Skip to main content | Jump to navigation menu | Web accessibility | Site Map | Without styles

FAQ for Mobile Speak Support of Ovi Maps

Mobile Speak 4.60 and up supports step-by-step navigation using Nokia Ovi Maps!

"We at TalkNav are delighted that Code Factory has taken this step to empowering Symbian handset users to access the OVI Maps product. With the demise of the Wayfinder Access GPS solution Symbian users had been left quite literally stranded, other than opting for a change of platform.” says Neil Barnfather, TalkNav owner and former Wayfinder Access dealer. “Code Factorys efforts in making OVI Maps accessible to this significant number of blind and low vision users represents the true emphasis that this company puts on making its products the very best that they can be,” added Neil.

Getting Started

What is Ovi Maps?

Ovi Maps (Ovi meaning "a door" in Finnish) is a free mapping product and service by Nokia for its mobile phones and Smartphone multimedia devices.

Which phones support Ovi Maps with Mobile Speak?

Currently Mobile Speak supports Nokia Ovi Maps v3.03 and v3.04 on the following 3rd edition devices: E66, E71, N86, C5, C5 5MP, E5, E52, E55, E72, E73, 6710, 6720, 6730, 6760, on the following 5th edition devices: 5230, 5800, N97, N97 mini, C6, X6, and also on the following Symbian^3 (including Anna and Belle) devices: 808 PureView, 700, 701, 603, 500, E6, X7, N8, E7, C6-01, C7.

Which versions of Ovi Maps are officially supported by Mobile Speak?

Mobile Speak Supports OVI Maps v3.03 and v3.04

My phone only allows me to use v2 or v3.01 or v3.02 of Ovi Maps. Is it still supported by Mobile Speak?

Although not yet officially supported, some basic accessibility may also be provided with v3.01 and v3.02 (e.g. your current location), which is supported by these additional devices: N78, N79, N81, N82, N85, N95, N96, E71x, E75, E90, 5320, 5630, 5730, 6210, 6220, 6650, 6650 AT&T, 6700 slide and 6790 Surge. Earlier versions of Ovi Maps (e.g. v2.x) are not currently supported by Mobile Speak. Note that although we do not yet officially support these versions of Ovi Maps, we may be able to support them fully in a future release of Mobile Speak. Note also that the Walk/Drive navigation requires a paid license for v3.01 and v3.02 of Ovi Maps, and it not available at all on earlier versions such as v2.x.

How do I check the version information of my Ovi Maps?

Go to Application Manager on the phone and select Ovi Maps, Nokia Maps or Maps, in the options menu activate “View Details” and you should find the version information. Alternatively, on most devices there is an accessible About screen available inside the Maps application (e.g. in Options > Support > About).

How do I upgrade or downgrade to another Ovi Maps version?

This can depend on your model of phone, and even on the firmware version (i.e. N97 requires at least a firmware version 20.x; N86 requires at least v30.009; 5800 requires at least v40.0.005; 6720 requires at least v31.022; 6730 requires at least v22.001). To check your firmware version, dial *#0000#. On most phones, when you update your firmware using PC Suite or using Firmware update over the air, the latest version of Ovi Maps available for your device is installed. On other devices, it may be necessary to download and install Ovi Maps separately. Some devices also have a “Software Update” application which will allow you to update to the latest version if it is not yet installed on your device. Here are some direct links to the Ovi Maps installer for specific devices where it may not be installed with the firmware.

My new touch device already has a version more recent than v3.04 installed and it is not very accessible. Can I downgrade to an accessible v3.04 version?

Yes. Since only v3.03 and v3.04 of Ovi Maps are supported at the moment, we recommend users of touch phones with later versions to downgrade to v3.04 using the installers and instructions given in the section "How do I upgrade to another Ovi Maps version?". After installing v3.04, it is recommended to connect to Ovi Suite to download the version of maps appropriate to v3.04 for all countries that you wish to use.

Do I need to download something or does it come pre-installed on my phone?

