Nokia Maps 2 now officially available!

[slitchfield]

Nokia has announced that Maps 2.0 is available today, after several months in (a very wide) public beta. The press release, with official changelog over v1.2, is below, but see also my preview of the Nokia Maps v2.0 beta. And here's the all important download link. Nokia Maps (as referenced in my recent Location Based Search feature) is a core product for the next five years and has enormous potential, both standalone on devices and as part of (Maps on) Ovi.

Read on in the full article.

[bartmanekul]

Is it a new download from the beta?

Either way, if the prices remain the same (£50+ for a years navigation) I and many others are not interested.

Theres a long discussion about this in the N95 section, but heres a few comments:

Since its a subscription based service, its silly not to have day and week options for less, rather than a 30 day minimum. Surely they realise the scope for people just wanting it for a daytrip?


No long subscription periods for people who dont like the subscription method. A number of people (including me) do not think that the cost per year - which is the longest one available - is worth it, even if you take into account the map data gets updated.

Introduce a 3 year option, for around £90. Not everyone buys map updates twice a year, so Nokia should make some effort to bring across the subscription cynics. And also Im sure a lot of people resent paying for OVI integration, when they just want satnav.

It needs a working 'send location' function, something Id have thought critical for a satnav aimed at mobile phones.

Needs the ability to add custom POI.


All the above is debatable, but theres no arguing that it would bring more users across.

[krisse]

Since its a subscription based service, its silly not to have day and week options for less, rather than a 30 day minimum. Surely they realise the scope for people just wanting it for a daytrip?

Since I got an N95, I've noticed that I don't use Sat Nav that much because I'm a pedestrian, but I do like to use it occasionally when I'm going on longer trips by foot and by public transport.

For people like me, it might be nice if the 30 days was changed so it isn't all in one block, so if you use it one day a week it would last for 30 weeks. It would mean those who use it every day would pay more than those who just use it now and then.

[snoyt]

@World: Great! I hope they did some last minute fixes in the search categories.

Is it a new download from the beta?

No it is out of beta. There was a day, a week and a 3-year option. It was removed, they said noone used it. I have 3 years license and profit from these free Nokia Maps upgrades ;^) Best buy ever! They should create a 14-days license instead of a weeklicense. Most people travel for slightly more than 7 days.

Introduce a 3 year option, for around £90. Not everyone buys map updates twice a year, so Nokia should make some effort to bring across the subscription cynics.

Nokia, gives free map updates. They let you pay for voice navigation. As such it should be cheaper than software that gives a limited map update, but that you can use for as long as you like.

[bartmanekul]

For people like me, it might be nice if the 30 days was changed so it isn't all in one block, so if you use it one day a week it would last for 30 weeks. It would mean those who use it every day would pay more than those who just use it now and then.

Very good idea, but I suspect thats the last thing Nokia wants, as that would turn it into a pay as you go system, and I bet that would severely dent profits as people use satnav less than they might think.

No it is out of beta. There was a day, a week and a 3-year option. It was removed, they said noone used it. I have 3 years license and profit from these free Nokia Maps upgrades ;^) Best buy ever! They should create a 14-days license instead of a weeklicense. Most people travel for slightly more than 7 days.

I meant is the official release any different from the beta. And Im aware of the past methods of subscription, my argument is that its bad nokia have hiked up the prices and shorted the times.

And as for the low takeup, I think thats because not many like subscription services and...nokia maps 1 was just a bit rubbish. Well, quite a bit rubbish actually, compared to maps 2 and other ones (Copilot, Garmin etc).

Nokia, gives free map updates. They let you pay for voice navigation. As such it should be cheaper than software that gives a limited map update, but that you can use for as long as you like.

Go and read what I said again

[krisse]

Very good idea, but I suspect thats the last thing Nokia wants, as that would turn it into a pay as you go system, and I bet that would severely dent profits as people use satnav less than they might think.

Well, it might also gain them more subscribers though! :-)

Whether or not it's worth doing depends on whether they gain more from the new subscribers than they lose from the existing subscribers.

They ought to at least pilot such a scheme somewhere to see what the balance is like between extra revenue and lost revenue.

[neilhoskins]

Traffic information?

[snoyt]

Traffic information?

Yep, it was already there in the beta. But it also works in the final version. I had not yet the opportunity to see the auto rerouting around traffic congestions working. However the traffic info list shows the congestions with limited info. There is generally not enough detail to know where on a large highway there is a congestion. Not from the list anyway. Also local city road blocks are not mentioned. As such it is still rather in its infancy.

