Comments on: Lost in the Sea of Maps

Mapping software is one of the most popular categories of Palm applications. The ability to carry around a small handheld rather than a large map is very convenient. Frequent Forum contributor Pepper takes a look at her three favorites: Mapopolis, Jungle Port, and HandMap
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All these maps and not a single...

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 3:50:13 PM #
Hey, Pepper's commented so much that she's starting to post articles! :)

Anyways, no maps for Canada. So I'll have to stick to Fireviewer.



RE: All these maps and not a single...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:21:06 PM #
Hi there

There are maps for Canada, They can be located @ portableinternet.com. They have over 135 city including Toronto and other canada maps. The price is $20per city or $50 for all citys. Check it out.

Brett

RE: All these maps and not a single...
Snubolis @ 8/9/2001 4:41:44 PM #
Hey thanks for the great review Pepper!

Anyway none of these programs do support Canada, that's quite true, although Mapopolis has a database converter tool to create your own maps. That's something I've been looking at for making maps of Canada (Vancouver in particular).

I've checked out portable internet's selection, and they really only have the city proper, and do a poor job of getting the entire metro area. I just wasn't happy with their Canadian maps.

Those who are looking for Canadian maps, all I've found through my months of searching are those Mapopolis-type programs that'll convert bitmaps of maps to its format for viewing.

Snubolis
Vancouver, Canada

RE: All these maps and not a single...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:53:39 PM #
For any given review, there are always two responses that you can bank on:

Somebody whining about how Canadians were left out
Somebody whining about how Mac users were left out

I dream of a day when these gripes can simply be implied, whatever the occasion.

Happy palming, fellow elitist Wintel-using Americans!

RE: All these maps and not a single...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 6:33:39 PM #
Snubolis,

I am looking for a vancouver map... Have you already created one froma bitmap?

RE: All these maps and not a single...
mondo @ 8/9/2001 7:17:38 PM #
I've said it on the forums before - I am getting the sense that Canadians have a poor sense of direction. They always seem to be looking for maps.

Snubolis => hope you find what you're looking for



-----
mondo
Downunder

RE: All these maps and not a single...
Snubolis @ 8/9/2001 7:41:30 PM #
Hehhe I was thinking the same thing when I posted my comment previously. In response to other posters, no I haven't quite found good enough maps of Vancouver to convert, but I just noticed maps on CD now out at Staples and Costco, so I'm gonna pick up one of those and see how it goes. I'll post a topic in the forums once I have anything worth posting. =)

As for directions, no I know my city like the back of my hand, but when I show off my Palm it would be awesome if I could show it off w/ a map of my city, and then blurt out "yeah can your Pocket PC do this?" heheh



Snubolis
Vancouver, Canada

RE: All these maps and not a single...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 9:52:51 PM #
Unfortunately Pocket Streets can already do this. And it has Canadian maps (with Streets and Trips) too grrrrrr....

RE: All these maps and not a single...
Trevethan @ 8/10/2001 4:12:03 AM #
You are lucky toi be Canadian.. Try being European... We have to get up at 4.30 am, eat some cold poison, work 22 hours down the mill for fourpence a year, and when we get home our dad thrashes us to sleep with razor wire.... all because he find any maps for his PDA. Least we have GSM and text messaging though...



Nick Trevethan

Devon
UK

RE: All these maps and not a single...
JStraub @ 10/1/2002 3:32:22 AM #
FYI, Mapopolis now has Canadian coverage. You can visit http://www.mapopolis.com/search.jsp for more information about our coverage of major Canadian cities. Also, note that we are preparing to release European maps. More information about participating in our European beta can be obtained by emailing mapopolis100@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Jeremy Straub
Mapopolis.Com, Inc.

gray scale

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:16:42 PM #
I've tried all these in the past, last time more than a year ago, and it didn't seem to me then that they were really usable in black and white. Anyone with a grayscale Palm finding them genuinely useful? I'm sure I'll be a convert when I get a color Palm, but my PDA of choice right now is the Kyocera Smartphone.

RE: gray scale
Pepper @ 8/9/2001 4:34:37 PM #
I've installed and tried Mapopolis on my m500 as well. Although it wasn't as graphically pleasing as in color, it was still very usable.

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: gray scale
sub_tex @ 8/9/2001 7:49:54 PM #
I've been using Jungle Port for a few months on my IIIxe and i've never felt it wasn't up to par. The grid lines of the streets and the street names are very legible.

