If you haven't heard, a new firmware version has released for the N97. There are no new feature or apps, but bug fixes galore.

This time we've got a change log too.

Data package content, corrections or changes

Corrections to TOP ~15 issues reported in the field

OTC cases fixed:

Wrong Cherry number used in Russia and Spain

“System error” displayed occasionally at first start-up. Reported e.g. by Vodafone.

Genius cases fixed:

Contacts performance improvement:

#144324: Voice dialing not working when there are 2000+ entries stored in Contacts.

#134637: Phone prompts “Memory full” when searching for names

Localisation & language variant specific:

#154188: Message editor crashes and writing fails if predictive text input is On. (Arabic UI, v15 language variant)

#146139: Scrolling to left and right works the wrong way around in Photos – Captured when using Arabic UI

#147509: QWERTY keypad input does not work correctly with Calculator. (Chinese language variants: v19, v25, v26)

#139207: “Slide to Answer” localization error (Hebrew)

#140654: Localisation error in Bluetooth Audio – “Set as (un)authorized” (Czech)

Misc:

#141675: “Security module error” shown in display occasaionally at start-up

#147863: Occasionally device hangs and restarts soon after start-up.

#137558: Device keylock opens (although it shouldn’t) when dialing a number using a carkit. (CK-300, CK-600, also some non-Nokia, factory installed car kits)

Others:

Default Nokia tune is played as ringing tone for incoming calls instead of the one user has defined in Profile settings. Also sometimes device ahs stopped alerting for incoming calls. Both issues are now fixed.

If you haven't heard, a new firmware version has released for the N97. There are no new feature or apps, but bug fixes galore.

This time we've got a change log too.

Data package content, corrections or changes

Corrections to TOP ~15 issues reported in the field

OTC cases fixed:

Wrong Cherry number used in Russia and Spain

“System error” displayed occasionally at first start-up. Reported e.g. by Vodafone.

Genius cases fixed:

Contacts performance improvement:

#144324: Voice dialing not working when there are 2000+ entries stored in Contacts.

#134637: Phone prompts “Memory full” when searching for names

Localisation & language variant specific:

#154188: Message editor crashes and writing fails if predictive text input is On. (Arabic UI, v15 language variant)

#146139: Scrolling to left and right works the wrong way around in Photos – Captured when using Arabic UI

#147509: QWERTY keypad input does not work correctly with Calculator. (Chinese language variants: v19, v25, v26)

#139207: “Slide to Answer” localization error (Hebrew)

#140654: Localisation error in Bluetooth Audio – “Set as (un)authorized” (Czech)

Misc:

#141675: “Security module error” shown in display occasaionally at start-up

#147863: Occasionally device hangs and restarts soon after start-up.

#137558: Device keylock opens (although it shouldn’t) when dialing a number using a carkit. (CK-300, CK-600, also some non-Nokia, factory installed car kits)

Others:

Default Nokia tune is played as ringing tone for incoming calls instead of the one user has defined in Profile settings. Also sometimes device ahs stopped alerting for incoming calls. Both issues are now fixed.

So after playing with SPB Mobile Shell for a little while now I've managed to find time to tell you a little bit about it and my current verdict after it's first official update.

Cool widgets to customize your Home screen

• Photo contacts

• Picture frame

• Weather

• Wireless switches

• Phone profile

• Appointments and tasks

• ... and many others

Finger friendly contacts

• Widget-based photo contacts

• Photo call log

• Smart contact search

• 3D favourite contacts carousel

• Ring tone management

• Category filter

Launcher

Fast access to all your smartphone features

• Pinned shortcuts

• Recently used programs

• Finger friendly task manager

• 3x3 phone style menu

SPB Mobile Shell comes with integrated tools

• Weather forecasts

• Current weather

• Agenda view

• World time

• Wireless switches

• Profiles

Customize your device with your preferences

• 3D carousel with special effects

• Make your own Home screen using widgets

• Adaptive skins

• Change background

• Customize your menu

• Change widget skins

• Choose Professional or Lifestyle Home screen

The Verdict

As you can see from the images and features above SPB Mobile Shell greatly improves on the standard Nokia Symbian S60v5 GUI used on the N97. For me this would be a killer app if it wasn't for a three issues.

• The Mobile Shell GUI does not support Folders, which I have come to rely on over my many years of Nokia phones.

• The e-mail and Communication widgets don't acknowledge the existence of Nokia Messaging e-mail mailboxes. Again I have become accustomed to having this functionality in the N97 default e-mail widget.

• Finally and possible the biggest issue is that when you fill the screen with widgets in portrait mode and then rotate you phone to landscape mode the widgets become jumbled and overlaid on top of each other. Not good.

All this said it is an excellent addition to every N97, especially with the recent update it has received improving it's Memory Usage.

Hopefully SPB Software will sort my three issues with the app, at which point it will become my favourite app.

If you're looking for the best possible themes for your Nokia N97 then you are in for a treat. Over at www.tehkseven.net they have literally thousands upon thousands of themes, created by the community for the community - you can even make theme requests, so you can get your very own personalised theme, totally free of charge of course.

If you're a casual or even an avvid or professional gamer then we also have another treat for you - over at www.silag.net they have gaming related Nokia N97 Themes for you to enjoy and again, all of which are totally free of charge. This website is based around gaming related customisations and looks promising for the future.

Don't keep your boring default Nokia Theme, get your hands on these excellent Nokia N97 Themes today.

Having played with Image Studio 1.0 for S60 5th Edition, developed by Raviteq, for a while now I can honestly say it's worth it's £4 price tag on OVI Store.

When you open the app you are greeted by the following screen. You will notice that the app only works in landscape orientation. The one down side is that it only diplays images in the "Captured" folder in the default "Photo" browser on the Nokia N97. A few moments with the app and you realise this is NOT an Image Browser app as there is no option to change the size of the displayed image size on the application home screen.

When you select the image you want to play with the true scope of ImageStudio's capabilities as soon reveiled. Obviously you can Crop (see image below) and Cut & Paste.