New Version of Live Search Mobile

[Edit: I've corrected the name of the Live Search Mobile application; sorry for any confusion, and thanks to Jeremy Beasley of the Live Search Mobile team! -- Jim] 

I’m a big advocate of the Software + Services approach to accessing information; when done right, S+S uses your data connection to combine the best of local computing power with the immense resources of cloud computing.

There are many examples of this approach, and one of the best is Live Search Mobile, which we’ve discussed before on this blog.  The Live Search team has released an improved version of the client for Windows Mobile (as well as other devices).

The new Live Search Mobile client (the updated edition I just installed on my Samsung BlackJack II shows version number 4.0.12158.1) includes a number of cool features and refinements, including:

• Enhanced Locate Me.  The Live Search Home screen includes a Locate Me control that works both on GPS-enabled phones and without GPS.  It seems to work very quickly on my BlackJack II, and it’s quite accurate… this screen shot shows my location on the Microsoft campus in Redmond (accessed by telling Live Search Mobile to Locate Me, then opening the Map view, in Road mode, full-screen).

• Bird’s Eye View. This cool new map view shows a low-level, three-dimensional perspective of a location; the following screen shot shows an even more detailed view of the cluster of buildings I work in at Microsoft (though it has me in the wrong building… my office is actually in Building 118).

I find Bird’s Eye Views of other places far more attractive; for example, a couple of shots of the Seattle Center in downtown Seattle.  First, the Frank Gehry-designed Experience Music Project (with local search results superimposed, showing Seattle Center):

Next, the iconic Space Needle itself, with the Seattle Center amusement park in the background:

Finally, let’s leave Washington State and check out one of my favorite sites for live music, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado:

• Predictive text in the search controls is a nice new touch; I love building models of military aircraft and tanks, and often find myself looking for hobby stores to browse whenever I have some idle moments.  Live Search Mobile makes this easier than ever, as you can see in the next screen shot.

Along with the many enhancements, Live Search Mobile continues to feature everything you know and love about the tool, including quick access to directions (with a cool Track Me Using GPS option!), traffic conditions, movie times, gas prices, and, of course, the Live Search engine. 

Download the updated client and give it a try!  If you’re already running the Live Search Mobile, it should notify you soon that a new version is available for download; otherwise, navigate to https://wls.live.com on your phone to get started.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 14, 2009
  Will the blackberry version be getting an update as well?

• Anonymous
  January 14, 2009
  Liking the version, however I have a HTC Touch HD which doesn't have an 'action' key to enable soft key zooming.  This means I either have to double tap or go to 'menu' and zoom. This is long winded as I have to wait for the image to reload before i can zoom again. Is there an easy way to zoom in quicker as with the soft keys method????

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  Its a step in the right direction, but forcing the user to use they're data connection instead of internal WIFI (especially for those of us who dont have a data service because of the wifi) is a step in the wrong direction.  Also the screen could be more useful, maybe closer to a (dare I say it) google earth type interface.  

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  FYI: Windows Live Search for Mobile was named this week's MobileAppsToday App of the Week. http://bit.ly/2aWf

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  Are you ever going to include Canada as part of the service? This product beats Google Maps by a mile.

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  First off, love the app, probably what I use most on my phone besides Outlook. Secondly, the 'Locate Me' checkbox is greyed out, is there a trick to get it to work?

• Anonymous
  January 15, 2009
  Have Verizon VX6800 upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1 with GPS unlocked. GPS worked with previous version using DPS Intermediate Driver. Does not appear to work with this new version. Under "Settings", "Locate Me" option is grayed out and not selectable. Why is this?

• Anonymous
  January 16, 2009
  Many folks are talking about the "Locate Me" option grayed out, but on my phone (Treo 700w, Verizon, Windows Mobile 5) the option doesn't even show up. I popped into a Sprint store yesterday to play with a HTC Touch Pro.  I downloaded a new version of the app (menu indicated new client version was available) and installed it.  When I ran Live Search Mobile, again, the "Locate Me" option did not show up.  I'm almost positive the device has GPS, and is running WM 6.1, so it's not clear what could have been the problem. Is it possible for Microsoft to place on their website, which of these new features will show up on which (of the most popular) phones?  I am clearly only interested in certain phones...  :^) Thanks.

