2008-02-26

Google Maps Stopped Working On My W960i

All of a sudden Google Maps on my W960i stopped working!!!

At first I only noticed that the MIDlet permissions screen was not being displayed so I was happy that a previous annoyance had gone away although intrigued as to how it happened. Unfortunately I soon discovered that Google Maps could not access the Internet.

The MIDlet permissions screen is a UIQ feature to ensure that Java applications have your permission to access protected system features on your phone such as connecting to the Internet. Software authors can have their applications software signed to avoid this annoying step but signing costs money and more importantly a lot of hassle.

The displayed error message read...

Need network access
"Need network access: This application cannot be used until you grant it permission to send and receive data over the network."

Countless times I changed settings at Tools -> Control Panel -> Security -> MIDlet accounts and MIDlet permissions but to no avail (possibly the most annoying feature of UIQ)

Eventually I gave up and went back to the Vodafone SMS installer message to download and reinstall the entire Google Maps for Mobiles application. The install was completed in a couple of minutes and Google Maps was soon working again with the MIDlet security check feature restored.

It's a complete mystery why Google Maps would stop working like that on my Sony Ericsson W960i.

3 comments:

Eufio said...

do you have issues with opening quickoffice documents? It takes forever for mine to open a text document or a .ppt - it sometimes gives the impression it is stuck...

Anonymous said...

Hi

Try the new version at google.com/gmm
and go to connections in control panel, internet accounts. In group tab go to more and change preferred group to internet accounts to Vodafone internet (this version cannot go thru proxy unlike the older Java version)

Eufio said...

do you have issues with opening quickoffice documents? It takes forever for mine to open a text document or a .ppt - it sometimes gives the impression it is stuck...

I still did not find a solution to this...I know it does not refer to Google maps issue - but I could use some advice. thank you