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How about making a version that is compatible with Symbian devices? Or internally dedicate more resources on the Symbian teams so they can offer a web browser that would be capable for apps such as this.
The fact that Nokia Beta Labs is investing resources in developing an app that does not function in Windows Mobile 7 or in Symbian Anna is very sad and a misallocation of resources. This is especially true with Android will continue to be dominated by Google Maps and iOS still has its Google partnership for maps and perhaps is developing their own mapping solution.
Sorry to be sound so negative, but it really blows my mind when I see a company I like make resource decisions this way.
@Spanishgringo
There's the native Nokia Maps app for Symbian devices already, so why the need for a web version?
... and if nokia decidee to do this (e.g. get iOS-users to use nokia map sources) then why the heck post this link here in betalabs...
come on, code more better symbian stuff istead of this...
regards
marwallace
@Adam.Fraser:
I agree that they should be taking the resources and making much better the Native app as well as the normal desktop browser version instead of making this web app for iOS and Android. My point was more to highlight the absurdity of the project than anything else because it reflects so poorly on Symbian (and Windows Phone 7).... they cannot perform what these competitor browsers can do. That is not the web app developers fault... it is the Symbian team that is slow to release a competitive browser.
Although Anna is using Webkit 533.4 and the Gingerbread browser uses Webkit 533.1, the Android (and iOS) browsers have many more "HTML5" features implemented. I hope Belle steps up to the plate with a browser that can fairly be considered an HTML5 browser on par or better than that of iOS 4 and Android 2.3.4.... the only problem is that they keep advancing and Belle will need to compete with WP Mango, iOS 5 and Ice Cream Sandwhich.
That being said, there is something appealing about a very quick access to maps, maps search, and traffic that is cross device compatible and which I can get in and out of quickly with a small memory footprint.
Separately, a web app version makes sense for low end S40 devices which may not have GPS and/or be powerful enough for a full maps native app. I do not have S40, nor do I want it, but I could see a valid argument for that service.
I'm a late comer, just leaving the Nokia world for Android.
I would add:
* Voice navigation. (This could be a paid add on)
Navigation is the most important function on any maps-app.
* The ability to save more than a mere square kilometre (or what ever the current tiny limit is) Could be paid too.
Without these two, I hardly see the point of this on Android versus Googles.
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<strong>Eske Rahn
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