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Posts tagged GPS
South African Streetmaps 2009 announced
In line with Garmin‘s Mapsource having been updated to 2009 versions with more detail and changed nomenclature recently, South African outfit Garmap has announced the impending arrival of the 2009 edition of the South African Streetmaps. At the same time, Garmap intends to replace the rather 90′s looking website they have been utilizing so far
with something a bit fresher
You can test drive their template here (while it’s available). The final version of the new website will provide easier access to bonus content and feature map previews.
Based on their newsletter, Garmap Africa Series 2009 will provide:
- Southern Africa Streetmaps 2009, Digital Elevation Model
- Southern Africa Streetmaps (Topographical & Recreational) 2009
- Southern Africa Streetmaps 2009
- Nigeria Streetmaps (Topographical & Recreation) Version 3
The distribution DVD will include the following content:
- South Africa Waterways 2008, Second Edition
- East Africa Street Maps Version 1
- Indian Ocean Islands Streetmaps Version 1: Mauritius
Like the City Navigator Australia CD I recently purchased, South African Streetmaps 2009 will be functional on both Windows and Mac platforms. I’m really pleased to see that Garmin is extending their support for the Mac platform.
Streetmaps 2009 should be available for order and purchase in the middle of January 2009, so get that GPS warmed up in the meantime for an updated mapset!
City Navigator NT Australia 2009
Shipped from Johnny Appleseed GPS in Brisbane at the end of October, my City Navigator NT Australia 2009 CD arrived in the mail today. Getting at the latest mapset for my Garmin unit has been an ongoing saga for some time. My previously preferred GPS shop can take a hike: the cost to the customer for this map set is just under R5000.
I was able to import a single copy by individual order for just under R1200. Add in the R169 the South African revenue service wants for customs and excise and the same product cost about R1369. A high, but fairer price considering local maps for Garmin units cost upwards of R800. You’d think someone with the ability to import larger quantities in a single shipment would be able to offer reasonable prices in the same range. Obviously greed is a factor here, as is the ability to suck cash out of paranoid South Africans wanting to head over to the large island close to the Barrier Reef. Needless to say, TechShop has lost me as a customer for anything GPS related…
Not that ordering the media was a simple affair. After searching high and low for a source of the City Navigator NT Australia, I settled for an online order from the oddly-named Johnny Appleseed. By coincidence the 2009 version had just appeared, which made the purchase a no-brainer at the price of AUD 189. I placed the order and received a confirmation by email. Then? I waited. No further mails indicating the usual e-commerce-style feedback. I was unsure what the story was, but assumed that things were being organized. After a short time, I started wondering whether the order had been received, so I sent an email in the ether. And that’s where it stayed. No response. A Skype call in the early hours of the morning to the call centre yielded the first feedback: the stock had not yet arrived. Could I be informed when the stock had arrived, to ensure the CD wouldn’t end up in South Africa when we’d already left for Australia? No worries, mate!
Obviously, communication is not Johnny‘s strength. I became edgy three days ago and once again skyped the call centre. The order had shipped at the end of October. Today, I collected the package at the post office. Great pricing, Johnny Appleseed. Not so great in the communications department. In any case, the 710 has been loaded with Australia’s mapping data.
It is a rather large island. Better not get lost.
nüvi 710 firmware upgrade 4.2
Since the last firmware upgrade, the nüvi 710 has, at times, exhibited some lag and the usually confident female directing me around town has, on occasion, stuttered a bit. That simply will not do. I paid for the privilege of having a feisty female tell me where to go!
A visit to the Garmin website shows that a new firmware update is available for the unit that seems to address these issues. Once again, the easiest way of checking for an update to the unit’s firmware is to attach the GPS to a PC using the supplied USB cable and to run the WebUpdater.
The change history for the new 4.2 software release includes
- the correction of a shutdown issue when European users change traffic providers
- resolution of Text To Speech stuttering issue
- a correction of the issue with saving your location by touching the vehicle icon
The 710 has had far more updates that were necessary than what I ever remember the 300 requiring. It’s a sign of hasty product development and the greed that goes along with pushing product to market. Though the 710 functions as it should, it simply doesn’t mirror the polish of the 300.
