Nokia updates allows Ovi mobile app downloads for N900

There’s reports of two different Nokia devices getting a firmware upgrade today. Small updates have been rolled out for both the “mobile computer” N900, and the smartphone N86.

What’s the deal?

Both phones are getting an over-the-air update – meaning that the update is wireless, and the owner doesn’t have to do any work to get the new firmware.

The N900 is what Nokia calls a “mobile computer” – its a more modifiable, powerful device then its smartphone range. But it also runs on a different operating system. Nokia smartphones run on a version of Symbian, but the N900 carries Maemo. So when the Nokia app store, Ovi, was launched it was launched for the Symbian-running smartphones. N900 users didn’t get any love from Ovi.

It would seem that this update is designed to fix that. The update allows Maemo devices to access Ovi the same as Nokia smartphones.

What about the N86 update?

We don’t really know what this one does yet. Reports state that the 8MP camera on the N86 works a little better now, but there’s no solid word on what it does.