Lumia 800: Google Maps? (20th May 2012)

The full Google Maps website on Nokia N900 is viable, if I plan and save the routes with my laptop first. I’ve been yearning for a better solution, like the Google Maps app for iPhone which Fiona uses. You can’t seem to tweak the routes it gives, though, so in that respect the laptop with full website solution is pretty neat.

First Impressions

  1. The normal Maps app and the Nokia Drive app are pre-installed.
  2. Neither seems to offer an easy way to set alternative routes to the first one they suggest.
  3. This limitation makes them unusable to me. As a cyclist, I choose routes which balance distance against fewest and safest junctions.

Full Google Maps Website on Lumia 800

  1. To start with, visit the normal Google Maps website.
  2. This will probably redirect you to the Mobile version, called Places.
  3. This site works but only generates small, static images.
  4. At the bottom of the browser, press the … button.
  5. This gives a list of options. Scroll down and click Settings.
  6. Scroll down and change Website preference to Desktop version.
  7. Press the ← button.
  8. You’re back at the Places page.
  9. Refresh the page.
  10. The resulting page might look broken, with no images displayed and just a list of text links.
  11. Scroll to the bottom and where it says View Google in, click the link called Classic.
  12. For me, That changes the URL to this: https://maps.google.com/maps?nomo=1&ui=maps
  13. The nomo=1 part probably means “not the mobile site, please” while the ui=maps part is repeating the maps parts earlier in the URL.
  14. Yay!

You can ensure you get the full map experience every time without hacking URLs. When you are on that page, do this:

  1. At the bottom of the browser, press the … button.
  2. This gives a list of options. Click Add to Favourites.
  3. Click the OK tick.

To see your Favourites at any time you’re in Windows Explorer, just click the … and then click Favourites.

  1. Received my Nokia Lumia 800 Cyan!
  2. Sync WLM Calendar via Hotmail
  3. Sync Contacts with WLM via Hotmail
  4. Foreca Weather App by Microsoft
  5. gMaps App?
  6. Google Maps?
  7. Photos & Sharing
  8. Timer
  9. Vodafone
  10. Received my Monster Headphones
  11. Software Update via Zune
  12. Windows Phone 7.8!
  13. New Screen Protector