Preview: What is New in Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta
I’m about to preview the New Nokia Maps 2.0 beta, but before I use it, let me share with you what’s new with Nokia Maps 2.0. In summary, the update includes new pedestrian navigation, satellite and hybrid images, improved car navigation interface, and real-time traffic information. Read on for the specifics.
I just spoke to Ricky Cadden from Symbian-Guru, James Burland from Nokia Creative, and they are also testing the beta as well.
Pedestrian navigation: Bigger cities are more and more pedestrian-oriented and less suited for cars, therefore Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta offers you the possibility to explore a city by walking! Breadcrumbs show your previous position and mark down the route you’ve been walking. Stop at any place you’d like to and continue your route afterwards. Navigation is visual and without voice guidance. To start a pedestrian navigation, choose your destination and select Walk to from the selection key menu (in the middle of your mobile device). Please note that you need a valid navigation license to use pedestrian navigation (there is a 3-day free trial available for each device).
Satellite and hybrid images: Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta offers satellite and hybrid view maps for selected bigger cities. Satellite images offer an accurate map view and they display individual city buildings. You can change the view from the normal map view to satellite or hybrid map view via Options > Map mode > Satellite or Hybrid. Downloading satellite images may involve the transmission of large amounts of data through your service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for information about data transmission charges.
Improved user interface for car navigation: Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta offers clear guidance and improved visual elements for car navigation. Try it yourself by just choosing your destination and select Drive to from the selection key (in the middle of your mobile device). Please note that you need a valid navigation license to use car navigation (there is a 3-day free trial available for each device).
One box search: One box search to search for addresses or places that interest you is available with start-up of the application! Just enter the address or name of a place for which you are looking in the search field and press Search. The results are displayed, sorted by category. Please note that you do not necessarily need to enter all letters of an address. It is, for example, enough to enter the first three letters of a street name. Of course this increases the number of search results.
Multimedia city guides: This new type of city guide features photos, videos, and audio streams. This new method of accessing information about a certain city has a lot of advantages compared to traditional electronic or written city guides. Multimedia City Guides have to be purchased as an additional feature via Options > Extras > Guides.
Real time traffic information (RTTI): Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta offers real-time traffic feeds and dynamic rerouting in 18 European countries. Real-time traffic feeds inform you of collisions, roadworks, and traffic jams. After the feed is received, the device can dynamically re-route you to avoid a traffic event. RTTI is a feature that can be purchased separately. You can purchase RTTI via Options > Extras > Traffic info. Note that the usage of RTTI may involve the transmission of large amounts of data through your service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for information about data transmission charges.
European on 13 February 2008:
Theres no need for this kind of product in usa. They will run their monster cars until oil ends. You practically cant walk in usa (beside Ny,malls,parks). Todays suburbs will be tomorrows ghettos…Its really shite society…
mike on 7 March 2008:
where can i get free liscense cd key for this nokia maps 2.0
please tell me or email me at mayankpatel@live.com
Diabo on 28 March 2008:
The bad news: Nokia Map Loader is a royal pain in the behind. It requires you to install loads of stuff, only works on windows, and adding new maps means that you have to download the maps you already had all over again.
The good news: you don’t need Nokia’s maploader-from-hell:
http://nokiamaps.moo.no
Works on any operating system with any browser, and you don’t need to install anything. Now you can finally add maps on locked-down computers like at work, in school, internet cafes, or straight from your phones built-in browser.
Ryno Botha on 3 April 2008:
Can u please tell where do i find the cd key to activate the maps navigation????
Chris Davies on 11 April 2008:
To Ryno Botha, you have to purchase it through your phone.
Ian on 30 April 2008:
It’s terrible that they removed the START TRACKING feature. How can a company downgrade functionality after purchase via an “upgrade”.
I loaded the V21 firmware to fix a few bugs, then low and behold when I next go to use my GPS I find START TRACKING missing. I paid good money to get the N95 when it first came out, and other than data charges was not warned of any further charges to be able to real-time track in GPS. Now they want money?
Where is the class action…I say.
Micky on 3 June 2008:
I can’t get the satellite view working on either of my N95 models running Maps 2.0, non Beta version.
Rick on 15 June 2008:
This new search box always eats up space and there is not way to get rid of it. Also - shown level of detail is still a problem, roads disapperar too soon then zooming out leaving empty screen or funny disconnected pieces of roads.
nayaz on 30 June 2008:
how can i add a location in map with the gps data i have3 already have to my nokia n73.