A short post to let people who are using Nokia Maps extensively know that the beta version of Ovi Maps (previously known as Nokia Maps) has graduated from Nokia’s beta labs to the “real world”, ready for extensive abuse testing. So, anyway, here is what I discovered having dug around a couple of the Nokia websites:
- there is no mention on the main betalabs.nokia.com website, which is the home of Nokia Betalabs, of Nokia Maps/Ovi Maps graduating from beta to a “commercial release” status.
- if you go to the maps.ovi.com website, which logically should house all things related to Ovi Maps (duh…look at the URL), again, there is still no mention of Ovi Maps Mobile coming out of beta. The only indication that the mobile version has indeed graduated is when yu click on the link at the bottom of the page which says “Download Ovi Maps for your device”, which directs you to a page here -> http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/maps, which then redirects you to another page here -> http://betalabs.nokia.com/betas/view/nokia-maps-30-maps-ovi, at which point you’re told this: “Ovi Maps 3.0 beta for mobile has been graduated – go to http://maps.nokia.com”. Finally, the maps.ovi.com website still has got the Beta word plastered all over it.
- now, the only way you can tell that Ovi Maps Mobile has graduated is by checking this webpage -> http://betalabs.nokia.com/blog/2009/07/02/ovi-maps-for-mobile-graduates which then directs you to the main Ovi Maps webpage.
- at the main Ovi Maps webpage here -> http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps you will then find the download links for the Ovi Maps Mobile software. It’s so intuitive looking at the URL, isn’t it? I mean, which intelligent person can’t figure out that you can indeed download the latest version of Ovi Maps Mobile at that URL address?
- All in all, a major fail, in my book. I have to lie down now – all that wandering about in Nokia’s online world has made me a little dizzy.
So, in short, if you want to update, go to the link in point 4 above. In case you’re also dizzy, here is the link -> http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps/download. Is anyone here using Nokia Maps extensively, or have you all moved on to better mapping and navigation software?
Via symbianguru.
I have not been using nokia maps as it is subscription based for the navigation feature. Its not a one off payment like Garmin for example. However i heard that the pedestrian feature if free, is that true?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:27 am
@Jack, I believe pedestrian mode navigation is still payable. If you want voice assisted navigation, it’s a paid service.
[Reply]
Jack Lee Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Oh well… too bad then….
[Reply]