Let me preface this by saying that, aside from the need for a Windows-based plugin, the online portion of Nokia’s new Maps v3.0 on Ovi is really pretty cool. The site is smooth, uses my Nokia/Ovi account, and it’s pretty. However, the device experience of Nokia Maps v3.0 is a complete and utter fail, in nearly every aspect. I tried to set this up on my Nokia N85, which uses S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2, and not only gave up, but ended up with my SIM card back in my N95-3, it was such a frustrating experience. Here’s why:
First, while the Nokia demo reps were quick to point out that the web-based version of Nokia Maps v3.0 works on Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari, they neglected to point out that it only works in those browsers on a Windows-based computer. Why? No one knows for sure. Some stupid plugin that’s needed and only works on Windows machines. How completely silly is that, especially when Windows’ marketshare is actually decreasing?
Second, once you get the web version working, there’s a handy ‘Download the mobile client’ link at the bottom. Great, let’s get this hotness on my phone. Oh, erm, wait – I have to install something else to my computer? There’s no way to simply download a .sisx file, the way that I have for EVERY OTHER MAPS UPGRADE? That’s annoying. However, it *does* make for a clean user experience, specifically if I was someone who wasn’t 100% sure what to do with a .sisx file. The problem with this, is that the .sisx file isn’t installed anywhere on my computer. When you run this application, it actually downloads the .sisx file from the internet, and then installs it, in one fell swoop. As a power user, I can’t browse through my computer to find the .sisx file and install it easily. REAL frustrating.
So, after I found a Windows machine, downloaded TWO plugins on my COMPUTER, in order to install something on my MULTIMEDIA COMPUTER PHONE , I’ve got the installation going on my Nokia N85, which is Feature Pack 2, as required by the upgrade, and there is 15MB of internal memory to install the upgrade to, which should be plenty, right? WRONG. The third problem is that with 15MB of internal memory free, I was unable to install Nokia Maps v3.0 to my phone, thanks to incessant out of memory errors. Absurd. Just, completely absurd.
After deleting everything I could, I *finally* got it installed, but it won’t run. Yes, that’s correct. When attempting to start Nokia Maps v3.0 on my Nokia N85, after suffering through two installs on my computer, and clearing out enough internal phone storage for this hog to eat it all up, I get incessant ‘System Error, Blackboardserver closed, KERN-EXEC 44′ errors. By incessant, I mean as soon as I dismiss one, I get another notification.
Fourth, the thing that’s completely silly and frustrating about this entire process is that on the Nokia Maps v3.0 beta pages, it’s clearly stated that the upgrade is not yet available for S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 devices, such as the rock-solid N95-3, the N82, or the E71. Hmmm, that’s sure funny, I’m 110% sure that every on-device demo I saw at Nokia World was done on an N95 8GB. Yes, a Feature Pack 1 device. Thanks for the false and misleading advertising, Nokia. Oh, and yes, they know that the N96 is Feature Pack 2, but it’s not supported, either, for no apparent reason.
The idea and features of Nokia Maps v3.0 is freaking brilliant. Of COURSE I would want to tie into my Nokia Account to backup my landmarks, and be able to create them on the computer and sync to my phone. Freakin brilliant. However, the execution is quite possibly the worst user experience I’ve had from Nokia in quite some time. It’s unreal.
At this point, my N85 is nearly unusable. I’ve followed the uninstallation steps on the Beta Labs Nokia Maps v3.0 page, but it’s still being wonky, enough that my SIM is happily back in my year-old N95-3. I would simply recommend that you continue to use Google Maps Mobile to find and save landmarks, and then pull them up in Nokia Maps v2.0, if necessary.
Oh, and a rather pointed fifth issue with Nokia Maps v3.0 is that there’s a wonderful offer for a free 7-day trial of Nokia Maps v3.0. Wonderful, that is, unless you live in the United States. Yeah, that’s right, Americans. Nokia still apparently hates us, so we’re not cool enough to get even something as freakin small as a 7-day trial of the cool maps upgrade that you can’t install. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. If you recall, we’re also not cool enough for a firmware update on the N95-3, the Nokia Music Store, or Comes With Music, either.
Nokia – you’ve got awesome ideas/thoughts, but you *HAVE* to get your act together with the execution, this is embarassing. And quit shafting the United States, please, it’s getting really old, really fast.
