Just like Windows and OS X get new releases from time to time, your N800 gets its OS refreshed, too. If you don’t have a PC around and happen to be an OS X user, here’s how you can update your internet tablet right from your Mac.
Introduction to flashing
Before going any further, keep in mind that flashing a new image - i.e., a downloadable packaged OS - on your Internet Tablet will remove all user changes to the system. This includes preferences, bookmarks, news feeds, user-installed applications, etc. Everything not on the memory card will be removed, and the device will behave as if just purchased, with one exception: any previously set lock code will be kept, not reset to the factory-default of “12345″ (even the code is not preserved on some images). So be sure to back up your phone memory, and to confirm that it was successfully backed up, before you proceed.
Note that Nokia’s Backup/Restore tool only backs up your bookmarks and documents inside /home/user/MyDocs, as well as email messages, media files, settings and application list. That means your applications will have to be reinstalled. Before flashing, use the backup/restore utility and create a few backups to familiarize yourself with what content is actually backed up.
Now, with the disclaimers of out the way, here’s how to do it.
There are 2 ways to flash your tablet, with a program that actually has graphical user interface - GUI - and via the command line. In both cases, you’ll need to download the image you want to flash from Nokia directly.
Flashing the GUI way with 770Flasher
1. Download the latest Nokia image .bin file here
2. Download 770Flasher.app from http://www.bleb.org/software/maemo/#770Flasher
3. Take the Nokia image file - the one with the .bin extension - and drag it onto 770Flasher
4. Follow the on-screen instructions from 770Flasher
5. Watch the messages as the image loads to the 770/N800/N810 after which it reboots automatically
6. That’s it. Your tablet should be flashed with the new image. Congrats!
Flashing from the command line
If you feel more comfortable typing commands in a terminal, here’s how you can flash your tablet from the command line:
1. Download the latest Nokia image .bin file here
2. Remove the memory card from your tablet
3. Download the OS X flasher 2.0 utility from Nokia here.
4. Open the Terminal application in OS X - Applications>Utilities>Terminal - and type:
chmod +x ./flasher.macosx
5. Once that command is executed, type:
sudo ./flasher.macosx -F <<Nokia bin file>> -f -R
substitute <<Nokia bin file>> with the full name of the image that was downloaded on step 1.
6. When you see the “USB device not found, waiting” prompt in your Terminal hold the “Home” button on your tablet and turn it on.
7. Watch the messages as the image loads to the 770/N800/N810 after which it reboots automatically.
8. Your tablet should be flashed with the new image. Congrats!
9. Type exit in your Terminal to close the session.
Have fun with your newly flashed tablet! And share your own ideas in the comments section.
Language: English