On the latest model phones, the application comes pre-installed. However it is possible that the latest version of Ovi Maps available for the phone is not pre-installed on the phone due to the time difference between the packaging and customer possession, so you can check the latest version available for your device using one of the methods suggested above in “How to upgrade to another Ovi Maps version”. You are also recommended to download and install the maps for your country. Please see the section "How can I download additional maps?" for information on how to do this.

Where are the maps stored? In the server or in my phone memory?

If you choose to first install the maps for your country or region, then they will be stored on your phone. Otherwise, they will need to be downloaded on demand as you navigate, which can incur charges from your service provider and slow down the operation of Ovi Maps. We therefore recommend that you pre-install your country’s maps on your device.

Can I navigate with Ovi Maps without paying for a data connection?

Yes, you can use Ovi Maps in offline mode or without having the access to internet.

How can I download additional maps?

You can download the Maps of the region of your choice using the Ovi Suite or Map loader. However, both these options have accessibility issues so an alternative web based interface may prove helpful. Check http://symbian.clanteam.com/indexmaps.htm where you can download the desired maps to your PC and then copy then directly to the appropriate place on the memory card, using the provided instructions.

Is everything free with Ovi Maps v3.03 and v3.04?

Yes, no license is required and the features are free to use. Keep in mind that some data charges may be incurred if you use Ovi Maps in online mode, or if you are using Assisted GPS (AGPS).

What if the Ovi Maps webpage is not accessible with my computer screen reader?

Apart from the Nokia Web page, you can use OVI Map Loader or OVI Suite to download Maps and can manually download maps to your phone using the web page at http://symbian.clanteam.com/indexmaps.htm. Direct links to the Ovi Maps v3.x installers are also provided above in “How to upgrade to another Ovi Maps version”.

What countries are supported?

Maps are available in over 180 countries, and voice guided navigation for both pedestrians and drivers for 74 countries in 46 different languages. It includes the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong and Macau, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City, Venezuela and Vietnam.


What features of Ovi Maps v3.03 and v3.04 which were not previously accessible with a screen reader are now fully accessible with Mobile Speak?

With Mobile Speak you can now use all menus and screens which are involved in making a voice-guided walking or driving route. This specifically includes the following items which previously were not accessible with any screen reader:

  • Main menu grid which is displayed when opening Ovi Maps (name of element, its index in the grid and the total number of elements), so you no longer need to try to memorize where the desired menu item is.
  • Grid with 3 elements that appears when you enter Walk or Drive from the main menu.
  • When entering “My position” to enter into Map mode, your current position is spoken and as you move around, any changes will be automatically spoken.
  • When in Walk/Drive mode, the distance to the next turn is spoken and, as you move, any updates are also spoken. Users can configure the frequency with which these changes are spoken, to suit personal preference. Pressing the 1 key at any time will also manually speak the distance to the next turn.
  • When in Walk/Drive mode, pressing the 8 key will speak the exact distance remaining to the destination, as well as the direction of the destination (with respect to your current heading and also as a compass direction).
  • When in Walk/Drive mode, pressing the Clear key will speak your current location.
  • When in Walk/Drive mode, the trip summary (dashboard) screen, which gives a summary of Distance, Time and Speed information for your current trip and also as a total (since the last time you reset it).
  • If you use the joystick to navigate around virtually when in Map mode, the current virtual position is spoken.
  • Map orientation is spoken when you press the Ovi Maps shortcuts 4, 5 or 6 in Map mode.
  • “Browse Categories” option that is selectable when you press joystick down from the Search screen.
  • Left and right soft key options which were not accessible in several Ovi Maps screens are now spoken.
  • Version number of Ovi Maps in the “About” screen.
  • On touch devices, the “Login” control which is located above the main menu grid.

How to use Ovi Maps

How does Ovi Maps work?

With the position data acquired using the GPS receiver and the map data available on the phone, the application can calculate your current position. Further, the application is capable of calculating the route to a destination (either driving or walking), is able to find and store POIs (Points of Interest) etc.

How do I find out my current position?

From the main menu, select “My position.” This opens a map showing your current location. Your current position will be spoken. If configured to do so, Mobile Speak will automatically speak the position again if it changes (for example, as you walk around). Additionally, you can use Mobile Speak’s Ovi Maps shortcuts to retrieve the information again.