• Anonymous
  January 18, 2009
  Any response to the "Locate Me" questions?  Most of them revolve around a simple question - if the "Locate Me" checkbox, which btw is under Menu > Settings and not on the Home screen as the article says (had to surf around for several minutes to find this out - no help documentation about it) is greyed out, why?  Is it only available for certain phones, or certain cities (if so, which?), or does it require GPS after all (the article says GPS is not required but then again it also said the Locate Me control is located on the Home screen), or is it a placeholder for a future feature and therefore doesn't actually do anything yet (like Windows Update under Settings > System)?  Seriously, throwing a tid bit of news out and then watching all your customers scramble around like this can't be that enjoyable, can it?  ANY response would be helpful.

• Anonymous
  January 18, 2009
  Want to be able to search for reviews of restaurants i find when searching? I see star rating but no link to what they had to say. Glad you added the locate me. very cool.

• Anonymous
  January 18, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 19, 2009
  Excellent! The most useful app on my phone is now even more useful. I use Live Search a lot when traveling on business. The speech recognition is surprisingly accurate. If I may make a suggestion or two?

• If a WiFi connection is available, the app should prefer it to wireless. Though I have an unlimited data plan, I'm often checking local maps, restaurants and movies from inside a hotel room that has WiFi for free.
• When using "Track me using GPS" could we have a view that keeps the direction I'm travelling to the top of the screen? I use this as a substitute for a GPS navigator when I'm in an unfamiliar city, and that would make it easier to use for me.
• On my AT&T Tilt the home screen still has to scroll to get to all the icons. Any chance we could get a way to scale those icons down so I can see them all at once?
• Battery meter. On the task bar. If we're playing with all these functions, we're using a lot of power and I'd like to have some more warning before I run out of juice. Thanks very much for this awesome app. I never understood why it wasn't bundled as part of WinMo.

• Anonymous
  January 19, 2009
  I am unable to "find" any of my contacts on the map when using this version (4.0.12158.1).  I'm feeding it a 100% valid address, but it tells me that it "couldn't find any results". This even occurs after a hard reset and a fresh load of the software.

• Anonymous
  January 20, 2009
  Tony, I had the same issue as you (T-Mobile Dash), among other issues.  For now, I've gone back to the previous version (thankfully I had saved the CAB), and I'm waiting for this "upgrade" to be fixed so it actually works.

• Anonymous
  January 20, 2009
  Great app, nice new features, full of bugs.

• Anonymous
  January 21, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 21, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 23, 2009
  This is one of my favorite apps, but I too am finding this version to be very buggy (I wish I could go back to the previous version). For example, if I select "Change Location," then select a contact, it will always tell me that it can't find the contact, even though it is a valid address. The Locate Me option is always grayed out. If I enable the auto-suggestion feature, it becomes nearly impossible to type because there is about a 10 second delay after each letter that I enter. I am using the latest version on a Sprint Touch Pro. As I said, this is a great app, but this latest version feels half-baked.  I hope these issues are corrected soon!!

• Anonymous
  January 23, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 24, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 24, 2009
  Please develop Live Search Mobile for Canada!!!!!!!! We need Live Search Mobile Canada!!!!

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 29, 2009
  I'd like to throw my hat in as well as another user that has lost the ability to search for addresses. :-(  Please hurry and fix it, as I have become overly dependent on it!  I have no idea where to buy my gas or the number of that pizza place my wife loves. lol

• Anonymous
  January 29, 2009
  Oh, and can you make the maps more legible on a VGA device?

