Develop Bugs

Whats the Best Navigation App from Market?

Just wondering what everyones opinion on navigation apps vs google navigation.
I was really hoping that Navigon would release a US version for Android. I had it on my iPhone and it worked great. I also had Navigon on my HD2 and it worked great also.
I still have Navigon WM with all the US Maps and have been playing with the Navigon 2.6.1.apk all afternoon moving all the maps and nfs files to my SD card to see if I could get the app to recognize the maps but it wouldnt do it. It would probably work If I new what file to edit to get the app to see the US maps.
If anyone has any ideas on how to make Android Navigon MobileNavigator work with US maps, Please share

Why not just use google map and its navigation. I've been using the google map and navi without any problem
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

dmoses1969 said:
Just wondering what everyones opinion on navigation apps vs google navigation.
I was really hoping that Navigon would release a US version for Android. I had it on my iPhone and it worked great. I also had Navigon on my HD2 and it worked great also.
I still have Navigon WM with all the US Maps and have been playing with the Navigon 2.6.1.apk all afternoon moving all the maps and nfs files to my SD card to see if I could get the app to recognize the maps but it wouldnt do it. It would probably work If I new what file to edit to get the app to see the US maps.
If anyone has any ideas on how to make Android Navigon MobileNavigator work with US maps, Please share
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google maps is pretty awesome actually, have you tried that? coming from an iphone myself and using a variety of gps systems, google navigation is pretty nifty. the only thing it doesn't have i found useful is real-time traffic, but sprint navigation has that.

Waypoints
I would like a Navigation app which allows me to set waypoints on a long journey. Went looking for one last night, and did not find anything which filled the bill. Ended up with google maps on the laptop, which does allow you to set multiple destinations on a journey.
Sprint app seems to be the best of the ones I've tested, but their UI is worst.

Honestly i use google maps and thedefault sprint nav. They work on long trips just fine. I went from ny to atl with sprint nav and have no complaints..

After having the iPhone for 3 years and using Navigon for the last year or two I guess I just really got used to Navigons UI. And now that I think of it, its probably just all the eye candy that I am missing.
Also, I haven't really given google navigation much of a chance. It does'nt seem as easy as the advertising videos where they just select search say Navigate to where ever and google maps does the rest. Unless I am missing something and using it right.
There is a big difference between the iPhone and Android apps when it comes to the UI of the apps. I must say iPhone has a lot of awesome looking apps. Even the useless apps looked good.

re google maps
google maps is definitely by far the most robust navigation tool out there.
on the evo hold the search button then say "navigate to" then the name of your location an it would find it.
I am not sure if you are using the maps or the navigate app, They are 2 different apps, also for traffic and POI options press the layers tab, also if you are driving, you can press on the intersection you are on and turn it into full 360 street view mode while you drive this comes in really effective when you are downtown because you can see exactly what the intersection looks like

So, after playing with Google Navigation, I can see that it actually works very good. Didnt realize I had to push/hold search, say navigate to. But I did and it worked. That is Awesome!
Is there a way to add the layers to the map and save it that way or do you have to add layers every time you open the maps?

I've been pretty happy with the whole Google maps suite. I find destinations easily with the voice search, use Navigator for voice turn-by-turn directions, and My Tracks if I want to record where I've been - complete with way points and/or data points if I want to annotate with photos or just keep track of speed/distance/altitude for different legs. I can also use My Maps Editor to customize a personal map for directions to a family event and then upload it for all to use.
All of these apps are free in the Market.
But don't forget to look in the settings tab of Maps for some cool beta add-ons.

Google Navigation is one of the reasons I bought this phone. People with other operating systems (other than some nokias) have to pay decent money to get something this nice. Great program and service.