How do I search for an address?

To search for an address select “Search” (or “Find Places” on some phones) from the main menu. This opens an editor which will allow you to enter any search term (e.g. street, restaurant name, town or park). After entering your search term, press Joystick Enter and an on-line search will be made, bringing up a list of all items matching your search which you can browse and bring up on the map. Rather than entering a specific search term, if you navigate down 1 item from the editor you will find the "Browse categories" control, which brings up another list of search items by category (e.g. Transport, Accommodation, Shopping etc). Some of the main categories may have sub-categories to further narrow down the search. Clicking on any of these will bring up a list of locations which are close to your current map origin. These can then be selected and found on the map, saved, or a Walking or Driving route to the location can then be found.

How do I create a route?

The route can be created by several methods. To create a new route starting at your current position, search for a place on the map using the above mentioned search function, select the desired position from the list of results by pressing Enter, then select “Walk to” or “Drive to” from the Options menu.

What shortcut Keys can be used with Mobile Speak?

Ovi Maps comes with a number of predefined shortcuts when in Map, Walk or Drive mode. These are explained in full detail in the Ovi Maps User Guide. Mobile Speak provides additional shortcuts (using numeric shortcuts that were either not being used by Ovi Maps, or that were of limited use for visually impaired users). The most useful shortcuts (for both Ovi Maps and Mobile Speak) are listed below. We recommend users of Touch devices to use the Keypad mode in order to have easy access to these shortcuts:

  • 1: In Walk/Drive mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the next turn. In Map mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to change Map Type (Map, Satellite or Terrain).
  • 2: In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to save the current position.
  • 3: In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to search using the "Browse categories" list.
  • 4: In Map mode: this Ovi Maps shortcut rotates the map anticlockwise. Mobile Speak will speak the new map orientation with respect to north (as a compass direction or in degrees, depending on Mobile Speak's "Orientation type" setting). In Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to repeat last voice guidance given by Ovi Maps.
  • 5: In Map mode: this Ovi Maps shortcut rotates the map so that the top of the map is facing north. Mobile Speak will speak the new map orientation (e.g. "North" or "0 degrees", depending on Mobile Speak's "Orientation type" setting). In Walk mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the map's orientation with respect to north. Note that on phones with a built-in compass, the compass is activated/deactivated each time you press the 5 key.
  • 6: In Map mode: this Ovi Maps shortcut rotates the map clockwise. Mobile Speak will speak the new map orientation with respect to north. In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut which allows user to adjust Ovi Maps TTS volume up/down using the joystick up/down keys during 5 seconds.
  • 7: In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to bring up list of route points.
  • 8: In Walk/Drive mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the total distance remaining to reach the destination, and also the direction of the destination (either with respect to north, with respect to the top of the map, or both, depending on Mobile Speak's "Destination orientation" setting). This extremely useful command allows the user to regularly check the distance to the destination, which may be particularly useful when a route is first started and the user is unsure if he/she is heading in the right direction. When in Walk mode, by default the top of the map always faces in the direction we are currently being advised to walk (which corresponds to your current heading). It is very useful in this case to set the "Destination orientation" to "Map" or "North and Map", so that the direction spoken when pressing 8 will be with respect to your current heading. Note that on devices without a compass (or with the compass deactivated) the map may take a few seconds to adjust correctly shortly before and after you make a turn, so it’s best to use this orientation information once you have walked a short distance in the same direction. This setting is also very useful on devices which have a built-in compass and accelerometer to automatically adjust the map orientation. With the compass activated, hold the phone flat in your hand so that the top of the phone is pointing in the direction you are walking, and the clockface orientation given will be with respect to your current heading
  • 9: In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps shortcut to bring up the accessible "dashboard", which is a listing of distance, time and speed for the current trip and in total. By pressing "Options" either the current trip or the total information can be reset. In Map mode: brings up inaccessible list of Ovi Maps shortcuts in Map mode.
  • 0: If map origin has changed by virtually exploring, this Ovi Maps shortcut will return the map origin to your current position. Mobile Speak will then speak the current position.
  • Clear: In Map mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the current map origin's position (this may either by your current position or your virtual position if you have started to move virtually around the map). In Walk/Drive mode: shortcut to speak your current position, regardless of whether or not the virtual map origin has changed.
  • *: Ovi Maps shortcut to zoom in the map scale. Mobile Speak will then speak the approximate distance corresponding to a screen width.
  • #: Ovi Maps shortcut to zoom out the map scale. Mobile Speak will then speak the approximate distance corresponding to a screen width.
  • Joystick up/down/left/right: change the map origin, allowing you to navigate virtually around the map. Mobile Speak will speak the new origin's position as it is moved.
  • Joystick enter: In Map mode: after navigating virtually to a new location, this will open up a menu allowing you to (amongst other things) create a route to walk to this location. Otherwise, it pops up a list allowing you to do things like save the place or provide more details about the current location.
  • In addition, Mobile Speak's Command + # may speak some additional useful textual information found on the screen (such as distance from current map origin to current position when virtually exploring in Map mode).

