Windows Phones can Ask Ziggy not Siri
Free, new speech/text “personal assistant” app for Windows Phone 7 devices really works.
Know Your Cell
Categories: Mobile News Tags: phones, Siri, Windows, Ziggy
Samsung Mandel and HTC Radiant LTE Windows Phones leaked
The HTC Radiant and Samsung Mandel are expected to be made available in early 2012 alongside Nokia’s LTE Windows Phone
Know Your Cell
Microsoft offering free Windows Phones to Android malware victims
Microsoft’s latest marketing campaign could be pure genius
Know Your Cell
Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps might come to other non-Nokia Windows Phones as a paid app
A tweet by Nokia India’s official Twitter account indicates Nokia could officially launch Nokia Drive/Maps in the Windows Phone Marketplace as a paid app
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s report that Nokia Drive had been leaked, WPCentral reports that Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps could be made officially available for other non-Windows Phone handsets as a paid app. As mentioned previously, Nokia Drive was said to be exclusive to Nokia’s own handsets, but it appears the Finnish handset maker has now reconsidered.
The information comes by way of a tweet from Nokia India’s official Twitter account stating that Drive would be arriving at some point in the Windows Phone Marketplace. The official Twitter account also re-tweeted a message later in the day indicating Nokia Maps would be coming along for the ride as well. Nokia also apparently officially confirmed the news at the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 launch event today in India, reports MyPortableWorld.
As quick refresh, Nokia Maps is the Bing Maps alternative used for finding places and getting directions near your location. Nokia Drive is part of the application and has a navigation functionality similar to what is found on Android devices with Google Maps navigation.
While some might yet be surprised, the move to sell Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps makes sense for Nokia as the app was pirated a few days ago via a leaked XAP file. I can think of no better way to stem the tide of piracy than to sell the application in the Windows Phone Marketplace, so I truly hope that is their plan.
Right now though, it remains to be seen how much the app will cost or when Nokia will sell the application. As we all know, things like these take time and planning, so I don’t expect to see it soon, which is unfortunate.
The move though is sort of heartening for Windows Phone users as Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps are far superior to Bing Maps and Navigation. Hopefully, with the eventual release of the app, they find a way to make navigation and mapping on Windows Phone better for everyone and truly make the Windows Phone ecosystem better.
All said and done, is Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps something you would pay for? Or are you a Bing Maps fanboy all the way?
Image Credit: CNET
Nokia Drive XAP leaked, Nokia Drive for other Windows Phones becomes a reality
The Nokia Drive navigation app was supposed to make Nokia stand out from other Windows Phone vendors such as LG, Samsung, and HTC
Well, that was fast. Nokia Drive, Nokia’s exclusive turn-by-turn GPS navigation solution for their Windows Phone handsets, has already leaked online. Apparently hackers have actually figured out a way to port the Nokia Drive XAP file to other Windows Phone handsets using the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool.
For those unfamiliar with the app, Nokia Drive is one of Nokia’s proprietary applications for Windows Phone that works only on Nokia smartphones. Drive is included in the latest release of Ovi Maps, and will also come pre-installed in Nokia’s upcoming Lumia 800 and 710 handsets, which run Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.
News of the leak must come as a huge blow to the Finnish handset maker who was planning to use their own proprietary apps to differentiate itself from other Windows Phone vendors. Comically, probably the number one benefit of Nokia’s Windows Phone deal with Microsoft was the preferential treatment the vendor was given in regard to use of proprietary software on top of Windows Phone.
As for the leaked Nokia Drive XAP file, the application has been installed on a Samsung Omnia 7, and modders from Chinese forum WPXAP.com have provided some screenshots, along with a promise of detailed instructions. There has also been success with HTC and Samsung Windows Phone devices.
While the leak it is no doubt infuriating I’m sure, it remains to be seen whether or not everyday users will actually go to the trouble of tracking down and sideloading the app. I tend to think they won’t.
Amway, regardless of what happens with Nokia Drive, I really do have to wonder why on earth Nokia is making great Windows Phone apps exclusive. The mobile OS needs all the help it can get.
Image Credit: Business Insider
