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Nokia rebrands Drive, Maps and Transit for Windows Phones: it's all about Here (video)
The jewels in Nokia's Windows Phone crown have been its Here location services -- anyone wanting them on Microsoft's platform has usually had to snap up a Lumia or make do with the Drive+ beta. Nokia is about to share that wealth, as it's bringing Drive, Maps and Transit to other Windows Phone devices under a new name. Don't switch your shopping plans to include an HTC 8X just yet, though. Apart from a lack of specific timing, Nokia is limiting the availability to certain regions, and it's promising that the "first and best" Here experience will remain on its own smartphones. We'll still take the leftovers if they give the overall platform a boost. If you'll recall, Nokia actually enabled its homegrown mapping arsenal to spread to other Windows Phone products some time back, but it's taking things to a new level with the Here platform underneath. Update: All three are available now in the Windows Phone Store at the source links.
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 17th, 2012
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, we have a super-sized dose of news for Nokia and Windows Phone users, along with the latest rumblings on the mobile network front. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of December 17th, 2012.
Nokia inks deals to be maps force behind BMW 7-series, bring guidance to new Garmin apps
While all the talk of late is about Cupertino's newfangled Maps application, Nokia's currently keeping busy by doing some behind-the-scenes legwork, including signing new deals with car and navigation system manufacturers. Most recently, the Finnish company announced it's partnering with BMW to power the "next-generation" navigation system in the upcoming 7-series, which will bring features like Enhanced 3D City Models and an Eco Pro Route that chooses the most fuel-efficient way to get you to your destination. In addition to the BMW alliance, though, Nokia has also teamed up with Garmin to bring Transit and Pedestrian maps in the form of an Urban Guidance feature that will be available on iOS and Android devices. For those interested in learning more, the pressers below will fill you in on all the nitty-gritty.
Nokia stacks up its maps next to Apple's and Google's, politely suggests it comes out on top (update: more detail)
You might have noticed a brouhaha over map accuracy in iOS 6. Nokia undoubtedly did, as it's using the iPhone 5 launch to remind us that its strategy has been all about location lately. The crew in Espoo has pitted Nokia Maps from the Lumia 920 against both Apple's equivalent as well as Google Maps -- and to no one's surprise, Nokia's own platform comes out on top. In practice, it's a relatively frank comparison that doesn't try to win on every point. Nokia tends to use a liberal definition of the term "3D" that includes augmented reality, but it's otherwise willing to emphasize its advantages in offline mapping and the sheer scope of its mapping coverage. Apple's very young mapping effort struggles, while Nokia is willing to accept that it doesn't have as much traffic coverage as Google. There is, however, the slight problem of the Lumia 920 not yet shipping: unless you've been blessed with a prototype of the Windows Phone 8 device, Apple and Google are the only ones that have their latest navigation software on a phone you can actually buy. Hit the source for the full, very tall chart as well as a few sly jabs at Nokia's competitors. Update: To clarify, it's true that much of what Nokia is talking about can be found on existing Lumias. However, Nokia did mention that there will be new features coming to Nokia Maps in Windows Phone 8, including the wider offline support, an augmented reality view during navigation and better integration with Nokia Drive.
Nokia cops to powering Amazon's mapping service
Well, Amazon is being pretty tight lipped about the details of its mapping service, but Nokia isn't afraid to spill the beans. A spokesperson for the Finish company, Sebastian Kurme, told The Next Web that Amazon is indeed licensing the Nokia Location Platform for its latest Google-shunning product. We reached out as well and were fed the exact same official statement, confirming that Nokia is becoming an even bigger player in the mapping sphere. The platform is already the basis for Yahoo! Maps and a large portion of Bing's offerings as well. Not to mention Nokia Drive, the company's navigation software, is one of the crown jewels of the Windows Phone world. Check out the full statement from Nokia below. Amazon is licensing the Nokia Location Platform (NLP) for maps and geocoding. The Nokia Location Platform is the most advanced mobile location platform with a unique global footprint. It provides maps for almost 200 countries (with more than 100 of them navigable) and provides the best, automotive-grade map quality based on industry-leading technology and more than 20 years expertise in mapping. Amongst others, it is already powering Yahoo Maps, and increasingly also powering Bing Maps as well. Location is playing a central role in our strategy, and because of its global footprint, quality and completeness of performance (geocoding, routing, traffic) the Nokia Location Platform offers great opportunities for 3rd parties to build upon. Amazon´s decision to choose the Nokia Location Platform is further proof point that our competence in this space is a key differentiator also for other leading players in the industry to offer great location consumer experiences.
Live from Nokia and Microsoft's Windows Phone event!
