Windows Phone 8 devices get offline maps update and Nokia explains why

We last touched on a map refresh in late December when users were able to download OTA updates to their offline locations.

Today, Nokia Maps have received yet another update and once again, this applies to all Windows Phone 8 devices, not just Nokia. If you have downloaded maps on your phone, you should have already been prompted to update them for the latest batch of improvements. If you haven’t already, go to settings > applications > maps > check for updates.

The question you may be wondering is, what changed? We have the details.

Some of the highlights:

• Maps for Serbia (including Kosovo) and Israel have been added with this release. You can now search for places and calculate precise routes in these two countries, and soon turn-by-turn navigation will be introduced with Nokia Drive.

• Other components are receiving enhancements under the hood to give us more clarity, easier orientation, improved precision and to provide us with the best experience and a better representation of reality.

• Russia, Norway and Sweden now collect and show higher details in wooded areas, thus improving your location.

• Pedestrian paths have been extended to more areas, including lesser-known parks, providing better navigation when you are traveling on foot.

• More detail in less populated areas of Greece, France and Ireland.

In just the last 18 months, Nokia’s Maps have added and amended 133,000 km/82,650 mi of roads in the UK alone. Similarly large numbers are valid for many other countries too. For example, in Italy, the tunnel under Roma Tiburtina has been added, as well as the roads to the future main Berlin airport in Germany.

As you can see, the improvement is continual and comprehensive. The teams are currently working on extending the features of their mobile apps and refining the search experience, so we will probably be seeing another update to maps in the near future.

Source: Conversations