If navigation is one of your top priorities, you must be wondering if the N900 would do you any good in finding you way around the town. Guess what, you are in luck, for Ovi Maps onboard the N900 is one of the best navigation apps that you can see on any mobile platform today.
For users of symbian phones, Ovi Maps needs no introduction for Ovi Maps has been the default navigaiton app on symbian smartphone for over a year now (It was called Nokia maps initially and then rechristened to Ovi Maps). It was one of the first navigation apps to come up with the concept of downloadable maps on phones, drastically reducing the data consumption on compatible phones. The navigation app has been a great success on the symbian platform, and now debuts on the Maemo platform with the N900. Let’s now see how it pans out for my routine navigation needs.
I was using Ovi Maps on N900 for routing today and was largely impressed by the app. The GPS lock-on was fast, and so was routing. The all new “Track Me” feature is what appeals to me the most. It auto-rotates the map and makes sure that you are reading the map in the correct direction. However, with no onboard digital compass, the task of orienting maps is based largely on your movement. If you happen to come to a halt, be it for a traffic signal or for refuelling your automobile, the map gets disoriented (Check out the Ovimaps-9 screenshot for traffic signal scenario) but it will auto-rotate and set in the right direction once you start moving. Overall it accounts for a decent navigation experience though.
“or Ovi Maps onboard the N900 is one of the best navigation apps that you can see on any mobile platform today”
How can you say such a weird thing?!?!
Ovi doesnt even have any turn by turn navigation. Even Nav4all.com does a lot better than this. I hope they support the N900 soon.
(N900 owner)
I had quite the opposite impression after trying out Ovi Maps on my N900. It was fairly awful in most respects. The interface is confusing with very limited options. The framerate is poor. Why it tries to orient itself while you are not moving is beyond me…other gps navigators assume you are not turning around in circles if it can’t detect any movement. It doesn’t re-route if you accidently go off the planned route. There is no speech navigation or, as far as I can tell, no POI’s either. Oh and it takes far too long to load up. This is a first release so hopefully they are working to address all the shortcomings, but I find it hard to believe you found anything impressive about it at all. Although it did get a gps signal very fast…I’ll give it that!
Hey? Those are Singapore maps! Is the N900 available in Singapore? Last month when I was there they had no delivery schedule for Singapore (or the rest of Asia!)
Hi Robert,
I agree with your observation, but most of those turn-by-turn navigation apps come with a hefty price tag and/or subscription fees. For a free navigation app, Ovi Maps is as good as if not any better than Google Maps. (Google Maps free turn-by-turn navigation app is not yet available outside US and that too only on android platform)
Hi Whaleyboy,
You have been spot-on with your observations. Even I was intrigued by the disorientation of maps when the vehicle comes to a halt. Probably a digital compass would have fixed that but let’s see if they can fix this faux, along with other bugs you highlighted with a firmware upgrade.
Hi Eina,
Yeah they are definitely maps of Singapore and no N900 is not yet available in Asia Pacific. I am presently toying with a review unit sent to me by WOM World, Nokia.
Well, that’s semi-good news I guess. If they are sending review units to Singapore then presumably they figure they will start selling them there eventually!
I’m hoping my E90 will last until I can buy an N900 in Malaysia or Singapore.
Yeah Eina, I just can’t wait for this wonder device to land up on the shores of Singapore..
I’m not sure what this post is supposed to reflect, but it sure isn’t NokiaMaps 2.0 (aka OviMaps 1.0) on the N900. That map application is pretty much useless and sports the worst, most unintuitive UI ever devised.
It consumes gobs of power, takes for ever to lock, looses satellites constantly and then fails to lock again. I mean, this app is garbage. I stand next to my house and it will bounce me around showing my location 50 yards up the street, then 40 yards behind me, then spot on, just to loose it the next time I pull it out of my pocket.
It’s not even in the same league as Google maps on the Droid. Don’t kid yourself. If you’re buying the phone for the nav functionality get an Android phone.
The N900 is not bad, but it has been rushed out (and months late at that) with many apps barely working, inconsistent UIs, old apps (why no OviMaps 3.0?), barely any app uses the accelerator, non-deterministic response times (you never know how long it will take to respond to a touch or flip). I mean the idea that you can simply flip the phone to portrait mode and the phone app (aka the dial pad) will show up is great – except that most of the time you flip the phone and wait for 5 seconds before the dial-pad shows, even with the phone app already running.
@NotSoFast: Though I agree on few of ur observations, I beg to differ from your verdict..
Ovi Maps does take time to lock-on ur position, which given the early stage of the present version on maemo can be expected to get better with time..
Google Maps is great but where Ovi Maps beats Google Maps is in offline usage. Show me a better free navigation app, which can work offline and I will switch to that platform!
hi folks’
how about Maps in n900 for Offline Browsing? any way to save it ….??
Actually the Ovi Maps is more or less horrible when it comes to usability. Hopefully it will improve.
Yeah, in its present version it’s not that user-friendly. The next firmware upgrade should make it better though
can you download the maps?
The present version of Ovi Maps on Maemo doesn’t support downloading of maps yet.
It´s possible download maps by Nokia Map Loader, but to search a location you must be online.
Does some one know how to solve that?
I’d like to know if the phone can be used in Singapore if I ship it in from another Nokia store overseas? Cos it’s not selling in Singapore and I’m dying to get it! Please help! =(
You are in luck Angeline for the N900 is now officially launched in Singapore.. I just spotted one in the Nokia store in Vivo City..
i am planning to buy either of these phone. N97 mini, X6 or N900. i will use in Malaysia. Hardware wise N900 does look better. But i wonder if user experience wise whether it is better or worst. N97 mini and X6 already on ovi maps 3.0. Should i believe that ovi maps 3.03 will be supported by N900 down the road? Can N900 runs web run time? i know it does not support MMS, not even EDGE and without a compass like N97 mini and X6. So i really still thinking about which one to get.
for ur info.. N900 only supports Ovi Maps 1.0… so in terms of gps maps.. N97 still wins to fight since it can uses Garmin
@bltzkri3g, please change your nick name. Why someone picks that one?
@Drex: I agree but N900 is still immature when it comes into incorporation of Ovi services into it.. N900 is a better hardware any day and the application support side just needs some time to evolve into a sustainable eco-system
Well, let’s just say I love my nickname.
When is ovi maps 3 expected for Maemo/N900 ? Maps 1 is totally useless when it comes to navigation. (Unless you want to get ruined by your phone bill of course)
It was a very bad experience fo rme. hard to use. complicated to understand. not intuitive. no voice guidance. google maps on my n95 was PERFECT! i was upset with this applications
@Andraeseus: Well, Ovi Maps for Maemo still lags considerably to Ovi Maps on symbian and it’s catching up soon. The whole offline accessibility thing is a big bonus and does make up for some of the shortfalls.
a nice video on http://www.ciaomondo.it/video%20ovi%20maps%20n900
Having used an N95 for years, the maps on an N900 is realy disapointing. No maps download, no ability to store or upload locations from the symbion devices. no voice navigation and worst of all the prospect of a masive bill if u use it abroad.
All in all, Nokia need to sort this as the N900 is meant to b a progression.
No groups 4 contacts either so sending jokes on to a group of mates is so time consuming I dont do it and the jokes from my mates is drying up.
Nokia need to sort this as the N900 platform is excelent.
Worst of all there seems to be a total silence fom Nokia to every criticism / request from users as to what they intend to do and by when.
If they are not carefull they will go down the same road as IBM did with Bill gates in terms of Apple
Lets hope Nokia start to talk with their customers on their website at least!
Hi Clive: I agree with a few of your observations esp the ones with N900ers complaints/suggestions falling on deaf ears of Nokia but there have been a few changes as well. It’s now possible to download maps for offline usage using the latest version of map loader which now supports maemo version of Ovi maps.
Thanks for thet bltzkri3g. I had a go at it but it just sent me round in circles
I will have another go this weekemd.
The fact that N900 navigation has NO Turn by Turn is pathetic… I am angry and feel abused by both Nokia AND Carphone Warehouse where the salesman assured me turn by turn was available when I signed up for this instead of an iphone… It was the deal breaker as i had this function on my N96. I know the operating system if different but this should have been sorted BEFORE the phone was launched. I will not buy/recommend Nokia ever again and will go Iphone as soon as I can. The so called geeks phone the n900 will then be framed as a testament to the words ‘Carphone warehouse are liars’.
Grrrrrrrrrrr.
I understand ur frustration cj but we gotta give nokia some more time. I agree they shd have sorted this out before the launch and the salesperson shd have rather been frank abt it to ya. Let’s hope turn by turn navigation lands up on our n900 soon.
