Nokia's Ovi Maps gets faster, Qype reviews with SR4 (video)
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 21st 2010 9:04AM
posted May 21st 2010 9:04AM
posted May 21st 2010 9:04AM
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SR4 is only available to devices which could use SR3, i.e. the devices that can get free navigation. Everyone else is still on version 3.01.
new version for Maemo/N900.. maybe a version with voice navigation.. no.. oh well, back to sleep for me then :(
obviously It will be coming when MeeGo arrives.
I think perhaps it's just my taste, cos no one else has really commented that they dislike it - but I just find this particular design really really, what's the word, just plain ugly? I think it's the top/bottom bits, feels like it just got squished with a guillotine to slice them apart... aah well. I still like my n95.
@buoy
I completely agree. Nokia has the most atrocious design. This thing looks fugly, and rather difficult to understand.
Lets hope something comes out of this Yahoo/Nokia announcement.
@macmann
I would not generalize it to all Nokia devices. They already had some gorgeous looking phones in the past. But I also wonder why they don't commit to a certain design pattern. It's what great brands distinguish themselves with.
With the N8 I don't know. The design is very "industrial" I would say. It works for me with the light grey case. I could get used to it.
@SeeKo
Sorry man, I mean user interface design.
Ovi Maps rocks and to me the offline content with the built in Michelin guide makes it superior to Google mobile maps.
@magadget
OVI maps is the bollocks, esp. since some Nokia smart phones are cheaper than many standalone GPSs.
How can you rely on navigation that requires constant network connection to load maps?
@Wolfticket
That's not true, you can upload maps via PC. Only time it needs internet connection is when you have A-GPS enabled and even in that case it only needs 10-15 kb to upload/download your current position data
@HellFlyer
It isnt uploading downloading your location, but downloading the satellite almanac, eg the corrects satellite constellations, and accurate time. That way the gps can get faster satellite fix with poorer signal.
@HellFlyer
Sorry: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dogs+bollocks :D
agreed on the design. it is atrocious. and totally unintuitive too. you search for a location in the search and then to drive the route you have to tap on the bar at the top? i didn't realize this until someone pointed it out in an internet forum. why should it be so hard to figure?
the functionality itself is quite good, though. it is fast. but still, i end up using google maps some of the time just because the UX is so much better...
I installed this on my N86 yesterday, and it kept crashing the phone. I had to downgrade to version 3.03 (which wasn't easy to find).
living in bucharest, i use almost everyday nokia maps on my E72. I can say its quite good. And this updated really makes a change in responsiveness. Thanks nokia, finally!
While i like ovi maps, i still have a few complaints.
First off, no matter how i set it up for routing, sometimes it still gives me dumbass routes.
Second, it's data base and online search for POI's, sucks.
50% of the time i have to open google maps, get the address of a place then enter it in ovi maps.
@jcar302 you got that right on the spot. happens to me all the time. Google's POI list is much better than Ovi's
@jcar302
Every gps gives dumbass routes. Worst case is if theres 2 nearly same length routes and one of them is dumb, and slightly shorter.
@newone
I'm aware no gps is perfect.
I have a newer garmin and an alpine dvd rom unit also.
I use nokia maps in my work van.
When i say dumbass routes, it will do things like make me make a left, the next right, another right then a left, putting me back on the same damn road i was on to begin with.
And these aren't side roads i'm on.
The routing for Ovi maps is by far the worst aspect. Always seems to take some stupid ass route and you'll have to plot your own waypoints and create your own route. Pretty annoying cos the whole experience of plotting is slow. By the time you've set it up you've probably wasted all the time you could've gained by using a GPS
@zzzzbest
I would agree with the article, it is actually pretty fast...
@zzzzbest
I think your issue might lie with the routing settings you used.
It may be taking you on routes that avoid tolls or something, check the routing options first because I've never had any problems with routing unless I lost the gps signal by going through a tunnel :-\
NOKIA WAS SOOOO 2003-2005
@AnonymousTrain
True, but will also be very 2010 & 2011.
@JFH
Nokia was also quite good in 2006-2007
2008-2010 were a disaster (i know 2010 is not over yet, but it doesn't look too good)
maybe 2011 will be better :)
Nokia is really getting left behind...sorry to say Nokia, you need to step it up before you lose too much of your lead... Nokia with Ovi Maps and Yahoo search engine/e-mail sync etc... yeah thats NOT a phone I want. Does anybody else want this type of phone.. ????
@TheLight
Which nokia do you know that doesn't support ANY and ALL email domains including exchange 2007? :-S
If its a smartphone then the answer is a resounding none... Don't talk out of your @$$ if you don't know anything.
@spartandre217
No one said they don't sync to every e-mail source(what other smartphone doesnt? Mostly all do, if not root... lol) if you havent read talks about Nokia and Yahoo partnering up then do so here:(http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/nokia-and-yahoo-announcing-partnership-monday/) and realize I was speaking in general to all new smartphones coming out that Nokia(the biggest handset manufacturer) is playing catch up :-) and they are buddy
so when you catch up on your reading thats when you can catch up with me and we'll both know who's been talking out their a$$ sire.. I dont like to be rude but speak in context next time not about something I only made reference to and still had nothing to do with what you where talking about.
Ignorance is Bliss
@TheLight
Read the comments on the article, I read that article and saw nothing of significance to validate your points, but hey, what do I know.
Quick question though, you say you don't want a phone that offers certain services as an OPTION. Might I ask if you are an Iphone user? LOL
I kid!
But seriously what is your gripe with them offering better syncing options and stuff of the like?
And though Nokia may be catching up in terms of some software features. Other manufacturers still have catching up to do in terms of software AND hardware. You know as well as I do that they're not the only company behind right now.
@spartandre217
I must agree and say everyone is catching up in the smartphone market both software and hardware, but the smartphone market is also making leaps and bounds these days not just baby steps.
and I have my original G1, Touch pro 2, and I cant wait until Project Emerald gets unveiled..so no I dont have one and I cant stand iphones or apple... rather have my Google/Android device any day over any other phone!
are you in america because Im beginning to think that Americans and Europeans have totally different perspectives on Nokia..just a thought
@TheLight
Born in the USA, grew up in the Caribbean and living in the USA currently. So my opinion is partly based on my experience in the Caribbean and the fact that I like to explore my options.
I'm still waiting for them to update Malta's map. so far, it only has the main roads listed, which is useless. Till then, I'll continue to enjoy Ndrive thankyouverymuch
I got the Maps update and now my phone is crashing. I have the nokia X6 so be careful.
@hated one
Considering the 8,x % marketshare they have in the US, it is likely there are over 1 million Nokia smartphone users in the US. Just saying.
@JFH
Don't feed the trolls, although it irks me that people like this not only exist but spout their opinions as fact, it's best to just ignore them. They don't listen anyway :-P
@spartandre217
But I love how his question answering style, how he makes stuff up and masks it with an even more obscure trick question that is totally unrelated to his prior statement. Fox News style. LOL
@SeeKo
I think you mean Faux news LOL!!
I am so getting this phone!!!
I wonder how much it will cost!!!???
maybe I missed it in the article, but the new version also adds using wifi network positioning as an additional way of positioning. good for urban areas.