• Anonymous
  January 30, 2009
  same time ago (maybe 2 years) there was a JAVA version for non windows mobile devices , for example , for Nokia users. i used it on my old 6630. when is this aplication available for non Windows and non Blackberry devices again? Maybe an Symbian aplication for s60 v3.. maybe a JAVA? Google Mobile is wining because all you care about is Windows Mobile and BlackBerry

• Anonymous
  January 31, 2009
  I think you should work on the UI...no offense, but it looks kinda ugly (similar to Windows Mobile - just not appealing in any way)

• Anonymous
  February 01, 2009
  Looks like a lot of people are having problems with the new version. I had issues with finding an address; the screen kept switching off during navigation; and the app was pretty slow, even on a Treo 800W. Luckily for me, I had the cab file from the last download. I am back to v3.5. I will miss the Bird's Eye View from the new version, but how often would I have used it!

• Anonymous
  February 05, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 06, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 07, 2009
  I concur nearly everything is broken in version 4.  I don't see how this got out in production.

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2009
  Let's put aside the fact that this release breaks major functionality (finding contacts and addresses) and doesn't deliver promised new functionality (Locate Me).  Here's my own simple question: How do I make Live Search find my current GPS location by default? Right now, Live Search defaults to whatever location I was last at. Instead, I want it to default to my current GPS location, not my last one.  Is there any way to do this? Perhaps I am spoiled by the easy usability of the Navigation feature on the (Sprint) Samsung Instinct.  On that phone, you simply say "Search," and it brings up the Navigation application.  You then simply say what you're looking for, such as "Pizza," and by default the program looks for pizza places near your current GPS location. Why does Live Search make this so difficult?

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2009
  > Any chance we could get a way to scale those icons down so I can see them all at once? +1000 The app is a pain to use and looks poor, simply because all the icons don't fit on the screen.   They should scale to fit if possible, and the same if you go to landscape. Please.  This should've been in there from the start, and it would improve the usability by key or touch immensely.

• Anonymous
  February 10, 2009
  Thanks to everyone for their feedback and questions about Live Search Mobile; I'm glad that there's so much interest in the app, and bummed that a number of people are running into frustrations using it. I'm trying to get someone from the Live Search Mobile team to come answer your questions, and I'll post to this comment thread as I learn more.

• Anonymous
  February 10, 2009
  This application is HORRIBLE. Completely broken. GPS doesn't work after the update. This is with a TREO 800w. I had to do a hard reset and reinstall everything, EXCEPT live search. It is bye-bye live search for me. Will start using google instead, till they get their act together..

• Anonymous
  February 10, 2009
  Also, I couldn't uninstall the live search app. The only option left was hard reset!!

• Anonymous
  February 11, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 13, 2009
  Thank you all for your comments.  We take the feedback very seriously and our team is currently working as quickly as possible to resolve several of the issues that you have brought up.  We appreciate your patience.

• Anonymous
  February 14, 2009
  I wrote the above comment by Jan Rogers on 2-6-09, that literally everything about the new live search version did not work. Got online today (2-14-09) to search for whether the problems had been fixed, and found this note (and other similar ones) posted 2-9-09 that a new version had quietly been released.  A few people did confirm that they could now search for an address: Address with news about fixed version: http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=6794 I have't been able to get out on the road yet to test the GPS, but I can confirm that the newest version DOES actually let me search for any contact in my address book, and get directions to another contact in another nearby city, what it could not do with the first 4 version upgrade released in January.   Will try the GPS tomorrow and see if that works too.  In any case, thought I'd come back here and post that the instructions in the above web address to get the latest version did seem to fix the MANY problems I was having with LS on my Sprint Touch.

• Anonymous
  February 17, 2009
  I have had issues with trying to search for something after I have locked in locate me. When i type in Kragen, Autozone, or even Wal-mart, it changes my location rather than searching for those stores that are around me. It worked for best buy... ????? Does anyone else see this issues or am I the only one? I am using  an ATT Fuze with the Live search version 4.1.2029.1....Thanks!

