Explore Venues in 3D Via Nokia HERE for Android
Nokia’s HERE mapping service is dropping its beta tags on Android and pulling on its big-boy pants.
Now with improved routing, interactivity, 3D venue maps, and a visual polish, the updated application is available todownload for free in the Google Play store.
“Most of the refinements you’ll find in the new version come from user feedback and testing,” product team leader Niko van Eeghen said in a statement. “We had the time to see where people had issues and think of ways to correct them.”
One of those ways is by combining public transit and pedestrian routes with vehicle directions. The fastest routes from all three modes now show up in one place; sweep right or left to see alternative options.
New to a city or vacationing somewhere unfamiliar? The HERE map now offers more details with the tap of a finger. Hungry? Tap a restaurant when your phone is online, and you’ll be met with contact information, photos, and reviews.
Nokia also introduced 3D Venue Maps of locations like shopping malls, airports, and convention centers, which can be spun around and investigated floor by floor.
“We’ve done a lot with the fit and finish to make everything consistent,” van Eeghen said. “We’ve also worked to move the interface out of the way. For example, when you’ve chosen a route, we can move all of that away and show you just the map and your directions.”
Continuing the theme of simplicity, Nokia added the function to download country maps in the background, showing your progress in the phone’s notification drawer.
What’s an app update without bug fixes? “Many, many bug fixes,” van Eeghan said.
That includes increasing the volume of spoken directions by 25 percent in Drive. Problems with the use of SD cards for storage and with voice downloads should also be solved.
For iOS owners itching to get their hands on Nokia’s HERE app, the company teased an iPhone version coming soon.
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