Windows Phone 8.1 Denim - can no longer switch maps storage to SD card

Anonymous
2015-02-23T09:54:05+00:00

We run a number of Windows Phones (all Lumia) in our organisation.

Now we have a big problem with a new Lumia 735 which runs Windows 8.1 Denim.  It used to be possible to store maps data on an SD Card by using Lumia Storage Check Beta to direct map downloads there.  Now Lumia Storage Check Beta seems no longer to be available in the UK.  I read somewhere that Lumia Storage Check Beta does not work with the Denim update to Windows Phone 8..

Is there any alternative way of storing maps on the SD card?  If there isn't, it's crazy.  There is 8GB phone memory on the Lumia 735, of which 5GB is already used up by the OS and applications that can't be moved to the SD card.  All that will be moved, have been moved.   That leaves only 3GB on a new phone, without any downloaded maps.   Downloaded maps can total several Gigabytes if you need to put several European countries on.  Not being able to move them to the SD card means Here Maps and Here Drives are effectively useless.

Please advise if there is an alternative way of putting maps on the SD card. This is a serious flaw. Many thanks.

Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2015-07-01T09:38:32+00:00

Can anybody comment on this? I found this on a Dutch forum and it could be an explanation why Microsoft is not reacting or changing the feature to store maps on SD card with "storage control"

Nokia HERE is no longer standard in Windows Phone 10. The new Bing Maps also have the ability to store maps offline and also has voice navigation, This is the default maps app for all Windows 10 devices, including the telephone.

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Anonymous
2015-02-23T14:43:23+00:00

To supplement, the issue of offline maps only installing in phone memory remains unsolved in the current build of Windows 10 Technical Preview for Windows Phone. Just tested out of curiosity, since this is also a shortcoming on my Lumia 630 currently enrolled in the preview.

Offline maps are shared with the Bing maps application, which cannot be moved to SD memory.

This may be a challenge for the developers to sort out, and the root cause this is unsolved?

(Applications and data is better protected when stored in phone memory).

It's a feature request since 2012:

https://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/3444340-save-maps-to-memory-card

Roaming costs for data in EU are capped at €0.20 + VAT per Megabyte since July 2014 and may be more affordable with some operators and specific plans for travelling.

http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming-tariffs

This is not an excuse for Microsoft to not sort this out, just me trying to figure out a workaround.

If possible, please try and escalate through your organisation and their contacts with Microsoft?

This forum is mainly user-to-user and even if escalated it could be a long wait.

--

Hans

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-11T11:21:28+00:00

    If Microsoft thinks it can go its way and does not care for its loyal users, it should change it's thinking. 

    I have both wp 8.1 phone and google nexus phone with marshmallow automatically downloaded.  Whereas for WP10 we have to wait like beggers. 

    I was planning to buy a 6" phone with wp os but changed my mind and bought android phone. 

    If we can't move maps to sd card then,  many of us who were with Microsoft from msdos days will not hesitate to discard Microsoft products. 

    Wakeup Microsoft. An Indian CEO should understand an Indians feeling.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-22T21:27:47+00:00

    And then the stooges ask that you click the Helpful button on a decidedly unHelpful solution!

    good luck

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-22T12:42:04+00:00

    I am not sure if this is really great news. Maybe I don't want Windows 10, maybe Windows 10 needs more memory/cpu etc. (I think it would be the first time in history that a new OS needs less of it). But now it is clear why no one of Microsoft or Here tries to solve our "sd-card-problem" - They just stopped working on WP8.1 and want that we buy a new phone. I have a lumia 730 from spring 2015 (main reason for buying: Here Drive Offline Nav)  and just a few weeks after buying it got useless - I feel deceived.

    In the last few months I have spent hours and hours for communication with Microsoft/Here (lots of chat and email).

    Now I want to let you know how "helpful" Microsoft/Here Customer Support is (in a very compressed/summarised sequence):

    1. I am from Austria, so I did more then one chat with the german customer support from Microsoft. Result: Absolute useless/senseless answers!
    2. Chat with the customer support in the USA. Result: Just the same!
    3. Some time later I started a new attempt with the german support and after a long chat (again with very useless answers) I got an unbelievable answer: The "support people" cannot ask questions or report problems to the right people/developer/departments etc. It is not possible/allowed for them to do this. And it's the same in other languages/countries.
    4. I wrote a detailed description of the problem and sent it to the official complaint department in the USA (the one and only helpful hint of the german support guy) and also to "Here" (now it's about 3 months ago). Result: Still no answer from Here and a frustrating communication with Microsoft: The very senseless answer from Microsoft (Mobile Device Support, summarised): "big countries/areas need large storage, small countries/areas need small storage. Buy a memory card!" LOL ;)
    5. I sent the whole complaint again and criticized that they were obviously unable or unwilling to read it - otherwise they wouldn't have sent such a useless answer. And I also asked why no one from Microsoft or Here can give a clear statement about the whole "maps-offline-sd-card-problem" (reasons? when can we expect a solution?).

    I got the following answer: "We understand your frustration regarding this matter. In response to this, please be informed that starting from the 26th Oct 2014 the support for the HERE Drive owned location apps is handled directly by the HERE team. The HERE team will support the Windows and other platform based apps (e.g. HERE Drive, HERE Maps, HERE Transit, HERE City Lens and the corresponding branded apps)."

    So Microsoft says it is a fault by Here. By the way: Here belonged to Nokia which was bought by Microsoft. In different newspapers I read that most of the Nokia people got fired, so I say it is a problem caused by Microsoft.

    1. A few days ago I found one statement from Here at their homepage. Two people criticized the problem we are talking about. Answer: " HERE is an integral part of the Windows Phone operating system. This means that offline maps aren't just used by our apps, but system-wide. Apps like Instagram, Foursquare, Facebook, Uber etc. all use our offline maps on Windows Phone. This is a clear benefit for you all, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT SD CARD SUPPORT FOR MAPS HAS TO COME FROM THE OPERATING SYSTEM ITSELF."

    Summary: I think we cannot expect a solution from these people/company. Don't give them a feedback or participate in a survey - it is an absolute waste of your time. All these feedback and survey things are just a fake - they don't really care about their customers. MICROSOFT AND HERE JUST SAY: "WHAT DO YOU WANT - WE GOT YOUR MONEY - **** OFF". Am I right?

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