Why do I get the feeling Nokia is only doing this to keep symbian alive a little longer since everyone wants maemo nowaday. Nokia is notorious for leaving users behind each time they move on to newer better things...but somehow, they can't leave symbian behind....so they did this to clear their conscious but then only the newer symbian (FP2) devices are receiving this update.
Also, if the n900 gets free navigation, sygic will be pissed since they are just about to announce their own app. Doesn't matter, I hope a REAL app gets release soon.
Since my post got drowned in the discussion here I am trying again as per below.I deleted my first post and placed it again. Im sorry. I hope some people out there would so kind to reply
THANKS
Refering the Nokia Map Loader you can add voice to your ovi maps vers. 1.01 when connecting with n900 as well as adding new countries in mass storage but how do you actually implement it so the voice works on the N900?
thats just it nobody purchased a n900 with the promise of free sat nav, up until 48hours ago everyone was happy to pay £70 to sygic
all of sudden nokia drop a bomb shell and n900 owners start acting like they are being short changed when in reality nothing as changed for maemo only attitudes of users are now jealous of inferior devices.
how can ppl expect there to already be a n900 free Ovi maps sat nav version when we never even had a Paid one.
i dont care, i paid 800 for this device and for a cheaper low end nokia that i coulda bought for 2/8 or 1/8 of the price of n900 i coulda gotten free satnav... why dont you pay for sygic and we all get satnav for free? stop defending nokia, nokia has got to
refocus and have clear and reasonable answer for the n900 users. i feel like we are left behind after paying a premium for a device.
thats just it nobody purchased a n900 with the promise of free sat nav, up until 48hours ago everyone was happy to pay £70 to sygic
all of sudden nokia drop a bomb shell and n900 owners start acting like they are being short changed when in reality nothing as changed for maemo only attitudes of users are now jealous of inferior devices.
how can ppl expect there to already be a n900 free Ovi maps sat nav version when we never even had a Paid one.
No, not everybody was happy to pay £70 even before this news.
I would continue using my N82 with voice directions or borrow a Tom Tom from my brother if I really needed it. Or use some of the free programs on my Blackberry Bold.
I emailed nokia customer care directly to see what they had to say this and here is their reply:
Thank you for e-mailing the Nokia Care Contact Center. We are glad that you are interested in the Nokia N900
Based on your concern, no it will only be developed for future maemo devices, not the n900, because the ovi maps that is preinstalled on the N900 is ovi maps version 1.0 and it cannot be updated to the ovi maps 3.03, which has free ovi maps turn by turn navigation.
I hope the information provided proves useful.
If you have any additional question, please don't hesitate to contact us again. To ensure proper handling of your case, kindly continue using the current subject line
Thank you very much for your email. Have a great day.
Best Regards,
Mark Bañas
Email Specialist
Nokia Inc.
If Nokia sends out support like this - with the English phrasing as above - the future surely looks bad.
if we as the high paying consuments are kicked in the butt like this, I don't see any reason to stay at nokia products, if I know any other company treats their customers much better :-/
"Great the n900 was a success, users are spending their hard-earned cash. We have solid revenue over the next couple of months as it keeps selling. We are also going to re-coup development costs too.
Now what?
F*** it! Let's prematurely start on maemo 6 and f*** the n900 users the've already spent thier money. Let's develop a new phone with a new updated maemo os. Better still don't release the new os for the n900 either. Users will have to spend more of their hard-earned money buying the new phone. But we need an incentive. I know we'll only release the free ovi maps for the new version of the maemo and users will have to buy a new phone to get it.
Great that's a great idea Mr V.P. of Nokia. I'll tell you what. I'll tell the existing maemo 5 developers to start work on maemo 6 straight away.
But n900 user's are waiting for the firmware update - it needs a couple of months more work - it's not finished yet. What shall we do? I know! We'll get the developer newbie to continue work on the maemo 5 updates when he's not busy!"
I doubt they'd think like that. The smart thing would be to support the current platform and foster brand loyalty. After all, we know that people will always want a faster processor, more RAM, a shiny new phone every year or 2, and if they've had great support for their existing phone, they will buy the next iteration from the same maker with a faster processor, more RAM etc to show off against their friends' "weaker brands".
I doubt there are many people who will stick with a fully developed for N900 once the next one is out in a year or two. However an underdeveloped N900 may lead to people being open to other brands. If someone's unhappy, the grass will always be greener on the other side. The N82 led me to the N900 eventually. Lack of support and who knows, if Apple put in a good 5MP camera and allowed me to use mass storage mode so I could stay away from iTunes... I could reconsider a brand switch next time I'm after a new phone.
I don't understand why Ovi Maps 3.03 is not compatible with n900? It's only maps after all. It's application like any other. Or not?
Same reason why every other Symbian app does not run on N900. It's a different operating system entirely.
Maybe it could be ported to Maemo but I take it by the fact that they started over from zero to mean writing a new one might be easier than porting the Symbian one.