Which of these shortcuts will I probably be using the most while walking around?

The shortcuts which you will probably be using the most are:

  • 1: In Walk/Drive mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the next turn.
  • 8: In Walk/Drive mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the total distance remaining to reach the destination, and also the direction of the destination.
  • Clear: In Map mode: Mobile Speak shortcut to speak the current map origin's position (this may either by your current position or your virtual position if you have started to move virtually around the map). In Walk/Drive mode: shortcut to speak your current position, regardless of whether or not the virtual map origin has changed.

How to use Mobile Speak specific Ovi Maps features

How do I configure Mobile Speak Settings for Ovi Maps

On phones supporting Ovi Maps v3.03 and v3.04, a new tab called "Maps" has been added to the end of each Mobile Speak profile's configuration tab list. There are currently 5 items that can be configured:

"Automatically speak map changes": "On", "When not in Walk or Drive mode" or "Off". Allows user to control whether or not to speak changes in the map's location or next turn automatically. Default is "On" in all MS Profiles.

"Walk/Drive Map changes spoken": "All", "When street changes", "When distance halves" or "Use distance limit". If map changes are set to be spoken automatically, this setting provides further control by allowing the possibility of limiting this automatic speaking to be only when street changes, or when the distance to the next turn halves (in Walk mode), or when the distance to the next turn is less than the distance level (in Walk mode). Default is All in Normal and Beginner profiles, and "When distance halves" in Normal profile.

"Orientation type": "Compass" or "Degrees". Allows user to configure how to speak orientation information. Compass speaks one of 16 compass directions, while Degrees speaks a value from 0-360 moving clockwise from North. So for example, West in Compass mode is equivalent to 270 degrees in Degrees mode. Default is Compass in all MS Profiles.

"Destination orientation": "North", "Map" or "North and Map". This setting applies specifically to shortcut 8 in Walk/Drive mode. It controls whether the orientation to the target is spoken with respect to compass North, or with respect to the top of the map (corresponding to your heading), or both. There are three options:

  • North: Speaks the orientation of the destination with respect to your current position as a Compass direction. It will be spoken as either “Compass” or “Degrees” values, depending on the setting of “Orientation type”.
  • Map: Speaks the orientation of the destination with respect to the top of the map displayed on the screen (which in reality should correspond to your current heading once you start walking). It will be spoken as a Clockface direction (i.e. one of the 12 directions on a clock).
  • North and Map: Speaks both of the abovementioned orientations.

So for example, if you are in Walk mode and you press Shortcut 8 and “North and Map” is set, it may say “Distance to destination 545 metres, South East, 10 o’clock”. This will tell you how far remains, that the destination is at a compass direction South-East, and (assuming that the on-screen map is aligned with your walking direction), at an orientation of 10 o’clock from your current heading (i.e. ahead and to your left, at an angle of around 60 degrees from straight ahead).  The default is "North and Map" in all MS profiles.

What do I do when Nokia voice speaks at the same time as the Mobile Speak voice?

