Big News - Nokia Ovi Maps Free for Life

Big News - Nokia Ovi Maps Free for Life

updated 5.07pm 21/01/2010

No more subscriptions, Ovi Maps with Navigation (Walking, Driving) is now Free.
*N97 soon after firmware update release.
update N97 users: "New Ovi Maps for N97 will be available on 28th January 2010." with Maps v3.3 included in the firmware update.

note:some N97 users are confirming that the new ovi maps application will install when there is more than 20mb free space on the c: drive (untested by mapperz).

A New version of Ovi Maps 3.3 comes with FREE driving (car) & walking (pedestrian) features turn-by-turn, with voice guided navigation. Ovi Maps has a large global coverage.

74 countries are covered.

Maps Data for all the regions will be available, for free, for loading over the air (data costs!) or pre-loading via a desktop computer (PC or Mac). Traffic information and city guides from the likes of Lonely Planet and Michelin, will also be made available at no additional cost.

Since Nokia owns Navteq (the map data company) they can do this without losing out. So Google, tomtom and many others look out.

Press Release:January 21, 2010
Nokia makes walk and drive navigation free on its smartphones, doubling size of mobile navigation market
http://www.nokia.com/press/press-releases/showpressrelease?newsid=1375569

Video



Official Nokia Maps Website
http://maps.nokia.com/explore-services/ovi-maps/ovi-maps-main

Supported Devices for the Nokia Ovi Maps v3.3
http://europe.nokia.com/support/product-support/maps-support/compatibility-and-download#/default/

More Details at:
http://www.womworld.com/nokia/13158/your-thoughts-on-this-mornings-ovi-maps-announcement/
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/11010_Nokias_Ovi_Maps_navigation_goe.php

News Links
PC World
http://www.pcworld.com/article/187335/nokia_delivers_free_navigation_service_to_customers.html

Engadget
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/nokia-ovi-maps-with-free-turn-by-turn-navigation-hands-on/

BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8472165.stm

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/21/nokia-satnav-software

The Times Online
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6996954.ece

Google Maps JavaScript API v3 - Now with Directions

Google Maps JavaScript API v3 - Now with Directions

**Remember Google Maps JavaScript API v3 is designed to be super lightweight for mobile devices

This makes mapping for mobile devices a lot more useful


New Directions (Walking or Driving) in London - Google Maps V3

@mapperz example above
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/google_mapv3_directions.html

With a Directions Panel
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/google_mapv3_directions_panel.html


Code:
New required parameters

var directionDisplay;
var directionsService = new google.maps.DirectionsService();

Set Start and End locations:

function calcRoute() {
var start = document.getElementById("start").value;
var end = document.getElementById("end").value;
var request = {
origin:start,
destination:end,

Travel Modes:

travelMode: google.maps.DirectionsTravelMode.WALKING
travelMode: google.maps.DirectionsTravelMode.DRIVING

Get the response from the Geocoder if both locations geocoded then display route between locations:

directionsService.route(request, function(response, status) {
if (status == google.maps.DirectionsStatus.OK) {
directionsDisplay.setDirections(response);


See the changelog
http://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/wiki/JavascriptMapsAPIv3Changelog

revelant links
Official documentation
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/v3/reference.html#DirectionsRenderer
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/v3/reference.html#DirectionsService

Offical Examples:
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/v3/examples/directions-simple.html
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/v3/examples/directions-panel.html

source:
http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-js-api-v3/browse_thread/thread/ee7ce7cf8a872268?hl=en#

Bing Maps for Mobile (with directions)

Bing Maps for Mobile (with directions)

related update: Just released!
Bing Maps 3D - http://tinyurl.com/Bing-Maps-3D
(though it is/was the same as Virtual Earth plugin just renamed)
source:
http://www.microsoftwindowsos.com/bing-maps-3d-has-been-released

Bing Maps for Mobile (Cell) Phone is now available with Driving Directions and Walking Directions.


Clean and Simple -Very fast response for Mobile devices.


There seems to be a neat function that it takes traffic information and applies it to the outcome or at least a warning of possible delays.

It is possible to test this function on a normal web browser

Other features are available (weather, local information etc.) from http://m.bing.com/

here is the link
http://tinyurl.com/BingMapsMobile

Google Maps Now Suggests Alternative Routes

Google Maps Now Suggests Alternative Routes

Google Maps now in certain routes automatically creates an

alternative route.

This can be helpful for users wanting more choice when using the

driving directions from Google.

The 'suggested' option is currently available in Google Maps only

and not the Google Maps API.

The map above route with suggested routes is available with this link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Brighton,

+UK&daddr=Southampton,+UK&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=h&sll

=50.93898,-0.769805&sspn=1.014219,2.471924&ie=UTF8&ll

=50.870111,-0.769043&spn=1.015729,2.471924&z=9

Dragging the routes is still available after a suggested route is selected.

Google Maps API adds StreetView Officially

update:28/03/2008

and there is the impressive Dual Maps - Virtual Earth and Google Map with StreetView side-by-side.

http://www.mapchannels.com/DualMaps.aspx

When you move the Maps/Streetview updates, when you turn the birdseye/streetview turns

Google Maps with StreetView and Virtual Earth with Birdseye View side by side at the beach.

Google Maps API adds StreetView Officially

New cities or StreetView coverage expanded
Albuquerque, NM
Anchorage, AK
Austin, TX
Cleveland, OH
Fairbanks, AK
Little Rock, AR
Madison, WI
Nashville, TN
Rockford, IL
Richmond, VA
Spokane, WA
St. Petersburg, FL
Tampa, FL
Yosemite National Park, CA
(thanks GoogleMapsMania saved Mapperz a job)




Why not 'visualize' the drive before you go?

Now you can custom build your own Streetview maps (subject to coverage).

Several good examples are available view:

Clickable StreetView Layer

Query StreetView Tiles/Structure

StreetView Layer and Draggable Human Icon

StreetView Panorama with POV (Point of View)


http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/demogallery.html?searchquery=street


Source:
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/browse_thread/thread/6e025c86acfc1002/bf0174dced87cc9e#bf0174dced87cc9e

Official Blog Post
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2008/03/street-view-in-api-or-how-i-spent-my.html

Documentation (uses v2.104)
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/reference.html#GStreetviewPanorama

Yahoo Maps Re-route Directions

Yahoo Maps have made a change to the directions function. You can now re-route by dragging the original route (similar to google maps directions).




Try it at
http://maps.yahoo.co.uk/ (UK Centred)
or
http://maps.yahoo.com/ (US Centered)

Better European Driving Directions - Yahoo Maps

Yahoo Maps are now providing better European driving directions.



Now you can cross borders and sea's and get accurate driving times (exclude traffic jams) to places right across Europe. The Example shows from Belfast to Galaţi (Eastern Romania) Stopping off in Paris (for a croissant) will take you 41 hours and 8 minutes (approx).

Driving directions within 34 European countries include:

Western Europe - Complete coverage
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, France, and Italy.

Eastern Europe – Comprehensive coverage
Albania, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary
Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia/Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey

Redesigned interactive print page makes it easier to print and read driving directions.

Yahoo will introduce new in-country Maps sites in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

(You can already take a look at Yahoo! Maps India, currently in beta)