What's the deal with Ovi and N900? [Archive] - maemo.org

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ralphb

09-04-2009, 03:12 AM

Does anyone know how Nokia is selling/bundling the Ovi services for the N900? Is there a (financial) subscription involved? Specifically the navigation/maps services - I understand they are included in the N900, but is it necessary to pay for them? (Beyond the price of the device itself, I mean.)

(If so, then they'll be replaced by Maemo Mapper on my future N900 just like Nokia's Map app was replaced on my current N800.)

BouncingBob

09-04-2009, 05:47 AM

Mentioned elsewhere, but the basic mapping is free, it's the navigation that costs.

zerojay

09-04-2009, 06:47 AM

Mentioned elsewhere, but the basic mapping is free, it's the navigation that costs.

Wrong. Navigation as well as mapping using Ovi Maps is 100% free. It's only on previous versions of the tablets that navigation was an additional cost. There is no turn-by-turn voice navigation though.

lorelei

09-04-2009, 06:50 AM

Speaking of Ovi maps, navigation is computed on the tablet or on an internet server and then downloaded to Ovi maps?
Or in other words, does the navigation feature of Ovi maps requires a permanent internet connection (be it with wifi or 3G) to work correctly?

thanks

Jaffa

09-04-2009, 06:53 AM

Having briefly played with the beta of Ovi/Nokia Maps - it's very pretty, but I'm not sure I like it:

At the moment, no pre-download of maps; which is a problem if I'm navigating to Amsterdam and don't want to pay eye-watering data roaming rates.
No speed display, for checking I'm not breaking the law.

I wonder if it's possible to use dpkg-repackage to move Navicore across (after all, I paid ~£10 for a 3 year licence)

nowave7

09-04-2009, 07:07 AM

Wrong. Navigation as well as mapping using Ovi Maps is 100% free. It's only on previous versions of the tablets that navigation was an additional cost. There is no turn-by-turn voice navigation though.

Judging by the current Symbian OVI maps, navigation will be charged. I highly doubt that Nokia will not charge navigation for N900 and will charge for, say, N97/mini?!
http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps/prices_and_coverage

zerojay

09-04-2009, 07:09 AM

Judging by the current Symbian OVI maps, navigation will be charged. I highly doubt that Nokia will not charge navigation for N900 and will charge for, say, N97/mini?!
http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps/prices_and_coverage

Doubt it if you choose. We were already specifically told that it was included and free on the N900 by Nokia. Take it up with them.

ragnar

09-04-2009, 07:10 AM

Doubt it if you choose. We were already specifically told that it was included and free on the N900 by Nokia. Take it up with them.

Routing is free. Routing does not mean turn-by-turn navigation.

zerojay

09-04-2009, 07:13 AM

Routing is free. Routing does not mean turn-by-turn navigation.

Yes, I know and I already said so myself earlier in the thread.

ysss

09-04-2009, 07:43 AM

So how does it work? You choose which countries' maps you're interested in, and download it from nokia.com? How big are they?

REMFwhoopitydo

09-04-2009, 08:30 AM

forgive my ignorance: but am i to understand that Ovimaps map data is streamed through your 3G connection, and not stored locally?

Does this mean that nokia makes a deal with local contract carriers to allow Ovimap data to stream to the phone for free?

Where does maemo-mapper come into this:
If Ovimap data is streamed, and the stream is considered outside usual data-plan charges, where does this leave PayG users?
Can mameo-mapper and locally cached cloud made maps replace Ovimaps for PayG customers?

Cheers

zerojay

09-04-2009, 08:33 AM

(By the way, each and every time I see a thread or sentence started with "What's the deal with...", I instantly start imagining Jerry Seinfeld saying it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZF1SJW7JFw )

Jaffa

09-04-2009, 08:42 AM

Yes, AFAICT, it's downloaded (and cached) over your Internet connection. This is similar to Maemo Mapper's approach, But Ovi Maps uses vector data rather than bitmaps and can do on-device routing etc.

I'm not sure there would be a "this data is free" thing from the carrier - if you got it through them you're probably on a contract including some quantity of data per month.

ysss

09-04-2009, 08:47 AM

@Jaffa: Is there no option to pre-download the map beforehand? This sound similar to google map app on iphone.

Jaffa

09-04-2009, 08:50 AM

@Jaffa: Is there no option to pre-download the map beforehand? This sound similar to google map app on iphone.

Not that I saw, but Peter was aware of it as a limitation and hinted it was being worked on. Whether we'll see that feature at launch or not (or not at all), I dunno.

lorelei

09-04-2009, 08:55 AM

Yes, AFAICT, it's downloaded (and cached) over your Internet connection. This is similar to Maemo Mapper's approach, But Ovi Maps uses vector data rather than bitmaps and can do on-device routing etc.

good thing for the vector data, but a very bad thing for "downloading as you go"...I just hope that we will be able to install navicore/wayfinder on the N900, so that we can have all the maps stored locally...

