Smart2Go, the free gps mapping application which Nokia was supposed to release on February 10, finally made its way to the masses today, February 13. Let me share my experience with this app:
PART - I: The Nokia Maps Application
At 9 a.m., I realized that Nokia Maps was available for download. Eager, I went to the site, but alas, the only phones compatible were: N73, N80, E61, E60 and E70. Anyways, I downloaded the N80 version of the application. At about 4.2 kB/s, the 2.6MB download took quite a while (close to 20 mins) to complete. After transferring the file to the phone, the install process took somewhere close to 10 mins. That’s a total of 30 mins just to install the application on the phone. I tested the application after I got back from office. The initial start-up took about 1-1.5 mins after which my phone promptly crashed. Upon reboot, I restarted the app again. I selected the network connection (wi-fi, obviously). The phone loaded up with the pointer over a location in Europe. I moved the pointer to the East coast of the USA (approx towards Maryland) and zoomed in to view the details. That’s when the app crashed again. I rebooted and started the app again. Once again, it crashed.
The overall stability has been really poor, imo. It could be that memory in my N91 is not sufficient, but somehow I don’t think that’s the issue (EDIT: Apparently that is the case. People using the phones listed on the smart2go website are not having problems). Checking the threads on ho-fo, I see I’m not the only one with this problem.
Part - II: The Nokia Maploader
Frustrated, I turned to ho-fo where I read that I might need to load maps. I fired up my old dell and downloaded the “Nokia Maps” application. Now, Nokia Maps needs the phone to be plugged in via usb with Mass Storage Mode selected (There ’s a memory card option as well, but its not really an option for me since I have the N91). I selected USA and decided to load the Maryland map. The file size was about 41.7MB. I selected it and started the download. The download begins and it tells me that it will take 1hr and 30 mins to download the map. Ridiculous! Am I supposed to keep my phone in offline Mode for 1.5 hrs so that it can keep downloading? There’s absolutely no logic in that! Seriously, what was Nokia thinking??
I’m quite disappointed. It might work for people who have memory card readers, but what about people with the N91 and people who only have the connectivity cable? Why limit people to have their phone plugged in when downloading maps? Why not download it to the hard disk and upload it as needed?
Perhaps I should just switch back to AmaZe or MGMaps (links on the S60 freeware page) for now. Are any of my readers facing similar problems with this app as well?
8 responses so far ↓
No crashes or any problems on a N80. Your phone is buggy.
Smart2Go was very very slow to download for me, and even slower to install. Although I didn’t experience any crashes, I wasn’t terribly impressed by it.
The Map Loader is the DEVIL! It should be burned!
Ok now that that’s out of my system, here’s why I feel that way.
After putting my memory card into my card reader, I selected a smallish Map to download…. around 45MB. About 2 Hours later… It finally hung and I had to try again… So try again I did, with the same problem…. This time It reached 100% but never completed.
The worse part about it is that mysteriously, a 45 MB map managed to take up 250 MB on my card… Even removing the incomplete maps was painfully slow (about 30 mins)
on my case i downloaded the map loader first …and on installation of smrt2go app. on my phone it just took less than two minutes…after that i tried to load maps on it..it only took me 6 minutes till done…and for me this is the best freeware (minus the navigation part) that nokia has……right now!…good job nokia..
1. Maps years out of date. The eastern side of the M60 (Junctions 19-24) was opened in October 2000, yet Nokia Maps does not seem to think that exists - if you ask for a route from Manchester to Leeds -it sends you via Barnsley!
2. Route planning extremely poor. Try comparisons with an internet-based route planner, and for almost any medium to long distance journeys it comes up with a nonsensical route that takes a lot longer than it needs to.
3. NO via point facility! You can only go from A to B, if you want to go via C (to get round it’s pathetic route planning) you can’t
4. If it loses an internet connection temporarily, you get a dialogue box complaining, that you have to OK to clear - not just once but multiple times, needing multiple clearing. Just what you want when you’re driving!
5. Alternative route facility is provided, but this just sends you round a few back streets to avoid the bit of road dead ahead, so that’s not a way of getting a sensible route either.
6. If you buy a navigation license and then change your device, the nokia maps site says to contact Nokia. They then tell you to contact Openbit. Openbit can’t be phoned, only emailed, and they take days to respond, during which time you’re without the navigation that you’ve paid for.
Overall - this software looks pretty, and seems at first impressive, but the more you look into the details, the more you realise that this is a big disappointment and really Nokia have badly let down their customers who’ve paid for navigation with this app. If Nokia had any self-respect they wouldn’t have released this app in such bad shape. And they aren’t offering any info about when they will provide an updatefrom this “beta” version.
I had no problems with the maps app, but I have a N73, so I have to go into offline-mode. I wanted to download the maps for South Africa, 28.1 MB. It started to download, and the first 10% was done in 5min….. It’s 3hours later and i’m only up to 53%, and the the remaining time it just climbing by the second, it’s at 2 hours 15 min now
I have downloaded other files faster before…
Any help???
Very bad piece of GPS software overall. I made big mistake and bought a 3-yr license (100+ dollars). The worst software investment I’ve made so far.
I have Windows Mobile version, running on HTC Dash (Excalibur). The application crashes my phone in 80% cases when I try to stop navigation. If I can start it. Program fails to calculate any medium to long trips, and even if it finally gets the route, it periodically starts recalculating it falling into an unlimited loop, even if I stay on the original route! The only way out is to reboot the phone.
Entering the address is a real pain since it does not find anything if you make a single typo or use a shortcut.
Calculated route can be anything but not the fastest route you selected. I was driving accross Norway and Sweden last summer, and this software sent me via dirt roads more then once, ignoring any highways and paved roads.
The only good part of this software is the user interface. It is really clean and nicely designed. Voice prompts are good too. This was a selling point for me. Unfortunately, this is not enough for a navigation software. Disappointed in Nokia. BTW, could not find any support info on Nokia or smart2go site. It must be non-existent.
hparfen,
Smart2Go has come a long way after being branded as Nokia Maps. I am not aware of the issues for Windows Mobile, but support for Symbian has vastly improved. Most of the issues I faced when I wrote the post are gone. I use it pretty regularly and it has been working well for me.
Total crap. I have an HTC Wizard running WM5 and the application will not get beyond the “permit program to use internet yes/no?” prompt. Google Maps for Mobile (the new one, not the java one) and Microsoft Live Search are SOOOO much better. Nokia better wake up becamse not a single Windows Mobile user will ever buy a Nokia device if this is the kind of lame-ass software they’re cranking out.