Skyhook has launched a plug-in for the Positioning system in S60 phones, dubbed Maps Booster and illustrated/reviewed below. Essentially, Maps Booster hooks into the Location sub-system in Symbian OS and adds WiFi-based location services, especially useful in urban areas, where GPS struggles on account of tall buildings and lack of sky coverage. Read on for more.
Read on in the full article.
in ovi store if i search for "maps booster" i find nothing...
Yeah, me too - can see it in Ovi store when I'm not logged in, but as soon as it knows what phone I've got it disappears 😞
This is OVI's answer when I try to visit with my E90 (in Nokia Web-browser)
😊 Regards jApi NL
Can I suggest that if you're having trouble finding this in the Ovi Store, you email Skyhook and get them to widen their compatibility/testing, make them aware of the discovery issue? Go via their Maps Booster web site etc?
For example, here is an application that uses Cell ID positioning
www.bigredzebra.com
When I search the ovi store for this it tells me its not available for my phone - the Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic! Is this correct?
I've told the Skyhook PR people that you're having trouble. Watch this space for a comment from them?
Yeah I have emailed them directly about this from their website so it might get sorted.
I decided to download OVI client on the E90 - + 4MB on C: ! No problem to find Maps Booster now ....
😊 Regards jApi NL
IN OVI STORE now it says that it is not available in my country (greece) although in Skyhook website i can see that greece is covered...
Ovi Store claims it isn't available for the N97 (US).
It looks like they are still awaiting Ovi Store approval for the N97. It should be available in the next week or so.
Hello Everyone,
We just updated our FAQ to clarify further for what models Maps Booster is available [http://skyhookwireless.com/mapsbooster/faq/]. We are currently shepherding the S60 5th edition support through the Ovi approval process, and the Ovi team has been very responsive. Hopefully it is only a matter of days. I am sure that Steve can attest that our software works well on his N97 phone 😊
In the meantime, here is a list of phones that we do currently support through the Ovi store:
Nokia E71x, Nokia 5730 XpressMusic, Nokia N79, Nokia E55, Nokia N95, Nokia N86 8MP, Nokia N85, Nokia E52, Nokia E63, Nokia N96, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia E66, Nokia N78, Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E75, Nokia N82, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N81, Nokia E51, Nokia N95 8GB, and Nokia 5630 XpressMusic.
Thanks for everyone's interest. Especially to the people who took the time to email us.
Reinhard
Yaaaahh... Nice,, they have finally caught up with Apple on this one (who has been using this technology for ages)
Even a GPS-less iPod Touch 1st Gen can give you an estimation of where you are to begin with!
I see the 6710 Navigator is listed as a supported device, but it doesn't show up in the online Ovi Store or in the app on my handset 😞
Well, I had no problem finding and installing this.
Where the problem came was...it didn't work. My N95 8GB without it found a location in a few seconds from power up using Ovi Maps but with it...10 minutes later, even on a window ledge, nothing. Couldn't find a position. From Google Maps, I kept getting "Weak GPS signal".
So, I uninstalled it and voila, all working again - Google Maps found a location in seconds. I'll be asking for my �3 back 'cos it was worthless!
Unregistered wrote:For example, here is an application that uses Cell ID positioning
www.bigredzebra.com
Which looks like it does *exactly* the same as the free application from google known as "google maps". I tried that on my N73 - worked okay.
bchliu wrote:Yaaaahh... Nice,, they have finally caught up with Apple on this one (who has been using this technology for ages)Even a GPS-less iPod Touch 1st Gen can give you an estimation of where you are to begin with!
Although the iPhone/iPod couldn't really do anything other than the most basic of location services.
Apple tried to sell it as a USP in the lack of proper GPS - typical of the company, putting a positive spin on what was a major weakness.
Just wanted to let everyone know that the following devices are now supported via the Ovi store as well: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia X6, and Nokia N97 mini.
Guest @ 12:28 PM: feel free to contact our support at [email][email protected][/email]. We are always here to help.
Best regards,
Reinhard
Maps Booster seems to have a problem reinstalling on my N97.
I downloaded and used Maps Booster when it was first launched on the Ovi Store and it has proved to be very useful.
