What's the Point of Nokia Maps?

[igb]

Danger rant alert

I have had enough of Nokia Maps, it's less use than a chocolate
fireguard. At least with chocolate fireguards you get to eat the
molten chocolate.

Let me illustrate my assertion with the last thre times I have used
Nokia Maps:

Drive to a postcode in the middle of Stoke. Found the post code
correctly, but the turn by turn instructions sent me round in circles
(literally).

Drive to a postcode near Oswestry. Google maps shows this in the
correct position. Nokia Maps thinks it is about 5 miles away in the
middle of a hill. As I understand it Google and Nokia both use Navteq
data, so no excuse there.

Drive to a location in central Wales. It's near the end of a
valley. There is no road out of the end of the valley. There was only
one possible route from my current location. However, there are
several junctions on the way. The roads are all single track with high
banks either side. Taking a wrong turn means driving several miles
before being able to find somewhere to turn round. Nokia Maps finds
the location correctly, but spoken directions are a waste of
time. Several times it doesn't even know I am at a junction.

Yes, I do have the latest maps version and up to date maps.

There I feel better now

Ian.

[zxon]

Your second point is a strange one as it should know where you are, but your first and third points happen with regular satnavs as well, so these two problems should hopefully get resolved over time. I use a TomTom One (that I keep up to date with the latest maps) on long journeys. On one journey, I came across a number of roundabouts and it didn't know about half of them, and on two other journeys when i gave it a postcode it took me to the wrong place.

[igb]

Originally Posted by zxon

Your second point is a strange one as it should know where you are, but your first and third points happen with regular satnavs as well, so these two problems should hopefully get resolved over time.

The problem with Nokia Maps is that this sort of thing seem to happen a significant proportion of the time - a rough guess would be 20% of the time, if not more. This results in me being unable to trust it, which sort of defeats the whole point of navigation software.

Ian.

[mrochester]

Originally Posted by igb

The problem with Nokia Maps is that this sort of thing seem to happen a significant proportion of the time - a rough guess would be 20% of the time, if not more. This results in me being unable to trust it, which sort of defeats the whole point of navigation software.

Ian.

I'd say the best thing is to NEVER rely on any sort of GPS device. Always always take a proper map.

[bartmanekul]

Nokia Maps is comparible to beta status software.

As well as poor routing and directions, they have withdrawn full postcode support - this from support to at least 2 different people.

For some odd reason, some people can get full postcodes, but some can't. There seems to be no similarities between the ones that can and can't, the build number of the version is the same.

When some of the ones that cannot get full postcode (you type in the full postcode but it only ever gives you the location of the nearest 3/4 digits) contacted support, they were not given a solution.

They were simply told support for full postcodes in the UK was being withdrawn.

Even if support had it wrong in those instances, it's obvious theres solution for those suffering the postcode problem.

Stay away from Nokia Maps, and if you have paid for navigation and have the postcode issue, demand a refund.

[igb]

Originally Posted by mrochester

I'd say the best thing is to NEVER rely on any sort of GPS device. Always always take a proper map.

I do have a map, but if I am driving in the middle of a busy town or city it's not that easy to stop and look at it That's why I want reliable directions.

Ian.

[igb]

Originally Posted by bartmanekul

For some odd reason, some people can get full postcodes, but some can't. There seems to be no similarities between the ones that can and can't, the build number of the version is the same.

Post codes didn't work properly for me for part of last year. However, ATM they are working correctly. I got a year's sub included with my handset. Given my experiences over the last year, I certainly won't renew.

Ian.