 be updated with N95-3 firmware?
- can a N95-3 be updated with N95-1 firmware?
And so on and so on..........

I am hoping that this will help us all understand what we need to do with our various N95's ANy help is greatly appreciated :-)

[Brandon]

The firmware is not interchangeable between the different N95 phones (to my knowledge). Each phone has a different model number (i.e. RM-160), which the Nokia Software Updater would recognize and only allow the applicable firmware.

As for the models....
N95-1 was the original N95- EURO version, which does not support North American 3G bands. It also has half the memory as the N95-2 and N95-3.

N95-2 is the black w/ 8gig of internal storage. It also has a larger display, has more memory, and supports demand paging (Pseudofinn correct me if I am wrong here ) This model also has a larger battery, and no longer has the camera lens cover we saw in the N95-1.

N95-3 is the North American version which sports 3G support and a memory increase over the N95-1. It also lacks the lens cover and sports a larger battery.

Hope this answers your question.

[Doc Tran]

Keep in mind that there are hardware differences among the 3 models.

Hardware differences means they do not share firmware.

[Icehouse]

Thank-you all.

Your information has helped me understand some of the mis-interpretation I have allowed myself to believe. Though a lot of www searching I allowed myself to believe that the N95's firmware was one entity which once downloaded/installed would update each of the various models of N95 differently. I now understand that each model of N95 has it's own firmware and it needs to be installed independantly.

Thank-you for your pleasant and helpful responses.

[romeo19]

I have also thought to myself something like this however turned out to be wrong.
I thought that N95-2 and N95-3 have the same firmware updates as the N95-1, that all versions of the N95 run on the same firmware therefore the newest update for the N95-1 would also be for the N95-2 and N95-3.

But then, i was told that they all have different firmwares and updates therefore thay are all specific.
Quite interesting and useful knowing and being aware of misinformation.

[doktorzee]

Originally Posted by Doc Tran

Keep in mind that there are hardware differences among the 3 models.

Hardware differences means they do not share firmware.

I'm not an expert but it seems that the hardware differences wouldn't need seperate firmware, and no one likes to reinvent the wheel. I mean, why would a different battery, more memory, lack of lens cover, and WCDMA on different frequencies require different firmware? I would think the WCDMA frequencies would be burned into the hardware radio, or else the N95-3 would be created by putting new firmware on a N95-1, which was not the case. But I'm too chicken shit to try it on mine.

[Doc Tran]

Hardware differences do require seperate firmwares.

You wouldn't want to put N93 firmware on the N76, right?

The hardware differences are just as large between the N95-1, N95-2 and N95-3.

[PseudoFinn]

Well... I don't know if the hardware differences are that large! But Doc Tran is right- there are significant differences that won't allow you the firmwares to be shared on these devices.

I just really hope we hear something soon on an N95-3 firmware update with demand paging. It's dog slow when compared to the other two variants now!