Nokia E90: Navigation with Nokia Maps
by Volker Weber
Nokia bought the German company gate5 in August 2006 and supplies the free mapping software smart2go as Nokia Maps with the N95 and the E90. It supports the built-in GPS receiver. You can download the software for other phones (S60 2nd and 3rd Edition and Windows Mobile 5) and use it with an external GPS receiver.
The interesting idea behind this software is that it is an onboard as well as an offboard solution. You can either preload the maps (onboard) via the Nokia Map Loader or download them as you go (offboard). The maps are free, but you pay for turn-by-turn instructions. Depending on the region of the maps you pay between 6.50 Eur for a week, and 100 Eur for 3 years. This is an interesting business model since it lets you travel to different places in the world without worrying too much about maps until you actually need to know your way.
I have currently preloaded all of Germany and have used the three day trial period for the turn-by-turn instructions. Without them you can still plan a route for free. You only need to have a co-pilot who clicks through the instructions and reads them out to you.
The software is very straightforward to use and has some nice options like preventing the screen from going dark either when Maps is in the foreground or during navigation only. It also works both on the internal and the external display of the E90. Recommended.
Tags: nokia maps e90 s60 windows+mobile smart2go gate5
Comments
I can't find the download link for the E90 - just for N70 ... N93 phones plus windows mobile and some old 6xxx phones... :-(
No download required. It is preinstalled on the E90.
I have used this on the N95 and found it quite easy to use but the phone lost it's gps position quite quickly when you move it around a little and without the gps position it was not possible to calculate the route.
The GPS is indeed not on par with a SirfSTAR III. I understand however that the N95 is worse than the E90. I do not know where the GPS receiver on the E90 is, but on the N95 you cover it with your hand since it is below the keypad.
In my car, I put the E90 either on the dash or in a universal screen mount. In both positions it can hold the GPS fix easily.
I tried the Nokia Maps on my E61i and they work quite good. As smart2go does not offer a direct E61i download package I used the one for the N93i.
2D mode is perfect but 3D mode and navigating seems to be a little slow. But for the small map on the go this is perfect!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Is it possible to download the maps in advance without using the PC EXE maploader (I am on a Mac)?
thanks
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