Nokia Beta Labs

hi eduakira

Hi eduakira,
See below for the answers to your questions:

1. This data will not be sent over cellular (GPRS/3G) connection. Data is sent when Ovi Maps service is used over WiFi connection with a mobile device. Data is also sent with PC applications related to Maps service such as map loader or Ovi Suite. This is done in order to prevent/minimise cost to the user. Amount of data is comparably low; as a result less than 20 kbytes is generated in one hour (while driving). If the data is not sent with WiFi immediately after collecting it will be stored in the memory card for later sending. As a maximum of 1MB will be used so it will not fill your memory card.

2. Collected data is used in two ways; improving the map content and the application itself. Changes to the map content, such as new roads, changed street directions, speed limit changes etc. can be identified from the data. Navteq will use this data for updating the map and these updates are free of charge to the maps application users. Application will be improved based on statistical models. The more data Nokia receives the better the map data and Ovi Maps application experience will be for the users.

3. Data is collected in both of these modes but the device needs to move at car speeds.

Also note that there are absolutely no personal identifiers in the data. Furthermore the collection happens in cycles; collecting data, pause, collecting data, pause... This is done for the sake of user privacy as these short "trails" will further increase the anonymity when inserted into a database with data from different users.

Wow, that's good news as

Wow, that's good news as maps for many Brazilian cities are still very rough, just the bigger cities have way of direction for example.
I think that this feature should be advertised strongly to Nokia Maps users. I drive a lot around many cities and from now on I'll keep Nokia Maps 3.0 running in background as often as I could.

Great Idea

This method for improving the maps is a fantastic idea!

Nokia E51 W/ Bluetooth LD3W GPS.

I've made some tests and

I've made some tests and that's what I found:

1. Seems that data is stored in e:\CITIES\diskcache\mapsimpr in a db file;

2. This file seems to be created JUST when the user uses (paid) voice navigation;

3. To upload this db, user should run Ovi Maps 3.0 then change connection settings to any WiFi APN;

4. Connecting mobile to Map Loader 3.0 doesn't seem to upload db;

5. After this file is sent, it's deleted from memory card.

My suggestion is to allow data collection whenever there's a GPS lock so users withou paid voice navigation could collect data and be able to send to Nokia/Navteq. And as the amount of data collection is so small, send it everytime it reaches a given limit, in example 100kb even by GPRS/3G, not only by WiFi.

Maybe Map Loader could transmit these data too.

Maps improvement - standalone software

One suggestion: why don't create a standalone program that users could install and colect the same data as "maps improvement" option in Ovi Maps for Mobile 3?
Users could keep it running in background without the need of a valid driving navigation license and collect a lot of data to Nokia/Navteq, at a expense of some battery life and data transmission.

better as function of OM

I think it is better that it is a function of OM that can be started manually or automaticly.

about the files for improvement create by N97, I think that nokia/navteq have not to considere it because the OM3 is bugged on this model, I was allways on the field or in another route.

Navio
Nokia N97 V12.0.024 RM 505

@ Navio1973 - WRT to N97 and OM3

The good news is that Nokia have made a statement over on the discussions forums re: the loss of data on the N97.

"Hi,
I just wanted to let you all know that the issue of missing map data on the N97 has been reported to the Maps team who have identified the issue and are working on a fix for it.
We hope to have this released in an update for the Ovi Maps application soon.
Just wanted to thank you all for your feedback - keep it coming :smileyvery-happy:

Cheers"
[ http://discussions.nokia.co.uk/discussions/board/message?board.id=naviga... ]

Also found the following statement from Nokia:

"The following statement was released RE: the removal of Maps 3.0 for N97:
The Ovi Maps 3.0 version for touch devices (Nokia N97) is temporarily not available via the Nokia Software Update and www.nokia.com/maps website as we are making adjustments to further improve the overall maps and navigation experience. We are certain that the application will be back in Nokia Software Update and www.nokia.com/maps website shortly where consumers can easily upgrade to the new version of Ovi Maps."

[ http://discussions.nokia.co.uk/discussions/board/message?board.id=naviga... ]
mbrett
N97 RM-505 (Product Code: 0585262 (Vodafone UK)) FW 11.0.021
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.015

@mbrett

Thanks you for your reply. I have already read these replies/comments.
One of the most interesting reply on discuzzions.nokia about the problem of gps is that the problem of gps is going to be solved.
Have you got it? I have it, in the next week I hope to solve it.

http://discussions.nokia.co.uk/discussions/board/message?board.id=naviga...
comment 337:
"there is hope.. i am in the u.s. and sent my n97 in for repair for the gps issue.
first time i am impressed with nokia us support..
they said in a letter they duplicated the gps/signal probelm during testing and
replaced some back assembly (called it a mechanical failure/slider etc. not sure what it is .. i will post the part number later today)
but the gps now works much better.. still not as good as a blue tooth gps but accurance is on average pretty good ie 100 feet or so and it gets like 10 satellite signals where it only got 4 before..
they also upgraded it to ver 12.
so if you are having the problem they definately know about the issue.. total time from ship out to getting back was 1 week."

Navio
Nokia E66-1 (218.04) FW 200.21.118
Nokia N97 V12.0.024 RM 505