Despite selling its devices business to Microsoft earlier this year, Nokia continues to exist as an entirely separate company, focusing on mobile network infrastructure, research and development of new technologies, and navigation services, under its HERE brand. Although Nokia itself no longer makes smartphones, it continues to provide services to mobile platforms.
Today, the company announced an update to HERE Maps on Windows Phone, bringing in a range of improvements and additions to the app.
More comprehensive maps in smaller countries
Several small countries and regions have received vastly improved maps in the latest update, including more comprehensive street coverage. Where relevant - such as on the island of Mauritius - coastal detail has also been enhanced.
Higher quality 3D landmarks
"In some more-established cities" - whatever that means - Nokia says that it has upgraded the quality of certain 3D landmarks, to make it easier to compare what"s on screen with your actual surroundings. The company says that its improvements bring "better quality textures" to famous landmarks, such as the Sistine Chapel, shown above.
"Point address rendering" added to new countries
Already available in various parts of the world, Nokia has now introduced the ability to see exact addresses and buildings on the map in many more countries and regions, to make it easier to locate your destination. As part of the latest update, point address rendering has been added in:
- The Baltics
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- France
- Hungary
- Israel
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Russia
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Ukraine
How to get the updated maps
On your Windows Phone, go to Settings > Applications > Maps > Check for updates. The app will then find any new versions of your existing maps, and download them to your device. You can also choose to download additional maps to your device from here.
Source: Nokia HERE
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