Nokia Maps 3.0 beta updated with sync support and more device compatibility
Back in December 2008 Nokia announced Nokia Maps 3.0 in early beta form. At that time, the beta was available on only a few select devices and the particular S60 device I tried it on at the time did not work correctly and it actually ended up making my Nokia Maps 2 version unusable without a full reset of the device. I decided to then hold off until the beta was further along. Today, the Nokia Beta Labs blog posted on the update to Nokia Maps 3.0 with Ovi Maps that adds support for several more devices, including my E71 and N85 devices that I plan to load it up on right now.
Some of the feature and enhancements listed on the Nokia Beta Labs site include: * Start-up sequence takes you to your current position as soon as position is found. If your position is not found in few seconds, you are taken to last known position * You can rotate the map, so you can for example view 3D landmarks from all directions. Just press 4 and 6 in map view. Pressing 5 takes you back to ‘north up’ view * In 3D view mode, you can tilt the view by pressing 2 and 8 * 2D/3D mode works with all map modes, i.e. with Map/Satellite/Terrain * My Favourites menu is cleaned up and History list is moved higher in menu * My Places has option “Point me to” for any saved place/landmark, you the direction to that place on the map * In addition to the synchronisation of Favourites and Collections with Ovi Maps and vice versa (use in online mode, enable Internet connection), you can now plan routings on Ovi Maps and synchronise to your device * Finally, many bugs have now been fixed
Probably my most anticipated feature that appears in this release is the ability to plan routes in advance on Ovi Maps website and have them sent to my device. I use this on the TeleNav Shotgun to lay out a month's worth of sports trips for my daughters and can't wait to try this on my E71.
Nokia devices that are now supported with this latest beta include the E71, E66, 6110 Navigator, N95, N95 8GB, N82, N96, N85, N79, 6650, 6210 Navigator, 6220 Classic, and N78. S60 5th Edition devices, like my new 5800, are not yet supported. It is going on my E71 at the moment and I look forward to trying it out.