True, having color to distinguish other landmarks would be a neat bonus (one i'll be loving when i get my clie), but in greyscale, i can say it works great.



RE: gray scale
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 1:09:31 AM #
Try QuoVidas, it is very fast on my TRGpro
www.marcosoft.com

RE: gray scale
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 7:47:28 AM #
Quo Vadis is a great program. scrolling street names always let you know where you are and the way you move the map as if you were driving down the road is cool. Took a trip to Boston and with Quo Vadis and Vindigo on my palm, was never lost as I bladed around the city.

Vindigo

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:19:17 PM #
I have found Vindigo to be very helpful. There is GPS support. It is free. The downside is that they only have a limited number of cities available.

RE: Vindigo
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 6:09:48 PM #
Although they don't contain maps, I find the Weissmann City Profiles from NeoHand to be a great source of information when I'm traveling. Yeah, mapping would be nice, but I don't think it's as necessary as helpful content, particularly when I'm travelling on business.

No affiliation with the company, just a fan of their guides.

use your own maps

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:28:45 PM #
Anyone know of any software available for the Palm that allows a user to upload their own digital maps to the handheld ( e.g. georefrenced vector maps and/or raster images)??

RE: use your own maps
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:34:18 PM #
HandMap Pro offers the ability to make your own maps.

RE: use your own maps
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:35:46 PM #
I think Mapopolis allows you to create maps with some software they have (or maybe had) on their Site.
-Si

RE: use your own maps
Pepper @ 8/9/2001 4:39:58 PM #
Mapopolis allows you to create maplets for their already existing maps, but not create all new maps. The maplets basically allow a user to add custom places to the pre-programmed list such as a house or business

Handmap Pro would probably be better for you

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: use your own maps
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:42:16 PM #
Here is the link and the heading from the Mapopolis Site
-Si
http://www.mapopolis.com/developers.html
Build Your Own Maps With MapConverter and M2M


RE: use your own maps
Pepper @ 8/9/2001 5:01:14 PM #
I stand corrected

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: use your own maps
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 3:39:15 PM #
Yes, there is Atlas from GPSPilot (www.gpspilot.com) that use a freeware named
"Cartographer" from the same developer; that allow it.


RE: use your own maps
Altema @ 8/12/2001 10:44:27 PM #
There's also FireViewer, which will let you zoom and pan large maps (and also access web pages and view video clips!). Unfortunately you don't have the address, street, or business search functions that you get with some mapping software. The files will be large, but map files get large too. I agonized for days about trading in my recently purchased device for one with removable media, just so I could keep more than one Mapopolis map at a time. The decision process ended when the kids spilled something on the box, which ruled out taking it back to the store. Oh well, I love the screen, but may send it out for a 4Mb ROM upgrade.

RE: use your own maps
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 12:48:28 PM #
PathAway GPS Navigation and Mapping software provides a PC tool so you can convert your own maps for use on the Palm. PathAway is most useful with a GPS, but the layered high resolution full color mapping support is very powerful. Check it out at http://PathAway.com



Memory Stick support

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 4:46:47 PM #
I am a frequent user of Mapopolis, for about 11 mnths, it has saved my B***, quite a few times (thanks guys!).
When they first created their enhanced maps I downloaded some counties, in my State, saved them on CD, before I went on a road trip to specific county, I would install it on my Vx, thru my PC.
Now I own a Clie 710, if they could get Mapopolis to work with the MS, I would buy the whole state and a few others too.....
I hope....
-Si

RE: Memory Stick support
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 6:16:33 PM #
I love mappopolis to death! I have a m505....

One thing I wish it had though were broader highway maps (with less drill down details) that covered multiple counties. I was travleing through Southern California and could not see quite what I was doing because I had to switch between counties...



RE: Memory Stick support
JStraub @ 10/1/2002 3:34:51 AM #
FYI, Mapopolis does support the Memory Stick, though due to transfer speed limitations, maps must be temporarily swapped into RAM for use. You can store as many maps as memory allows on you Memory Stick for use with the software! More information is available at http://www.mapopolis.com/faq.jsp.

Thanks,

Jeremy Straub
Mapopolis.Com, Inc.

OmniSky & m500 series

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 8:10:39 PM #
I know this is off topic, but I thought many would be interested in knowing that OmniSky is planning a Fall (Sept.) release for m500 series support. They sent out an email with that info in it this week.
RE: OmniSky & m500 series
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 10:59:38 PM #
yeah, off topic. but glad to hear; thanks

What about...

tipds @ 8/9/2001 8:43:54 PM #
What about Rand McNally's software? It comes with the GPS. I don't think it's that great, but it does the job.

