As we reported over at N8Geeks, Nokia have recently announced the release of the new Ovi Maps at the Nokia World convention earlier this week, which boasts great new usability, a refreshing new look and its very own social check-in service, similar to the Facebook Places check-in service that was recently released on mobile devices in the US and UK with an uproar of discontent.

Okay, a few new additions, but nothing too impressive I hear you cry? Well, the new Ovi Maps 3.06 Beta brings many more features and functionality to Nokia devices and in particular the Nokia N97, which only helps to improve your overall experience of the application and the end user experience.

So, what else does the update bring? The list is as follows.If you want to download the cool new software and try it out before everyone else then check out the information after the video below. If you also want to check out the cool new check-in service by Nokia, you can do so by viewing the video – it looks pretty awesome if you ask me.

• Pinch to zoom – now Nokia N8 users can have a similar experience to iPhone users via the Maps application (only available on Symbian^3 devices)
• Visual enhancements – visually superior main menu and icons
• More maps and public transport – new maps with public transport lines (added as a new map layer) for subways, trams and trains in 80+ cities around the world. Just click the map icon and select transit lines
• Check in – keep your friends up-to-date with where you are and what you’re up to. Check in to places and share it with your friends on Facebook and lots of other social networks. See places you’ve been to in your check-in history
• New drive assistance mode with live traffic flow – after clicking drive, you’re automatically in drive assistance mode with live traffic flow and more. Once you start moving, get safety camera alerts and speed limit warnings
• Improved search functionality – now you can find places and addresses that are around you – or anywhere else in the world. Browse places or enter a keyword in the search box. Now with suggestions and “did you mean?” functionality
• New place pages – with description, reviews, pictures and places nearby. Interact with places in a whole new way – you can check in, contact, save, navigate, rate, share, report or even see place on the map
• Share a place – now you can send a place to your friends via SMS or Email. The SMS contains the address and a link to the place page with description, ratings, contact, URL and a mini map. Once clicked, the link will open up in your browser and can even be accessed by non-Nokia users.

Nokia Ovi Maps Beta 3.06 check-in service preview video

Suprisingly, there is yet to be a backlash for Nokia's choice to add a check-in service, which updates seamlessly with Facebook. This wasn't the case for Facebook's own branded check-in service, which was met with uproar from users and privacy campaigners. But, who, realistically would actually have a friend on their 'friends list' that would potentially mug, rob or hurt them?

How do I get my hands on the Nokia Ovi Maps Beta v3.06?

To get your hands on Nokia Ovi Maps Beta 3.06 then simply head on over to Nokia Beta Labs and download your copy today. If you’ve installed the application, let us know what you think of the updated software and how it could possibly be improved. Not impressed? Tell us why!

With the soon-to-be release of the Nokia N8, we have compared the Nokia N8 vs Nokia N97 for you guys to see the difference between the two handsets for yourself. If you're planning on upgrading to the Nokia N8 then this is probably good reading for any perspective viewer, though if you're die-hard N97 fan it will probably have the opposite effect.

Nokia's flagship model is far superior than the Nokia N97 in terms of technology and even the material it is made out of, but whether the N8 will overhaul the N97 in the ever competitive mobile phone market remains to be seen.

http://n8geeks.com/nokia-n8-vs-nokia-n97/

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If you're looking to ditch your Nokia N97 for the new Nokia N8 then we have a website for you; n8geeks.com - basically the same as this excellent website you see before you but it relates to the new Nokia N8 handset. Not only will you be updated with news about the Nokia N8 and it's applications, widgets, hardware etc. but you can even compare handsets, check out images of the new prodigy mobile phone and even search through our frequently asked questions to find the answer to that question that has been niggling you all day.

Head on over to n8geeks.com and take a look.

It's still the summer, believe it or not and if you're planning a getaway holiday before the summer is up, then this neat little application can help you do just that. This neat application searches through a database of over 250,000 hotels around the World, checks availabilities, current prices, check locations and even see what facilities each hotel has. Not bad huh?

So if you, or you and your friends are looking for a cheap hotel to finish off the summer in style, get downloading the HRS Hotel app from the OviStore. A lot of the hotels featured don't require you to give any credit card details until you book in and can even be cancelled up to a day before your date of arrival.

You can get the HRS Hotel app by clicking here; http://store.ovi.com/content/42592