REMFwhoopitydo

09-04-2009, 09:11 AM

or just use mameo-mapper and cloudmade downloads of OSM data.

we have all that storage space after all, and it would be handy for people like my brother who travel to the US often and find their iphone useless along with its google maps ability.

at least if you have real GPS and pre-cached maps you can navigate regardless of whether you contract works in country x.

benny1967

09-04-2009, 09:23 AM

There's an application called map loader (http://europe.nokia.com/explore-services/maps/download-maps/map-loader)by Nokia. If I understand this correctly, it's a windows software that allows you to download maps needed for your route on your PC and then transfer it to a device... I'd guess it's currently made for S60 handsets only, but this might change. Who knows.

fnordianslip

09-04-2009, 09:27 AM

Let's not bother with map loader then, if it requires us to have a Windows PC. What we need is either cross-platform support for Win, Mac and Linux, or, better still, an N900 that is self-sufficient and requires no host PC to delegate tasks to. This is supposed to be a mobile computer after all, and not a phone.

nowave7

09-04-2009, 09:36 AM

Doubt it if you choose. We were already specifically told that it was included and free on the N900 by Nokia. Take it up with them.

So basically you're saying that navigation for Maemo will be free, and not for Symbian, or it will be free for Symbian as well in the near future? But what about those people who already bought the navigation?

nowave7

09-04-2009, 09:39 AM

ragnar

09-04-2009, 09:40 AM

So basically you're saying that navigation for Maemo will be free, and not for Symbian, or it will be free for Symbian as well in the near future? But what about those people who already bought the navigation?

Routing in Maemo is free.

Routing is free also in Symbian. Just try out Nokia Maps on the S60.

Routing is not interactive turn-by-turn navigation.

nowave7

09-04-2009, 09:42 AM

Routing in Maemo is free.

Routing is free also in Symbian. Just try out Nokia Maps on the S60.

Routing is not interactive turn-by-turn navigation.

And I never said routing, I specifically said navigation and so did zerojay.

ragnar

09-04-2009, 09:48 AM

And I never said routing, I specifically said navigation and so did zerojay.

Maps is an OVI service, so I don't have the best information on this. But for navigation, currently - as far as we are talking about interactive turn-by-turn navigation - there is no free option for Maemo.

ysss

09-04-2009, 09:54 AM

I think that is the common trend ever since Google Maps offers routing. Same thing happens in the iphone market: there are a few free mapping options with routing but all the ones with turn-by-turn feature are non-free.

If there is a mapping software available for free on Maemo with turn-by-turn navigation, I believe that'd be a market first.

debernardis

09-04-2009, 09:54 AM

Maps is an OVI service, so I don't have the best information on this. But for navigation, currently - as far as we are talking about interactive turn-by-turn navigation - there is no free option for Maemo.

But will it be possible to get voice guidance paying as for the s60 phones? I'm interested in that.

nowave7

09-04-2009, 10:02 AM

ysss

09-04-2009, 10:07 AM

@nowave7: oh, i meant among 'smartphones'..

nowave7

09-04-2009, 10:11 AM

@nowave7: oh, i meant among 'smartphones'..

Oh... Ok... :)
I don't think there is...

zerojay

09-04-2009, 10:13 AM

So basically you're saying that navigation for Maemo will be free, and not for Symbian, or it will be free for Symbian as well in the near future? But what about those people who already bought the navigation?

I'm saying absolutely nothing about anything other than the N900. When asked, that is what we were told. I don't know anything about what the deal is with Symbian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GIgsfYohc) or anything else or about those that bought navigation for those devices. Routing and mapping is free on the N900 - that's what we were told.

zerojay

09-04-2009, 10:14 AM

And I never said routing, I specifically said navigation and so did zerojay.

I used the wrong word then. Sorry.

nowave7

09-04-2009, 10:28 AM

I used the wrong word then. Sorry.

It's okay, just a misunderstanding.

Tonttu

09-11-2009, 01:01 PM

The maps version in N900 does not support Navigation. You cannot buy navigation license for N900.

sjgadsby

09-11-2009, 01:21 PM

The maps version in N900 does not support Navigation. You cannot buy navigation license for N900.

I wish Texrat were more careful with his words. A few negative comments from him (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=289855#post289855) regarding the N900's usefulness as an automotive GPS solution, and Nokia abandons the whole idea.

Others may have wanted the option to at least try the N900 for navigation, Texrat. Sheesh!

debernardis

09-11-2009, 02:11 PM

The maps version in N900 does not support Navigation. You cannot buy navigation license for N900.

I can't believe that. At all. Nokia has a top-notch navigation program, a top-notch device... and they cannot put the former into the latter?
While they're actively advertising the n900 as an ovi maps-enabled computer?
Nonsense. Maybe they're looking which way it is not cracked too easily (c'mon - like on the symbian platform, you know, or like for navicore/wayfinder), but putting there a crippled version seems a dumb move to me. Maybe navigation is going to come as an update.