• Anonymous
  February 17, 2009
  I installed the v4.1.2029.  It's an improvement over v4.0, but still worse than v3.5. Things that seem to be fixed from v4.0 to v4.1:

• Address Search either from Contact or by direct entry working
• Track Me Using GPS on Map view working
• Locate Me feature not getting confused when there is no phone or active data connection Things still not working in v4.1:
• Viewing Maps from cache when there is no active data connection.  When not connected, no maps in cache are visible. What's even more interesting is that when I reinstall v3.5, v3.5 can read and display maps without an active connection that were cached while v4.1 was installed, the same maps that v4.1 could not read and display. This is a huge problem for me as I don't have an unlimited data plan and would like to cache maps while connected via wifi for later display
• More clicks to get to recent locations than in v3.5.  In v3.5, when you click on the current location, you are taken to list of recent locations.  The only way to get to recent locations now is to first chose New Location, then Recent Location.
• Click and drag within Recent Locations used to move the selection as you would drag.

• Anonymous
  February 18, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 18, 2009
  I failed to mention in my previous post that calculated mileage distances seem to be anywhere from 150% to 200% the actual distance.

• Anonymous
  February 24, 2009
  Totally broken on my Q9C--uninstalled until it's either fixed, or better yet, put the prior working version back up.

• Anonymous
  March 06, 2009
  I was using Mobile Live Search, and was able to search on location around Toronto. I installed an update today (March 6th) and I can no longer search on Canadian cities. What up?

• Anonymous
  March 09, 2009
  I had submitted a suggestion for a slider zoom, but I like the new version better. I recently discovered you can press the center mouse button on my ATT 8525, then by hitting the soft key repeatedly, zoom multiple increments in the street view. About last September, categories would no longer work, resulting in 'connection broken' statements, though there was nothing wrong with the 3G connection. Now the auto-complete suggestions offset that loss a lot. The only remaining bug for me is I select Change Location/ Hurst, Texas/ restaurant; then perform a search. When I enter Change Location of Austin, Texas, I receive the message "No Austin Texas found in Hurst Texas" as if it is stuck in categories. Any suggestions appreciated.

• Anonymous
  March 10, 2009
  Anyone from Microsoft out there?   Any update on whether or not the issues remaining in v4.1 will be addressed and more importantly, when?  My biggest issue with v4.1 is the cache is broken.  Doesn't display any maps when there is no active data connection.  I assume that if it's not retrieving maps from cache while offline, that it probably is not retrieving cache while online.  This could significantly increase the data transfer charges associated with using the application.  Kind of defeats the purpose of cache.   Not sure if others have experienced the same or not.  It seams that the issue may be inferred by the posts regarding slow response time.  Please comment here.

• Anonymous
  March 24, 2009
  (using v4.1.2029.1) Live Search Mobile Team - This application is impressive, but I must echo the comments of others with respect to the cache feature being inoperative.  I've been browsing maps of downtown Amsterdam extensively in preparation for my upcoming trip there, and today I decided to turn off my mobile data connection and attempt to view my cached maps -- this failed completely. My Samsung ACE supports GSM data, but the roaming fee in The Netherlands is $10 per each 1 MB!  Is there a purpose to the 128 MB cache on microSD card option? This is a smooth app in many respects, but the cache problem must be corrected. Thanks Nick

• Anonymous
  March 26, 2009
  Hi all.  We are listening and take your feedback very seriously. The entire Live Search Mobile team is focused on addressing the problems listed here.  If there is additional feedback that you want to provide, I recommend that you use our dedicated feedback alias: lsmobile@microsoft.com.  Feedback sent here is automatically captured in our bug database that we reference when updating the product.  Thanks, Jeremy Beasley Product Manager, Live Search Mobile

• Anonymous
  March 30, 2009
  Upgraded to newest version 4.5.3129 on HTC Touch WM6.1 and categories still does not work everything else works but categories says that it cannot find the connection.  Obviously if the gas can update then the connection is good.  Can you please fix the categories it has been broken for the last couple of releases. Thanks Paul

• Anonymous
  March 30, 2009
  Also tried upgrading to the latest version of Live Search Mobile 4.5.3129 and sadly it doesn't look up none of my contacts. Now going to do a hard reset and revert back to my previous version that worked. Please fix this bug soon. How can I also be notified of when this issue's finally taken care of?