[snoyt]

For people like me, it might be nice if the 30 days was changed so it isn't all in one block, so if you use it one day a week it would last for 30 weeks. It would mean those who use it every day would pay more than those who just use it now and then.

It is a great idea, but it then would require a internet connection. Also we would go xb0x-ish and need to buy Nokia credits for navigation or games. Hell even pay for the phone to work... blimey. I just as well can start paying to breathe ;-)

[krisse]

It is a great idea, but it then would require a internet connection. Also we would go xb0x-ish and need to buy Nokia credits for navigation or games. Hell even pay for the phone to work... blimey. I just as well can start paying to breathe ;-)

:-) Paying for phone calls... terrible.

Joking aside, if a pay-as-you-go system encourages more people to use the service, is it such a bad thing? It worked for phone calls themselves very well, mobile use exploded in many countries after vouchers became available. I could see Sat Nav becoming a really mainstream thing like text messaging, if it becomes easy enough to use and easy enough to pay for.

On the data issue, personally I have flat rate, and data charges are coming down pretty much everywhere, so it shouldn't be that bad.

I would like to use the service sometimes, but I just can't imagine subscribing for 30 days solid when I know I won't be using it for most of those.

[snoyt]

I meant is the official release any different from the beta. And Im aware of the past methods of subscription, my argument is that its bad nokia have hiked up the prices and shorted the times.

Ahh, the mist covering your words are lifted. The official release is not really different from the second beta. That would have been a really bad idea. Introducing new codes means new bugs. I am guessing they only fixed some small bugs. The second beta had huge stability improvements and better routing and some mapupdates.

You mean they may improve the product but should not ask more money for it ;-) I do regret the more limited license purchase options. Currently I think traffic information is very limited and as such way to expensive.

And as for the low takeup, I think thats because not many like subscription services and...nokia maps 1 was just a bit rubbish. Well, quite a bit rubbish actually, compared to maps 2 and other ones (Copilot, Garmin etc).

Nokia Maps 1.0 was indeed 'work in progress' and got me where I wanted my car to go: Parking garages in big cities with lots of 1-way roads. Minor issues were mostly resolved with the first Nokia Maps update and the new N95 firmware releases with AGPS support and demand paging. Few other Nokia models would have troubles with Nokia Maps having more free memory and bluetooth GPS. Also many people did not know they had to open the slide on the N95 to get the best GPS reception.

Complain all you want, I got what I expected and paid for. And my 3-years license now nicely pays off...

[Ratkat]

I'd be happy if the navigation prices were reasonable, but they are not, some don't even make sense.

Like in the UK for example the 30 Day option is £6 and the 90 day option is £19.61, hmm more Nokia insanity, so if you want 90 days just buy every 30 days and save £1.61

Also for version 1.0 to 2.0 in the UK the 12 month option has gone up from £47.64 to £54.92, so if you are thinking about adding navigation, buy the licence before you upgrade to 2.0

[Ratkat]

Is it a new download from the beta?

Yes, it seems to be

New Version - Nokia_Maps_2.0_1904_3.1_u.sis
Old Version - nokia_maps_2.0_1803_3.1_u.sis

New file size is lightly larger,

Haven't noticed any difference in function between this and the last beta though

[bartmanekul]

Complain all you want, I got what I expected and paid for. And my 3-years license now nicely pays off...

Im not saying its not worth it (although its not, IMO), Im saying that its going to miss loads of sales/subscription due to the current offers they have.

I think nokia are missing out on a very large sector of people like me who do not like to pay a subscription for satnav.

While I understand they wont have a lifetime option due to free map updates, they should introduce a fair priced 3 year option to reel these people in.

As for it being worth it, no I dont think it is. While it contains map updates, you have to pay for everything else. If I get Garmin, I get free traffic. If I get Copilot, I get free speed cameras. And I cant have my own POI on nokia maps either.

So my point is, its just not tempting enough for many seasoned satnav users, and nokia could easily do so much more to solve this.

[bartmanekul]

Yes, it seems to be

New Version - Nokia_Maps_2.0_1904_3.1_u.sis
Old Version - nokia_maps_2.0_1803_3.1_u.sis

New file size is lightly larger,

Haven't noticed any difference in function between this and the last beta though

I'll try it later.

Meanwhile, I have been sneaky and installed an old version (1.02) and tried to get the 3 year licence. Sadly, it doesnt even bring up the pricing options, it just fails.