Android Lollipop gets even sweeter with updated HERE app

Since the introduction of HERE for Android few weeks ago, we have been listening to your feedback and quickly working on reported issues. Today, a new beta is available for download from here.com and in the coming days also in the Samsung Galaxy Apps store.

We thought you would love to have a go at HERE for Android while it’s in beta. Almost a million downloads later you rated our app with 4 out of 5 stars in the Samsung Galaxy App Store and you’ve given us valuable feedback for future releases. Your detailed reports helped us bring a new, improved version of HERE for everyone and we couldn't have brought you  these updates so quickly without your input. Thank you!

Voiced turn-by-turn navigation from HERE offers safety and convenience when you're driving. We've now ensured that the downloaded voice files are kept safe and sound. The fix means that you will have to redownload any non-English voices. But they won’t accidentally disappear anymore if you’re using a ‘cache cleaner’ app on your smartphone. Many of you also suggested bringing new languages, which we will consider in the future versions.

With Android Lollipop being released earlier this week and knowing how many of you love to have the latest software on your phone, we made sure that HERE for Android plays nicely with it. We fixed the bug that stopped the application from starting and we are looking forward to hearing what early fans of Android Lollipop think about HERE for Android.

There are also several under-the-hood improvements aimed to make HERE for Android a more stable travel companion.  To install the latest beta version head over to http://here.com/beta/android/ to grab the new .apk-file and follow the same installation instructions as last time. You don't need to uninstall the old version - it will simply be replaced by the new one - and your recently updated offline maps will be available without having to download them again. As noted above, you will need to redownload any extra voice files you've installed, however.

Download using your Android smartphone:

1. Tap on ‘Get the app now’.
2. Confirm the download and choose the directory on your smartphone in which you’d like to store the apk file (e.g. “Downloads”).
3. Open a file manager on your smartphone and tap the directory to which you downloaded HERE_beta_220.apk. If you do not yet have a file manager installed, you can go to the Google Play Store and install e.g. ES file explorer, Astro file managerorFile Expert.
4. Tap HERE_beta_220.apk to start the installation.
5. Your phone will ask you to allow the installation. To do that, go to Settings in your phone, then Security (which could also be under Settings > More Options). Then tick the “Unknown sources” box. This allows apps from sources other than the official app store to be installed on your phone.
6. When the installation is finished, you can open the HERE app from the app drawer.

OR

Download using your PC:

7. Download the HERE_beta_220.apk file to a folder on your PC (e.g. “Downloads”)
8. Connect your Android phone to your PC (e.g. via USB cable or Bluetooth). Remember to unlock the screen, if it’s locked.
9. Open the file explorer on your PC and copy the HERE_beta_220.apk from the directory where you downloaded it to a directory on your phone.
10. Disconnect your phone from your PC.
11. Open a file manager on your phone and tap the directory to which you downloaded HERE_beta_220.apk. If you do not yet have a file manager installed, you can go to the Google Play Store on your phone and install e.g. ES file explorer, Astro file manageror File Expert.
12. Tap HERE_beta_220.apk to start the installation.
13. Your phone will ask you to allow the installation. To do that, go to Settings in your phone, then Security (which could also be under Settings > More Options). Then tick the “Unknown sources” box. This allows apps from sources other than the Google Play Store to be installed on your phone.
14. When the installation is finished, you can open the HERE app from the app drawer.

In a few days, the update will also be available through the Samsung Galaxy Apps store. If you have the original version downloaded from this store, you will receive a notification on your phone when the update is ready to download. To check for updates manually, search for HERE in the Galaxy Apps store.

We're continuing to smooth out more rough edges from HERE for Android, so when you find bugs or have feature suggestions, leave a note below for us and we will forward it to the development team.

image credit: Martin Fisch