If you didn’t get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we’ve opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, we have a super-sized dose of news for Nokia and Windows Phone users, along with the latest rumblings on the mobile network front. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of December 17th, 2012.
Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of December 17th, 2012
While all the talk of late is about Cupertino’s newfangled Maps application, Nokia’s currently keeping busy by doing some behind-the-scenes legwork, including signing new deals with car and navigation system manufacturers. Most recently, the Finnish company announced it’s partnering with BMW to power the “next-generation” navigation system in the upcoming 7-series, which will bring features like Enhanced 3D City Models and an Eco Pro Route that chooses the most fuel-efficient way to get you to your destination. In addition to the BMW alliance, though, Nokia has also teamed up with Garmin to bring Transit and Pedestrian maps in the form of an Urban Guidance feature that will be available on iOS and Android devices. For those interested in learning more, the pressers below will fill you in on all the nitty-gritty.
Filed under: Transportation, Software
Nokia inks deals to be maps force behind BMW 7-series, bring guidance to new Garmin apps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
You might have noticed a brouhaha over map accuracy in iOS 6. Nokia undoubtedly did, as it’s using the iPhone 5 launch to remind us that its strategy has been all about location lately. The crew in Espoo has pitted Nokia Maps from the Lumia 920 against both Apple’s equivalent as well as Google Maps — and to no one’s surprise, Nokia’s own platform comes out on top. In practice, it’s a relatively frank comparison that doesn’t try to win on every point. Nokia tends to use a liberal definition of the term “3D” that includes augmented reality, but it’s otherwise willing to emphasize its advantages in offline mapping and the sheer scope of its mapping coverage. Apple’s very young mapping effort struggles, while Nokia is willing to accept that it doesn’t have as much traffic coverage as Google. There is, however, the slight problem of the Lumia 920 not yet shipping: unless you’ve been blessed with a prototype of the Windows Phone 8 device, Apple and Google are the only ones that have their latest navigation software on a phone you can actually buy. Hit the source for the full, very tall chart as well as a few sly jabs at Nokia’s competitors.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Mobile
Nokia stacks up its maps next to Apple’s and Google’s, politely suggests it comes out on top originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Well, Amazon is being pretty tight lipped about the details of its mapping service, but Nokia isn’t afraid to spill the beans. A spokesperson for the Finish company, Sebastian Kurme, told The Next Web that Amazon is indeed licensing the Nokia Location Platform for its latest Google-shunning product. We reached out as well and were fed the exact same official statement, confirming that Nokia is becoming an even bigger player in the mapping sphere. The platform is already the basis for Yahoo! Maps and a large portion of Bing’s offerings as well. Not to mention Nokia Drive, the company’s navigation software, is one of the crown jewels of the Windows Phone world. Check out the full statement from Nokia below.
Amazon is licensing the Nokia Location Platform (NLP) for maps and geocoding.
The Nokia Location Platform is the most advanced mobile location platform with a unique global footprint. It provides maps for almost 200 countries (with more than 100 of them navigable) and provides the best, automotive-grade map quality based on industry-leading technology and more than 20 years expertise in mapping.
Amongst others, it is already powering Yahoo Maps, and increasingly also powering Bing Maps as well.
Location is playing a central role in our strategy, and because of its global footprint, quality and completeness of performance (geocoding, routing, traffic) the Nokia Location Platform offers great opportunities for 3rd parties to build upon.
Amazon´s decision to choose the Nokia Location Platform is further proof point that our competence in this space is a key differentiator also for other leading players in the industry to offer great location consumer experiences.
Filed under: Software
Nokia cops to powering Amazon’s mapping service originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nokia and Microsoft plan to offer us the first taste of Windows Phone 8 today, refreshing the phone-maker’s Lumia line in the process. We’ve had glimpses of what we’re about to see, but we’re expecting more details on that new software at this decidedly blueish event. Join the liveblog after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Live from Nokia and Microsoft’s Windows Phone event! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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With just a day to go, Nokia has pushed out another brief teaser, this time pointing towards more map-based contextual functionality. It looks like whatever the company’s got up its sleeves, alongside any new Lumia hardware, should include some map-based social network chops and City Lens features — not much of a shocker given that the latter has just shed its beta status.
Update: Nokia’s throw out another video — which reveals that its good-looking star does manage to find those shoes. Phew. We’ve added it after the break.
Continue reading Nokia invites you to stay tuned, offers augmented reality teaser (updated)
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Nokia invites you to stay tuned, offers augmented reality teaser (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
It feels like it was only yesterday that Nokia handed its Windows Phone Maps application a complete and quite hefty makeover, which, as we know, brought the addition of reviews and friends’ photos to the app. Regardless, Nokia Maps appears to be ready to hit version 2.5, bringing with it an all-new Groupon integration to help US folks find nearby deals and a route planner service that, well, should be pretty self-explanatory. At any rate, WMPoweruser says the update should be hitting the Redmond Marketplace sometime “soon,” but feel free to let us know if you happen to catch it a little bit earlier than others.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Nokia Maps for Windows Phone updated with route planner and Groupon integration originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
After covering more than 23 million miles of the world’s roadways, Nokia has focused on expanding its interior mapping footprint. Since its launch during CTIA 2011, the company’s Destination Maps service has grown to cover a total of 4,605 different venues in 38 countries, including airports, department stores, shopping malls and transit hubs. As you can see in the infographic above, the majority of those locations are in North America, with a total of 2,595 mapped on the continent, followed by 1,778 in EMEA, 225 in the Asia Pacific region and just seven in Latin America — that’s 235 million square feet in all. Nokia also promises much more to come in the future, with hints identifying amusement parks and stadiums as possible beneficiaries. The company also reiterated its recent partnership with Bing, adding that Nokia Maps will have access to Destination Maps in the not-so-distant future as well. You’ll find a few more details at the source link below, and while we don’t have precise predictions to share, you can rest easy knowing that Nokia’s indoor effort is far from complete.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS
Nokia grows Destination Maps coverage to 4,605 venues in 38 countries, coming to Nokia Maps soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nokia’s public transport update has now passed through beta testing and is available to download on your favorite Lumia handset now. The app refresh adds transit route options and departure times for over 100 cities and urban areas and estimated routes for another 450 places. The UI is the same classy blend of Nokia’s mapping lineage and Windows Phone Metro tang. Nokia Conversation warns that there could be a publishing delay depending on your region, but you’ll need to be looking out for version 2.1. There’s a quick tour of the new functions after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Nokia Transport goes official: public transport departure times for over 100 cities (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Open Street Map has been helping Flickr display geotagged shots for some time. That crowdsourced map data has led to more than a few photos being located in a gray blob, however, which is why Yahoo just struck a deal to put Nokia maps into as many nooks and crevices of the world as possible. The addition will make sure that Instagram photo tour of Africa is often accurate down to the street corner, not to mention give a slightly Finland-tinged look to the maps themselves. Open Street Map isn’t going away, but it’s now being used only for those areas where regular coverage is spotty or non-existent. The images already apply to any existing and upcoming uploads — there will be no question that self-portrait was taken in Tanzania.
Flickr brings in Nokia map data for precise geotagged photos, Instagram shots just got eerily accurate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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