Otherwise, Rockerduck-like, I promise I'll eat my hat!

http://www.amicigg.it/curiosita/paperi/rockerduck.gif

Bratag

09-11-2009, 03:08 PM

Every single mention about OVI maps i have heard says its a full version and doesn't mention its functionality being cut at all

qgil

09-11-2009, 03:18 PM

http://maemo.nokia.com/features/ovi-maps/

Tonttu

09-11-2009, 03:24 PM

debernardis

09-11-2009, 03:31 PM

Indeed, there's no mention of voice navigation on maemo.nokia.com.
Quim, can you enlighten this please? I don't want to eat my hat. Please...

EDIT: I hope that the three-bars icon above the "-" "+" bar on the right side of this screen is for voice guidance volume... :confused:

http://maemo.nokia.com/images/uploads/entry-media/maps-turn-by-turn.jpg

Tonttu

09-11-2009, 03:50 PM

The information is from Finnish Nokia Online Store sales person. I'm sorry but it is in Finnish:
http://www.matkapuhelininfo.com/keskustelu/showthread.php?t=53304

I just saw this thread and thought would clarify the maps issue.

Sasler

09-11-2009, 03:53 PM

N900 has a special Ovi Maps version made for N900 as Nokia has explained. Navigation is not supported in that version and nowhere Nokia says N900 supports Navigation. They only say that routing is supported which is not the same as navigation.

I wonder whether this is only the current situation or are the no plans at all to have Navigation supported in the N900 version of Ovi Maps? :confused:

pelago

09-11-2009, 05:38 PM

Soulfarmer

09-23-2009, 12:38 PM

I really, really hope that option to download maps and store them locally will be an option, wouldn't want to always use data-roaming when abroad. Nokia Map Loader was really nice with my E90, so I do hope that same kind of solution will be available for N900 also.

I understand that any extra information should maybe be streamed and not locally stored, but I think users would like an option to just use the map data to manual navigation or something like that and not always need to data-roam abroad.

SgtDuke

09-28-2009, 03:36 PM

spinnukur

09-28-2009, 08:31 PM

It's hard to fathom that with a device as revolutionary as this would be for Nokia they aren't allowing it to be used as automotive GPS device...especially for the price. For people complaing about the size of the screen for GPS use, I've got Garmin on my iPhone and it's perfect, plus look at most dedicated gps devices you'll find the screen size on par with the N900

Laughing Man

09-28-2009, 09:25 PM

Maybe, they hope that by not offering navigation they can entice 3rd parties like TomTom to come in and make an application for it? Kinda like how Google Maps on the iPhone doesn't do navigation.

bugelrex

09-28-2009, 09:31 PM

This thread has me quite concerned. I have been expecting that Ovi Maps on the N900 would be the same implementation (or better) as what is on the S60 devices and what we see at http://maps.ovi.com/. That is, fully featured country maps that can be loaded onto the device and all functions - GPS, map browsing, searching for places, and creating and following routes - can be performed without any data connection (except the GPS reception from satellites).

This is a very important function for me and anything less would remove my interest in the N900. Can someone with experience or definite knowledge of the N900 confirm what capabilities Ovi Maps will have?

FYI. I played with the N900 at the NYC Flagship 2 weeks ago. It took over 20 seconds just to bring up the OVI Maps applications (from the time I clicked to the end of the loading start screen). Everything else was pretty snappy...

Even though it was beta firmware, as a developer it made me think "what the hell could it be processing for 20 seconds"...

spinnukur

09-28-2009, 09:43 PM

Maybe, they hope that by not offering navigation they can entice 3rd parties like TomTom to come in and make an application for it? Kinda like how Google Maps on the iPhone doesn't do navigation.

Interesting point...by Nokia not developing a turn-by-turn navigation system for it, they are encouraging the development of apps for the phone, where as on the other hand if they included turn-by-turn navigation, third party companies like TomTom wouldn't invest the time or money...why should they if the user of the N900 already has a competent device, why would they spend an extra $60 to buy something they already have.

Interesting long term potential strategic goal on Nokia's part. It's just one small part in developing apps for the N900, but small parts add up to large parts...

Laughing Man

09-28-2009, 09:49 PM

Yeah the problem with that strategy is it assumes that the n900 will be big enough to attract Tom Tom's attraction. That I think is the possible failing point, if it doesn't it just leaves us with a crippled map application.

Though there's always MaemoMapper. ;)

bugelrex

09-28-2009, 09:51 PM

Does anyone know if you use google maps from the web browser if it can pick up the GPS?

daveb70

09-28-2009, 10:30 PM

Maybe, they hope that by not offering navigation they can entice 3rd parties like TomTom to come in and make an application for it? Kinda like how Google Maps on the iPhone doesn't do navigation.

You do realize how much TomTom charges for their iPhone app? And that's with several million installed units. I'd hate to see the relative price charged for a TomTom-based app for the N900.

Now I'll give you more credit since you use plural with party and like rather than specifically TomTom. But I think the end result is the same. Since Nokia has acquired navigation technology companies to tap into over the past several years, there's even less reason for an existing mainstream GPS manufacturer to make their software available to a mildly competitive product. I can only see it as a means to stick it to Nokia, to prove that their product works better than Nokia's own. And yet what's the time and $ worth? Probably not the net revenue seen by the limited number of copies purchased.

