The excitement was big when it was announced that Jolla's native map application would use HERE mapping and positioning services. As someone who absolutely loved HERE maps (aka Nokia maps) on the Nokia N9 I appreciate to have the same service on Jolla.
Jolla maps has a beautiful UI and works pretty well, yet many users aren't quiet happy with it. The number one unsolved issue/request on together.jolla.com has the name "Offline downloadable map-data and turn by turn navigation in Maps".
We can ungrudgingly acknowledge that Nokia equips their phone with the probably best and most complete map and navigation software available. And since many Jolla owners are former Nokia (especially Meego Harmattan) users, the expectations are very high.
So what's missing in the current maps application on Jolla? Most requested features are:
-Downloadable maps for offline use
-Turn-by-turn navigation (and similar features to Nokia Drive)
-Public transportation
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| Big wish of Jolla users: Maps with more features like offline mode |
Offline maps are indeed one of the best features you can have on a smartphone (for years Nokia was the only one to offer that). If I just think of all the situations the Nokia N9 helped me find my destinations abroad - whenever it was public transportation or car navigation.
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| OSMAnd maps with offline mode |
We don't know and only can assume what keeps Jolla from improving their maps solution. One big barrier is licensing. With every sold device Jolla would have to pay high royalty fees to HERE (Nokia) in order to have access to all those desired features. Furthermore we can't say if Nokia would even allow a client outside their own product series at the moment. Alternatives are other mapping services like the famous OpenStreetMap.
When I asked Marc Dillon at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about that, he answered that Jolla is aware of the requests users have. An improved map client is something they are thinking about and trying to find a solution. He also mentioned that it doesn't necessarily need to be Nokia's HERE which provides those services.
Thanks to Sailfish's ability to run Android applications, it is possible to install some nice alternatives which offer offline maps. OSMAnd maps is an open-source application that is very detailed, up-to-date and offer navigation as well as compass orientated map view. NavFree (and NavMii as paid version) is another wonderful application with offline maps. NavFree comes with an very mature car navigation mode which is very similar to Nokia Drive. Unfortunately it can happen that the virtual car in navigation mode drives backwards since the Android application layer doesn't support magnetometer sensor yet.
What are your experiences with Sailfish OS maps? What are your alternatives and what are you missing on your Jolla phone? Feel free to share your opinions.
