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
    2016-03-20T04:10:32+00:00

    Well I made the mistake of updating my 620 to Denim. I had to remove the US maps that I had in phone memory figuring I would reinstall it after. Unfortunately since we have this problem of not being able to use the SD card for maps I've found out that the latest map data is a few hundred MB larger that the old version I had on the phone. Now with everything which can be moved residing on the SD card I can no longer download the entire US maps because the phone memory is about 500 MB short.

    Since Here Maps is going to be dead on Windows 10 Mobile in June and an inability to use Here Maps on Denim all I can say is thank you MS, you have made my decision for me as to what my next phone won't be.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-20T11:28:12+00:00

    Microsoft seems to be the best one at frustrating his customers!

    Same for me here: long customer from Nokia Symbian and user of the Nokia/Ovi/Here Maps, I bought a Nokia Lumia only because I wanted to keep having these offline maps. Initially, the Drive+ app exclusive on Nokia WindowsPhones.

    Now, Windows 10 Mobile is just coming out. Here Maps won't be there.

    BUT Microsoft own MAPS is supposed to replace it completely.

    The big issue is again the big step behind in features. Actually, Here Maps on my old Nokia E71 had more features than the one on my WP8.1 Lumia 730!

    Will we get one day (and when?) the full Here Suite equivalent (Maps, but also Transit and Drive+ that made the benefit of the platform) on Windows 10 Mobile ??

    Some says, not before Redstone, the next W10 major update.

    Since then, many old MS customers may have just change the platform!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-16T15:06:14+00:00

    I find myself spending so much time trying to work around Microsoft's kludged system and apps. Then I find the kludging was because of some now gone negative business arrangement between Microsoft and some other company. Usually including some overall under the radar Microsoft effort to foist something off on users. I don't trust Microsoft. They appear to be willing to throw the customer under the bus for any perceived gain. Or is it possibly simple incompetence?

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