Nokia is taking mapping into a new direction on mobile devices with the launch of LiveSight for its HERE mapping platform. LiveSight is basically an augmented reality feature that pulls up nearby locations and displays relevant information like types of attractions or business you might be interested in.

The new feature is available through the CityLens app, which is only found on Windows Phone 8 devices such as the Lumia 920, Lumia 925, and Lumia 928. It all comes off as a slick feature that could rival that of Google Maps StreetView, because both services are similar in operation. The biggest downside with LiveSight, however, is that it is not available for the desktop version of HERE Maps, which is quite a disappointment, if you are a person who requires similar feature on both desktop and mobile.

LiveSight is a collection of mechanisms:

• 3D sight interface: buildings are detected by our collection technologies with high accuracy and feeling of depth
• Line of sight: with the line of sight view, only POIs in sight are displayed

• Freeze frame: save a live view to inspect the city without having to hold the camera pointed at the target

Furthermore, it appears LiveSight relies heavily on users to upload images. That would be a true disappoint if such is the case of things.

"We've all been there - trying get to where we are going by following that dot on our phones; you take a few steps in one direction to see if the dot moves where it should; with LiveSight you can orient yourself by simply lifting up your phone and looking through the camera view finder and find your destination whether it is right in front of you or three blocks away" said Peter Skillman, head of UX Design for HERE.

Now only if Nokia could integrate this feature into HERE Maps without the use of the CityLens app, we'd probably take it more seriously then.