dweebe Posted September 2, 2003 Share Posted September 2, 2003 Has anyone had a chance to beta test or have more info on Magellans new mapping software? http://www.magellangps.com/en/news/releases/viewRelease.asp?id=260 I'm anxiously looking to ditch my MapSend streets and get something more useful. Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted September 2, 2003 Share Posted September 2, 2003 I'm watching closely, too. But AFAIK, no information beyond the press release has been made available yet. Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted September 6, 2003 Share Posted September 6, 2003 Somebody on the Yahoo group spotted this site and passed it along. This vendor reports that several Meridian packages with DirectRoute bundled into the deal will be available in late September, with the DirectRoute CD available in early November. It looks like autorouting will be possible on the GPS *and* the PC. Re-routing is not as automatic as on the Garmin V, but with a push of the GOTO button it will re-calculate a new route from current position. My conversion calculation of the Candian price listed by this vendor ($210) comes out to around $153 US. Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted September 7, 2003 Share Posted September 7, 2003 Reading that makes me wonder if you can route to a Geocache. It doesn't seem to have the option to route to a user waypoint. Thanks for the link. Lots of good info on that site. I'm excited to get the software... but I'll have to wait till the price comes down. I wonder if I can store multiple maps on my 128meg SD card. It says the size limit is 64megs. Jamie Edit: just saw the blurb that says you can route to user waypoints. Cool. Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted September 7, 2003 Share Posted September 7, 2003 My interpretation of the 64MB limit is that it's the Magellan official recommendation of the largest file (4 regions X 16MB each) the Meridian can reliably handle--at least that's the situation with existing MapSend products. So I would expect you can have multiple mapfiles within that limit. Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+Searching_ut Posted September 7, 2003 Share Posted September 7, 2003 The nav tech database, and autorouting sound like great improvements. Just a pity it won't work on the sportrak maps, or basic meridians. Such is life. Just when there was hope for my old sportrak map..... Quote Link to comment
+LostNfound Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 If you keep up with the Yahoo Group of MapSend you will realize that a release date by Thales of say "September" does not necessarily mean that they were intending the release date to be September of 2003. Merely September, or October or November of any given year. Further their use of such fine mapping products such as the Tiger maps make us "loyal" Maggie users wonder just HOW outdated the maps that they use will be. But given the normal delayed delivery of mapping software the maps therefore are guaranteed to be outdated before delivery. LostNfound Quote Link to comment
+phantom4099 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 This map software is by Navtech. I know Magellan has had some set backs in products released (the platinum for one), but that seems to be kind of common with both manufactures (look at the Ique). Also Magellan seems to have had some success in releasing their color versions, along with the last mapsend Streets and Destination in reasonable amount of time. Wyatt W. The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions. Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 I just re-visited the Canadian GPS Central web site referenced above, and found this newly-inserted note: "MapSend DirectRoute is specifically designed as an auto-routing product and does NOT provide the same street-level coverage as MapSend Streets & Destinations Canada. The NAVTECH detail on DirectRoute appears to be very similar to that offered on GARMIN's North America City Select V 5.00 CD, the content of which can be viewed using GARMIN's MapSource MapViewer. [Magellan does not yet have an online utility to enable viewing of detail on MapSend products.]" I went over to the Garmin site to take a look at NA City Select on the viewer. In looking at the area where I live (a rural area), I saw the main arteries, but no secondary or lower status roads. It looks like DirectRoute may supplement existing MapSend products, but from what I can see it's not going to replace them (for me, at least). Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+phantom4099 Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 I have heard some reports that city select/navigator has omitted some of the smaller roads. This kind of scares me because I plan on purchasing the V sometime in the future. Shame on Garmin/Magellan/Navtech for omitting some of these roads. I hope Garmin lets people switch out city select 5.00 for 4.01. Wyatt W. The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions. Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 quote:Originally posted by embra: "MapSend DirectRoute is specifically designed as an auto-routing product and does NOT provide the same street-level coverage as MapSend Streets & Destinations Canada. So after all the user requests looking for MORE modern/detailed maps, they implement a scheme with LESS detailed maps? So you'll likely have to buy both _anyway_? Nice. I wonder if this is this just a Canada thing or if it applies to the U.S., too. And if they do Garmin's trick of charging you extra (almost as much as the purchase price of the s/w anyway) for an unlock code any time you travel outside of your home area, I'm going to be insanely annoyed. I'd like to find the product managers at both companies that think we want to buy several slightly incompatible products in order to approach reasonable coverage and smack them with my shoe... Quote Link to comment
+Marky Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 If DirectRoute doesn't work with MapSend topo, topo wins in my opinion. A bit of flailing around, taking wrong turns and back tracking just adds to the adventure. --Marky "All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer with a backlit GPSr" Quote Link to comment
+Tahoe Skier5000 Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 Navtech seems to have a godly reputation, however the road coverage lacks a lot in some areas. Points of Interest (I'm not sure if Navtech updates these) is way behind the times. I've seen gas stations that have been out of business for over 10 years and on the database still. Before you buy, make sure most of the data in your area is accurate. ----------------------------------------------------------- Garmin Vista Using Opera 7.1 Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Another little tidbit: someone on the Yahoo group noticed DirecRoute up on GPSCity. It's listed at $125 and "Due October". Of note for those interested are 3 Shockwave-like demos on the page that show a little bit how the software functions on the GPS unit. Looks like it would be nice for urban areas. I still can't figure out how much information is included in the maps...it apparently comes on two CDs, and the site page proclaims it has "Detailed maps for most cities and towns throughout the U.S." Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 embra, Thanks for the link. This will be a powerful addition to my Meridian, and for the first time I have seen the advantage to having a Color. Jamie Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Thanks for those links, embra!. That looks very tempting (I'm such a sucker for new toys). Quote Link to comment
