https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9P3xf85R1w
HERE, the maps app by Finnish company Nokia, is now in beta phase and can be downloaded from Google Play. Previously, the app was only limited to selected Samsung Galaxy devices, but is now available to download for all Android devices for free.
HERE promises to be different from the plethora of navigational apps by allowing the user to use the app’s navigation service without an active Internet connection. The app also aims to help users get around a particular area by not only showing the optimal routes to take when driving, but also when using public transportation or even by walking; both aspects of which are largely overlooked by many navigational apps nowadays.
Besides the maps and navigation features, the app also has an option to share your location to notify friends and families of your whereabouts. Aptly called Glympse, users will be able to share their location by selecting a destination as per usual, but instead of selecting the “directions” button, users can press the “share” button to share their location through a number of social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, or through less conventional methods like email and messages. Users will also have some degree of customisability when it comes to sharing their whereabouts; they will be able to disclose the duration of their stay at a particular area and even include a personal message.
For now, the app is only available on Android as well as Windows Phone devices. An iOS version of HERE Maps is currently in development, and is slated for an early 2015 release. For more information on the navigational app, feel free to head on over to the official page, or the Google Play Store listing for the app.
