Why no new release yet?

Submitted by byteguy on 09-04-2009 23:28.

I rather get the impression that the current beta was rather more unstable than they hoped and it needs more work than they had planned on.

I installed it and understood it could well have problems or even not work and accepted that risk. However I agree some feed back to all the people who have taken the trouble to tested it for them and reported problems and made comments about it would at the very least be courteous.

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Submitted by bguillar on 23-04-2009 08:33.

Sure this is beta, but a monthly update with bug fixed and not fixed in release note would be nice. The current SW dates back from 2.5 months. In our times, this is very old. I have to use Google Maps when the NM3 fails, this is not intention.

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Submitted by mbrett on 23-04-2009 09:43.

It all depends on the types of bugs and their complexity. Would like an update, but want it to be worthwhile.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by snowy on 23-04-2009 10:22.

Im one guilty to complain also, but you are correct.

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Submitted by navio1973 on 23-04-2009 17:57.

I can understand that the nokia maps team needs time to correct all bugs that we wrote them and eventually to realize some suggestion.
But looking around on the forum in the last days, Kee (the only one of nokia maps team that write on this forum), replied only to a very important blocking application bug about a grammatical error in the finnish voice guidance (http://betalabs.nokia.com/forum/topic/1132) and no other feedback. What did nokia maps team do in the last 2 and half monthes?
A new beta version can be good not only for the users, the nokia maps team could verify if its job is well done ant they do not risk that the users lose their interest in this program.
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118

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Submitted by yannve on 24-04-2009 02:35.

They're not running any great risk that users lose interest in the program - remember, it's preinstalled on new phones, and the extra features share licenses for maps 2 and 3. However, a more real danger is that the beta program itself will become infamous as beta testers receive no feedback themselves, hindering further development. Even that is probably a low risk as discouraged testers as a rule just give up rather than spread the word, and a forum like this has notable turnaround of members.
However, random statistics aren't the most favourable test group. You want testers who look at different aspects, and write useful reports. So far the biggest step I've seen in that direction here is the thread categories review/bugreport/suggestion. I'm sure quite a few of us would appreciate one more field of a normal issue tracker - the status. This wouldn't need to be detailed, just something like new/started/needmoreinfo/fixed/rejected.
Right now we have 23 pages of threads, and the second oldest bug report has been completely ignored. I'd classify it as a minor bug indeed, but it just goes to show that you have to dig through *the entire forum* for known trouble, and test each, because not all that's fixed will be marked. That can't give the dev team a good overview either.
As a software developer myself, I can tell that at least fifteen of the reported issues of the current beta would be fairly easy to fix. I don't have the endurance to check how many are duplicated reports. *Any* update would be appreciated, honestly.

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Submitted by SimbaK2K on 24-04-2009 10:25.

I've got to agree with your comments completely. I've been coming back pretty much weekly since February. I was glad in February when they released the new version but its now coming upto 3 months old. Surely the nokia team have been working on the software since then and should have some bug fixes at least? I'm not necessary asking for more features to be finished but there are plenty of bugs and plenty of reports, if we can clear those out the way then people can start reporting the next set.

Can we at least get some feedback on when the next release will be? Or even just a timescale. Anything would be better then being left in the dark as I am starting to lose hope of ever getting a better version.

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Submitted by navio1973 on 24-04-2009 10:41.

It was what I meant about lose interest. Have you seen how many users that wrote the first bugs or suggestions are still writing? There is only mbrett, snowy and very few other people.

There is at leat 4 other programs that can capture the interest of the users.

The idea to have a field about the status of the bug or the acceptance/reject of a suggestion it is very good.I thought this too.

I agree with you about to solve some bugs.

Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118

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Submitted by snowy on 24-04-2009 11:24.

thx navio much appreciated to hear such words. Ive said my voice in the past along the lines you speak of, i hope your words do get through. I for one have gotten tired of the process and specificaly ovi maps where i initially struggled to help keep it in line. In the end i just gave a write up(review) of how poorly this project has been handled in the hopes of others to share thier views an have a wake up call on the other side. After all not all reviews must be positive for a reaction(in the sense of improvement).

Edit. Oh yes a definite addition to yannve which i almost forgot to include.

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Submitted by kee on 27-04-2009 14:37.

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. Just to let you know the team does go through every single posting on the forum and I agree, that the bugs, suggestions etc could be managed a lot better - e.g. as suggested by a number of you - displaying a log of what is implemented and what is not.
We hope to make some improvement on the way the forum is being managed in order to give better information on what is happening with the Maps development - likewise on the communication and regularity of new releases etc.

Regards,

Kee
Maps Team

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Submitted by mbrett on 27-04-2009 15:05.

Thanks Kee,

I look forward to these future posts.

BTW: Is there any way that either the Nokia Maps team, or Friends View Team, Sports Tracker Team etc could put out a general post to point to regarding the reasoning for why the different applications on the Betalabs Website which use map data don't have the ability to use the Nokia Maps map data instead of downloading different map data OTA. The number of times I have seen the question asked in different forums it would help greatly if there were some kind of post to point these to stating the reasoning. Don't know exactly who it needs to come from. Maybe even some higher being above the development teams, but it would help answer many posts in one almighty go.

Thanks

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by navio1973 on 28-04-2009 10:00.

I am happy to have your feedback, we hope that as you wrote in the post, the new version will be '
soon, but soon it means for you within a few days a week, 2 weeks or a month ?
Best regards
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118

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Submitted by snowy on 29-04-2009 10:53.

Thanks Kee for the feedback!

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Submitted by kee on 04-05-2009 16:10.

