I know that i needed some time to finish the review of Sygic Mobile Maps, but that was a very busy time and then an update came along, which i wanted to integrate into the review. You know what they say: rome wasn’t built in a day either :-)

 

Since the day Nokia N900 was available on the markets, the customers realized really fast, hat there won’t be any turn-by-turn navigation software in the near future from Nokia, because the OS is too new for that, there were only “a few” N900 sold and that Maemo was already meant to be replaced through MeeGo... That is where Sygic with Mobile Maps 9 steps up into the game, right before the CeBIT in march 2010.

 

 

Since I heard about Sygic Mobile Maps, I wanted to trail this App, because i’ve already tested it on Symbian OS and had a short moment to play with it on an IPhone aswell.

 

 

Sygic had done their homework very early and wanted to place it in OVI Store for N900, but it never happened and to keep a long story short, Sygic decided to sell their product on their own shop. Meanwhile you can get a 7 days trial version of Sygic Mobile Maps 9 for Maemo in the OVI Store.

 

 

Sygic Mobile Maps is currently the only turn-by-turn navigation for N900 and perhaps for MeeGo as long as Nokia couldn’t deliver a proper navigation software like OVI Maps.

 

Sygic Mobile Maps is perhaps the only navigation software, which is running on nearly every mobile phone platform except Palm (IPhone, Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, Maemo).

 

 

For Maemo version you have to choose a region: Europe (1.8GB), US (1.2GB) or Canada (230MB). The prices differ from 39.99EUR to 59.99EUR.

 

 

 

Let’s go in medias res:

 

When you buy the app, you’ll get a Sygic Setup and after unzipping it, you have to follow the install instructions within the Sygic Assistant. It’s very easy, choose a region or a coutry, the language and connect your N900 via USB with your computer. wait for a successfully finished notice and you’re done with moving data on N900.

 

 

After that you have 3 folders (Drive, Res, Maps) with your Maps, the programm files and one Mobile Maps DEB file lying on N900. Install the App on your N900, by running the DEB file in the file manager. You have to restart your device afterwards. Now you should see the Sygic Maps icon in your Apps.

 

You have to give in your Serial Nr which was provided via email and accept the safety instructions to activate the chosen region when you run it at first time.

 

 

Before you see the main menu, the Navigation Software needs a few facts like kilometres or miles for distances or your preferred time format.

 

 

 

On the start screen, you’ll see your current position and in less than 10 sec. the GPS lock is done. I have to admit, that this is very impressive. And here is the first surprise for me: no data connection via WiFi or 3G is needed after all, because this Software is normally used in standalone GPS devices and ported to a mobile platform. Once the GPS position is found, you could end the connection (or you can use Autodisconnect). But, sometimes Mobile Maps starts the data connection in the background like on software startup, for some reasons. I couldn’t figured it out, what the cause is. Just use AutoDisconnect and you can forget this.

 

 

When you tap on the screen, you can reach the main menu. Here you can choose where to navigate to, browse the map or just go to the settings.

 

 

If you have worked with OVI Maps, Maps on iPhone or Google Maps, you’ll see the most obvious right from the start. It’s not an eye candy app after all ( bit old-fashioned UI), but it’s very efficient and has many capability to be the best navigation app. There was a little bug in the first version: the app didn’t start in full-screen-mode in the initial ralease, but this is already fixed with the first update.