Google Maps 2.0
Not sure exactly when Google Maps for Mobile hit the big Two Dot Oh but the most recent version of Google Maps for Mobile for Symbian S60 3rd edition devices, such as the Nokia Eseries, is version 2.03 2.05.
If you haven't tried the new version of Google Maps you should! (just go to www.google.com/gmm on your browser to download the new version)
One new features of 2.0 is the "My Location" feature.
The "My Location" uses information from mobile towers near you to approximate your location on the map. Naturally, it's not as accurate as GPS but if you don't have GPS and want to know your location it is very handy.
Also, "My Location" feature is still in beta and I am sure that Google will continue to improve on the accuracy.
Compare the two screen shots above. The left is using the "My Location" feature based on information from the mobile towers and the screen shot to the right is using Google Maps and a GPS receiver.
Although GPS and native Symbian support is not new to the 2.0 release it is great to see Google creating a native version for Symbian and also supporting external and internal GPS.
Another improvement I would like to see is enhanced navigation when using GPS. Currently when navigating with GPS the map doesn't center on your location so you manually have to navigate the map to keep it centered.
Then again, the application is free…
November 29th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Anyone have been able to open a KML file ?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
GSM-tower-based navigation doesn’t work in my city
At least I’ve made a couple of tries on my E61.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:28 am
Google are hopeing those with access to GPS (internal or bluetooth) will use it to improve the accuracy of the service. As a favour to google when i went out to get take away yesterday i ran gmm with gps and mylocation running. will give it a week and see if google know where i live on my cell tower info alone.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:51 am
This app works awesome in my E61… I had wanted to have a try on how a mapping application would work, but unfortunately I don’t have a GPS receiver.
With My Location, I can now use the maps, not just have a look at them. Although an approximate, it just works (usually).
But, of course, Google Maps have much more to be added. Like;
- Ability to sign in to Google Maps system with your Google ID and use your favorites.
- Importing favorites from Google Earth (that would be really great where Google don’t have much info, yet… Just like my town, Izmir/Turkey)
- Custom maps support (like in the web)
and others…
But, say it again, it is awesome
Hope Nokia did try to utilize “towers” before with their “Maps”. (But, what did Nokia do right?)
November 30th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Does anyone else have problems with the Google Maps application on his/herE61 not loading any data over GSM/UMTS?
It only works via Wlan… :-/ Otherwise it times out and gets no data or anything….
November 30th, 2007 at 3:26 am
Admin, in answer to your question, this version of Google Maps has only been available a couple of days. I would recommend it to all E series users. The My Location feature is useful if you don’t have a Bluetooth GPS or want to conserve power but you can also select Options>Tools>GPS, to get a more accurate location, as detailed in the article. I love the search option, which allows you to find anything from a business to the nearest Subway. You can also use it for navigation between points. Excellent product.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:50 am
V2.0 was the first S60 native version, if I remember correctly.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:32 am
Downloaded today version 2.05
November 30th, 2007 at 5:39 am
No, there’s 1.76 or something like that. The version that introduced GPS for Symbian (and I mean real gps not network/cell based)
November 30th, 2007 at 6:13 am
Mine showed me in Germany (when I was 30 miles from London).
Works great with Bluetooth GPS, anyway.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:46 am
I just upgraded from 1.76. Seems like 2.0.5 is the newest and is working fine on E51.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:52 am
This applicaiton, like most from Google, is awesome! One point of mention is that, when registered on the AT&T 3G network, triangulation doesn’t work. GSM works great. (Since I have an N95 it doesn’t matter to much to me but I thought it important to mention).
November 30th, 2007 at 7:13 am
2.0 came out earlier this week and ive been playing with it ever since, it is pretty damm close and even auto updates itself while driving. searches for businesses now come back closest to your location..its wicked
November 30th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Works like a charm I am in India now on holidays and it is accurate to about 400 meters
November 30th, 2007 at 9:34 am
I can’t download google maps on my E61. It keeps saying Unable to download googlemaps.sisx??? Anyone know why?? And what can I do. Thank you
November 30th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
@Joerg Battermann
Are you using E-Plus? I think that’s the problem…
It seems, that Google blocks the E-Plus-IP-Address. Don’t know why…
November 30th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I love Google’s innovation, bringing the cool stuff to the average user. I tried it out on my E61 and it keeps constant tabs on you in the ‘My Location’ mode; however, I too hope they get it to work while doing directions. Just out of curiosity, has anyone seen an app for the Nokias that logs your GPS position every X seconds?