However, I was forced to do a hard reset on my phone and had to reinstall Maps Booster from the Ovi Store. When I came to open it I was informed that it had to be enabled in Positioning Methods. The only problem is that it is no longer shown in Position Methods.
I have tried rebooting the phone. Uninstalling and reinstalling Maps Booster, but all to no avail.
I have been in contact with Skyhook over this for about a week and whilst their customer services are aware of it and have kept me informed it would seem that they are nowhere near finding an answer and have offered me my money back.
This problem could affect a lot of users of Maps Booster as the N97 is due new firmware upgrade which may mean that a lot of owners will lose this app.
Sorry to hear you had to do a reset and just as sorry to hear you're having problems with Maps Booster reinstall as I downloaded and started using it about 10 days ago.
As you point out some time around Jan 28th most N97 owners are going to be doing a reset of one form or another following release of new firmware (hopefully) although Nokia do dispute the necessity of this.
Any cause obvious for the hard reset? I assume nothing to do with Maps Booster itself?
Thanks snoFlake.
I chose to do a hard reset, my first since v20, as, like a lot of people on here, I install app's just to test them out and see what they're like.
In the majority of cases, I then uninstall them. However, this can leave behind all sorts of files, folders and general crud, so I thought that prior to the release of v21, whenever that may be, I would do a bit of spring cleaning.
Maps Booster worked fine originally but after the reset I went back to Ovi Store and redownloaded it but when I came to open it I received the message to enable it in Positioning Methods. Unfortunately when I open Positioning Methods, Maps Booster is not shown as an option and thus cannot be enabled.
I contacted Skyhook who are aware of this problem and say they are working with Nokia to rectify it.
Will post an update when I know more.
[email protected] wrote:Thanks snoFlake.I chose to do a hard reset, my first since v20, as, like a lot of people on here, I install app's just to test them out and see what they're like.
In the majority of cases, I then uninstall them. However, this can leave behind all sorts of files, folders and general crud, so I thought that prior to the release of v21, whenever that may be, I would do a bit of spring cleaning.
Maps Booster worked fine originally but after the reset I went back to Ovi Store and redownloaded it but when I came to open it I received the message to enable it in Positioning Methods. Unfortunately when I open Positioning Methods, Maps Booster is not shown as an option and thus cannot be enabled.
I contacted Skyhook who are aware of this problem and say they are working with Nokia to rectify it.
Will post an update when I know more.
have you heard any more about this? I have exactly the same issue. Thier tech support was initially very helpful, Including giving me lists opf files to manually try and delete etc, but after trying a few things then they said you will need to wait for v21 firmware. Well I have this now and I still have the same issue. My new ticket to them last week is still unanswered and Maps booster is still not working :frown:
Sorry for the delay in replying.
The only work around I could find was to do a hard reset on my phone and then re install Maps Booster from Ovi Store, which then showed upin Positioning Methods.
I then used PC Suite to restore only, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Messages and Bookmarks.
All Music, Photos, app's, I restored manually.
It would seem that Skyhook are on the right track in that there is a file or setting left on the N97 after uninstall that is causing the problem.
I'll be blowed if I know what it is which is why I chose to do the hard reset and start again.
Hope they get this sorted soon.
Hi everyone!
Does Maps Booster give a significant boost to Maps 3.04?
Cheers!
Yes it does.
I would still recommend Maps Booster even on Ovi Maps beta v3.04 with its built in Wi-Fi Networking positioning. This is because Nokia's Wi-Fi networking is still in its infancy and does not have the Wi-Fi data base of the more established Maps Booster.
I had to totally format my phone and mass memory to get maps booster to reinstall properly.
Unfortunately after initial contant with Skyhook about the problem they ignored any futher support emails from me.
It's a shame a company can go from 10/10 for support to 0/10 within a couple of weeks but there really is no excuse for a company to ignore it's customers. I have had better support from companies providing "free" apps! (for any Skyhook staff reading this, ticket #4351 and #4062 as confirmed by your autoresponder - although too late now to save me a lot to reinstallation and configuration!)
On another note, Maps booster used to work much better on my phone than it does now. I had the GPS antenna fixed at a service centre so GPS fix is now great without it. The reason i used to like Maps booster was to use GPS programs indoors (like itis traffic). I am now finding I have to disable Maps Booster when i dont need it as it's affecting GPS accuracy when out in the car/walking.