Disappointing? Surely, but not being realistic can be costly for companies to ignore. We'll have to hold our hands out to Nokia and gnuite (http://maemo.org/profile/view/gnuite/).

Thesandlord

09-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Does anyone know if you use google maps from the web browser if it can pick up the GPS?

Supposedly Fennec (mobile firefox) will support W3C geolocation. Hopefully this means GPS and WiFi triangulation.

Laughing Man

09-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Yeah, I know it isn't pretty. Though on the iPhone front they have competition from I think Navigon in both price and features. But yeah, I really can't see anybody stepping in to take on Nokia, especially given that the n900's userbase wouldn't be large enough to bother risking a chance on.

Worse comes to worse we have MaemoMapper. And I guess if this is Nokia's strategy (basically hold a feature back to see if they can entice anyone else to come in) and it doesn't work. They could always release an update that would enable navigation for a price.

Edit: I didn't know gnuite has a B.S. and an M.S. from VT, haha I wonder if he lives in the Washington D.C. area?

Nitchers

09-28-2009, 11:16 PM

Don't want to go off topic here, but would i be right to assume that i can sync the n900 with my google contacts and calendar and then use the n900 to sync my ovi contacts and calendar.

I opened an Ovi account last night and it would be nice to know.

Thanks in advance

ordxpres

09-28-2009, 11:22 PM

This is correct. The - / + is for the zoom in / out.

ragnar

09-29-2009, 01:32 AM

N900 has a special Ovi Maps version made for N900 as Nokia has explained. Navigation is not supported in that version and nowhere Nokia says N900 supports Navigation. They only say that routing is supported which is not the same as navigation.

Yes. Ovi Maps is, as its name says, an Ovi service and made by the Ovi Maps people for Maemo. It's not the same client as on s60. Maemo is an organization inside Nokia and Ovi is a separate organization inside Nokia, delivering their services to multiple platforms.

Further explanations would probably just bore and confuse people, but basically that is the reason you also see some differences in its UI (looking at the top corner buttons, for instance) and behaviour compared to other pre-installed apps on Maemo 5.

debernardis

09-29-2009, 01:53 AM

Maemo is an organization inside Nokia and Ovi is a separate organization inside Nokia, delivering their services to multiple platforms.

Further explanations would probably just bore and confuse people, but basically that is the reason you also see some differences in its UI (looking at the top corner buttons, for instance) and behaviour compared to other pre-installed apps on Maemo 5.

I'm not sure I would be bored and confused by further explanations, I would be quite interested instead, but I guess that they are not so easy and trouble-free to deliver to the outside world from inside a corporation.

My question is: are Maemo, Ovi, Nokia, , The Illuminati, Whatever, planning in a foreseeable future to allow full functionality to the Ovi Maps client on the N900 terminal? I'm speaking of voice guidance which I use a lot with my E90. Of course I'm ready to pay for that, a price more or less in line with that needed on symbian devices.

Just a practicality that would allow me as well as many others to bring only one device instead that two or more.

I hope you can answer. Thanks in anticipation :)

benny1967

09-29-2009, 02:12 AM

Yes. Ovi Maps is, as its name says, an Ovi service and made by the Ovi Maps people for Maemo. It's not the same client as on s60. Maemo is an organization inside Nokia and Ovi is a separate organization inside Nokia, delivering their services to multiple platforms.

one moment: are you saying that this application was done by the same organisation inside nokia that managed to ruin every single online service with an ovi.com domain? do me a favour: don't let them touch our devices, will you?

mece

09-29-2009, 02:18 AM

one moment: are you saying that this application was done by the same organisation inside nokia that managed to ruin every single online service with an ovi.com domain? do me a favour: don't let them touch our devices, will you?

I kinda like the ovi services. I only use the calendar, share and mail though. They all work fine for me.

Rauha

09-29-2009, 03:16 AM

I kinda like the ovi services. I only use the calendar, share and mail though. They all work fine for me.
Ditto.

Only Ovi service that I dislike is the store. Then again, the store has truly horrible implimentation.

ragnar

09-29-2009, 03:25 AM

My question is: are Maemo, Ovi, Nokia, , The Illuminati, Whatever, planning in a foreseeable future to allow full functionality to the Ovi Maps client on the N900 terminal? I'm speaking of voice guidance which I use a lot with my E90. Of course I'm ready to pay for that, a price more or less in line with that needed on symbian devices.

Just a practicality that would allow me as well as many others to bring only one device instead that two or more.

I guess my previous answer was trying to say that it's hard for us ("The Maemo internal folks") to say or reveal much about what Ovi guys are doing for us. For things that we implement ourselves, we have better control and visibility.

Now, I'm sure they are planning to make the Ovi Maps client the best possible on Maemo, much better than anything else. So one day, definitely yes. But naturally Symbian is currently a much bigger fish than what Maemo is, and they've had far more time to work for Symbian than for us.

debernardis

09-29-2009, 03:30 AM

Also, I can't understand why Ovi Maps (on the Web, not on the s6o devices) is limited to windows and mac os, but, as its home page states is unavailable for unix (my ubuntu box is recognized as such).

