N96’s navi-wheel scrapped off
September 14, 2008 by Meraj Chhaya
Filed under Uncategorized
brianjblues from the Nokia N96 forum has told us that he received his special edition Nokia N96, but just after 24 hours of use, he started to miss something: the navi-wheel.
At the South African launch, the navi-wheel of the N96, which was an early prototype model at the time, had very limited functionality, and the device kept on crashing.
brian contacted Nokia to figure out the problem, only to receive the following reply, stating that the component has been turned off:
“I truly regret for the inconveniences you have been through, nevertheless; the navi wheel which you are referring to on your Nokia N96 is a scroll key but not a navigational navi wheel. It is functioning as a standard D pad.
I understand the frustration this may cause, however; kindly be informed that Nokia mobile phones are targeted at different market segments; hence, the features provided on phones will be reflected accordingly. Additionally, the design and functionality of Nokia mobile phones are also influenced by Nokia’s business decisions.
Nonetheless, we will take this as your feedback and forward it on to the relevant department for further consideration. Many apologies for the matter and wishing you a great day ahead”.
Was the navi-wheel only a test component?
[via Nokia N96 forum thread]
Nokia on Mon, 15th Sep 2008 1:54 pm
This blog is great !
But the N96 is going to be a sell out no doubt!
i pre ordered mine as soon as i read this blog !
Meraj Chhaya on Mon, 15th Sep 2008 2:07 pm
I’m not sure about the sell-out, there’s great competition
brianjblues on Mon, 15th Sep 2008 5:21 pm
I agree with Meraj. There is and will be a lot of competition. Take a look at the Samsung i8510 (INNOV8)8mega pixels similar function set S60 3rd ed FP2 and the touch sensitive navi wheel functions on that handset. Nokia need to take note.
Meraj Chhaya on Mon, 15th Sep 2008 7:14 pm
I think Nokia was caught off-guard
Andrew on Fri, 26th Sep 2008 6:05 pm
I’ve just got mine today and noticed straight aay that the navi wheel wan’t woking. Not happy about it. Does anyone think that it’s a simple software thing or something? No accelorometer either. Would be a really nice touch to an otherwide great phone!
Meraj Chhaya on Fri, 26th Sep 2008 7:30 pm
It has to have accelerometer, navi-wheel won’t be there
Robert on Wed, 1st Oct 2008 6:36 pm
I dont have accelerometer or navi-wheel either. For something that Nokia was heavily promoting and then on release to remove is disgraceful !
Meraj Chhaya on Wed, 1st Oct 2008 7:31 pm
accelerometer is there Robert
Nokia_sock on Wed, 1st Oct 2008 7:38 pm
NaviWheel is not in N96 and will not be there. It’s not a bug, Nokia removed the feature.
The acceleromenter is there!
You can set auto rotate and also the Camera can autorotate pictures.
Meraj Chhaya on Wed, 1st Oct 2008 7:53 pm
Thanks for the detailed explanation Nokia_sock, there’s an ongoing discussion at the forum if you want more information
Jin on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 6:12 am
How do i access the accelerometer on the phone? because i cant find it at all
Meraj Chhaya on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 2:06 pm
Depends for what function
Jin on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 3:50 pm
Just the same function as the nokia n82 and iphone. Just when you tilt it the screen will rotate but it doesnt and i cant find it anywhere on the users manual and phone that says it has an accelerometer.
Meraj Chhaya on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 4:21 pm
Have you tried settings? Members you have a N96 at the forum will help you quite a lot
Jin on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 6:01 pm
yes i just got my n96 a week ago and i have tried the settings and everything i even called nokia to check the authenticity of my phone and it is the real phone but i cant find the function for the accelerometer can you give me a guide or something to find it? thanks
Meraj Chhaya on Thu, 2nd Oct 2008 6:44 pm
No guides unfortunately, Jin. The only thing I can advise is that you ask the forum members
Mark on Fri, 3rd Oct 2008 2:29 pm
menu > tools > settings > general > personalisation > display > auto rotate > on.
