One of the best bits about the Nokia N8 is its capabilities as a satellite navigation device, thanks to an integrated GPS chip and Ovi Maps. Unlike rival phones, you don't even need an internet connection to navigate, and can download all the maps to your Nokia N8 itself. Join us after the break to find out how...
Although it usually makes sense to use a phone connection when navigating with your Nokia N8 – with the ability to get the latest traffic updates and information on local services – there are times when offline mapping is a necessity. Even if you get a contract with unlimited data, you'll usually pay a heavy price for downloading map information when you're abroad, for instance.
Check out our Nokia N8 Ultimate User Guide
With Ovi Maps 3.6 – the latest version of Nokia's premium sat-nav service from the Ovi Store – you can now download full maps straight to your Nokia, whenever you're near a Wi-Fi connection. You can choose maps by country, so if you're going on holiday you can set yourself up before you head off.
To get started, make sure you've downloaded Ovi Maps 3.06 from the Ovi Store. Earlier versions of Ovi Maps don't let you download full mapping from your Nokia N8 itself – you'll have to download them to a computer instead, and then install them separately.
Start Ovi Maps 3.06, and click the Update icon. You'll then be taken to a screen that lets you click 'Add new maps'. You can select maps by regions, and then choose from specific countries.
The maps are large in size – downloading maps for the UK as a whole takes up 245MB, for instance – so you'll need a Wi-Fi connection to download. Even so, with a fast internet connection, you can expect your chosen country to download in a couple of minutes. Once your map has downloaded, you'll have to wait a while for the map to install. Once that's happened, you can either download more maps, or carry on. Click Menu to carry on.
Now you've downloaded a map for your area, you can select offline mode. Click the Settings icon at the bottom left of the menu. Then click Internet, followed by Connection, and Offline. Click Back, and Menu, and Ovi Maps should now work without the need to download map details as you drive.
We'll be bringing you more tutorials on getting the best out of Ovi Maps on your Nokia N8 in the future. In the meantime, check out out Nokia N8 Ultimate User Guide, for tutorials on everything from setting the alarm clock, to sending emails on the go.
Confused? Check out our Nokia N8: How to use Ovi Maps in offline mode photo gallery below:
