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Here is developing a car navigation system powered by Alexa
Here is building some kind of in-car navigation system powered by Amazon's Alexa assistant. The new "one-stop solution for automakers," called Here Navigation On-Demand, will be sold to manufacturers as (shudder) software-as-a-service. In layman's terms, that means it will sit on top of existing infotainment platforms and operating systems. Details are light at the moment, but Here says it will be a truly "voice-first car navigation experience that keeps users focused on the road." We also know that the software will leverage Alexa Auto, the development kit that Amazon released last August, to give drivers personalized advice. "Our work with Amazon will drive a truly differentiated and delightful user experience," Edzard Overbeek, CEO of Here Technologies said.
Here maps helps the Mercedes S560 tackle sharp corners
As the car approaches a sharp bend on a back road in Northern California, the $155,000 (starting at $99,900) Mercedes-Benz S560 slows down of its own accord. I guide it through the corner with a bit of help from lane keep assist. Then, as the vehicle exits to a straightaway it accelerates back to the adaptive cruise-control speed setting until it encounters another switchback.
Microsoft updates Windows Maps as Here support is set to expire
Microsoft's mobile ecosystem is in rough shape, so it didn't help when Nokia sold its Here mapping software to a German auto consortium. That group promptly pulled Windows support, leaving users with few navigation options. However, the software giant is working to improve Windows Maps, the native app for Windows 10 users, and has just issued a big update. It says the improvements go "far beyond directions," but perhaps the biggest one is for guided navigation.
Here Maps stops supporting Windows devices
We hope you weren't counting on Here Maps to provide directions on your Lumia. Here has announced that it's dropping much of its support for Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile. The company is pulling its apps from Windows 10's app store on March 29th, and a workaround that kept its apps running will stop working after June 30th. The Here apps for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 will continue to work, but you won't get more than "critical bug fixes" from now on.
Here Maps for iOS offers easy access to detailed place info
Here Maps provides an alternative to Apple and Google navigation apps, and the iOS version of the software just got a lot more useful. First, tapping on a place icon on a map will bring up detailed information like hours, contact details and more. It's similar to what what you'd see in Google's app. There's also a new shortcut tool that offers quick access to Here Maps features. If you tap and hold on any place, options for directions, navigation, sharing the destination and saving it for later all pop up.
Nokia's Here Maps arrives on Android
If you've been looking for a big-name alternative to Google Maps on your Android phone, your moment has come. After weeks of testing, Nokia has officially released Here Maps on Google Play. The experience will be familiar if you sideloaded earlier versions. While it's not as multi-talented as Google Maps, its simple interface specializes in navigation (especially driving) and offline mapping -- this may be ideal for trips abroad where cellular data isn't guaranteed. The biggest additions with the Google Play edition are support for 18 new countries and some bug fixes.
Nokia Here Auto displays trip info in more places
Nokia first trotted out its Here Auto connected car platform just over a year ago, and at this week's Paris Motor Show, the company is showing off the latest developments. In order to properly equip the rise in heads-up display tech, Here Auto now shows its info in more places around on the dash. In addition to the main display between the driver and passenger, navigation details and more can be beamed to a HUD or under the steering wheel. The central cluster's route data is "context aware," so when you're low on fuel, it'll show gas stations along the way. During the drive, passengers can employ smartphone and tablet apps to examine the trip and make the most of stops. If a nearby national park is selected, the driver can okay (or reject) the detour and directions get automatically updated. And with a new SDK, auto makers can customize Nokia's system as needed, adding in of CarPlay, Google Auto and more.
Engadget Daily: Windows 10, the $200 laptop you've been waiting for, and more!
It looks like Microsoft's new OS will be called Windows 10. Who'd have thunk it? Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours -- we go hands-on with Here maps for Android, break down Facebook's battle with drag queens and more.
Hands-on with Nokia's Here Maps for Android
When Microsoft finally completed its €3.79 billion acquisition of Nokia earlier this year, the company took control of its smartphone business, but left behind a number of Nokia's other powerful and profitable properties. One such property was the company's mapping division, now called Here, which has become the de facto maps app for Windows Phone users the world over. Nokia tried to replicate the experience on iOS, but after poor reviews and the admission that things "went horribly wrong," the company pulled its iPhone app and went back to the drawing board. As for Android, it looked like Nokia would never deliver a real Google Maps alternative. Luckily, that's all about to change. Thanks to some marketing muscle from Korea, Nokia will soon give Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners advanced access to its maps app. While Nokia readies Here Maps for Samsung's Galaxy Apps store, which is expected to drop in the coming weeks, the company gave us an early preview of its new app, and it's good.
