An overview of the Nokia HERE Maps app for Android. Here WeGo maps - are they really that good?
HERE WeGo is a free app that makes it easy to navigate the city on all modes of transport: taxi, public transport or self-drive.
Order a taxi with a single tap or get directions with detailed routes, step by step instructions and information about each way to get to your destination.
MORE OPTIONS, LESS HASSLE
If you are in a hurry, take a taxi or book a future trip.* Get to your destination with your car, bike or public transport. HERE WeGo has recommendations for all modes of transportation. Just compare them and choose what is best for you.
BETTER PLANNING BEFORE YOU TRIP
HERE WeGo tells you everything about your trip before you hit the road. You can see public transport ticket prices and taxi rates, find parking spots and learn about traffic jams for any trip.
IMPROVED SUPPORT ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE
When you're on the go, HERE WeGo will guide you to your destination with ease. Turn-by-turn voice guidance helps the driver to do without stress on the road. Whether you're walking or using public transport, HERE WeGo will guide you every step of the way, wherever you need to go, exactly when you need it.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MOVE
HERE WeGo shows you alternatives at a time when everyone else is slowing down due to delays. With real-time traffic and public transport information, you'll be in the know, so you'll have the flexibility to keep moving, no matter what the traffic conditions are. You can download maps to your device - HERE WeGo continues to work even where there is no network signal.
HERE WeGo offers public transit information for 1300+ cities including New York/NYC, San Francisco/SF, London, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne and many more other. Get where you need to go by subway, bus, bike, train, trolley or ferry.
INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE
HERE WeGo has offline maps for the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia and over 100 other countries. Download the map you want and you're done.
Where will you go? You decide. Whatever the destination of the route and the mode of transportation, HERE knows the way to get there.
(Just so you know: long-term GPS work in background can significantly shorten battery life. You can reduce battery consumption by saving maps to your phone in advance).
*Note. Ordering a taxi with HERE WeGo is available in some cities. Check if the service is available in your location.
Yandex has released the Navigator application for mobile devices running Windows phone 8, thereby planning to compete with Nokia navigation products under the Here brand. Namely, Drive or Drive + applications for motorists. Finnish maps are still considered the best choice for WP-smartphones, but how will the balance of power among navigators change after the advent of Yandex? In the iGuides editorial staff, we decided to test this in combat conditions on the streets of Yekaterinburg, driving a car along two routes, and Yandex.Navigator and Here Drive + were in charge of this at the same time.
After installing the applications, users can immediately get behind the wheel and drive. But in this case, the maps will be loaded by forces mobile internet, which can affect usability if the cellular signal is poor. However, if you prepare for the trip in advance, you can download maps for offline navigation in both applications. But if the voice track is set by default in Yandex.Navigator, it will have to be loaded manually in Here Drive +, otherwise you will have to go with the silent Nokia application.
As usual, navigation applications determine the location and are ready to immediately send the user along the selected route. By the time of getting ready for work and laying the route, there are no complaints, but if Here Drive + offers to go immediately after specifying the destination, Yandex.Navigator also shows an alternative route that the driver may like more. As a rule, one of the "Yandex" routes coincides with the opinion of Here Drive +.
During the trip, the application from Yandex shows the details of the traffic situation, in particular, accidents, traffic jams, repairs, cameras, and more. On Nokia maps it is deserted - there is only an indication of points of interest included in the traffic information settings. Less accurate and less detailed than Yandex. On the other hand, Drive + reports the speed limits in force on the current section of the path, and in case of exceeding, it gives an audible signal. "Navigator" is also able to show the speed of movement, but no more. The information in both applications is quite accurate - the error is most often 3-5 km / h.
But if Yandex.Navigator turned out to be more useful and informative during route planning and driving, as you get closer to your destination, Drive+ wins back points. It turns out that the product of domestic developers, despite a more detailed map, does not know about entrances and driveways to buildings. In two cases, Nokia's navigator showed the correct way to get to a destination, such as a parking lot near a hotel and a driveway between houses, while Yandex.Navigator ended the route on the road opposite the end point. It doesn't matter if you can park your car there. In some places, this will not be a problem, and the driver himself will be able to figure out where to turn to get to the right house, and not leave the car in the middle of the road or on the side of the road. But it is not difficult to imagine situations where this will not be obvious, as a result, you will have to circle between houses for a long time.
The main disadvantage of the reputation of Here Drive + is that the service makes gross mistakes, offering to turn where it is impossible to do so. In our case, it was a left turn in a place where you can only move straight and right. At the same time, the route was laid taking into account this turn, as a result, I had to make a circle, increase the trip by a kilometer or so and stand in a traffic jam. However, Yandex.Navigator also has a chance of such an error, but it is less.
If we talk about other advantages of the two navigation applications, in the case of Yandex, I would like to note the sound tracks with male and female voices, convenient access to thematic points of interest from the address input window, and voice input using SpeechKit technology. In turn, Here Drive + is fully adapted for driving, including a section with settings, and there is also a car search function in the parking lot, which will be convenient near large shopping centers.