Doesn't google navigation's voice sound a little too.... text-to-speech like? I found Sprint Navigation's a bit more pleasing, and prefer that app overall to Google for some reason.
Either of them work better than my fiance's dedicated GPS unit

Google navigation is great in my opinion. If u need something else I'd recommend copilot live its in the market and is great because it doesnt need a 3g connection all the maps are downloaded to your sd card.

hydralisk said:
Doesn't google navigation's voice sound a little too.... text-to-speech like? I found Sprint Navigation's a bit more pleasing, and prefer that app overall to Google for some reason.
Either of them work better than my fiance's dedicated GPS unit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint Nav is much better than Google Nav, except it takes 20 minutes to start up and 5 minutes to search for an address (for me at least)

tried both sprint and google nav
ill stick with google nav !

shift_ said:
google maps is pretty awesome actually, have you tried that? coming from an iphone myself and using a variety of gps systems, google navigation is pretty nifty. the only thing it doesn't have i found useful is real-time traffic, but sprint navigation has that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google nav sort of has realtime traffic... if you bring up the route info where it shows the map of the route, it will highlight areas of traffic w/ different colors. Then you can go to find alternate route, and chose one that's shorter in time. I find it very accurate and helpful, just not as automated as I'd like it.

Does google nav allow you to cache a route (or better yet... maps for a region) on the device... I live in the midwest and travel on back roads where 3G is spotty at best but more often then not, it's non-existent.
I'm currently using garmin XT on WM which I love but I'm not finding a lot of nav options for android with on device maps.
Sounds like copilot is about the only option if I need on device maps? Which may not be a bad way to go... google for general nav use and copilot for backwoods navigation. Copilot does seem to priced right...

[Q] Bing Maps is crap in Europe (outside UK). Any alternative?

If there is one thing I regret from my old HD2 running WM6.5.3 it's Google Maps.
I just cannot stand Bing Maps. This soft is just terrible and totally useless for customers outside the U.S.
The maps are not accurate, and doesn't even include basic Local Search.
Try to search the word "Hotel" in Paris and Bing Maps will find you some cities named Hotel !!!!!!
Fair if Microsoft wants to impose Bing instead of Google in its WP7 devices, but only if the soft is ready to use and decent. Outside the US it is NOT.
So, did anybody find a good alternative soft that could replace this crappy Bing Maps?
Any chance we will have Google Maps on WP7 in the future?
Thanks.

Not any at this time. It depends if Google desides to make an app or not.

Ok, thanks for the answer
I hope Google will do that, because I definitely think Bing maps is a real mess (at least in Europe, I don't know if it's the same in the US).

Am pretty sure google will do a version for it, its a market share they need and co-pilot will be working on a nav system for it. If they can include iOS they will include us.
Only thing for google at the moment is the net version :s
This guy here seems to be working on a few things which might come good by merging bing with google
http://cid-a47796b098a35137.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Documents

Google will develop an app, they have one for just about every other mobile app platform.

I have no problems with Bing Maps, but I live in the US....so yeah. I'd love to see GMaps on WP7 (and there should be at some point).
MS needs to get Bing Maps up to par in markets outside the US.

lordcanti86 said:
I have no problems with Bing Maps, but I live in the US....so yeah. I'd love to see GMaps on WP7 (and there should be at some point).
MS needs to get Bing Maps up to par in markets outside the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works awesome in Canada...

Cant you just make a shortcut tile from a google maps page?

I love bing maps, im in the UK.

I'm in Poland and Bing Maps (on WM) is terrible.
Even the search engine is crap.

arturobandini said:
Ok, thanks for the answer
I hope Google will do that, because I definitely think Bing maps is a real mess (at least in Europe, I don't know if it's the same in the US).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bing is great in the US. In the future o put "in Europe" in the thread title so I dont waste minutes of my life reading it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I've had no issues with it in the UK.
All loads quickly and works fluidly.
The only thing I miss is latitude, that was genuinely useful for meeting up with friends in an unknown place.

Apparently, Bing Maps indeed works fine in the US and UK.
But in France it's a real mess. The search engine is the worst I've ever seen.
(title of the post modified)

Irish version of Bing is pants. They have NO poi data, ie restaurants, amenities, etc. However, they do have lots of satellite imagery, and birds eye views for many of the larger cities.
And when you hit the search button in Bing Maps in WP7, you don't get any local results for the map. ie it's not possible to find an address on the map.
If someone would release an app with most of the bing imagery and UI, but would Google data laid over, that would be ideal (Google does have local data for Ireland).

