We first downloaded Ovi Maps 3.06 before Christmas, and have been getting to grips with Nokia's finest free app ever since. We were impressed the first time we tried it, but join us after the break to see if it's all we were hoping for...

The new menu for Ovi Maps 3.06 is nicer looking than the old one, with clear icons and the ability to customise it. You can choose different options to appear on the menu, and it works well.

It's easy to set a destination when looking at maps, with big onscreen buttons, and Nokia has also incorporated pinch-to-zoom technology for maps on Symbian ^3 devices. The app gets a quick sat-nav fix using our Nokia N8, and we also found the compass feature works very well, once you've taken a couple of seconds to calibrate it.

The maps are incredibly clear and well rendered, and very easy to follow. We used the Nokia N8 to navigate with Ovi Maps 3.06, and were impressed with battery life – which even lasted well during longer journeys.

Most of the time, Ovi Maps 3.06 also proved the perfect travel companion when it came to directions. We found our destinations easily and without issues, and it's every bit as capable as a stand-alone sat-nav device.

The inclusion of transit lines comes in particularly useful when navigating London – and knowing where the train lines go also mean you don't need to consult a tube map when deciding which station you need.

We also like the comprehensive Lonely Planet guide built into Ovi Maps 3.06, which now offers information on the nearest tourist attractions as soon as you run it. The Lonely Planet guide also offers information about the largest city in the region.

Ovi Maps 3.06 is still at a beta stage, however, so it's not perfect. On occasions, we've been instructed to drive up a road, only to be told to come back again at the next roundabout – although this has only happened twice during over 500 miles of driving.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Ovi Maps 3.06 is its stability. It's never crashed or frozen during the time we've been using it, and it's always quick to respond. As with Ovi Maps 3.03, it's also easy to sync with maps.ovi.com, letting you plan your routes on your computer first, and then sync them wirelessly.

Overall, we're even more impressed with Ovi Maps 3.06 than older versions of Ovi Maps. It's evolved well, now offering more features than ever, and we think it's definitely one of the best apps for your Nokia.

Check out our Ovi Maps 3.06 review photo gallery: