[sketchy9]

I know that Nokia Maps is the "official" mapping application on WP8, but honestly I prefer Bing Maps (the traffic feature on Nokia Maps seems inferior to Bing Maps). Bing Maps is still installed, as it's launched by virtually every app, but there is no way to launch it directly. Does anyone know how to go into Bing Maps directly?

-R

[WPmunkey]

I think both apps use the same database for traffic info.

Bing Bing Maps now using Nokia Backend services for Traffic and Geocoding - Bing Maps Blog - Site Blogs - Bing Community

[Totalfixation]

Another problem with nokia maps is you cant do voice command on it.

I dont mind the nokia maps so much. Might be a factor of getting use to it, but without the voice command to input my address it could be very unuseful to me.

[awesomeplant]

Hoping for an answer on this too... I miss some things about the WP7.5 maps app :/

[glassadam]

I just miss the way Bing maps did that cool fade in thing when you'd zoom in or out really quickly. It was a really neat and clever way to mask the loading, whereas Nokia maps just does what every other mapper does with squares that just abruptly get filled in.

[jwinch2]

Another problem with nokia maps is you cant do voice command on it.

I dont mind the nokia maps so much. Might be a factor of getting use to it, but without the voice command to input my address it could be very unuseful to me.

I could not agree with this more. I am making the transition from android where google maps and google navigation had this feature and it worked very well. I could touch the search button on my phone, hit the mic button, and say "navigate to..." and it would pull up the navigation app in google maps and start the process. It worked almost flawlessly.

I dearly hope that nokia drive and maps will get that integration, preferably from the search screen or the voice command function.

[MaulerX]

Another problem with nokia maps is you cant do voice command on it.

I dont mind the nokia maps so much. Might be a factor of getting use to it, but without the voice command to input my address it could be very unuseful to me.

Do this:

I just held the home button to start voice and said "Search (my address)". The top result was a small map with my address. I clicked on it and then clicked on the link with my address on the map. Clicked on direction and it instantly opened up Nokia Drive with turn by turn voice directions.

It works great.

[jwinch2]

Do this:

I just held the home button to start voice and said "Search (my address)". The top result was a small map with my address. I clicked on it and then clicked on the link with my address on the map. Clicked on direction and it instantly opened up Nokia Drive with turn by turn voice directions.

It works great.

That worked ok for a city search. I'll have to try it out with some specific addresses. Thanks for the tip!

Either way, it would be a smart function to include in the app itself or to provide a "navigate to" function in the start voice.

[MaulerX]

That worked ok for a city search. I'll have to try it out with some specific addresses. Thanks for the tip!

Either way, it would be a smart function to include in the app itself or to provide a "navigate to" function in the start voice.

I hear you. But it does work for specific addresses too. I just did it! In fact, I think it works extremely well.

[Billy Donkervoet]

I wrote a free app that just opens Bing Maps. You can find it in the store under the name FastMaps or you can go to the site here.

It was just published to the store today but I already submitted a bug fix; there was a problem with the location detection. It still opens Bing Maps but the option to open to your current location is broken without the update, which should go through quickly.

Thanks and enjoy!

[adamjamess]

Thanks for being awesome billy

[Philippe Maes]

Or this: Maps | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)

[jwinch2]

I hear you. But it does work for specific addresses too. I just did it! In fact, I think it works extremely well.

Yep, I have used it several times now, with good success. What I have found is that if I don't add the word "map" at the end of my query, it won't always pull a map up. So, for example I would say something like "search for, 555 main street, Chicago, Illinois, map". That has worked every time I have tried it.

Having said that, I still believe that not having a voice search navigation option built into Nokia Drive is a big omission and should be remedied. It also should tell if exits and locations are on the right or left.

Regards,