Vodafone here have cut a couple of features from the handset and the software is quite slow
Meraj Chhaya on Fri, 3rd Oct 2008 2:35 pm
Thanks for the detail Mark
What did they cut?
What version is your handset?
Adil on Sat, 4th Oct 2008 1:47 pm
Thank god for this blog, I was stressing that the phone was faulty!
Meraj Chhaya on Sat, 4th Oct 2008 2:00 pm
Nah, just early firmware versions. If you like the blog, you’ll love the forum!
Jin on Tue, 7th Oct 2008 10:15 pm
thank you so much Mark i also was stressing that my phone was faulty as well thank god for this blog lol
Ahssan on Sat, 11th Oct 2008 6:38 am
Thanks Mark! I wish they didnt do that coz the navi was so cool! I got mine on thursday from the cpw
Radha on Tue, 14th Oct 2008 4:00 pm
Ibought N96 2 WEEKS ago and already exchanged for another piece as the first one had softwear bugsand the music player short cut wouldnt retrieve songs.now the second one i got doesnt ring when there is an in coming call.They are now re loading the softwear . Very dissappointing quality control for such a highend phone
Meraj Chhaya on Tue, 14th Oct 2008 6:21 pm
nokia should release more mature software
luqy on Sun, 19th Oct 2008 12:25 pm
ive got my n96, ad im heavily dissapointed that theyve, disabled the navi wheel, but i know the hardware is still there as if you go in to the help section on the phone, and go to navi wheel, it tells, you you can use it and where to go to turn it on, but that option has been removed the firmware, but fingers crossed, thell work out whatever, problem they encountered, and re-enable it, or well just wait for someone to release a third party software? what ya sayin, anyone wanna take up the job
gc89 on Sat, 25th Oct 2008 9:31 pm
just took my n96 back because it didnt ring either. factory reset fixed it but its the 3d setting that did it I reckon. guy told me until the firmware updates come in, its a 1st generation nokia and they always have problems. dont mind some issues but no ring tone? technically doesn’t make a phone does it???
Meraj Chhaya on Sat, 25th Oct 2008 9:41 pm
it does not. S60 needs to get its act right
Unboxing the Nokia N96, US version « tnkgrl Mobile on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 8:28 am
[...] only surprise so far is that the Navi Wheel is disabled/missing on production models! Otherwise, I’m enjoying the device so far. Stay tuned for full a [...]
vaqar on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 5:34 pm
Navi wheel disappearence is a hell of a shock. “N96 freezes” Which nokia phone does not. A part from these things the video experience and audio sound quality through headphones is great. Well believe me walkman sound quality is really close to the Big daddy n91. but n96 has got more bass and much balanced audio quality as compared to n91. The equilizer is a bit tricky you really have to spend a lot of time to get it fixed to sound like the n91. But i love n96 and am really enjoying…
FoxMulder on Tue, 9th Dec 2008 11:37 am
Will the Nokia Navi wheel activated yet?
Meraj Chhaya on Tue, 9th Dec 2008 2:55 pm
Not yet unfortunately. You might get more insight at the forum:
http://nokian96.net/forum
FoxMulder on Tue, 9th Dec 2008 3:47 pm
As I read it, it is still not sure whether it ever will be activated?
Nokia N96 First Impressions: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly « Andrew Currie on WordPress on Wed, 14th Jan 2009 2:01 am
[...] film underneath the D-Pad of my handset. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with Nokia scrapping the navi-wheel functionality on this particular button or if it’s a production hiccup unique to my particular unit. Either way, if I paid the going [...]
Nokia N96 - a worthy flagship? « tnkgrl Mobile on Wed, 28th Jan 2009 10:32 am
[...] original N95 instead of the upgraded BL-6F (1200 mAh) battery from the N95-3 and N95 8GB – why? The Navi Wheel is useless – [...]
gila on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 1:36 am
this is bad,when i got the n96 i was told it had a navi wheel and also saw some video clips with it on,and now thay have removed it!!! im not happy bout tht it should be our option if we want it on or of!!! and y call it a navi wheel if its not!!!