November 30th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
In Singapore.
Is real cool. I tried with my E61 and E51, works perfect but not when I am in Mass Rapid Transit (similar to TUBE and SUBWAY), as the coverage downgrade from 3G to 2G network.
But at time, my location is not able to acquire position, guess is still BETA version and not as robust yet. I do have confident that GOOGLE will continue to revolutionalise it.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I have downloaded it and I am using it my E61i, it is a neat product except it does not have me correctly placed within a 5km zone. There are at least three GSM (Rogers) towers around me one of which I can see, yet the “location” has me about 7km away….wierd?
December 1st, 2007 at 1:20 am
i love this theme
you have a link for that? mine is a n95
December 1st, 2007 at 5:08 am
Hey there Michael,
nope.. o2
December 1st, 2007 at 8:20 am
Nick, thanks for mentioning the issue with AT&T 3G –I was beginning to think that was the issue. Occurs on the windows mobile version as well.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:04 am
@Berlin,
It’s Dots Purple, part of the new firmware for the E65 and E61i. I don’t have a DL link, sorry.
Ed
December 1st, 2007 at 9:18 am
When I try to download it, Google detects my E61 and sends me to S60 version. I don’t like that version since I can’t save favorites, use number pad shortcuts, etc.
Anyone know how to download the standard J2ME version?
December 1st, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I am from india and i don’t have gps reciver.but google maps work relly well in my E61i.i am from a village 25 km from city.everyone person of my village want to see his home in google maps.and i am the only person of village that have e-series mobile. At last i love this app very much.
One more thing i had made a very nice theme in vista style,if u want this plz contact me
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:35 am
works fluidly on E90
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
@Ed
@Berlin
Did u try the Nokia Services under your download section? Thats how I got it.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Any ideas on how you can save favourite locations on this newer version.. can’t seem to find this option anywhere :-/
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
It works here in Singapore. I’m in Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
I wonder why it doesn’t work with my WPA wifi connection at home.
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 pm
It works in Hyderabad, India with fantastic results. But it still is buggy; sometimes it transports me to same strange locations when the signal is patchy. But is accuracy is good enough to be useful, though it says 1700 meters it comes close to a 500 to 600 and less than that in some areas.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:15 am
I’ve noticed with “My Location” left on that my e61i with latest firmware reboots every now and then. NEVER reboots with “My Location” turned off.
Anyone else seeing this?
Also since it’s a true Symbian App would be nice to have it store entries in the contacts DB. Losing the ability to save favorites from the Java version is a step back.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:19 am
The ‘My Location’ function doenst work for me. Im in the Netherlands and im using a nokia e51. Has anyone else got it to work in the netherlands?
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:23 am
Hi Erik,
It works on my E61i in Amsterdam.
Cheers
Ed
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 am
In Amsterdam? Just visiting?
Some streets there would result in great ‘E-Series around the world’ pictures though
Enter ‘Hilversum’ in your googlemaps search and you see the town where I live, just about 30km from Amsterdam.
Have a nice stay.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 am
@Erik: yes, als je advies wilt?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Ja ik wil graag advies. Ik krijg de melding: ‘Uw huidige locatie is niet beschikbaar’. Echter een vriend van me die windowsmobile heeft kan wel de mijn locatie functie gebruiken. (op dezelfde plek als waar ik mij bevind) Ik begrijp er niks van.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Hi Erik,
I tried to simulate it on my E90 with GPS switch off (so network only), I did not get My location either. Looking for other places works fine.
With GPS it works very fast and it uses the network only for downloading mapdata.