Freypal said:
I've had no issues with it in the UK.
All loads quickly and works fluidly.
The only thing I miss is latitude, that was genuinely useful for meeting up with friends in an unknown place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree I love Bing, and would use Bing maps (in the UK) if it was up to scratch. It's business/POI data is sparse at best.
ITO functionality it has a log way to go before it even comes close to the functionality google maps provides on WM6.5

Bing Maps is the same useless papermap in Germany as in the rest of mainland Europe, no POIs whatsoever.
Plus, it doesn't show me which way I'm facing. I thouhgt there's a compass built into every Windows Phone 7 Device !?

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20101021/workaround-local-listings-voice-search-wp7-australia/
Can you try this and see if it changes anything?

I tried exactly the same search with the word "McDonald's" in the center of Paris, and Bing Maps suddenly displayed a world wide map with absolutely no result. No POI, no address, nothing.
Maybe McDonald's restaurants are not famous enough for Bing?
It's ridiculous.
Also the quality of the graphics is so poor. The streets are all so blurry. The location is wrong. It takes minutes and minutes to download the full map.

Yep have to admit there are a lot of things I'm not so happy about with certain win phone 7 phones, but bing maps is the only reason I am holding off.
I have been trying to use Bing maps on my pc to try and get used to it, but it is useless.
I am in Australia and confirm that yes it does have ALOT of POI's (not as many as google but enough), BUT it is near impossible to use. It is not intuitive, if I am zoomed into my location, then search "Indian Restaurants", it will zoom out and go to india. I have to choose businesses, and enter a location such as "Indian Restaurant Brisbane Australia".
On top of that it seems very unreliable with results, The same search but move the map slightly in one direction removes a bunch of points on the map and generates new ones elsewhere. I was looking directly at a point, zoomed into it and it vanishes.....right...

NoWorthWhile said:
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20101021/workaround-local-listings-voice-search-wp7-australia/
Can you try this and see if it changes anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unbelievable, Bing Maps DOES have POIs here in Germany!
Thanks a lot!

Google Maps?

Any word on whether Google's working on a WP7 Google Maps app?
There's this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html, but of course, Google's TOS won't allow that to become useful.
There's also a suggestion in Google Mobile's product ideas page: http://productideas.appspot.com/#9/e=cf&t=windows+phone+7+maps
Bing is fine in parts of the U.S., but I'm sometimes in Mumbai and other cities around the world, where Bing Maps is atrociously poor.

I am hoping that either Microsoft improve their map service or Google brings their maps service to WP7.

so it's impossible to go to m.google.com/maps on a wp7 device and download google maps?

Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.

paulrockliffe said:
Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it doesn't because Microsoft has nowhere near the marketshare on smartphones that Windows has on desktops. And I think it's possible for Google to write and submit a Google Maps application for WP7 and in my opinion Microsoft will allow the application in the marketplace (because otherwise there will be a long discussion online that may affect the image of WP7 negatively).
paulrockliffe said:
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the most likely scenario.

I am expecting Google Maps on WP7 a lot, because I can't deal with Bing Maps.
In France and some european countries Bing Maps is just crap.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823953

Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.

There are 2 things I want from Google:
1. IE search to be changed from Yahoo! to Google (on the HTC HD7 in the UK), with search as you type and image search.
2. And of course, a fully featured YouTube app.
Bing is a decent mapping platform. The only feature it lacks is streetview.

kenikh said:
Google just announced it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If true, it's great
Bing Maps is slow, terribly slow outside the US
Bing Maps has no Street View
Bing search is inaccurate and uncomplete outside the US. It misses most of the things I'm looking for, and Google finds it immediately.
Google includes images search.

Why doesn't Bing have image search on WP7?

well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/

kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for Europe, Poland, Bing is worse than Gooogle, especially in searching streets etc.

Where are you ppl coming up with Bing Maps for WP7? I have looked and looked all over the web and cannot find where Bing Maps (turn by turn nav) is. It isn't built into the Bing search app on my new HD7 nor is it available at the Market.

Press the Search button at the bottom right of your phone??? Works fine for me...BTW, wanna sell that HD7 you are sending back? Sux AT&T has crap hardware.

scroll to the right (the app list)... do you not have a "Maps" application there? It was built into my phone, it should be there for yours.

Bing would be alright, if they had public transportation built into their maps. That's why i love google maps lets me know when the next bus comes.

f1restarter said:
well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great that Google search comes to WP7 . At least we will have the option to search for some images (Bing doesn't even include this basic feature).
Hope Google Maps will come soon.

kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Google maps yet (just a general Google search app).
As for why-- because Google Maps has vastly superior map and point of interest data in many, if not most, parts of the world than Bing Maps.

Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.

day2die said:
Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my phone at the moment (and of course WP7 can't do anything with files), but I'd guess that's probably the same deal as this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html
If so, that's just pulling map tiles from Google-- not enough to actually do anything useful, and Google's TOS doesn't allow it anyway.

Google Maps

So it is now in the Marketplace (!!!)
Called gMaps. Works.

it is not google maps... Google Maps have for example Latitude.

it's not a bad app, but i think that Bingle is better more features and scrolls smoother

there is a map app called Bingle Maps, it uses google maps... slow though...

Bingle > gMaps
http://mobilitydigest.com/bingle-mapsbing-and-google-maps-in-harmony-on-windows-phones/

Of course it's not original Google Maps.
However it's engine is based on Google so in the places where Bing is basically a joke
gMaps works.

There are several apps based on Google Maps available on the marketplace (TA Maps, Bingle Maps, gMaps, Advanced Maps Viewer, Cartes Pro or Maps Pro...)
But unfortunately there are all very slow. No StreetView, no Latitude. Most of the time the search function does not work at all.
My understanding is that, whatever the maps used, Microsoft force the developers to use part of the Bing system, the "Microsoft Bing maps control", which is so mediocre.
This is why maps images take such a long time to display.
This is why there is no cache memory that saves the last map image, etc...
Strangely I noticed that A-to-B is the only soft that display very quickly the map. Why?
Also Outdoor Navigation is a great app (using OpenStreetMaps), but still a bit slow. But search function works fine.
I believe we will never have Google Maps on WP7.
This is so unfair.
I hate Bing.

Why would you buy a phone with an OS from a company with a full services stack (PIM, Maps, Search, Productivity/Office, Media, etc.) and expect their main competitor to release basically a clone of their most prized app from their platform on it?
I do feel sorry for people who are stuck with Bing maps in areas where it's coverage isn't good, but... really... Why? I'm generally interested...
Microsoft and Google are fierce competitors. Don't expect any decent apps from Google outside of Google Search and Carriers Locking the browser search to Google on WP7 devices...
They won't do it. It's not even a good business decision from their standpoint, especially in their market position.
I'm sure some iOS/Android users would love Office Mobile, ZunePass, and XBL on their phones - but does it make sense? Well, for iOS they may eventually get it. Microsoft seems to love porting their stuff over to Apple's OS these days

N8ter,
Remember, Google Maps was available on WinMo... And it was pretty good.
At least there should be an official Google Maps for WP7.
It does not need to include all the features available on Android, of course, but at least the main characteristics.
To me Bing and Bing Map ruin the overall WP7 experience and makes me a disappointed customer.
I will not change my device now, but if only I knew few months ago that I would be stuck with Bing Map only then I would have probably chosen an Android device rather than WP7 My fault.

I actually made some use of Bing Maps the other day to get to a concert I was performing at and I thought it handled it really well.
It did a good job of tracking my location along the route, and listed landmarks at points to let you know you were on the right track. Was a real cool perk.
I have a whole different beef with the Maps app though, and that's that it doesn't do public transit directions. Which sucks, as the Bing Maps web app does.

arturobandini said:
N8ter,
Remember, Google Maps was available on WinMo... And it was pretty good.
At least there should be an official Google Maps for WP7.
It does not need to include all the features available on Android, of course, but at least the main characteristics.
To me Bing and Bing Map ruin the overall WP7 experience and makes me a disappointed customer.
I will not change my device now, but if only I knew few months ago that I would be stuck with Bing Map only then I would have probably chosen an Android device rather than WP7 My fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...It does not need to include all the features available on Android, of course, but at least the main characteristics.....
why the heck not ? less features is now a positive ? wtheck ?

