Both Nokia Maps (a.k.a. Smart2Go) and Google Maps for Mobile are free and worldwide - but which is better? Given the price, I guess you can simply have both, but if you were wondering how they matched up, then Ewan's been taking both for a spin on his Nokia N95...
Read on in the full article.
Nokia Maps is the best, hands down!!! I get a freakin lock on the gps satellites in just 25 seconds!!!! This is freakin creepy and wicked!! sick!!! I was on the bus while the maps was on and it was freakin following me!!!
Mgmaps for me sorry, I just can't go back from be able to access ALL the sat imagery and the GPS intergration, as for road navigation we are all waiting for Tomtom to use the internal GPS, it's in a different league to Nokia maps,
The only adavantage of Nokia maps is better coverage and detail, especially in Southen Ireland, Tomtom is way behind Nokia maps out there.
People are starting to look into possible interaction between the two, to get the best of both worlds. For example, have a look at http://wubbahed.com/2007/06/29/importing-google-maps-to-your-nokia-n95/
This is aimed more at getting information from Google desktop maps (ie not mobile maps) onto a mobile device. It's early days but a very clever demonstration.
I've never really found out how to use Nokia maps and for me living in the United States, the maps seem to take forever to load and sometimes it doesn't even load. I find google maps to load quicker and easier to use. I'm going to have to play a little more, but is there something I'm doing wrong? It just stuck on the main screen with the Earth Showing.
"for me living in the United States, the maps seem to take forever to load and sometimes it doesn't even load."
Unfortunately the American phone network operators seem to have spent as little as possible on keeping their actual networks up to date. The USA has one of the worst coverage maps of any rich country, even when you compare it to countries with much lower population densities. Even when there's a phone signal, US networks tend to offer slower data connections.
However, don't worry, there is a solution: offline maps.
If you're in an area that just doesn't have a fast enough phone network, I'd strongly recommend using the maps pre-loaded onto the phone. Nokia Maps lets you do this via your PC using the free Nokia MapLoader software:
You can also buy other rival systems such as Route 66, but they cost money whereas the non-navigation version of Nokia Maps is free.
When I tested the 6110 Navigator (which comes bundled with Route 66) I used it entirely in offline mode, with no SIM card in the phone at all, and it worked absolutely fine.
Hi, I just read the review and comments and want to point out a couple of things. First, I have no issues at all with speed on the network here in USA. Downloading maps on the fly is a piece of cake and goes quickly. Yes, the n95 doesn't support USA's 3g frequency, but with eGPRS, it's not all that bad.
And most importantly, you CAN adjust your routes in smart2go! Go to the settings and you can tell it: Fastest or Shortest Route, and whether or not you want to use "tunnels" "tolls" and a couple of other choices.
I'm using the new beta version of the mapping software now, where they took out the ability to show a planned route on your map screen (booo), but this version looks much more polished. Even in 3d mode you can see clouds! 😊
The only reason why I use google maps on my phone is if when I put in an address in smart2go and it doesn't calculate it correctly. I can then check it in google, plot the point in smart2go, and navigate away.
I have the N73 on an unlimited data plan and have downloaded both apps. As a result I prefer using Googlemaps for most things but I also have the Nokia Search app which I use a lot for finding businesses and also for searching for things on my phone. Really I'm saying use all of them and you'll use one for somethings and others for other. More is best.
HI,
Google maps just loaded on my N95-1.
Bloody great if you ask me.
Let's you view in map mode (a-z type map) or in sat mode (google earth mode).
Plus, GPS lock is fast, but will even work just as well as a route planner, sat image viewer, or just a plain old A-Z map without the GPS.
It uses the mobile mast network to locate position. Not as accurate as GPS for now, but quite close.
Beats Nokia maps hands down if you ask me.
spikey