N86 Gets New Firmware, Face Detection

Nokia s flagship cameraphone, the N86, has received a major firmware update that is set to make the phone on par with its competitors in terms of camera specific features. Already a capable smartphone, the N86 was let down by inadequate features on the camera front which made it a sitting duck, for naysayers. Well, not any longer!

Nokia has given the N86 a v20 firmware upgrade almost a week ahead of schedule. If you recall, we had hinted about the N86 getting this face detection update a few days ago. The new version, v20.115 is now available for users with select product codes and the update can be done over the air as well. If that is too tricky, then you always have the traditional Nokia Software Updater way of updating the phone. Allaboutsymbian has posted a change log with the major changes in the new firmware and going by the looks of it, the N86 just got more desirable now.

Here s what you ll notice: (Via Allaboutsymbian)

Camera improvements:

• Improved still image quality
• Improved video quality
• Face detection added
• Red-eye removal added (Nokia note: "this is image processing which removes the red-eye. You need to be in red-eye reduction flash mode for it to be operational. Other flash modes it is disabled as there is a small shot to shot impact due to the extra image processing.")
• New focus point indication - this shows where in the scene the camera is focussing
• Improved Close-up focus. (Nokia note: "As a result you will find in most situations you can focus much closer than before. The new focus point indication will also help in confirming which part of your subject is used for critical focus checking")
• Face detection is indicated by a yellow square.
  
  

Significant bug fixes to:

• Web
• Music store client
• RealPlayer
• Ovi Maps (including faster calibration of the digital compass)
• Here and Now
• N-Gage client
• Nokia Messaging
  

And this is not the end of it. The phone apparently has more RAM on startup as well which should make it zippier. So, if you happen to own one of the many N86s out there why not try an update and see if it s available for you yet?