• Anonymous
  March 31, 2009
  i just downloaded the newest version 4.5.3129.0 and everything is a GO!!! All is working for me from the jump including the categories part...I selected something searched an it came up with the info for where i live for the pizza places!! but whats new in this version, just bug fixes??

• Anonymous
  April 01, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  April 08, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  April 10, 2009
  I'm using  the T-Mobile / HTC Wing. I updated to the latest version of Live Search Mobile 4.5.3129 and it didn't look up any of my addresses. I had to do a software restore and am now back to version 2.0.2768.23357. Anyone else out there using the Wing and having a similar problem to mine? Did you also figure out any solutions to this bug??

• Anonymous
  April 18, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  April 24, 2009
  I own a LG Incite, currently i have the latest version of WLS on my device, so far everything seems to be ok except for the fact that after using this application, the microphone mutes.  if i make or receive a phone call (after using WLS), the other party can't hear me.  the only way to fix this is doing a soft reset.  then i installed the previous version of WLS and everything is back to normal.  i don't know the differences between the previous and the latest version, but there most be something in the latest one that the incite doesn't like.

• Anonymous
  April 27, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  May 01, 2009
  I used to be able to put in Lat/Lon and WLS would find it.  This has been gone for the past couple of updates.  It was very useful, especially when you are trying to find a house on a dar dirt road, (GA sticks ppl...).

• Anonymous
  May 03, 2009
  Five months after release and have been waiting for a functional version since this last release broke so much basic functionality (change locations functionality issue being huge). No fix and no response from Live Search indicates to me that Google Maps is the better alternative. Nice idea though - too bad MS just couldn't deliver.

• Anonymous
  May 04, 2009
  Please help!!!! I have come to rely on my GPS enabled phone, but this latest release is killing me.  It's the 4.5.3129.0 version that's currently installed.  I have an Att Tilt (HTC) with Windows Mobile 6.  I used to be able to just type in the address, and it would find it no problem.  Now all I get is "Cannot Find Location"  - It only found the address once, and that was when I was sitting in my truck right beside the location I was looking for.  So how do I find an address outside of the area it finds.  The older versions worked perfectly.  Do you have the cab files for the older ones that could be linked for us?  Unfortunately, this is the only site I have come across talking about the bad issues that we are having.  Will you please email me at JustinBaney@aol.com with a solution or at least telling me that ya'll are working on it.  Heck, I'll even sign up as a beta tester for new releases, since I used to use the app all the time.  I'm already a tester for Windows 7, so what's one more thing to bug. :)  Just please help. Thanks.

• Anonymous
  May 06, 2009
  pretty simple folks nobody is asking for anything other than what your program did 2 years ago.  just make it work again

• Anonymous
  May 06, 2009
  Just downloaded your newest version and find that it worked fairly well for my unlocked samsung omnia i900 using on Tmobile.  It took me from my front door to a new doctor's office and was right on with the directions.  I am pretty impressed with the gps part of the software.  I did find that it didn't find gas stations near my home but all over the place.  I never used a gps on the phone before so I am not familiar with your previous versions.  Just one question, will you ever be adding voice turn by turn for this software.  I know that it is alot to ask with all of the other things that seem to be needed to fix this software but just thought I'd ask.  Thanks

• Anonymous
  May 12, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  May 14, 2009
  well it is better still missing some easy addresses

• Anonymous
  May 15, 2009
  it would be great to find a website where ppl can download previous versions of this application. i won't be surprised if microsoft indeed has one, but it's not publicly available.

• Anonymous
  July 27, 2009
  The Windows Mobile blog has moved. Comments on this blog will be disabled soon. Let's continue these discussions on the new site. http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsphone/default.aspx http://developer.windowsmobile.com Thanks!