Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Nokia to Launch Free Maps App with Offline Mode and Transit Directions for iOS
Nokia today announced an expansion of its mapping services, launching a new "HERE" brand for the products and announcing that it will be introducing a new iOS mapping app in the coming weeks."People want great maps, and with HERE we can bring together Nokia's location offering to deliver people a better way to explore, discover and share their world," said Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop. "Additionally, with HERE we can extend our 20 years of location expertise to new devices and operating systems that reach beyond Nokia. As a result, we believe that more people benefit from and contribute to our leading mapping and location service."The initiative also includes a partnership with Mozilla for mapping in Firefox OS, a reference app for Android developers, acquisition of California company earthmine to help with 3D mapping, and new LiveSight 3D mapping technology.
To further extend its location services, Nokia is launching a maps application for iOS under the HERE brand. Based on HTML5, it will include offline capabilities, voice-guided walk navigation, and public transport directions. The application is scheduled to be available for free download from Apple's App Store in the coming weeks.
The New York Times has more on why Nokia has chosen to open up its mapping platform even as it seeks to differentiate its Lumia smartphones in the market.
Stephen Elop, chief executive of Nokia, said in an interview that in order to ensure that its mapping platform stays competitive, it needs lots of users. The more people who look up directions or search for locations on its maps, the smarter the system gets. And Nokia can still build exclusive location features into its Lumia phones, he said.Apple has been working to improve its in-house Maps app launched as part of iOS 6, following significant criticism of the app's features and accuracy. In an open letter addressing mapping issues, Apple CEO Tim Cook pointed to the web version of Nokia's maps as an alternative for users unhappy with the performance of Apple's own app.
“For the location platform to be at the highest quality, one needs scale, and you need as many different people contributing as possible,” Mr. Elop said. “Of course, Nokia will build apps, some of them unique to Lumia devices, that gain a competitive advantage for Nokia.”
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89 months ago
google suckered you all
think back to last week's PR spin from google saying they didn't think their map app would be approved and this announcement by Noika.
Google suckered the majority of you into negatively commenting on apple's policies and practices when in reality they were really trying to cover up for the fact that they had months to prepare a new maps app for IOS and couldn't be bothered to devote adequate resources to it and/or wanted to see Apple squirm.
Please try to remember this lesson for the future and learn to be able to recognize blatant PR dirty tricks / bull crap when you see it.
think back to last week's PR spin from google saying they didn't think their map app would be approved and this announcement by Noika.
Google suckered the majority of you into negatively commenting on apple's policies and practices when in reality they were really trying to cover up for the fact that they had months to prepare a new maps app for IOS and couldn't be bothered to devote adequate resources to it and/or wanted to see Apple squirm.
Please try to remember this lesson for the future and learn to be able to recognize blatant PR dirty tricks / bull crap when you see it.
89 months ago
"we can extend our 20 years of location expertise"
Don't remember a nokia phone back in 1992 that had maps
Nokia owns NAVTEQ, bro.
89 months ago
Whilst I'm not too keen on Nokia's visual style for their maps, they have a decent data set and offline maps is always good (if you're travelling in rural areas with little to no signal then it's an absolute god send.)
If nothing else, competition. :D
If nothing else, competition. :D
89 months ago
What's next, FaceTime for Android, supplied by Apple?
Video calling (without requiring Wi-Fi!) has been available for a decade...
89 months ago
I've tried Nokia's maps before, they're worse than Apple's! I'm also not excited at the prospect of another HTML maps app, bring on native Google!
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Really? Is the POI data any good? It's awful round here :(
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Just got a Nokia 920. The maps on this thing are sweet. :D
Really? Is the POI data any good? It's awful round here :(
89 months ago
Nokia maps were great, so I'm looking forward to this.
Nokia Maps uses Navteq ( nokia owns Navteq ) which is also used by Navigon / Garmin so its a great data set.
Could be a great competitor to currently paid for navigation apps, especially if its free.
Nokia Maps uses Navteq ( nokia owns Navteq ) which is also used by Navigon / Garmin so its a great data set.
Could be a great competitor to currently paid for navigation apps, especially if its free.
89 months ago
Nokia are making an HTML5 based app, ie a webapp - won't need to be approved.
"The application is scheduled to be available for free download from Apple's App Store in the coming weeks."
88 months ago
Word is they hired Scott Forstall to lead their new mapping efforts-
I was wondering why the menu was covered in fur when I was beta testing their maps app. This would explain it.[ Read All Comments ]
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