In Walk/Drive mode: Ovi Maps and Mobile Speak may sometimes speak at the same time. If using a 3rd party TTS in Mobile Speak (e.g. Acapela, Fonix or Loquendo), both voices will be heard at the same time. However, if using the Nokia or Nokia HQ TTS in Mobile Speak, the Ovi Maps and Mobile texts will interrupt each other if one tries to speak before the other has completed its text. If this is an issue, you can prevent Mobile Speak from automatically speaking map changes inside the Maps tab of Configure Mobile Speak (with the "Automatically speak changes" setting), so that any Mobile Speak speech will be fully controlled by the user.

Known issues  

What are the known issues or limitations of Mobile Speak with v3.03 or v3.04 of Ovi Maps?

Map scale information may not be available on all devices when pressing * and # (especially in v3.04 of Ovi Maps).

On Touch phones, dialing # in keypad mode while on a map may not zoom out as expected.

Features not supported: In the main Ovi Maps menu, there may appear several icons providing additional web-based services (e.g. Weather, Events, Lonely Planet and Michelin). These features are not accessible with Mobile Speak.

As there are many different minor builds available for both v3.03 and v3.04 of Ovi Maps, all combinations of minor build and device have not yet been tested. It is therefore possible that some build/device combinations may have some limitations in accessibility.

Miscellaneous

I see that a new version greater than v3.04 (e.g. v3.06) is available for my phone. Should I install it?

We do not recommend installing a version greater than v3.04 on your device, as it has not yet been tested for compatibility with Mobile Speak. Users may of course try newer version at their own risk, as they become available. It should in general be possible to revert back to an earlier version if necessary, using the installers and instructions given in the section "How do I upgrade or downgrade to another Ovi Maps version?". Feel free to report issues via the Code Factory Help Desk.

What Ovi Maps configuration settings should I change so that it works best with Mobile Speak?

We recommend that you enable Voice Guidance (using your preferred Nokia HQ voice), so that Ovi Maps can give additional information while navigating a route. This setting is found in a different location depending on your device, e.g. from the Ovi Maps main menu > Options > Settings > Navigation > Walk guidance / Drive Guidance. Information about the direction of the next turn (left/right), which is not directly available using other shortcuts, will be spoken by the Voice Guidance.

To obtain the fastest GPS positioning, it is recommended to keep “Assisted GPS” activated (as it is by default on most devices – this can be configured on your device inside the phone’s “Positioning methods” configuration option inside Settings application, e.g. Settings > General > Positioning > Positioning methods). This involves that transfer of a small amount of data (usually a few kilobytes) via an internet connection, so keep in mind any data costs which may be incurred. Note that this works independently of whether or not Ovi Maps is in Online or Offline mode.

Can I use an external Bluetooth GPS antenna?

Yes, you can use an external GPS Receiver. This must be activated by selecting “Bluetooth GPS” as one of the positioning methods inside the phone’s Settings application (e.g. Settings > General > Positioning > Positioning methods). As the location of this setting may be device specific, please check the connection instructions available in your phone’s user manual.

What is the difference between Map mode, Walk mode and Drive mode?

In the map mode, your current position is spoken and you can search or browse the map virtually. The Walk or the Drive mode is the route guided constantly keeping the track of your position and informing you of the changes as you move from one location to another.

My device has a built-in compass. How do I activate it and calibrate it?

The compass is activated/deactivated each time you press the 5 key. When activated, it may need to be calibrated each time you start Ovi Maps. This can be done in a few seconds by rotating the phone around all axes in a continuous movement, as described in the phone’s user manual.

My device has a built-in compass. How can this help me when navigating?

The built in compass, if activated and calibrated, can be very useful at the start of a route, to get you moving in the right direction if you are unsure. Once your route has been determined in Walk mode, hold the phone flat in your hand so that the top of the phone is pointing in the direction you intend to walk and press the 8 key. The clockface orientation which is spoken (e.g. 11 o`clock) will tell you the direction of the final destination, which should give you a good idea of the general direction that you need to start heading. You can repeat this at any time during your trip, to know the direction of the final destination. By paying attention also to the distance remaining, you’ll have an additional indication that the destination is getting closer as you are walking.



 

Share: