Nokia has finally released its maps for Android and iPhone, for all smartphones including Samsung Galaxy. The Here Maps satellite navigator (today no longer Nokia) is that of Windows Phone smartphones and, although there are many other apps with maps and GPS navigators for Android, this is undoubtedly one of the best.
The main feature of this browser is the fact that, in addition to being completely free and in Italian, it can also work offline, without an internet connection.
Nokia Here Maps can be installed on all Android smartphones and on iPhones, on devices with at least 1 GB of RAM and a screen between four and six inches.
READ ALSO: Maps Here online
HERE Map s is one of the four major global online map services, along with Google, TomTom and OpenStreetMap.
The application has all the basic features expected from a complete GPS navigation tool, including turn by turn guidance and reporting of points of interest.
Compared to Google Maps and other applications, however Here Maps is perhaps the only application capable of operating worldwide, downloading maps of entire regions, even offline and completely free of charge .
So, assuming you have enough space on your memory, you can use the sat nav without having to access the internet, which is really useful abroad.
The application requires you to log in with an account which can also be that of Facebook to do first.
After installation and the first start, a notification from Here appears to install updates.
From here you can install the Italian language for navigation.
In the main menu which can be activated by touching the three lines at the top left, you can choose between two main sections: Maps and By Car .
The Auto function is that of turn by turn satellite navigation and requires you to activate GPS.
The part of the Maps instead opens the map where you can search for addresses, see your position and change the view.
The change of view, which can be done via the button at the bottom right, has three modes: satellite view, traffic and public transport .
From the search bar at the top instead you can search for addresses or even restaurants, shops, entertainment, tourist places, museums and means of transport.
For each point of interest on the map, you can touch it with your finger to add it to your favorites using the "Collect" function.
The positions of the petrol stations are visible on the map, which is very useful while driving.
You can also share a route via Email or via social networks, this function is very useful when you want to communicate an address to someone.
While driving, you can choose to view the distance traveled, the direction of travel, the expected arrival time and possible delays due to traffic.
Touching the Settings button there are additional options to optimize the choice of the path to go to get to a point.
Among these is the one for viewing buildings in 3D which can be useful when using the navigator on foot.
There is also a warning for the speed limit, so you will receive a warning if a speed higher than the allowed speed on a road is detected.
Based on my tests, the driving directions have been impeccable and the Here maps, which are certainly not new, are absolutely accurate.
Finally, in the main menu of Here Maps for Android and iPhone, you can download entire maps on the phone memory.
You can choose to download the entire road map of Italy or any other state, or just that of a region.
The roads of Lazio are a download of 167 MB so the amount of maps that can be downloaded is limited only by the amount of memory on the smartphone or SD card.
All of Europe is a 10 GB download.
Here Maps can therefore compete big with Google Maps and it is certainly more convenient than TomTom for Android which in the free version has many more limitations.
The download of Here for Android can be done for free from the Google Play Store while for iPhone it is available Here on iTunes
Those with a Samsung Galaxy can also download Here Maps from the Samsung store .
