First of all, let me state that I've taken my time with Nokia Maps. While its not always been the fastest or best mapping application for the platform, there has always been something about it that has made me say, "just wait, it will come around." With this release, that waiting has been realized into something very nice.
I had issues trying to use the PC installer; and was very happy when someone extracted the .sis and posted a link to it. For an application like this, I totally understand when you don't make it a direct download and such, however, the audience here would probably be just fine with doing so. Even better, to support the App. Update feature within S60v5 devices for beta software - that would also come in handy.
Nevertheless, upon firing up Nokia Maps 3 on my 5800XM, I was very impressed. Simply impressed. Here are some bullet points to things that I liked/things that need improvement
- Map refresh rates over EDGE while doing 70+ were impressive;
- Voice guidance is good, but should really come through the BT headset;
- Fonts are too small to have the device on a windshield;
- Not only got me to the destination, but made it seem as if the 5800XM has a digital compass built in (when having the map open, click on the compass, if you aren't facing true north it will reorient the map; freaky and cool);
- Great job with zooming in automatically when I got close to my destination;
- Still needs to have the ability to override the backlight settings though;
My first use of Nokia Maps 3 was me going to an unfamiliar area over a highway setting. Hence the framing for my comments.
But simply, I'm impressed. Especially for this device, Nokia Maps 3 has come around and is a pretty sweet application. There are some things that I'm looking for from it, that I hope makes it in (via the final release, or even plugins since Nokia Maps is looked at as a bit of an application platform):
- ability to see the appointments that have the Location field filled out appear on the map; alternatively speaking, Nokia Maps being able to link directly to that field so that clicking on the event in the calendar gives an indicator to bring up the event in Nokia Maps
- same thing for the calendar where a person's contact card has a new menu option (Show on Map) and then they show on NM3 with the options then to get directions to the contact or to set an alert when you are in the contact's area.
- ability to see people from Nokia Friend View, Ovi Contacts, and any other XMPP-IM service that has presence/location abilities (maybe this too can be a plugin to be developed)
- larger fonts for driving; or at least add to that logic that's already in the app and have the font get larger when Nokia Maps senses that you are moving faster than a walking speed
- integration with Nokia Sports Tracker (maps, see friends, track yourself, etc.)
Yea, that's it (for now). Keep up the great work, and get those UI designers to do the same thing for S60v5 for the Calendar, Contacts, and a ton of other default applications.
Thanks for the release.
AntoineRJWright.com | MobileMinistryMagazine.com