Nokia and Microsoft plan to offer us the first taste of Windows Phone 8 today, refreshing the phone-maker's Lumia line in the process. We've had glimpses of what we're about to see, but we're expecting more details on that new software at this decidedly blueish event. Join the liveblog after the break.
Nokia invites you to stay tuned, offers augmented reality teaser (updated)
With just a day to go, Nokia has pushed out another brief teaser, this time pointing towards more map-based contextual functionality. It looks like whatever the company's got up its sleeves, alongside any new Lumia hardware, should include some map-based social network chops and City Lens features -- not much of a shocker given that the latter has just shed its beta status. Update: Nokia's throw out another video -- which reveals that its good-looking star does manage to find those shoes. Phew. We've added it after the break.
Nokia Maps for Windows Phone updated with route planner and Groupon integration
It feels like it was only yesterday that Nokia handed its Windows Phone Maps application a complete and quite hefty makeover, which, as we know, brought the addition of reviews and friends' photos to the app. Regardless, Nokia Maps appears to be ready to hit version 2.5, bringing with it an all-new Groupon integration to help US folks find nearby deals and a route planner service that, well, should be pretty self-explanatory. At any rate, WMPoweruser says the update should be hitting the Redmond Marketplace sometime "soon," but feel free to let us know if you happen to catch it a little bit earlier than others.
Nokia grows Destination Maps coverage to 4,605 venues in 38 countries, coming to Nokia Maps soon
After covering more than 23 million miles of the world's roadways, Nokia has focused on expanding its interior mapping footprint. Since its launch during CTIA 2011, the company's Destination Maps service has grown to cover a total of 4,605 different venues in 38 countries, including airports, department stores, shopping malls and transit hubs. As you can see in the infographic above, the majority of those locations are in North America, with a total of 2,595 mapped on the continent, followed by 1,778 in EMEA, 225 in the Asia Pacific region and just seven in Latin America -- that's 235 million square feet in all. Nokia also promises much more to come in the future, with hints identifying amusement parks and stadiums as possible beneficiaries. The company also reiterated its recent partnership with Bing, adding that Nokia Maps will have access to Destination Maps in the not-so-distant future as well. You'll find a few more details at the source link below, and while we don't have precise predictions to share, you can rest easy knowing that Nokia's indoor effort is far from complete.
Nokia Transport goes official: public transport departure times for over 100 cities (video)
Nokia's public transport update has now passed through beta testing and is available to download on your favorite Lumia handset now. The app refresh adds transit route options and departure times for over 100 cities and urban areas and estimated routes for another 450 places. The UI is the same classy blend of Nokia's mapping lineage and Windows Phone Metro tang. Nokia Conversation warns that there could be a publishing delay depending on your region, but you'll need to be looking out for version 2.1. There's a quick tour of the new functions after the break.
Flickr brings in Nokia map data for precise geotagged photos, Instagram shots just got eerily accurate
Open Street Map has been helping Flickr display geotagged shots for some time. That crowdsourced map data has led to more than a few photos being located in a gray blob, however, which is why Yahoo just struck a deal to put Nokia maps into as many nooks and crevices of the world as possible. The addition will make sure that Instagram photo tour of Africa is often accurate down to the street corner, not to mention give a slightly Finland-tinged look to the maps themselves. Open Street Map isn't going away, but it's now being used only for those areas where regular coverage is spotty or non-existent. The images already apply to any existing and upcoming uploads -- there will be no question that self-portrait was taken in Tanzania.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we learned of the first market outside of China for ZTE's new Grand X smartphone, and received news that both the Sony Xperia U and Xperia P will arrive in Australia. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 18th, 2012.
Windows Phone 8 to use Nokia map data with built-in turn-by-turn navigation (update: deals too)
You won't have to use a Lumia phone any longer to get Nokia's mapping expertise: Microsoft just announced that Nokia's map technology is being built into Windows Phone 8. Along with the requisite NAVTEQ map information, it'll carry many of the things that Nokia Drive users love so well, including offline map support, developer control over maps, and (you guessed it) turn-by-turn directions. That makes three major mobile platforms that have or will have driving directions baked in from the start -- it's now becoming par for the course rather than an advantage to lord over others. Update: Along with core navigation, there will also be support for Microsoft's new deals feature as part of the mapping update, so you'll know when the coffee house around the corner is discounting cappuccinos. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog!
Microsoft and Nokia bring enhanced traffic data to Windows Phone, announce international plans
Cross-pollination is a beautiful thing. In the natural world, it brings bountiful harvests and pretty flowers. In the mobile world, we benefit from the sharing of ideas and technologies. Case in point is Windows Phone, as Microsoft has just announced that it's adopted traffic information from Nokia into the Maps app of its mobile OS. In addition to providing Windows Phone users in the US with more detailed overviews of traffic flows and congestion, the functionality will soon become available for many cities across the globe. Perhaps the move shouldn't come as a total surprise, as just last month, Microsoft revealed the inclusion of Nokia's "Where" platform within Bing Maps. As for future availability, citizens of Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will benefit from the sharing of technologies within the next few weeks. For the moment, however, just hop the break, where you can see the before / after traffic data that's now available to Los Angeles residents.
Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing
Nokia Maps is a cornerstone of the Lumia line, so it's more than a little vital that the Windows Phone app keep up with the smartphone pack. The just-posted 2.0 update catches up in a big way to Google Maps on social location: travelers can now add reviews and photos to locations, both helping spot that French café and decide whether or not it's worth a visit. If you're that much in love with the cappuccino, you'll be glad to know there's now favorites syncing that will carry over to other Nokia phones as well as the web apps, should you moonlight with Android or an iPhone. The chronically lost even have something to cheer about, since the new app makes it possible to pin directions, not just locations, to the home screen. Upgrading is free; provided you've addressed the small matter of owning a Lumia phone, there's every good reason to check Windows Phone Marketplace and get to downloading.
Nokia has its wicked way with Bing Maps, stork delivers traffic advice and geocoding
We already knew that Nokia had been running its fingers through Bing's map-like hair, marking it with its scent, now it's added a little lipstick to its collar. The latest addition to the Microsoft-mapping service now uses Nokia's live traffic and geocoding algorithms. This brings the functionality of Nokia's "Where" platform over to 24 nations (including the US, UK and Canada) of Bing users. Best of all for American maps that info also covers side streets. Good to see the Nokia / Microsoft collaboration yielding ever more fruits, let's just hope they're considering the bigger picture, too.
Nokia Drive gets full offline access, Maps / Transport also updated
For the smattering of hardcore argonauts on staff here at Engadget (guilty as charged), we've clung tightly to Android when it came time to navigate on the move. Why? Google Maps Navigation, that's why. To date, there's simply no better all-around navigational app from a global perspective -- one that gets updated daily in the cloud gratis, and one that provides at least basic roadways in pretty much every nation that's fit to visit. Slowly but surely, Nokia and Windows Phone have been building a formidable opponent, and today's updates to Nokia's trifecta of navigational tools might be just the thing Google loyalists needed to cast a glance in Microsoft's direction.For starters, Nokia Drive is seeing a monumental update -- one that supports a completely offline experience. Anyone who has traveled overseas and been forced to find a local SIM (or worse, eat roaming charges) in order to navigate understands just how crucial this addition is, and we're hoping that Nokia's inclusion will force Google to take its own offline offering to the next level. Moving right along, Nokia Maps has seen an update that makes sharing favorites a bit easier, and you'll also get live traffic in a slew of countries. Public commuters will appreciate the overhauled Transport app, which is now capable of providing walking / mass transit directions for over 510 cities in 46 countries. The new kit is available in the Windows Phone Marketplace today for those lucky enough to own a Lumia.
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we've seen T-Mobile expand its network coverage and take an argument to the FCC regarding interoperability requirements of the 700MHz band. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of March 12th, 2012.
Nokia Public Transport for Symbian shows you the way, can't guarantee a seat
Nokia's free turn-by turn navigation is great when you're lost, but what if you need to negotiate an unfamiliar train or bus system? Perhaps Espoo's new Public Transport app with its journey planning information for nearly 80 cities and urban areas (including London, Helsinki, Austin and Toronto) will see you right. What's more, you can even save your favorite destinations to the app's home screen to save a bit more tapping and typing. The app's only available for those freshly updated Symbian Belle phones right now, but it's free, and there's a Lumia-friendly version in the works. Sound like this might take the headache out of your daily commute? Then tap the source link below for more info.
Nokia rolls out first update for Lumia 800, offers up new features for web-based 3D Maps on the side (video)
Nokia is pretty busy at the moment. Alongside clandestine events with T-Mobile, the first update for the Lumia 800 has now begun to roll out. As is the case with most WinPho upgrades, you'll have to plug the polycarbonate slab into Zune to pull down several new performance enhancements and features. These will include charging and audio quality improvements, as well as improved display switching in bright light. Don't panic if you're unable to grab the update immediately; the phone manufacturer told us that it will be gradually rolled out across all of the initial launch countries over the next two weeks. But Nokia didn't stop there -- it has also added more functionality to its impressive -- and free -- web-based maps. Its 3D Maps, available in 25 cities, have been given new navigation functions, sharing and search options. You'll have to install a browser plugin to get your hit of pop-up cartography, but Google Earth addicts should be suitably impressed. Click the source below to judge for yourself, or hold on after the break for a quick intro video.
