While the hunt for a solution to Apple's disastrous Maps continues, a few replacements to the Apple-made app are already here. After Google was reported to be developing a brand new iOS-backed Google Maps for iOS users, Nokia has already revealed its own Here Maps for Apple users.
Per reports, Nokia's new Here Maps app for iOS has already made its way to the App Store. The new app promises free turn-by-turn voice navigation, public transit information, and rich traffic reports. The new app has arrived just in time to aid iOS users who had a tough time dealing with Apple's native Maps app.
The Here Maps app comes with features like driving directions, live traffic view, satellite view, public transport line view, and offline view to name a few. Other notable features of the maps app include step-by-step voice navigation, navigation information through pedestrian routes, parks etc.
Moreover, Nokia's Here Maps will also include location and navigation data from approximately 200 countries. The Finnish manufacturer, whose mapping capabilities are based on its acquisition of Navteq, is also said to leverage on crowdsourcing in selected nations where users will create and update the community maps , which hints at the company's push towards more user engagement with its services.
"HERE Maps helps you feel like a local anywhere you go. See where you are, search and discover nearby places, and get a feel for the place. Collect places to remember or for later discovery. Explore new destinations and know instantly how to get there on foot, by car or on public transport. HERE Maps is based on the world-class NAVTEQ mapping data used in 90% of in-car navigation systems in the world," the official iTunes Here Maps page states.
However, Nokia's expectation of successfully replacing the Apple Maps app may take a while as the Nokia app is not as perfect as the Finnish manufacturer hoped. According to a Verge review of the app, even though Nokia detailed Here Maps' public transit information at the app's launch last week the reviewers "were left a little disappointed by the current experience."
"In both London and Amsterdam, the app is missing vital services like buses or overground trains, meaning that often its directions are nonsensical. We tested two of our commutes, one that relies on a single local bus, and the other that requires a single train. On both occasions, Here Maps instructed us to take no less than four buses and subways to reach our destinations. There's also no option to access your contacts for navigation, so you'll have to copy and paste it into the search box from the contacts app," noted The Verge.
Here Maps for iOS is available as a free download from Apple's App Store.
