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Once Pro-Microsoft, Here Maps Drops Support For Windows 10, Windows Phone (here.com)
An anonymous reader points us to a blog post at Here website: Here Maps has announced that it will be pulling its mapping and navigation service from the Windows 10 store on March 29, 2016. The parent company, Here, also announced that it will limit the development of the apps for Windows Phone 8 to critical bug fixes. In a blog post, the company wrote, "We've been developing mobile maps applications for about 10 years, since the first smartphones came with GPS. As the market evolves, we keep in step by introducing our apps for new operating systems while stopping support for others. Back in 2014, Here was one of the few divisions at Nokia that Microsoft hadn't acquired in its multi-billion dollar deal. Since then, the mapping and navigation service has been aggressively expanding. Once exclusively available to Nokia and Microsoft-centric platforms, Here Maps is now available for Samsung's smartwatch, Android as well as iOS. "You cannot be delusional about this one. HERE Is a huge loss for the Windows Phone community," tweeted long-time Microsoft watcher Paul Thurrott.
i know people who bought a nokia phone just for here maps. it was cheaper than buying a device from garmin or tomtom. this is a proper blow for the platform.
Unless Microsoft comes with a deal with Here Maps, most consumers will shun Windows Phone.
I'd be willing to bet that 95% of Windows Phone users have never heard of "Here Maps" before. I hadn't. Even Here Maps said that they aren't bothering because most users are perfectly happy with the built in mapping system.
From the article:
For maps, routes and navigation, we recommend using the preinstalled Windows Maps application. The Windows Maps app contains many HERE elements since Microsoft has developed it using the HERE Platform and with assets they received from HERE in 2014. Based on your comments on HERE 360 and elsewhere, we know many of you are already having a good experience using Windows Maps.
I don't respond to AC's.
Same maps, better interface. That's it in a nutshell.
The Windows 10 maps application is truly atrocious for in-car navigation in landscape orientation - the overlays cover practically the whole screen, rendering it close to unusable.
HERE maps worked, but it smoked the battery exceptionally quickly. I have the new Lumia 950XL phone, the Microsoft 'maps' program works just fine. I really see no difference except the battery lasts way longer. Also that HERE maps app wanted us to set up a Nokia user name and password to even use the program. F--- that noise! Good riddance!
I have a Windows 8.1 tablet and would really like to get HERE maps for it, as I hear it has good offline use support. I want something I can use to view maps when I'm pulled over on the road and have no data access. I can't locate an alternate download source for it. It got pulled from the Windows Store before I got the tablet. The Bing maps for Windows 10 has offline saving capability, but the Maps for Windows 8 does not have this feature.
Are you some sort of shill?
Seriously, I bought my first windows phone (520) BECAUSE of the Here Drive navigation software.
Losing this system is a huge blow. I'll try the windows mapping software, but honestly it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay with windows-- which is a shame, since I feel like from an OS standpoint it is a leap forward in usability vs Android and iOS.
FTFA:
"In the last few months, we made the HERE apps compatible with Windows 10 by using a workaround that will no longer be effective after June 30, 2016. To continue offering the HERE apps for Windows 10 would require us to redevelop the apps from the ground up, a scenario that led to the business decision to remove our apps from the Windows 10 store."
I wonder what changes on that date that forces a ground up rewrite?
I don't particularly care who takes care of the maps, whether it's Microsoft, somebody they hire, or a team of trained squirrels. Maps on Windows Phone certainly aren't going away.
I don't respond to AC's.
HERE seems like a silly name as I am already HERE. I want to go THERE!
Yes, all eight are completely thrilled.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
One of my clients issued me with one of the Nokia Winphones; it's OK although the UI is less refined than an iPhone or my Android.
(To save your alarm settings you click on an icon of an old floppy disk...wtf???) my kids certainly did not find it attractive...
The integrated Edge browser sucks on most sites...and the inbuilt GPS is so poor that even though (amazingly) Waze is about the only useful app available for it, it's effectively useless.
The integration with Office, Outlook etc however is superb.
But...where are the apps? Apart from Waze virtually no apps I find useful are available.
Microsoft, why are you prepared to piss away billions on dumb projects but then not use your cash pile to go after this segment in a less half-assed way? To break the iOS / Android duopoly you need to spend big. ....
1. Google gives away Android; pay OEMs to install Winphone 10 or whatever the heck it is called these days. Better still, launch a bunch of cheapo but secure smartphones for India, China etc. and reposition Nokia as a premium brand. Bribe Bose and others to bring out high-end speakers and shit for the hipsters. Throw in a custom connector while you're at it for added "cool". But make the battery replaceable and include an SD card slot on "neckbeard" models.
2. Many of us recall the Zune and WinCE fiascos where plenty of devs got royally fucked-over. Don't give away dev kits; PAY PEOPLE CASH to take them; bonus cash when the app is published, real large cash payment if it hits the top 100.
3. Kick start the process by bribing the top 100 Android and iOS app devs to port to Winwhateverthefuckitscalledthesedays
4. Make the devices really secure and include online upgrades for life. No ifs, no buts, no exceptions. If the FBI gets tough, relocate to Ireland and save a bundle on tax like Pfizer just did.
5. With your new secure platform, give away a decent chunk of end to end encrypted storage and mail
6. Now that Goole has EOL Picasa, develop a clone, make it free, tightly couple with phone
7. Finally have an import / merge contacts tool that WORKS!
8. Bribe the crap out of the car manufacturers to provide them with in-car systems that run Winwhatsitcalled. Buy a few big OEMS who make car infotainment and control systems while you are at it.
Profit!
I'd be willing to bet that 95% of Windows Phone users have never heard of "Here Maps" before. I hadn't. Even Here Maps said that they aren't bothering because most users are perfectly happy with the built in mapping system.
I was unaware there was a built in mapping system for Windows Phone. I never heard of Here Maps/Drive until I got a Lumia 920. They are hands down the best map/navigation apps out there, imo. Nokia had a lot of top-notch apps for Windows Phone. It's too bad no one else did. If you have never used them, and they are supported on your device, I strongly recommend you check them out.