No bltzkri3g, it really isn’t good enough, lets look at the timeline here:
Nokia pulls it’s licencing and puts Nav4All out of business for a while, very underhand of Nokia considering there have NO alternative app available.
Sygic announce a paid for service.
The free turn by turn navigation fails to appear for the N900.
Maybe I’m being just a little cynical, but in my opinion it seems that Nokia may have had a little talk with Sygic, why on earth would Sygic develop their application knowing that a free version would be available soon? They wouldn’t would they, they would only have invested in this development if they knew that they would be able to sell it, if no free version was available.
Nokia have been very underhand, in the way they have dealt with Nav4All and the buyers of the N900.
@letsbuild: May be you are right but I would like to believe otherwise for Nokia has really been pushing its free navigation equipped ovi maps (symbian version) in the market and I don’t see any reason why they wont do the same for the Maemo version. As per Sygic, I guess a little competition wouldn’t hurt and I hope it pushes Nokia to release a full featured Maps client for maemo soon.
I agree that Nokia have been pushing it’s free navigation, and on the surface it would make sense that they will continue to do so with their maemo version. However what does look strange is that Sygic released their version following Nokia’s withdrawal of support for Nav4All.
I was very happy with Nav4All, it is far better than Maps. Nokia’s behaviour towards Nav4All is too much like that of Microsoft or Apple, and I do not want Nokia to become as restrictive as those companies.
Hi Dear
Could you plenease help with the N900 navigation please.
Do i need to have a maps application to install in my N900 phone first before i can use the proper maps?
Thanks
Raymond
Raymond, I really wouldn’t bother with Ovi Maps, it’s not very good; it can’t recalculate if you take a different route, you can’t save locations, it doesn’t have voice guidence, in fact it’s worse than that, it’s really cr*p, despite what bltzkri3g is trying to claim.
Nav4All was excellent, shame on you Nokia.
Thas a lie !!! ovimaps not work well on N900 (another owner in Mexico)
Hello.
If you need / want navigation, do not get a Nokia N900. Great hardware pakage with one of the best and fastest internal gps’ I’ve seen or heard of. But the whole Ovi mess is to much. Can not recommend any Nokias to anyone until they sort out Maemo-Ovi support, including turn-by-turn and voice guided navigation. The iPhone killer does not stand up to its name yet.
Disapointed N900 owner.
I know the Maemo version of Ovi Maps isn’t upto the mark but the Symbian version is lot more promising and its only a matter of time before the two versions are synchronized with each other..
Interesting change of tune Bltzkri3g, do you think you should alter the OP to be a bit more honest?
Current Ovi maps on N900 is still poor (PR1.2) so I hope Bltzkri3g is right and that the latest Ovi maps will come to the N900 soon.
I pray God you’re right, bltzkri3g!! I’ve been asking Kee Cheng (by e-mail), who seems to be the Ovi Maps development project manager and couldn’t advance anything about OVI Maps release for Maemo 5 … for the moment, he finally says (fortunately, ’cause that keeps my faith)
I totally agree with CJ about the poor nature of this navigation software and about the poor product knowledge of the Carphone Warehouse staff.
The O2 Orbit II, over 2 years ago, came with Co-Pilot Live preloaded. It did not cost any extra and it had turn-by-turn, voice navigation and a variety of options to get you back on track.
Now I gather that someone HAS produced a SatNav for the N900 but it costs an extra £60 to get it.
So the general opinion seems to be that navigation, ‘Ovi Maps’, on the N900 is rubbish. Even bltzkri3g seems to agree now?
So, I repeat do you think you should update the post to reflect your true feelings bltzkri3g, instead of the Nokia funded drivel that was the original post?
Also crap about the N900:
no sms picture messaging!
the inability to play some video formats (‘audio format not supported’)!
Battery life!
It’s not an immense list (and the N900 is still the only phone I would consider as a software developer), so please Nokia just buy Nav4All or give them back their lisense.
I’m new to this blog and should have read it first but I didn’t so I bought an N900 with free navigation as the key differentiator because I needed to replace my Mio which has worked well.
My experience of Satnavs goes back over 10 years so I think I can judge and my verdict is the Ovimaps app on the N900 is a pile of crap!
It might be intuitive (when it works) but in my experience it doesn’t work and there’s virtually no help function.
Does anybody know if the people at Nokia give a damn or listen?
The maps on N900 is thoroughly disappointing. Leave about the details. It is showing wrong location altogether.
Not sure if there is any time line by which Nokia would announce a better software…