Google Maps More Useful in North America
While on vacation in Alabama, I spent a lot of time using Google Maps on my Nokia device. I could have used Nokia Maps–and I should have, given it’s dogfood–but Nokia Maps fails to find anything in North America. It couldn’t find a single Wal-Mart in Alabama, yet there is one about every other exit off the Interstate.
During my vacation, Google Maps got updated. Aside from the change in icon for the application itself, one new feature I noticed was that the app now shows the direction you are driving with a little arrow, which you can see here. It changes direction quite a bit when stopped at a traffic light, but when in motion, it is fairly accurate.
The one feature that Nokia Maps does have that Google Maps does not is the ability to sideload the maps–something I did with Nokia Maps “just in case.” However, I was in network range every time I needed to use Google Maps.
Google Maps was not perfect. It found stores that did not exist and could do a much better job caching the maps it previously downloaded in previous sessions. However, until Nokia Maps can find shops at least as good as Google Maps can in my part of the world, I won’t be using it, at least where I have data connectivity.
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Tags: google, google maps, nokia, nokia maps Fnord
Comment by Jim Courtney
I have the same experience on the Blackberry where I find Google Maps provides both better coverage and more information than Blackberry Maps. And if you download a trip at, say, a WiFi access point, it buffers (stores) that data on the Blackberry such that you are not always drawing on the wireless network for data during the trip (unless you expand/contract a map being viewed).
For my Blackberry 8820 it has always had a direction “pointer” and also is able to work inside buildings if you initially start where it can find the satellites (outside or near a window). If will often find the room I am in within my house.
Also, on the Blackberry version, Google Maps will also provide public transit directions if you are in a major city.
And, on both the Nokia and Blackberry, Google Maps can provide active trip directions, a shortcoming on the iPhone version.
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Comment by Jonathan Greene
I like the promise of Nokia Maps, but it’s really bad in the US for POI and search. Google kills it there, though of course there is no turn by turn navigation in google.
Comment by PhoneBoy
@Jim I haven’t seen the Blackberry version, but the current Nokia version also offers transit, I believe.
@Jonathan the lack of turn-by-turn is not a showstopper for me.
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