RE: What about...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/9/2001 8:58:37 PM #
Rand McNally also comes on the Sony CD as a demo. You can download a free city also. Try it, you'll like it.

I also recommend JunglePort over Vindigo. JunglePort has a color specific interface and has more cities in its selection.

RE: What about...
tipds @ 8/10/2001 1:48:18 PM #
Hmmm. The version I got came with two or three CD's, and I have yet to find a location I can't map. I think the only thing you have to add are updates, which are free on the web, when released. $50 and I got the map software and the GPS.

Palm Maps...

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 12:25:46 AM #
I have m505 and I've tried the JunglePort and Mapopolis... My review of these two software is that it is useful but limited.

For jungleport, it is information packed if you're looking for a business or a restaurant. I found a restaurant I'm going to try this weekend:) However, the area which it covers is pretty limited. If you live in that specific area, it is a great, but if not, your out of luck. I'll give 3/5 for its effort!

For Mapopolis, it is a better program as a eMap. It is definitely readable and zoom is very functional. However, the problem with this is that maps are shown as a county and if you live somewhere between counties, then you have to switch back and forth between maps to view the area of interest. This sucks... In conclusion, I like the interface and it is definetly usable for a quick portable map, and it is pretty cheap... I'll give 4/5 ;> but if they are able to find a way to stitch two or three county maps together so that readers don't have to switch maps, than I'll give 5/5!

What do you guys thing?

Sam

RE: Palm Maps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 5:32:15 PM #
My mapopolis automatically scrolls between adjacent counties provided both are loaded on the device. I was frankly suprised at that functionality, but it's there.


RE: Palm Maps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/12/2001 3:45:33 PM #
Me too . . I live in Minneapolis and its really slick how it seamlessly joins Hennepin and ramsey counties . . . I may look into the enhanced. I was very impressed with this free software.

can't wait for hi-res color

AriB @ 8/10/2001 6:00:08 AM #
I can't wait to see what these maps look like when optimized for the Clie

RE: can't wait for hi-res color
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 5:16:10 PM #
Rand McNally StreetFinder is already High Res color. It comes with the Sony Clie 610 and 710 on the cdrom, and you get a free download of a map on some big cities.

The high res is very nice, but the program itself is very clutterred and confusing symbols (i didn't try to learn them). as for the high res again, it's great, but since the palm has to draw 4 times more than a normal 160x160 screen, it takes a while for the screen to refresh completely.

Mapopolis Rulz!

Gonzo @ 8/10/2001 8:09:50 AM #
As a beta tester of 2.0 when it was released, I use it regularly. For those with external memory (like Handspring Springboard modules), you can move the maps to the module - freeing up internal memory.
RE: Mapopolis Rulz!
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/10/2001 3:22:04 PM #
I really want to like Mapopolis - it looks really neat on my Palm. But I am really having a hard time figuring out how it will actually be helpful.

Let's say I'm lost. I can use the find feature to see where I am, and then again to see where I want to be. But the Palm screen is so tiny, that once it centers on "Point B", I can no longer see "Point A". So if all I can see are two very small portions of a very large map, how do I ever figure out how to actually get from Point A to Point B?

--Charlie

RE: Mapopolis Rulz!
Altema @ 8/12/2001 10:57:18 PM #
I use Mapopolis, but have the same problem trying to see two locations. There is no mapping program that will make the Palm screen bigger (maybe on the HandEra?), but a feature that would help would be the ability to mark a couple of locations. That way, you could zoom out and look around without losing track of the points. I know the software can do this for other functions (like business or landmark searches), but it would be nice to leave two or three markers on the screen. It would also help if Mapopolis did not clear the location marker and address everytime you go out of the program. As it it now you cannot leave the program until you reach your destination.

RE: Mapopolis Rulz!
JStraub @ 10/1/2002 2:35:46 AM #
Thanks for your feedback regarding making Mapopolis more usable for you by marking locations on the map! We take user feedback seriously and are planning to incorporate your suggestion into a future version of Mapopolis.

Thanks,

Jeremy Straub
Mapopolis.Com, Inc.

Palm Maps...

Gonzo @ 8/10/2001 8:30:32 AM #
Mapopolis 2.0 actually does stitch adjacent maps together. Try zooming out to see all the maps you have loaded at once!

gonzobman@yahoo.com

Palm Maps good, but...

