The new Here for Android beta can be downloaded from the company's site. Notably, the app is not available on the Google Play store and it has to be side-loaded on compatible Android phones.
Nokia reveals that it is still working on some fixes and bugs in the app and recommends Here for Android beta users to not use cache cleaner apps. The company notes, "Since launching Here for Android, we've had some brilliant feedback from smartphone owners, critics and websites. We're also grateful for constructive criticism, helping us to make Here for Android even better. We're taking your comments seriously, and are already working on changes, fixes and additions. Thanks to you, we've discovered that some 'cache cleaner' apps accidentally delete the navigation voices in the Here app. We're very close to a fix, which will be released in the next weeks, but in the meantime we'd ask you not to use such apps if you want to use voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation."
Here Maps for Android brings features such as offline navigation with interactive maps and turn-by-turn voice guidance; offline maps for nearly 100 countries; public transport maps and directions for over 800 cities in over 40 countries with offline support; live traffic information for more than 40 countries; journey planning on beta.here.com; map personalisation with Collections of favourite places, and the Glympse location sharing feature.
The Finnish company already released an Android version of Here (beta) in August for Samsung devices. Nokia announced its partnership with Samsung to bring Here (beta) to Galaxy devices for free, apart from powering the Navigator location app on the Tizen-based Samsung Gear S.
Last month, Nokia executive Sean Fernback had revealed that the company was working to soon release a free Here maps app for Android and iOS. Interestingly, Nokia had released Here Maps for iOS devices back in 2012; but pulled it a year later, saying the changes iOS 7 brought was harming 'user experience'.
We are yet to hear any news regarding the release of Here maps for iOS devices.
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