Nokia will soon launch its mapping solution on Windows 8.1

Feb 21, 2014 15:26 GMT  ·  By

Nokia has recently launched its HERE Maps application on Windows 8.1, but it only worked on the Lumia 2520 tablet, so only a few users actually had the chance to give it a try.

Today, Nokia announced that HERE Maps would soon be released on all Windows 8.1 devices and as compared to the initial version, it will also get plenty of new features.

“As with the previous version of the app it is an all-in-one mapping solution, combining vector, satellite and 3D maps, points of interest, search and route planning. Complete country maps can also be downloaded for offline use, just like you may be used to doing on Windows Phone 8 smartphones,” Nokia said.

Speed will be greatly enhanced in the new version, as the company worked to make offline maps loading and navigation faster than in the current build with the help of several optimizations to the data transfer process.

“City pages, for example, now load up to four times faster, thanks to the use of progressive rendering and some clever optimisations to the data transfers,” a blog post published today explained.

At the same time, the application will support both touch and mouse and keyboards, which means that you can install it on both tablets and desktop PCs.

High-resolution satellite imagery will also be offered, with Nokia promising to include the latest updates in the app, so you’ll be able to access high zoom levels for the covered locations.

Nokia says that HERE Maps for Windows 8.1 will debut in the store in the coming days and will be offered as a free download for all users, starting with those living in North America and Europe.

Both Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 devices will be supported, which means that you’ll even be allowed to install it on Surface RT tablets.