Ovi Maps (beta) Updated, Quietly Adds “Surfer Dude” And US English Street Names Guidance Voices

by Mike Macias on April 19, 2010

If you’re an Ovi Maps user and enjoy trying out applications before they are ready for the big time then Nokia Beta Labs is a place you’ll want to check out. They just released a small update for Ovi Maps, version 3.04 to be exact. Here is what has been updated:

- Improved positioning speed and accuracy
- Map zooming with faster speed
- Improved search for cities with zoom out to city level

I found an easter egg when setting up my voice navigation! Here is something I missed in a version released a few weeks ago, I didn’t see this mentioned anywhere: New voice guidance files for US English users. We now have “surfer dude“, which I’m curious to try out and US English with street names. Previously they only had UK English with street names. Not sure if other voices have been added since I only look at the English files, but if you find something else new let us know!

Visit Nokia Beta Labs to learn more about Ovi Maps Beta and try it for yourself.

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Article by Mike Macias

Mike has written 84 articles for your enjoyment.

On The Web: http://twitter.com/mikemacias

About: Mike is the editor-in-chief of N97fanatics.com and a huge mobile fanatic. He also runs MaemoFanatics.com and the popular E71fanatics.com. Contact him via email at contact@n97fanatics.com or at his Twitter page.

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  • Bokia
    I was reading it confused at first but I see that you discovered the voices have been out. Ive had them I believe ever since they made the Navigation free.
  • Gene
    I'd normally bite on these betas, but Nokia Maps 3.04 started using Symbian PIPS, which to me is the most dreaded distributed library for Symbian, as it tends to break even basic functions on Nokia phones. It made my N95-3 and N97 reboot and hang randomly, but the problems disappeared after I removed it and all apps dependent on it. I suspect it's because there are some basic symbols that overlap btw the distributed library and the phone firmware, as Symbian also has some POSIX calls built-in. I'd recommend ppl to stay away from this unless u really are daring a desperately need bleeding edge GPS solutions.
  • drogfild
    Just tried supl.google.com with the new beta. Doesn't crash anymore! :) Previous version crashed every time.
  • what's the benefit to using google's servers w/ Ovi Maps?
  • Gene
    This entry is used in conjunction with AGPS. In the past, ppl have reported (at least in the US) of better GPS lock times with Google over Nokia positioning servers on Google Maps.
  • Gustavo Lozano
    Hello.
    For those of you with OVI Maps restarting the phone, please check if you are using supl.google.com for the Assisted-GPS user plane server.

    I did some investigation some time ago and found using google's servers caused the crash on Ovi Maps. Since then, I kept using supl.nokia.com with no problems at all.
  • Dan Sharp
    Hi Mike, Ive been using the Beta version since you last commented on it in the other Ovi maps post you did. Ive been using the surfer dude voice since then! My particular favourites are when you approach a speed camera and if you have to make a u-turn! Ill leave it upto you to find out exactly what he says! :)
  • Christian Eichholz
    the problem is, that it works not good with my n97! everytime i start ovi-maps the phone restart itself. so i stay by my 3.03 version ;-)
  • Hmmm I never had that problem. Does your version have those voices? I didnt check b4

    - Sent with Nokia Messaging
  • Crap! Looks like the "surfer dude" voice has been out for a few months on some devices. I never saw it for the N97 until now. Can anyone else confirm?
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