+crashmore Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Anyone else notice that the package deals with the software bundled in are listed as in stock? http://www.cachegear.com Technical News And Reviews Relating To Geocaching "Law pain i reviar mistar aen" Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 Observant, Crashmore...Team Cottengim details one package at CostCo in this thread that makes me realize something which may have already been obvious to others. Already having a GPS, I wasn't looking very closely at the DirectRoute bundling offers. Seeing that both Topo and DirectRoute are offered in the bundle, it becomes clear (finally!) that DirectRoute is not intended to replace Topo or S&D, but rather supplement by giving the autorouting capability. Apparently the NavTech data co-exists with detail MapSend maps. Urk. I really don't need this, but I'm probably going to get it anyway and my wife is probably going to engage in frank and candid discussions at a high diplomatic level. Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+leatherman Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 I thought that Direct route would have to be a firmware upgrade, not just mapping data. $100 for a firmware upgrade seems a bit much. I guess that POI data would have to be Incorporated in the maps. POWDER!!!!!! Honored to provide inmate labor for Admin brick manufacture since 2002. Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 I, too, found it interesting that Magellan thinks you need both Topo and Directroute. I'm not sure if it's overkill or if it's a vote of weak confidence. OTOH, it's depressingly consistent with Garmin's position -and remember that the map and routing data comes from Navtech in both cases- that you need two separate packages. (I can't figure out Garmin's scheme, but it looks like for the US they have three street packages and a topo package, each of which gives you a different 40% of what you want.) I also keep staring at that blue map that has the U.S. busted up into nine pieces and wondering if it's region-locked as I live about 45 minutes from a region boundary. Yes, it will definitely involve a firmware update, but the maps data will also have to be at least supplemented if not replaced. The Tiger maps that are distilled into Mapsend don't include exit data, info on one-way streets, or speed info, all of which you need for routing. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for reviews on this package. If they managed to avoid land mines of silliness, I'd pay them today but I'm seeing just enough caution in their rollout to make me NOT preorder it... Quote Link to comment
+phantom4099 Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 I think this is new map products, otherwise it would not take two CDs to augument the tigermaps (Navtech in the new maps) in S&D and TOPO. They may bundle the TOPO maps since this product replaces the old S&D, but not the POIs and elevation data in topo. And yes a new firmware will be needed to run this software, it will probaly come with the CD like all the other mapsend products. Wyatt W. The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions. Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 quote:Originally posted by phantom4099:They may bundle the TOPO maps since this product replaces the old S&D, but not the POIs and elevation data in topo. Well, according to http://www.magellangps.com/en/news/releases/viewRelease.asp?id=260 it claims to quote:e addition of this software enhances versatility of Magellan handhelds like never before, enabling users to access topographic maps, marine charts and street navigation – all on a single Magellan receiver. and if they provide that topo data by including a copy of Mapsend Topo in the box and flip between them, that's just pretty weird. Quote Link to comment
+phantom4099 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 Magellan has a page up for this software, it seems you need version 5.0 (it indicates you will eventually be able to download this for free) for this to work in your unit. http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=950 Flipping may seem weird, but then again thats what we have been doing for the last couple of years. And magellan only said that one reciever can access all of that data, not one program will make it all available. Wyatt W. The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions. Quote Link to comment
+sledgehampster Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 They have already stated that the MAP 330 is not going to work with it. Guess it's time to upgrade. Quote Link to comment
+TeamCNJC Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 "Product should ship by November 8, 2003" according to this page on the Magellan web site. They're offering a price of $149 through the "Magellan Store," as well as an upgrade price for registered owners of MapSend Street or S&D of $99. -Craig/TeamCNJC ... Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took off through the thorns, chest high, ... Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 quote:Originally posted by robertlipe: and if they provide that topo data by including a copy of Mapsend Topo in the box and flip between them, that's just pretty weird. From the site Team CNJC linked to: quote:Use DirectRoute™ to help you find your way to your recreation destination, and use other optional MapSend recreation map products such as MapSend Topo to enjoy the outdoors ______________________ Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. - Homer Simpson ChiTown Cachers * Keenpeople.com Stats Quote Link to comment
+TeamCNJC Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Yeah, I just picked up on that. It looks like we'll get one .img file with DirectRoute information on it, which will allow autorouting, but we'll need to switch to a different .img map to get topo data. Not a big problem with my new 256MB SD card in my MeriGold , but what about a unit with fixed memory, like the SporTrak series? I'm guessing that the new firmware will allow detail map switching (the current firmware does now, but I haven't figured out how to upload map files with different names). -Craig/TeamCNJC ... Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took off through the thorns, chest high, ... Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 I would be irked that the $99 upgrade path doesn't include Topo, but that price is not much better than the $125 or so that gets you a new DirectRoute through GPSCity. I do notice that Amazon is listing at $149, too. Max Often wrong but seldom in doubt Quote Link to comment
+ThisWayOut Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 I just found it for $100 Here. It doesn't show it coming with Topo or as an upgrade price or anything. Just a discounted price. If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. Quote Link to comment
+TheNikeMan Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 Any new info on this? Sounds pretty interesting... Quote Link to comment
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