NokiaOviMaps
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Nokia's Ovi Maps gets faster, Qype reviews with SR4 (video)
When we reviewed Nokia's Ovi Maps and pitted it against the competition from Google we found it was by far the quickest to calculate routes and get you on your way... or back on your way if you meandered off. But, interaction with the app itself was a bit sluggish, something that's said to be fixed in version 3.0.4, also dubbed SR4. This version offers some serious performance improvements for tapping around the interface and also mixes in POI reviews from Qype. Qype is a sort of European version of Yelp with a similarly silly name, and while that doesn't help we Americans much, we always did feel like something of an afterthought to Nokia anyway. The new version of Ovi Maps is out now, so get it while the gettin's good.
Smartphone GPS shootout: Google, Ovi, and Verizon go head-to-head
It wasn't long ago that getting somewhere required a map on paper. You know, something you bought or that came groaning out of your tired old printer. GPS navigation units made those maps obsolete, but now they too are under threat. With smartphones invading pockets everywhere it's no surprise that their next assault would be on the dashboard, early volleys shaking up financial markets worldwide. That was just the beginning of a shock and awe campaign that will leave no automotive interior untouched -- and hopefully no driver unsure how many miles until the next Dunkin' Donuts. Google Navigation was the first to really shake things up, while Nokia's Ovi Maps is a more recent addition to the battlefield and the latest VZ Navigator, 5.0, lets Windows Mobile and BlackBerry users join the fray. We've taken this sampling of the best built-in smartphone navigation options (the set of paid add-on options for iPhone is a beast we'll be taming later), learning which you should trust to get you to where you're going and to dodge construction and traffic on the way there. Read on for a turn-by-turn exploration of each option's highs and lows. %Gallery-86386%
Nokia Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation hands-on
Now that we've heard the big news from Nokia's London press event, it's only natural to get our hands dirty with the upgraded Ovi Maps. The preloaded map does indeed load much quicker than its old network counterpart, and hey, did we mention it's free too? Enjoy the photos and video after the break with your breakfast. %Gallery-83599%