Do Nokia sub-organizations share a common strategy? Maemo builds on linux, Ovi doesn't deliver Suite and Maps clients for the same platform?

EDIT: Ragnar while I was writing, I hadn't seen your response. Thanks for your efforts to let us have a peek on what's happening *inside*. I hope that the rest of Nokia supports *you* and *us* in the best way.

EDIT EDIT: Michal Jerz's review (http://my-symbian.com/other/preview_n900.php?page=3) states "I could find audio files for voice navigation, which suggests that we should expect this feature to be available." That's great :)

SgtDuke

09-29-2009, 11:19 AM

FYI. I played with the N900 at the NYC Flagship 2 weeks ago. It took over 20 seconds just to bring up the OVI Maps applications.
Yes, this is my second priority concern. I've seen one or two videos showing Ovi Maps on the N900 and while in the application there appears to be input lag of 5-10 seconds both when touching the screen and entering text on the keyboard. Of course this kind of performance is basically unacceptable and I can't imagine that the device will be released like this. Hopefully it's just a matter of early HW/SW and the released version will be "normal".

I'm still searching for the answer about if you can load all map data onto the device and not need a data connection for anything or if all use of Ovi Maps requires downloading. Looks like there's a few new extensive previews of the N900. Will read those to see if there are any answers.

range

09-29-2009, 11:45 AM

Maybe, they hope that by not offering navigation they can entice 3rd parties like TomTom to come in and make an application for it? Kinda like how Google Maps on the iPhone doesn't do navigation.

That's very interesting. So Nokia buys NavTeq in 2007 for EUR 5.7 billion and waits for competitors to develop navi software for their phones?

Im not too sure if that is that smart ...

ossipena

09-29-2009, 12:18 PM

That's very interesting. So Nokia buys NavTeq in 2007 for EUR 5.7 billion and waits for competitors to develop navi software for their phones?

Im not too sure if that is that smart ...
come on. for step 4/5 one could not seriously claim that everything must be perfect out of the box! specially when comparing to symbian that has maps 3.0, third major update for ovi maps client out officially for months.

e: in a nutshell: time is a limited resource.

ee: and NavTeq = ovi maps in general. they didn't have client for linux/maemo did they? ;)

sk299

09-29-2009, 12:50 PM

Gorgon

09-29-2009, 06:41 PM

I may be wrong but some one mentioned that turn by turn navigation is currently not possable because of the lack of DMR on the device. Nokia not allowing navigation licences so people cant share them.

So based on the conversation here it appears that Ovi Maps on Maemo is little more than a port of the browser plug in converted to Linux. So we get the web site functionality on the N900? Disappointing. The performance even on a desktop leaves a lot to be desired so I imagine it will be less than stellar on the N900.

A port of the Symbian client is what I would have expected here with licensing tied to the SIM like it is there. This really takes away from the draw of the device. :(

UCOMM

09-29-2009, 06:49 PM

come on. for step 4/5 one could not seriously claim that everything must be perfect out of the box!

one must demand perfection at every step

spinnukur

09-29-2009, 10:35 PM

Laughing Man

09-29-2009, 10:57 PM

That's very interesting. So Nokia buys NavTeq in 2007 for EUR 5.7 billion and waits for competitors to develop navi software for their phones?

Im not too sure if that is that smart ...

Well, not really wait in the sense in that they won't be doing anything They can work on it while hoping maybe somebody else jumps in the market (thus bringing more power and a selling point for their device). Then they could just release an update saying "hey now for Ovi maps, voice guided navigation is available!"

Though for their stockholders, the ideal would be to make Ovi Maps the only source of voice guided navigation as well as all other Nokia branded software. But at the cost of the platform itself.

NvyUs

09-29-2009, 11:17 PM

ovi maps turn by turn voice navigation license rquires DRM so unless nokia come up with new solution for handling licenses or until they add DRM capabilities to Maemo we wont get it.
They could of gave us a non DRM beta version for free though and made it clear its not free forever, then make it a pay for service once license handling is added

Sasler

09-30-2009, 02:58 AM

They could of gave us a non DRM beta version for free though and made it clear its not free forever, then make it a pay for service once license handling is added

This would be a great idea! :D This way they could also receive valuable feedback for it. ;)

cgarvie

10-22-2009, 04:10 PM

Ok now some people have the prerelease ones, can anyone add any more info. Ive ordered my N900 anyway. The first Phone ive actually bought (been using a Axim for a while with TomTom),but my 2nd biggest use after ebooks is the sat nav capability.

So in real nosy about just what the capability is (ive not been abale to find much comment in any of the reviews)

are the maps the same ones that the N97 use,
does the functionality vary much.

is there definitly no voice nav, and nothing obviously pending

cheer
Craig

cgarvie

10-25-2009, 09:53 AM

no one got anything to add on this?

fouro

10-26-2009, 12:43 AM

is there definitly no voice nav, and nothing obviously pending

As far as I understand, it's basically same nav application as in other Nokia phones, but apparently not the newest version, at least currently.