Hi mbrett,
Regarding your question about downloading different map data OTA for different application - The relevant teams are working to better integrate the application with Maps and I will speak with my other colleagues to post a joint message about this.
@navio1973 - we hope that a new version will be soon - as in a few weeks.

Regards,

Kee
Maps Team

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Submitted by navio1973 on 04-05-2009 22:13.

Thanks for the news.
I am waiting with impatience.
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118

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Submitted by mbrett on 07-05-2009 09:48.

Thanks Kee. The question is asked so much in the forums.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by navio1973 on 19-05-2009 13:56.

Hello Kee,
have you some news about the release of the new version? It is more than 2 weeks that you wrote about it.
Best regards
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118

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Submitted by snowy on 20-05-2009 05:49.

i suppose end of may with touch support or something NEW that was worth the wait ;)

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Submitted by kee on 25-05-2009 13:23.

HI navio1973,
We are just finalizing a few things and hope to release an update in the matter of days. Sorry for the delay and will keep you all posted!

Regards,

Kee
Maps Team

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Submitted by navio1973 on 25-05-2009 16:04.

Thank you for the feedback
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118
Nokia N95(01.01) V 31.0.017 RM 159

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Submitted by mbrett on 25-05-2009 16:13.

Thanks Kee.

I'll keep my eyes pealed for the next few days.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by snowy on 25-05-2009 21:46.

Thanks kee, ill keep my comments reserved till then.

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Submitted by sk10 on 26-05-2009 09:03.

Hope this release supports the 5th edition devices too!

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Submitted by mbrett on 26-05-2009 09:33.

Hopefully the positive news for you would be the fact that the N97, which I beelive is 5th Edition will release with Nokia Maps installed so is claimed. As 3D maps are refered to I assume this will be NM3 and thus 5th Edition support must be on it's way.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by navio1973 on 26-05-2009 20:10.

Kee few time ago wrote that the NM team was hardly working on the 5800. The S60 5th ed. is version is for the touchscreen phone like the 5800 and the N97.
The question is: does 3D maps mean 3D maps view or something else? In the NM2 there is the 3D maps view too.
in 2-3 weeks I will have the N97 and I will wrote you which version it is loaded in.
Navio

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Submitted by sk10 on 27-05-2009 00:42.

@navio 1973
3D Map View in NM2 simply means you get the isometric view of the Exisiting Map 2.0 layout.
3D maps of NM3 illustrates the 3D sturcture of the POIs Ex: Parks, Building, etc...

N97 will be shipped with NM2 which is a little dissapointing. I'm hoping they make a release for the 5th Edition as well, while we all eagerly wait for their forthcoming release.

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Submitted by mbrett on 27-05-2009 09:12.

That's a downer as I was looking at the N97 as my next phone at some point. Hoprefully they'll have it sorted by then.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by jcompagner on 31-05-2009 02:44.

Because the current beta doesnt really work on it :(

so now i am mostly just using google maps, but i would like to test/use nokia maps again..!

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Submitted by bogart on 31-05-2009 21:29.

We're all hoping for an update. I know they have an internal version running on 5th edition, but it sounds like it has as many problems as the 3rd edition ones currently have, which is probably why they have not released it.

Nokia plunked down something like $8 billion for the maps company and technology running on these phones. They have so many different devices to support, it is no wonder it is a difficult process. Plus, they have probably had some cuts in their department due to the current economic climate.

I can live with maps 2, if there was just a way to sync my landmarks. That's by far my favourite feature of the new version. The syncML settings ought to be separately installable.

--
E75, N82, 5800XM, N75, N800
http://rubbernecking.info

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Submitted by mbrett on 03-06-2009 10:34.

@Kee: Any update on Update?????

Saw you online so thought I'd ask.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by spooky8080 on 05-06-2009 02:07.

I guess they have run into unforseen issues. Ok,....so how about Maps 4 then? :-) Just kidding..settle down...sheesh!

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Submitted by ish68 on 05-06-2009 03:41.

Hello,

I have an N95 8Gb and cannot wait for the update for my mobile, us N95 owners waited at the start and even though it has problems, it was well worth the wait..
Now we are all waiting for the update which hopefully is well worth the delay, as some posts hinted that it would be out in days or by the end of May and yet we are still here waiting.

Please maps team help end our waiting game!!!

I think Kee and mbrett must be rushed of their feet either answering posts or putting the finnishing touches to the next updated beta of NM3.

PS: I used to mess about programming and know correcting one problem can cause other problems, so it's best we wait and have the next version checked by the team for us

Ish68 - UK Vofafone - N95 8Gb - (20.0.016)

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Submitted by navio1973 on 09-06-2009 14:59.

Hello Kee,
Have you got some news about the release of the next beta?
Best regards
Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118
Nokia N95(01.01) V 31.0.017 RM 159

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Submitted by kaum on 11-06-2009 16:25.

Looks like there is the update. By Maps Updater I got version 0.1.18 delivered.

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Submitted by mbrett on 11-06-2009 16:31.

Sorry, but that is not an update.

I have had that version since February/March time.

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by kaum on 11-06-2009 16:45.

I have a version also since Februar but today I started Maps Updater and he updated from 0.0.18 to 0.1.18 - but you might be right noneless. I still find bugs I reported in Feb/Mar...

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Submitted by mbrett on 11-06-2009 16:56.

One thing to point out is that the version 0.1.18.0 you are referring to is map data and not the application.

The aplication is version is v3.0.09wk03 b02

Taken fomr the top two lines of the about screeen on your phone.
v3.0.09wk03 b02 MW OpenGL LM MN
Map Version 0.1.18.0

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

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Submitted by kaum on 11-06-2009 17:51.

Hi mbrett,

now the official page says: Updated 11th June...

Downloading new apps...

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Ovi Maps 3.0 Beta for mobile

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