GLOBAL – Nokia is constantly making improvements to its software to bring new features and bug fixes. There are a number of ways you can download this software. One of these is to use Nokia Software Updater that, until now, has only been available for PCs. Nokia Beta Labs [which has had a rather nice redesign] now bring us the Mac version, for people using a computer of the fruit-flavoured variety.
Updates are often delivered to the phone over-the-air (OTA) which means you don’t need to find your USB cable and attach your phone to your computer. However, updates are often huge, and so could accrue large data costs, depending on your contract. To avoid these costs, a better way of updating your phone is using a computer and Nokia Software Updater.
As we mentioned in our intro, Nokia has so far only provided the necessary software for people with a Windows PC. So anybody using another system such as a Apple Mac had no choice but to download updates OTA. But that’s not the case anymore.
Download the Nokia Software Updater for Mac (NSU) and install it, leaving it in your applications folder for later as it’s a good idea to make a back up of your personal data before you go ahead and update. This is beta software and unexpected things could happen – wait for the full release if this makes you nervous.
To get a backup, use iSync. There are phone model-specific plug-ins for your Mac’s iSync application available for download from the Nokia support pages, so making use of that will ensure you’ve got a copy of any contacts and calendar items.
Screenshot of iSync
Now back to the NSU. Plug in the USB cable into your Mac and the other end into your Nokia N8 selecting Ovi Suite on the phone if asked (yes, even though you haven’t got Ovi Suite on your Mac). Find the NSU icon in your applications folder and select it to load the program.
The update process is really very simple. NSU will automatically find your device as it loads up, show you the device you’ve got connected on the left hand side and the updates available – if any – in the central pane on the program. If there’s an update available, press the install button on the right to continue or exit if you decide you don’t want to update.
Screenshot of NSU for Mac
Accidentally unplugging the cable, or shutting down your Mac while the software is loading can cause serious problems with your phone, so it’s probably a good idea to step away from the phone and the computer as you don’t want to interrupt the process. Just in case.
Update complete, all that’s left now is to wait until NSU tells you it’s finished. As part of the beta programme, the application will ask you to share your thoughts about the program to help future developments, by asking:
Answer a few questions about your experience, to help us make your next update even better
You don’t have to of course, but it’s always nice to let developers know where they’re going right, or wrong.
At the moment, the NSU for Mac doesn’t support all devices, but does support a large number of phones: Nokia N8, N97 mini, C7, 6730 Classic, 5800 XpressMusic and many more, just check the installation instructions for the full list.
Got a Mac and a Nokia device? Have you updated your phone using NSU? Let us know, in the comments below.
image credit: Guillermo