The "funniest" thing is that you have Bing on every damned OS
and Google Maps also excluding.... WP7.
It doesn't make sense.
Anyway for those who love WP7 and doesn't want to switch those gMaps are good enough
to find a place and get position tracking. BTW this app is quite fast.

I don't think it has anything to do with Google being in competition with MS, it's because of WP7 lack of market share. That's why you see Bing on competing devices & Google Maps on iOS. The Bing team for example doesn't care about making WP7 look good, their goal is to get as many people using Bing as possible.
I bet there are divisions and people within MS that would like nothing more then to have WP7 fail, like the Windows group, so they will be able to put mobile under their control.

arturobandini said:
N8ter,
Remember, Google Maps was available on WinMo... And it was pretty good.
At least there should be an official Google Maps for WP7.
It does not need to include all the features available on Android, of course, but at least the main characteristics.
To me Bing and Bing Map ruin the overall WP7 experience and makes me a disappointed customer.
I will not change my device now, but if only I knew few months ago that I would be stuck with Bing Map only then I would have probably chosen an Android device rather than WP7 My fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep and without tbt navy and feature disparity compared to the android version. Unless ur a latitude user binge maps is superior to Google on winmo.
Still have my HD2. just checked them.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

phoneguy 4567 said:
I don't think it has anything to do with Google being in competition with MS, it's because of WP7 lack of market share. That's why you see Bing on competing devices & Google Maps on iOS. The Bing team for example doesn't care about making WP7 look good, their goal is to get as many people using Bing as possible.
I bet there are divisions and people within MS that would like nothing more then to have WP7 fail, like the Windows group, so they will be able to put mobile under their control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes bit the its version is missing the same features the android version is. Lots of people get android because of the free turn by then and add on apps like tracks which are missing on non android devices.
Google also doesn't update the non android versions as well.
Microsoft should have release wp7 binge maps on feature equality with the wm version and just updated it when they switched to .ovi. There was nothing preventing them from doing that.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

My understanding is the WP7 team came up with their own version of Bing, which is separate from what the Bing team is working on. If MS doesn't care that WP7 has a worse implementation then competitors get why would Google care about WP7?

The problem is that Microsoft has better implementations for competitors products like wlm for ios, but Google would never allow a division of their company to support ios/android over or better than android. Microsoft does allow this apparently.
It doesn't help consumer confidence, and its just plain dumb.
That's why a Google maps app would only be about as good on wp7 as bing is right now, only using Google data (which would help some users). Google never release apps on other platforms on feature parity with their android apps.
Those complaining about binge search can use the Google app that may get pulled from marketplace soon since I think its just a webpage lol
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

P.s. Google would care about Wp7 because mining data from 1000001 users is better than mining data from 1000000. Google entire business model is built around monetizing user data. That's why they wasted no time in releasing their happy little Google search app and they have deals with carriers like t-mobile to lock the browser search to Google...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

same you "it is not google maps... Google Maps have for example Latitude."

