Today I upgraded my Ovi Maps app to version 3.01 09wk44. Previously, I was using an earlier version (when I upgraded, the installer called it 3.01.1) and in this version, I was able to play music using the FM transmitter, while at the same time having turn-by-turn voice navigation instructions coming in over the top of the music. This was also the case with the original Maps software pre-loaded on the phone after purchase.

Now that I have upgraded the Ovi Maps software (to the version noted above), the voice instrucions no longer get played over the FM transmitter. What happens is, the music goes silent on the FM, the voice instruction and the music is played on the phone speakers (or Bluetooth device, if connected), then at the completion of the instruction the music goes back through the FM transmitter again.

To be honest, this feature was far-and-away the most brilliant feature that i have used on this phone. Not because I used this feature more than any of the others, or because it was the most technologically advanced feature - but because it was plainly the best use of a combination of simple features that made each of these features twice a good. Taking this away really damages the usability of the phone while travelling because it is just down-right annoying having these symptoms occur every time a voice instruction is played (which can be 5-10 times per minute, depending on the density of the streets, exits, etc). The only way to make it less annoying is to use only one or the other, rather than both at the same time, which is really not a preferred alternative and eliminates the "brilliance" the features.

I really hope that this was not an intentional change made by Ovi in this update. Such a change would be completely backward and inconceivable from a user's point of view. But then, things like this should definitely be tested by the developers before release. If there is some way - any way - to put this back to the way it was, either in settings, an update, an add-on, anything at all, please let me know or make it better. It's such a shame when software "improvements" result in reduced functionality or usability.

Thanks in advance for reading.