Nokia Here Maps coming to all Windows 8.1 devices
Have you looked on with envy as friends with Lumia 2520 tablets use Here Maps to navigate around city streets? You won't have to for much longer. Nokia has revealed that it's bringing the mapping software to all Windows 8.1 PCs, including RT-based systems. The wider availability will come alongside a host of upgrades, too. In addition to the necessary additions of mouse and keyboard support, you'll also get a search history, higher-resolution satellite images and faster map loading. Nokia will offer the app for free, beginning with those in North America and Europe; everyone should have access within a few days.
What's next for Nokia? Here maps, network infrastructure and 'advanced technologies'
Now that Microsoft has the reigns to Nokia's devices and services business, what's the company going to do with all that spare time on its hands? It's keeping busy, it seems. Outlined in a separate announcement from Espoo, Nokia is going to play to its existing strengths, continuing to develop its Here maps platform, with the aim of becoming the "leading independent location cloud platform company, offering mapping and location services across different screens and operating systems." In the slightly more straight-laced (but profitable) world of network infrastructure, Nokia's NSN will continue to develop and build LTE networks and, well, whatever comes after that. Which ties in neatly to Nokia's third focus: advanced technologies. The company aims to continue exploring "new business opportunities," continuing to research and develop concepts involved in connectivity, sensing and material technologies -- possibly along the lines of concepts devices we've seen from Nokia in the past. This is also the same arm of the company that'll keep an eye on Nokia's patent portfolio. The company is unsurprisingly bullish about its future, with its new interim President, Timo Ihamuotila, reckoning the deal will make Nokia's financial situation "significantly stronger."
Nokia's Here Maps service comes to the Asha 501, beta release available now for download
The touchscreen Asha 501 Nokia unveiled back in May will now work with Here Maps, the company announced on its blog today. The navigation service is already available on Windows Phone 8, Firefox OS, Android and iOS, and its arrival on the Asha platform will boost that operating system's more modest selection of apps. Available now as a beta release, Here Maps for the Asha 501 offers turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic information. It's designed specifically for low-end smartphones without GPS on board, and Nokia's post notes that the current version "is a starting point and we will improve the experience over time." Upcoming changes will likely include improved satellite images, which the company says will soon be updated to a higher quality. Asha 501 users in select countries can nab the Here Maps beta via the source link below.
Nokia Chat 1.1 beta sends contacts to other Lumias through NFC
While chat apps excel at adding contacts from the online world, they don't cope so well with real life -- reciting and typing screen names isn't very elegant. Nokia is bringing back some of those social graces with its Nokia Chat 1.1 beta, which revolves around NFC transfers. If both friends own NFC-equipped Lumia phones, they can tap to exchange their own details, other contacts or even the app itself. It's also easier to share locations: contacts with Lumias will see a Here Maps-based preview of any given place. These additions don't make as much sense outside of an all-Nokia ecosystem, but there's certainly enough for existing users to upgrade at the source link.
Nokia adds sight recognition to Here Maps for Windows Phone 8
Six months after promising to integrate sight recognition technology into its Here suite of apps, Nokia has finally updated Here Maps with LiveSight. The update is available today in the Windows Phone app store and requires Windows Phone 8. By tapping a button in HERE Maps, users can enter LiveSight mode, which will scan the surrounding area and pull up relevant information about nearby locations, like addresses, phone numbers and ratings. Lumia owners familiar with Nokia's City Lens app will recognize the virtual signs attached to buildings viewed through the camera display and the Here Maps version of LiveSight appears to have similar functionality -- including Here's strongest selling point, offline access. If you want to see LiveSight in action, you can watch Nokia's preview video after the break.