Because this is just a beta version of googlemaps, it might not be compatible for all service providers, at least here in the Netherlands. If you like this application or want to run for example TomTom software, I advise you to obtain a GPS mouse.
Regards
December 4th, 2007 at 2:19 am
Erick
What phone are you using?
I couldnt find the “themes” section in my Download
December 4th, 2007 at 2:40 am
Im using a nokia e51. white steel, for that matter.
I might buy a gpsmouse… wich ones are good (and small please :p).
December 4th, 2007 at 5:55 am
i got the adapt serie available at dixons: http://www.dixons.nl/De_online_winkel/Categorie/xp/shop/pda_en_navigatie/GPS-muizen/default.aspx
one of all of these is pretty good value for money
December 5th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Hi!
Since I updated to 2.03 and 2.05, navigation on my E61 with the stick does not work any more. No more “zoom in” when clicking the button. Just a little issue, but MyLocation is not working smoothly too. Too bad there is no downgrade to 2.0
December 10th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Works just fine in Los Angels, CA on E61 on T-Mobile
December 13th, 2007 at 4:51 am
The version is now up to 2.07.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I have a Nokia 6500 classic, which does not support “My Position” (Sorry not available on this unit”. It seems that JAVA API for position is not supported by Nokia - they probably want to sell their own map stuff…
January 5th, 2008 at 4:41 am
MyLocation works in Malaysia on the Maxis network as tested on Nokia E61.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
‘My Location’ works great in Newcastle, Australia on my E65
Thanks for informing me about it.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 am
Hi, I’m from Singapore and using Google maps on Nokia e61i..its good but have an issue…the application can only work with GPRS…when i used WLAN, there is an error and it cannot do the searching..i have to switch back to GPRS to use it..Anyone out there knows why this happens? Happens to N95 too..
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
I’m going to Japan in March…and my friends and spouse will be there 8 hours before I do so I have to take the JR, bus, and also on foot to get to the onsen resort…..i was hoping that i can find that resort on the map but since I can’t even find it on google map (web)…..I guess…..I’ll have to try to get there w/o it as the Nokia Map of Japan has nothing else except for train station on it……any suggestions?
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Anyone know if I can expect this to work in new zeland?
January 26th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Being a mobile location expert, I have been playing with the Google My Location feature extensively since launch.
Read my latest post on the My Location usability at
http://blog.andrewgrill.com/blog/_archives/2007/12/27/3433218.html
as well as other posts on mobile advertising, mobile location and local search.
Andrew Grill
http://blog.andrewgrill.com
January 29th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I just went back to my good old e61.. have had the n95 form some months now. But I just feel the e61 works better.. specially the battery and the size of the screen is a plus. and wooooow the gmaps.. are just so cool.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I can’t zoom in using the 3, + or I keys as mentioned in the GMM help. Anyone has an idea why?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
For E61 Users: Press the button left in the lower corner + “3″ to zoom in!
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Thanks! Alternatively press the key above the function key only (”Y” on german E61) to zoom in as I found out now.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:24 am
this software worked flawlessly in my phone,but when you travel in small streets it is giving the previously known position.drawback it works on important cities not in off cities
April 20th, 2008 at 4:32 am
I live at a place 400 kms north of riyadh in saudi arabia, maps are not available here…this product is a boon here and works absolutely fine on my E90.
Only problem is i cant save the locations or take screen shots…hope it will come soon…
April 24th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Great triangulation. Got the street right, missed by less than 100 meters!
May 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Works fantastic in Malaysia…
any problem with 3G access fees? coz I just not sure about it when the application tries to access 3G instead of my home WIFI….
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Quite cool software.
1. The google search should be possible to limit to the current zoom area or a current location perimeter set by the user.
2. When you want directions to a location you have selected it does not automatically use or have you select your current location as the starting point.
3. No option to have the map rotate to the direction you are moving. It is allways north up.
4. No trace function so you can see how you moved on the map.
5. Can not save locations (waypoints) as favorites and have them display on the map.
June 7th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Cool! it’s works in Venezuela
July 1st, 2008 at 11:47 pm
My Location works fine in Canberra, Australia on my E65 too