They probably use the same database of info for all the devices they support and "compile" the correct format on the device when you download it. That's the only reason I can see it doing the installing thing after a download.

Their "maps" for the US are half-assed. In Nokia's OTHER map software for the N95 you can select what individual states you'll need and it downloads each one one after the other. The problem is that MANY ISPs are probaby ganking those 600+MB downloads ala Comcast using Sandvine. Of course it's not a problem for Europeans since their ISPs aren't doing that (at least T-Mob in Germany did when I lived there) and their map downloads are smaller.
Nokia needs to get on the ball and in addition to USA-East and USA-West (pick a side, we're at war...) they should allow individual state downloads. I mean, right now I only need Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska (home of Bill Braaaaasky!) so why the hell should I be forced into constant failed downloads of 600+MB of data I don't need?
Also, the more stuff Nokia launches here the more they need to think about putting a state-side server mirror. Remember, almost all our international traffic is being "copied" now to the NSA...

I can't even download the 1MB Singapore map. Something's wrong with their damn servers I guess or they have them "locked down" to prevent people with N800 MAC addresses from downloading from the servers until a set date/time. My conclusion on the new built-in map program?
To hell with it, and the built-in email and RSS feed reader. I swear, for every two steps Nokia makes forward with this thing they take three steps back.
TomTom on my N95 stomps *** over all others to me.

And that's Nokia's problem?

Sure is. Go learn how networks work before trying to be a smartass.

I can't update the available maps. When I press refresh, it says failed to update map list. what is the problem?

I add my thanks here too. This trick worked for me. I downloaded Singapore just to test and it worked. Now downloading US west. So far even tho os08 is incomplete, it's sure looking good to me.

update: The download for US west is *verrrrry* slow, hence it looks for all the world like it isn't working. Staring at the progress bar *verrry* closely tho, revealed a one pixel move in about a minute...or more

I found the same thing. The message was not very helpful. It was saying the maps failed to download but in reality the card was just getting full.

I had to free up bunch of space on my internal card. I had plenty of space on my external card but it was ignored. I also deleted the partialy download maps directory and then had much better luck.

I have downloaded the eastern US.

I am finding the map data must be quite old also. The street I live on does not exist in their maps. The street has existed for at least 2 years. I moved into the house a year ago. The street already existed when we bought the lot about 20 months ago and had grass growing along the side walk. The street exists in google maps, virtual earth...

Well then they have a mirror! We should ask them if we can use it. Though I think they have to ask for Google's permission first.

You do have to have room on your internal sd card, but it took me a little while to figure out how to download maps seperate from that.

In "Map" you go to the main menu and select "maps." Then you see a window with "Maps in device" and "Available maps." When you select "Available maps" nothing is there BUT if you click on the "Refresh" button on the bottom a list of maps is downloaded. Then you choose your map and download.

Maybe that was obvious to everyone else but it took a dunce like me a while to figure out.

lol....
:-)

I Know what you mean, i have gone through the same a while ago..