And it doesn't have voice navigation yet. No one knows when it might be coming.

ceroberts75

10-26-2009, 12:56 AM

well, the maps 3.0 has actually been a good revision.

can anyone with a demo please post the version of maps that is in the proto?

sjgadsby

10-26-2009, 06:48 AM

can anyone with a demo please post the version of maps that is in the proto?

According to the About screen: Ovi Maps 1.00

According to application manager:

nokia-maps-core is 2.0.35.1+0m5
nokia-maps-maplets is 0.0.1-15+0m5
nokia-maps-ui is 0.1.0-22+0m5
nokiamaps-navigation-provider is 0.105-1+0m5

Alex Atkin UK

10-26-2009, 11:25 AM

I really think Nokia are missing a trick here. Bundling navigation in as a freebie on their high-end device would make total sense.

It also makes sense to charge for it on other devices, as many Symbian devices are a LOT cheaper than the N900. When you consider how much open-source software the N900 is also using, it makes you wonder where the money was spent on the N900.

ralphb

10-26-2009, 11:39 AM

When you consider how much open-source software the N900 is also using, it makes you wonder where the money was spent on the N900.

Open source software is free (of cost) only if your time is worth nothing. :-)

Seriously though, Nokia are packing together a very rich phone experience with the N900. True, an awful lot of it comes free from the open source world, but they've paid for a lot of Maemo polish, which has been given back to the community.

ceroberts75

10-26-2009, 11:47 AM

According to the About screen: Ovi Maps 1.00

According to application manager:

nokia-maps-core is 2.0.35.1+0m5
nokia-maps-maplets is 0.0.1-15+0m5
nokia-maps-ui is 0.1.0-22+0m5
nokiamaps-navigation-provider is 0.105-1+0m5

thank you.

maybe since it is no longing "Nokia Maps" the version has started over?

joshua.maverick

10-26-2009, 12:55 PM

Ovi Maps 3.x exists on symbian, and has voice nav and other features. The Ovi Maps on maemo is version 1 and is pretty useless.

cgarvie

10-27-2009, 02:11 AM

ah man that really odd, and quite disapointing that there using an old version of the maps. I was hoping to move to 1 does everthing device. Guess im sticking to my TomTom on Axim for Navigation

jsbigs

10-28-2009, 12:01 PM

I travel all the time for work and need turn-by-turn directions. I have had it for three years with a Palm Treo 750 (WM 5.0) running TomTom Navigator 6, albeit with an external GPS receiver. Need a new phone (w/internal GPS receiver) that can do html e-mail AND turn-by-turn, and would like that phone to be the N900. Google has just announced turn-by-turn for Android 2.0:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/google-adds-free-turn-by-turn-navigation-car-dock-ui-to-android/#continued

Can this be ported to Maemo 5?

twoboxen

10-28-2009, 12:12 PM

Wait, it was my understanding that OVI maps 1.x was temporary for the pre-release units. Is that the version that comes in the production device? If we don't get 3.0 that would REALLY suck. I would consider cancelling my pre-order.

mjdavis

10-28-2009, 12:40 PM

Hopefully, Nokia will release "turn-by-turn" FREE on the n900 eventually. The DROID will have free turn-by-turn Google Maps (beta).

http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=12058&NewsAreaID=2

Get where you need to go with Google Maps Navigation (Beta): DROID is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. It’s powered by Google and connected to the Internet. Use voice shortcuts and simply say “Navigate to [your destination],” and you’ll be on your way. See live traffic, use Street View or satellite imagery to view your route, and get access to the most recent maps and business information from Google Maps without ever needing to update your device.

ralphb

10-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Hopefully, Nokia will release "turn-by-turn" FREE on the n900 eventually. The DROID will have free turn-by-turn Google Maps (beta).

http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=12058&NewsAreaID=2

Here's a Reg story about the same thing (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/28/google_navigation/).

f(x)

10-28-2009, 02:16 PM

I would go with any options other than Nokia/Ovi map

I have been using symbian for long time and in any of my devices I have never taken Nokia/Ovi map seriously.

+1 for any alternative

cgarvie

10-28-2009, 03:18 PM

Here's a Reg story about the same thing (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/28/google_navigation/).

The only real problem with this is, that in Europe the Roaming Data rates are so high that if you try to use it in any other country than your own, your gonna pay an arm and leg in data fee's

jaark

10-29-2009, 05:58 AM

Humph. Unless I can figure some way of transferring wayfinder (perpetual license from the 770 days :)), I can't retire my N810.

OVK

10-29-2009, 06:06 AM

Humph. Unless I can figure some way of transferring wayfinder (perpetual license from the 770 days :)), I can't retire my N810.

It seems like I have the same situation, except that I am still using Nokia 770 for navigation :D

Thomas Pettersson

02-03-2010, 08:32 AM

mcdull

02-03-2010, 08:58 AM

I´ve used ovi maps with my N95 and it works fine.
How come Nokia doesn´t realese a decent version for maemo/n900? Hey, if u wanna compete with Apple u have to match them with this! Voiceguide, downloadable maps....asf!

N900 and N95 runs totally different system.
Once an Ovi Maps for Symbian is done, it's easy to port to other Symbian devices, the development and testing cost and time is minimal.
The maemo version is totally different, it takes a full development cycle just to make a version and only serves one device, the N900.

Not to defend for Nokia, but by comparing the customer base of N900 to Symbian, which might have larger base than iPhone, it totally makes sense to focus on the Symbian release as business decision.
You really can't expect the same support of Symbian on Maemo, or you have set your expectation too high or you have bought the wrong device

The Ovi Maps on the latest firmware is pretty good for me, and with the preload map, totally can replace Google Maps for me, just without traffic information.

BillyTheFish

02-03-2010, 12:00 PM

I´ve used ovi maps with my N95 and it works fine.
How come Nokia doesn´t realese a decent version for maemo/n900?

Actually, I was using an N95 and my N900 side by for navigation and [if you're willing to ignore the lack of pre-downloadable maps, turn-by-turn or voice navigation and re-calculation of routes on the fly] the N900 software was much better.

;)

mcdull

02-03-2010, 12:02 PM

Actually, I was using an N95 and my N900 side by for navigation and [if you're willing to ignore the lack of pre-downloadable maps, turn-by-turn or voice navigation and re-calculation of routes on the fly] the N900 software was much better.

;)

You can preload the map on N900 using Nokia Map Loader on XP, or there is some trick can be done to get it work on Win 7 (without running in XP mode) or might also work on Vista

I'm going to Jordan, Israel and Egypt next month and I've already loaded the Jordan and Egypt map, but Israel map is not available from Nokia, for whatever unknown reason, which is a big disappiontment

BillyTheFish

02-03-2010, 12:34 PM

Oh, ok, I didn't know the maploader worked!

ceroberts75

02-03-2010, 04:19 PM

I´ve used ovi maps with my N95 and it works fine.
How come Nokia doesn´t realese a decent version for maemo/n900? Hey, if u wanna compete with Apple u have to match them with this! Voiceguide, downloadable maps....asf!

you are absolutely RIGHT. so if maemo can get the voiceguide and downloadable maps in less then 3.5 years from launching this device, they could potentially be ahead.

heck, since you can already load maps, all they need is the voice. hope that doesnt take longer then 3 years and 4 months to do it! ;)

Brank

02-07-2010, 07:02 AM

matar

02-07-2010, 07:09 AM

You can preload the map on N900 using Nokia Map Loader on XP, or there is some trick can be done to get it work on Win 7 (without running in XP mode) or might also work on Vista

I'm going to Jordan, Israel and Egypt next month and I've already loaded the Jordan and Egypt map, but Israel map is not available from Nokia, for whatever unknown reason, which is a big disappiontment

whats the trick with win7, i used the manual way and worked, do u have something else,

stegzee

02-08-2010, 12:35 PM

zifis

02-18-2010, 01:56 PM

finally got map loader to work with N900, i now have the new mapsinstalled on my n900 with voice and turn by turn navigation.

How is that possible when ovi maps does not support text to voice for N900 yet?

les_garten

02-18-2010, 02:42 PM

finally got map loader to work with N900, i have 3 laptops with vista and an old tower system stuck in the back of cupboard with winxp plugged it in and worked great with n900 i now have the new mapsinstalled on my n900 with voice and turn by turn navigation.

Turn by Turn Navigation wold have to be supported by the app itself. Do you have a different version than the rest of the world??

flydeep

02-18-2010, 08:44 PM

How on earth did you get voice navigation? Are you reading out the directions and imagining the phone is speaking it out?

finally got map loader to work with N900, i have 3 laptops with vista and an old tower system stuck in the back of cupboard with winxp plugged it in and worked great with n900 i now have the new mapsinstalled on my n900 with voice and turn by turn navigation.

Brank

03-01-2010, 08:08 AM

Anyone else noticed that when you send a email with ovi mail, it will attach a signature saying:

--------------------------------------------------------------
Ovi Mail: Create an account directly from your phone
http://mail.ovi.com

And I didn't find a setting to put it off, unless the way to put it off would be to turn signature on, which is pretty dumb to begin with. If signature is disabled, there should not be nothing there.

I even tryed enabling signature and leaving it blank, yet it still attaches the nokia signature. Somehow feels very low. Atleast Gmail just pops up a note "invite user to gmail" or something like that. Nokias way just seems desperate.

I asked customer care about the advert, stating how unprofessional it would look in business use for example, abd this is the responce I got:

Hello!

That is pitty , but this advertaising you can not disable.It is coming automatically with you email, send it out to some one.
So , thats why you dont find it to disable , due that is not possible.

Thanks again to contacting us and all the best,
Nokia Care

Stuff like this is where Nokia keeps shooting itself in the leg time and time again. I guess they think it's better to have a lot of accounts registered that are not used than the opposite..

ceroberts75

03-01-2010, 12:59 PM

itsx FREE. besides, what do you think your yahoo/hotmail/msn acconts do, unless yoou paym thier service?