Cheetah @ 8/10/2001 9:36:58 PM #
I use HandMap on my 505. While the product does exactly what it says it does, I find them limited in practicality because:

1. Palm's small size screen
2. Street names are often off the screen, so you often need to scroll to see the street name, and then back again (although you can click on a street and the name will pop up as an alternative...works when you THINK you know what the street name is)
3. Unless you have an expansion card, I would NOT recommend any map software. A typical map can easily be 500k.
4. If the map is barely usable in color, I would not recommend at all for a B&W version
5. To use these maps on a practical basis, you really have to have an incentive to do so. I would not recommend it for someone going to a new city for a vacation or business trip for example. Better to drive into a gas station and buy a $2 map.



RE: Palm Maps good, but...
Altema @ 8/12/2001 11:06:00 PM #
You might want to try Mapopolis, as it does a decent job of keeping the names readable. I know what you mean about the map size... the enhanced map of Oakland county Michigan is 1.3Mb! But it does include restaurants (mostly fast food), businesses, landmarks, hospitals, and every address in the county. The accuracy so far for address searches has been 100%, which is better than some of the internet mapping services. I'm a fan of paper maps (pun intended), but once in a while it's handy to tap in an intersection and get your bearings. Another plus when traveling? Say that Burger King you were just at forgot your shake and fries. Just have Mapopolis pull up the locations, tap, and you have their complete address and phone number. I would not use it as my only map in a strange city though due to the screen size.

Down Under

James @ 8/10/2001 11:18:08 PM #
now if only we can convince them to do maps of Australia. Remember there is more then just Sydney in oz.

hey Pepper

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/11/2001 12:03:10 AM #
Did you see my request yesterday and post this review in response? I didn't think so, but thanks anyway.

I got my Magellan Streetfinder yesterday and fired it up for the first time today. The included Rand McNally s.w. is kind of disapointing. It took me three installs to finally get it right, then I had to dump most of the contents of the Palm IIIx to load Metro Nashville. The process for creating a map to load onto the PDA is laborious as well. Once loaded into the Palm, however, the s.w. works great. It's very legible on the grayscale screen, although a bit slow to update.

Based on my research, I had kind of settled on the Quo Vadis s.w. once I decided whether a Palm-based GPS solution was practical. Now that I've tried it, I'll probably stick to the Rand Mc. stuff until I actually get out of Nashville for some reason. Then I'll reconsider. The price of any of the packages I've found (and I didn't find either of the first two packages you reviewed in my initial search-Ill check them out) is almost as much as I paid for the GPS with the included s.w.

Plus i really need more than 4megs to make it all work practically......

jak

DeLorme

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/12/2001 6:30:01 AM #
did anyone even mention DeLorme's line of GPS enabled mapping software for Palm?
http://www.delorme.com/products/gps.htm

AriB

Oz maps

queenofswords @ 8/12/2001 10:06:21 PM #
Damn straight there's more to Oz than Sydney! There ideally should be maps for the metro areas, plus the major tourist destinations, such as Cairns. The last time I needed a map I had to import a map of Adelaide into fireviewer- fortunately its a tough place to get lost!

UK Maps Online

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 4:31:27 AM #
Similar to Nick's comment: Where's the UK Maps? Personally, I use Multimap. OK it only works through a wireless connection, but I just use my Nokia 6210. Anything you find is still visible offline, so dial up @ home, then take the maps with you! It resolves addresses, post codes & even gives directions. Sorted.
Steve (Cornwall)

ATT: Ed...I am NOT anonymous

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 12:14:57 PM #
Ed,

For some reason, when I click on the "comment" link below this story, I get listed as the above. I can't seem to post in my own username: jakdedert.

Am I the only one having this problem? Seems like a lot of replies by I.M....

Bug in the software, or am I doing something wrong?

jak

PathAway GPS Navigation and Mapping

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 12:20:55 PM #
The biggest problem with maps is each application limits you to using their own acquired maps. PathAway provides a PC tool so you can convert your own maps for use on the Palm. PathAway is most usefull with a GPS, but the layered high resolution full color mapping support is very powerful. Check it out at http://PathAway.com

RE: PathAway GPS Navigation and Mapping
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/13/2001 1:28:25 PM #
Those 3 mentioned in the article are totally useless if you're not a merkin.

I opted for a solution similar to pathway. Tracker from pilotgps.com + mapblast.com + randmcnallys' toy gps.
mapblast gives me maps with tens of meters acuracy which i can convert to tracker format with a free pece app.
It supports tracks, waypoints and routes. I'm happy.

--chbm

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