Hands-on with Nokia JobLens on the Lumia 925: what a way to make a living (video)
We're hoping we won't need to use Nokia's JobLens app for real any time soon, but at the Lumia 925 launch event, we thought we'd at least explore our options. It's essentially a proximity-based job searching tool that, in the lens mode, is much like the CityLens AR app for Lumias, and points you in the direction of your next potential employer using icons on top of the realtime camera view. In another mode, JobLens uses the Here Maps platform to show you a top-down view of openings in your vicinity, and can subsequently direct you to your interview on time. From either views, you can poke at vacancies to see more about the job and share it, email it to yourself, or respond directly with a CV -- various sites populate the in-app listings. The software also integrates with Facebook and LinkedIn so you can hit up your contacts for the inside track. No word on a release date yet, but we imagine it'll coincide with the Lumia 925 launch. As they say, it's who you know that counts, and now we know Matt from Nokia, who treated us to a quick tour of the app in the video after the break. Update: we've been having trouble with the video -- it works on some devices and not others. It may work for you right now, but if not -- we're working on a fix. Update #2: This should now be working for everybody. Apologies for the delay!
Hands-on review of Nokia Here maps app
Nokia released HERE Maps for iOS this morning, and in baseball parlance I would call it a swing and a miss. People are eager for a viable alternative to the much maligned Apple Maps app, but HERE Maps is no holy grail. Nokia is not new to the mapping business. They own NAVTEQ, which powers a lot of in car systems. The universal free app gives you a live traffic view, public transportation views and satellite imagery. It has the ability to save an area so you are not without maps when you lose your data connection. Destinations can be shared via email, text messaging or via social networks. HERE Maps offers several nice features. The so-called "collections" are similar to bookmarks. You can also log into your saved data from another device (after creating a free account). The app also provides walking directions. %Gallery-171419% First, let's talk about presentation. While exploring Southern Arizona, I found HERE Maps to be as outdated as my car's built-in system, which is also powered by NAVTEQ. To my eye Apple satellite views are cleaner and certainly more current. That may or may not be true in your area, but there are many App Store customers bemoaning out-of-date data. The POI database also seems weak, and suggested several restaurants that are out of business. Apple has issues with that as well, but Nokia is trying to improve on Apple Maps. Some of the on-screen icons are a bit arcane. It was hard to figure out how to start navigation once a destination was selected. There are no onboard instructions. There are no 3D views, and you don't get an on-the-road perspective as you drive, just an overhead view. There are turn-by-turn directions, but you must download voice files after you install the app. You can have your choice of voices, as long as it's the one British voice offered. Apple Maps also doesn't offer a choice of voices. One gotcha- voice directions don't work when you are driving. Only when you are walking. What were they thinking? Maps are similar in detail to Apple Maps, but they are not vector based, so they redraw often while Apple's maps are crisp when displayed. In my tests, HERE Maps don't have the festival of errors Apple had on launch. No street views that look like Salvador Dali nightmares. The app is certainly usable, and if the mapping is better in your area than Apple Maps you are ahead of the game. I just don't see this app as a big leap over what Apple has provided. It's only version 1.0 for iOS, but it has the feel of a web app rather than a polished piece of software. My advice is download it and try it. If you like it better than Apple's Maps, go for it. The fact that it is in the App Store at all suggests that Google will get there with an app that is better than the Apple or Nokia offerings, but of course the non-Apple apps won't have the iOS and Siri integration that is so nice with Apple Maps. The HERE Maps app is a 3.7 MB download and requires iOS 4.3 or later. It is optimized for iPhone 5. Voice files are an additional 1.5 MB download. You may have a very positive experience with HERE Maps, so share your comments with us. There are some screen shots in the gallery, and a comparison to Apple Maps satellite views of the same area.
Nokia Here Maps app soars in App Store popularity (updated)
Nokia's Here Maps app (free) just made it to the App Store, but it is already making waves for iOS users looking for an alternative to Apple's Maps. Update: See a hands-on review of Nokia Here Maps by TUAW's Mel Martin. For iPhone 5 users, Here Maps is an especially welcome addition to the App Store, as the app is optimized for Apple's latest iPhone. It's based on the same NAVTEQ mapping data that is used in many in-car navigation systems, but also provides community maps that are created and updated by other users. Map areas can be saved onto the phone, then used without data coverage. Other features include the ability to save collections, such as "best restaurants" or "places to see". Here Maps isn't limited to car transportation, as it will also provide directions for pedestrians and those using to public transit. The app started the trip up the charts this morning when it hit No. 101 on the free download chart for iPhone apps at 8:35 AM ET. Within 15 minutes, HERE Maps had jumped to No. 32 on the charts, bypassing Spotify. While writing this post at 9:55 AM ET, the app was in the No. 12 spot. TUAW will have a full review of Here Maps in the next few days. In the meantime, it appears to be a success with those who are still waiting for Google to get around to producing an iPhone-friendly native navigation app.