Advantages
The interface is fully adapted to work behind the wheel;
Speed limit and speed warnings;
HERE Maps is a highly accurate navigation app that contains detailed maps of the entire world. The library of the program is constantly updated with new cities, houses and streets. The developers have taken care of all categories of users: motorists will appreciate voice prompts and synchronization with the database of traffic events, pedestrians will be able to get acquainted with the public transport schedule, and travelers will like the ability to navigate without connecting to the Internet.
Capabilities:
- navigation software based on own maps;
- traffic alerts;
- a unique route construction algorithm taking into account external factors;
- transport schedule;
- offline access.
Principle of operation:
Navigator interface can be conditionally divided into three blocks. In the first, tools for orienteering and route planning are available. The second section allows you to download maps for offline use and switch to navigation mode without connecting to the Web. It should be noted that the plan of Russia and neighboring countries is very detailed, manufacturers are monitoring not only the renewal of commercial facilities, but even the change in the numbering of houses. The last block is for changing parameters and writing reviews.
The main window of the navigation screen itself is also convenient, the icons are logically marked and have a size that is comfortable for “hit accuracy”. All menus are accurately translated into Russian.
Pros:
- constant support of maps from the developer;
- thoughtful localized interface;
- all features are available for free.
Minuses:
- the application can build a route on a bad road;
- the traffic map is updated a little longer than the standard (service from Yandex).
Nokia engineers took part in the development of this navigation software. The phones of this manufacturer have always been distinguished by excellent functionality for navigation. And now the HERE Maps application is available for download on your Android device.
The authoritative German magazine Auto Bild named the hero of our review the winner in the category "Best software for drivers - 2015". Not for nothing at the end of 2015, the German automaker community acquired the rights to HERE Maps from a Finnish developer for almost three billion dollars.
Analogues:
- 2GIS - a symbiosis of a navigator and a detailed catalog of various objects;
- Yandex.Maps is a powerful mapping software with the ability to view panoramas.
The Android application for finding places on the map and getting directions Here Maps is a real alternative to Google maps and similar software.
The utility allows you to view shopping centers in a three-dimensional image, plan walking routes, on different modes of transport, and also apply mobile device as a navigator.
The program has a simple interface, made in white and blue colors, the top panel displays the main buttons for creating a route, saving it, setting the destination, and settings.
The search window can be called up with one click, and by specifying the address, you need to set the type of movement: walking, cycling, bus, car. All functions are located conveniently and clearly, so in a day of work with the Here Maps utility you can almost completely study it.
Addresses and routes can be saved to the cloud so that they can be easily found on any device in the future. The second important point is the offline operation of the utility. Therefore, even if you do not have Internet access, you can easily navigate in an unknown city by downloading maps in advance and using them as navigation.
For the application to work, enter the destination, select the travel option, and look at the map, where the ideal route will already be selected for you.
Features of Here Maps
- Search nearby. Find nearby clothing stores, books, sports equipment, banks, cafes, beauty salons, restaurants, government agencies, hotels, airport, supermarkets, bus station, car washes, medical facilities, gas stations, canteens, schools, taxi stands, spa centers, shopping centers, libraries, railway station, nightclubs, zoos, museums, police stations, cinemas, travel agencies, universities.
- Settlement maps. Navigation is available on maps to find the best and most accurate route to any point. Variations are available such as hybrid and normal maps, satellite, as well as the zoom and compass functions applicable to them.
- The route search history provides information about the starting and ending address, number of steps, time, distance.
- Ability to share location via social networks.
HERE maps. The Here app will help you find your way to your destination, wherever you are. You can explore the world around you, explore new places, without fear of getting lost. With Here, you can keep your feet firmly on the ground, knowing which direction to go next. With HERE you can travel around the world, create your own routes and find the right places even without an Internet connection. Just download the maps and save them on your phone or tablet. You can fully work with them offline, wherever you are. The HERE app will help you find what you need. See where the nearest restaurants and shops are. Changed plans? Make an appointment with your friends and send them your location using the Glympse feature. When preparing for your trip, mark on the map the places you want to visit upon arrival. You can also view ratings and reviews from Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet, and more. Wherever you go by car, step-by-step voice prompts are always available. Real-time traffic and public transport information will help you find the shortest route.
Peculiarities:
- Choose a convenient way to get there: car, bike, taxi, public transport, carsharing, etc.
- Compare routes by distance, speed or price and make the best choice.
- Drive to your destination with detailed voice and visual guidance for the selected travel mode.
- Learn all about the traffic situation in time, so as not to suffer from traffic jams and public transport disruptions.
- By downloading maps, you can navigate even where there is no connection.
Download HERE WeGo app (HERE maps) for Android you can follow the link below.
Developer: HERE Apps LLC
Platform: Android 4.1 and above
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Condition: Free (Free)
Root: Not needed
