Nokia releasing HERE Maps for all Windows 8.1 tablets and PCs in coming days

Back a few months ago, Nokia entered the hyper competitive tablet market with the Lumia 2520 (review), a Windows RT device that has received a lot of high praise, even if limited availability. That device also had some exclusive software on board, including a full HERE Maps suite.

Today, Nokia has announced that a new and improved version of HERE Maps is coming to all Windows 8.1 devices over the coming days. HERE Maps have always been really fun to use, but with the syncing ability between Lumias phones and HERE Maps on a PC, it should take it to the next level.

The news was announced on the HERE blog Three-Sixty. New features for this universal updated version include:

  • Speed – “The offline maps load as quickly as your computer can manage, of course, so it’s a lot faster than using a website for navigation. But there are also speed improvements to the online portions.”
  • Mouse + keyboard support for traditional PC users, in addition to the continued support of touch displays
  • Latest high-resolution satellite imagery

HERE Maps currently offers vector, satellite and 3D maps, points of interest, search and route planning.  Users can also optionally download maps for offline use, similar to how Windows Phone currently handle HERE Maps as well.

Nokia confirms that RT devices, like the Surface 2, and ‘Pro devices’, like any PC or x86 hybrid, will support the re-launched HERE Maps for 8.1. We’ll keep you posted when the app goes live in the Windows Store.

Source: Three Sixty; Thanks, Sarang D., for the tip

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.