Jaffa

03-02-2010, 10:13 AM

...and Gmail doesn't. Just because some of the original webmail providers do it doesn't mean Nokia should.

shadowjk

03-02-2010, 02:21 PM

What language is that Nokia Care emailer speaking..

cjp

08-30-2010, 01:59 PM

Okay sorry guys but I have to vent a little about an user experience with the Ovi Store on the N900:

I read a tweet in the fabulous browser of my N900 that the first Live Wallpaper has gone online in the Ovi Store. I immediately direct my browser in the general direction of the Ovi Store and the mobile version of the Ovi Store opens.

Now If I look in my browser (MicroB) settings, I have the plugin for that "One time log-in into Ovi only" enabled, but yet I see that the language of the store is incorrect, which means that I'm currently not logged in. I like to keep my language English, because generally foreign made services (even ones from Nokia) tend to make more sense in English than my native language Finnish. So once I log into the Ovi services, the language becomes English. This way I'm certain that I'm logged in, since logging in and out of the Ovi services regardless of the device I'm using is always a hassle. I log in to Ovi Share and then direct my browser to Ovi Mail, and I still have to log in again for Ovi Mail, for example. For who knows what reason, the N900 Ovi store is a weird mobile optimized page, eventhough this device supports Flash, Ajax, has a near (very old) desktop PC resolution and yet we're faced with this page that looks like it was designed for S60 5th Ed. devices.

Back to this particular experience on my N900: Now there's no intuitive way in which to log in to Ovi from what I'm seeing, nor can I be absolutely certain that the apps it is listing for me are for the N900. Past experiences have shown me that usually when Ovi Store opens up, whatever I see is no where near compatible with my N900. So I try to log in by pressing "Account" (or "Tili" as it is in my region language = Finnish), and I get to fill in my username and password.

Great! I feel like I'm getting there! Only bad thing is, that this was the way to get to change my account details, which is of course definitely not what I'm trying to do here. Instead, I'm trying to use the Ovi store the way it is intended - to easily download an app. What's even worse is, that from the "Account" page there's no way to go back besides filling in passwords etc., forcing me to tip-toe around the areas concerning changing my password. So let's think about this, I'm here to download an app, and for some reason I'm faced with the option to change my password. How off can this be?

Okay, in reality, I of course have learned that pressing the image of "Ovi Beta" in the top gets me back, and so I do that. But first couple of times around, I couldn't be sure that my log-in would count if I basically "go back" by pressing the Ovi image.

So now the toll is: I'm logged in, it knows my device for sure and I'm ready to search for the live wall paper. Past experiences have taught me, that if I don't remember the name of the app I'm looking for precisely, it often means that I'm offered some anime backgrounds instead of the app I'm really looking for. So I decide to scroll through everything under "Personalisation" manually. This means waiting for 3-4 pages of applistings to load and since I'm doing this over 3G, it's not exactly lightning fast although I have a very good max speed data package.

This particular time I'm looking for "Gas- Balls", and the search with the words "Gasballs" or "Gas Balls" didn't yield the correct result for me. Now I'm a so called "power user" since I have the N900, so obviously I figured out to only search with "gas", but what does your average user do on the Symbian side of Ovi store? What search phrases will he use? Well it doesn't matter, he might get it right, but from the get-go odds are against him about 2 to 3.

I finally get to downloading "Gas- Balls" and as my device stutters a little, the download is thrown into the "Downloads" sub-program (correct word?) of the browser. Working out of sight, once the download is complete, the App Manager jumps up from seemingly nowhere, and I can finally install"Gas- Balls".

Is this really the way it is meant to work? When will the Ovi Store be imporved not only for Maemo devices, but other Nokia platforms as well? I also have the 5800XM, and I can't say that the experience is much different, besides the fact of course that the Ovi Store actually has some worthwhile content for that device.

Experiences like the ones I've described above are exactly the reason why I will be very hesitant to buy anything from the Ovi store, as I don't want to even risk that my investment would somehow support this terrible "service". If I don't get served at a restaurant, I walk out. If I don't get served at Ovi... well you can guess the rest.

Please, Nokia. Help me like Ovi.

Uxi

08-30-2010, 10:51 PM

Store needs to be an app. It can still be based on MicroB; but should also have more app like behavior and be optmized for the N900 screen size and resolution

Maps needs massive improvement to bring it up to date with the Symbian with voice turn-by-turn and all that, if not beyond (contacts integration and online sync, etc)

F2thaK

08-30-2010, 11:01 PM

how hard is it for a large company like Nokia to make a website/webstore that works?? honestly.......

Ayle

08-30-2010, 11:16 PM

how hard is it for a large company like Nokia to make a website/webstore that works?? honestly.......

It works pretty darn well on Symbian. They just don't really care about Maemo. We are just niche customers, nothing worth loosing sleep over.

Uxi

08-30-2010, 11:51 PM

It works pretty darn well on Symbian. They just don't really care about Maemo. We are just niche customers, nothing worth loosing sleep over.

Well HOPEFULLY they're working on the MeeGo version... and we'll see it sooner or later... Hopefully...