gmaps is sloooowwww

WP7 philosophy: Are MS blocking some apps in order to impose their own services

Hello,
I have a sincere and honest question. I came to a conclusion but I hope I am wrong...
- I notice that several months after WP7's launch there is still no official Google Maps app, still no official YouTube app, still no Google Earth app, almost no GPS navigation apps with offline maps.
- All the non official Google Maps alternatives created by third party developers are pretty slow. I asked some developers why, and have been replied that the main reason is that Microsoft forces them to use the apparently sophisticated but very slow Bing map system based on Silverlight (for zooming). As a result the map image takes between 30 seconds to 1 full minute to display on my phone (what a shame). I tested and compared with two iPhone and Android phones using Google Maps, same place, same network, the map image appear in less than 10 seconds.
- Today Shape Services, the developer of IM+ announced that it will not have Windows Live Messenger support because Microsoft doesn’t allow it.
http://www.wpcentral.com/im-will-not-support-windows-live-messenger
Therefore I am starting to wonder why I cannot have Google Maps on my phone. Why so many GPS developers (such as CoPilot or Tom Tom) refuse to join WP7. Or why IM+ cannot have Windows Live Messenger support.... ??
And unfortunately my conclusion is that MS are maybe taking this terrible approach:
* MS refuse to allow apps that they think will duplicate functionality,
* Mainly MS actually want to impose their own services, such as Live Messenger, Skydrive, Bing and Bing Map, despite such services are either not available or mediocre in certain territories. In particular I am thinking of Bing Map which is so bad that it is almost unusable outside UK and US.
Microsoft have the right to take this kind of Apple's approach, ok. But then, as a customer, I would like to know it as soon as possible.
--> Practically does it mean that if I am using WP7 I will be forced to use Bing Map instead of Google Maps, MSN videos instead of YouTube, Bing instead of Google search, etc?
--> Practically does it mean that, as a customer, I will not have the choice between several alternative apps having similar functionality, just because MS will not allow them? For instance, does it mean I will never have the right to use an alternative Keyboard (Swype for instance) instead of the keyboard MS force me to use?
For instance does it mean that there will be no alternative player than Zune? (which also means no DivX|avi, the customer being bound to the only codecs MS will allow)
If so, I would like to know, because it's a weird philosophy, and a philosophy which I am definitely not ready to accept anytime soon... I don't want WP7 to be a new IPhone, even more locked down, with no freedom of choice at all...
Especially if I am totally not satisfied with the quality and efficiency of the various MS services such as Bing.
I probably made the wrong choice after WinMo and was maybe silly to stay loyal to MS.
Am I wrong?
Any clue?

It is google blocking its services from microsoft. They want android to succeed so they dont even give us the code for a youtube app (they gave it to apple for the origional iphone) let alone a google maps. Half of that is pure speculation so don't quote me on it but u try to watch a video in the stock YouTube app (the one in the market made by microsoft) and tell me how it looks.

Not sure why you are surprised, MS has made it clear that WP7 is going to be more tightly controlled than WM was but even then, they are not as draconian as you think. There is a gps program with offline maps available in Germany, Navigon. They have been asked several times if/when their program would be available elsewhere and their response seemed to indicate they were waiting for more users to come on board before releasing it.
As for youtube, MS recently filed a complaint in Europe against google claiming they are not allowing MS the proper access to deliver a better youtube experience. Even then, you have Supertube and Lazytube so I'm not sure what else is needed.
As for google maps, thats a google product and unless it is required that all mapping programs use bing (which is not the case, check GPS Navigator aSpass http://wmpoweruser.com/gps-navigator-aspass-provides-off-like-gps-map-caching/) that is up to google to make available. Swype wont be happening, been said a few time if I recall correctly.
Seems this time around MS it keeping a tight reign on certain categories of applications to ensure WP7 gives a consistent user experience. Just another factor to consider before purchasing a WP7 device.

Thanks for your replies,
So, i understand that WP7 will never have any official YouTube app or any official Google Maps app in the near future.
I can deal with LazyTube/SuperTube to replace YouTube
I cannot deal without the official Google Maps app, as all the other maps are too slow and too basic (no PoI, no Street View, etc).
And what about the fact that Microsoft refuses that Shape Services includes Windows Live Messenger support in IM+
And mainly, what about the fact that it seems almost impossible on WP7 to have:
- an alternative keyboard
- an alternative browser
- an alternative media player?
Whatever IE mobile is ok, whatever the WP7 keyboard is correct, it is a question of choice.
What about if people would like to use Swype instead of the regular WP7 keyboard, or Opera instead of IE?
At least would it be just possible to use such alternative programs? Or is MS' approach to forbid any alternative app?

efjay said:
Seems this time around MS it keeping a tight reign on certain categories of applications to ensure WP7 gives a consistent user experience. Just another factor to consider before purchasing a WP7 device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be fine only if services proposed by Microsoft were available worldwide (which is not the case) and were decent (which is not the case).

Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)

Newness and Nokia
Hi all
I think that the problems and limitations of WP7 are to do with the fact that it is a new OS. The Mango update will bring a lot of APIs which developers will use to make better applications.
Also, I don't think Microsoft will let WP7, or any of it's main products, fall far behind the competition and I think that part of the deal with Nokia is to bring better mapping/navigation software to WP7 specifically.
Android has clearly had a lot more investment but in a couple of years WP7 will be a serious competitor.
Cheers
andrew-in-woking

arturobandini said:
Hello...
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You've expressed your issues with Bing Maps a lot here but as I said before Microsoft is probably waiting on Ovi Maps to integrate into the OS to make the services useful outside of the US/UK. So I think your frustration will last a little while.
As for Google services I would guess it's more about Google not being interested in WP7 at the moment and Microsoft being happy to have that pretext to promote Bing. It's a new OS so I'm sure that will change eventually. Also remember Microsoft filed a complaint about Google so I might not be too far off.
Copilot, Tom Tom, etc. not being there is just about them not seeing the point with a small user base, that should change too eventually.
Now choice I'm afraid will stay limited. I think clearly WP7 wants to be somewhere between Android and iOS but much closer to iOS (for now at least). I think they will want the OS to mature before allowing alternative solutions (Opera and Skyfire came a while later on iOS). So yes I think you bought the wrong phone as I doubt all this will change in the short term and maybe Android is what you need until WP7 is a strong player.
Personally I'm happy the way things are as WP7 aims to be an OS about integration and that's harder to make when there's too much choice. I'm annoyed about IM+ not having WLM messenger but after Mango that would have been redundant (I would have preferred to have it until Mango, they could have removed it later). Ideally they should be aiming to integrate all IM services to messaging (a huge task). Same goes for other services.

gremmmy said:
Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)
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Surfcube is still IE at its core though.

gremmmy said:
Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)
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That's not completely correct. Surfcube - just like other browsers available on the marketplace - is built upon the IE engine. So all that's different from IE is the UI on top of the engine. Currently it's impossible to provide browsers with other engines like Opera for example due to the lack of APIs. I don't know whether this will change with mango or not.
As a matter of fact, Microsoft is at least partly going a way Apple has been going with their products for years. If you want a mobile device with an OS that you can tweak to your personal desires, you should go for an Android.

Remember, APIs for wp are in their infancy, mango will extend them, who knows how much. But a company like Microsoft push out they first party app and services first is fine with me. If they work right, I won't have to look for an app that does the exact same thing. I love the fact that I don't have to load a crappy Facebook app just to post one thing, or having a built-in upload to Facebook in the camera. And now with the new APIs with integrating apps into different hubs and apps, should "save us from our phones" more.
And for IM+ it could be API isn't available for Live messager.

I'm afraid we won't see any Google Maps before Ovi integration with Bing.
As for browsers all available now are just IE with different UI.
I remember Opera saying they are not interested in making a browser right now.

no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.

pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway?
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That's the most used IM client worldwide.

pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.
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Why didn't you just have him go to www.live.com?
And as stated, its the most used IM in the world. Skype is second.

pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.
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skype will have Microsoft logo soon..... and it will be on WP7 included in the OS...
and as someone said Windows live massanger is the most used IM in the world..

if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
as you can see they talk about a a "deal" between miyowa and microsoft for wlm
http://blog.miyowa.com/?p=1118
just search more posts and you can see they mention multiple times have some sort of agreement...
i know its far fetched but i think its more likely that the agreement they made included exclusivity until ms made their own native app. IMO this sounds more reasonable than not allowing duplicated functionality
edit:
personally i hate this, i would like to uninstall the miyowa app (its crap) and use im+ while we wait for native wlm.

revrak said:
if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
as you can see they talk about a a "deal" between miyowa and microsoft for wlm
http://blog.miyowa.com/?p=1118
just search more posts and you can see they mention multiple times have some sort of agreement...
i know its far fetched but i think its more likely that the agreement they made included exclusivity until ms made their own native app. IMO this sounds more reasonable than not allowing duplicated functionality
edit:
personally i hate this, i would like to uninstall the miyowa app (its crap) and use im+ while we wait for native wlm.
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You might have a point there as everything gets dropped except Miyoma Messenger which is so crap I'd rather not have WLM rather than using it. They should be banned from making another app ever again.

revrak said:
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
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Or it may be with the way IM+ implemented WLM functionality. This could've taken some reverse engineering.

revrak said:
if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
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Click to collapse
And don't forget that just-added official Evernote app, which kind of directly competes with the OneNote/SkyDrive/Mesh combo (and currently beats it, IMO).