While I’m on Garmin news, the Edge 705 is now available in a funky orange casing.
The model is the same as that used by Team Garmin, with an appropriate pricetag attached to it (almost USD 100 more than the basic black model I have).
While on the topic of the Edge 705, check out the latest update to the desktop Training Center software. The Windows release is very new, dated 2 October. You’ll need to have your 705 GPS unit handy, as the installation requires it to be connected. Training Center is also available for the Mac.
While I’m on the topic of the Mac, Garmin‘s commitment to extend the use of their gadgets with other operating systems means that a lot of the Garmin software now runs on the Mac.
Some of the Mac OS X specific applications you may be interested in include RoadTrip, MapInstall, WebUpdater and POI Loader. The list of applications and links to download them can be found here.
nüvi 710 firmware 4.10
My widescreen nüvi 710 is performing as expected with one exception: on occasion, it attempts to indicate a landmark or custom point of interest while I try to search for an address or it voices an instruction. The net result is a frozen GPS that can be set right only by powering off, then on again.
As is the case with any electronic gadget, the timing of such a failure is intimately linked with a pressing need to complete a task or find an address. Though the nüvi 710 has frozen on me only four or five times in the past couple of weeks, any requirement to reset the device shifts my mood and makes me contemplate flinging the plastic rectangle to certain destruction in rush hour traffic.
Thankfully, things can easily be fixed by software nowadays. If you are an owner of a 710, I recommend you head over to Garmin‘s support site and download the WebUpdater to retrieve the latest firmware for your device.
Listed in the change history is the item Corrected shutdown issue associated with an active proximity alert or tour guide alert. I assume this is the same as saying: 710 crashes when trying to multitask. The rest of the change history for 4.10 reads:
- Improvement in MAD Maps performance
- Added Australian traffic support.
- Corrected reboot issue while installing language guide at power up.
- Corrected shutdown issue associated with an active proximity alert or tour guide alert.
- Support for more GPI files.
- Fixed an error in MSN news reports where a report could be lost
Cost of knowing where you’re going depends on where you are
The Garmin Mapsource City Navigator NT 2008.
Sells for USD 149 to Garmin GPS owners in the USA only. That’s roughly ZAR 1200.
Sells for AUD 279 to Garmin GPS owners in Australia. That’s roughly ZAR 1900.
Sells for ZAR 4984 to Garmin GPS owners in South Africa. That’s ZAR 4984!
So, the cost of knowing where you want to go certainly seems to depend on where you are! Somehow, this CD increased by 50% traveling from the US to Australia. Then, the price more than doubled on its way to South Africa. No increase in value or anything like that. A blatant rip off, in my opinion. Is it a way of cashing in on residents leaving South Africa for Australia, or just an attempt at making a lot of cash out of an ordinary item?
It’s no wonder people turn to alternate means of gaining access to ridiculously-priced software and media.
In 400m, turn right
The Garmin nüvi 710 is a worthy successor to the nüvi 300. First off, there’s a 10cm widescreen display for which one will have to sacrifice some battery life. A single charge should keep the unit going for almost five hours. In contrast to the 300, the 710 maintains a track of routes, permits routes with multiple destinations to be set up and integrates a screen capture tool into the menu.
The 710 comes with the latest South African streetmaps published around March of this year on a 1GB SD card. Since the maps require less than 150MB of storage, there’s plenty of space for additional maps, music and photos. As with most nüvi’s, support for JPEG photos, MP3 files and Audible content is provided by the relevant players and viewers selectable from the menu.
The unit itself contains 400MB of storage and has both an integrated Bluetooth radio and an FM transmitter. The Bluetooth radio connects to a compatible mobile phone and permits handsfree telephone conversations. Coupled with the FM transmitter, the nüvi 710 is able to speak to the driver through the speakers connected to the car stereo. If a telephone conversation is taking place, or an MP3 is being played, the audio for that is similarly transmitted over the FM band.
I constantly use an FM transmitter to listen to podcasts whilst driving and have tried a number of them. The nüvi 710‘s FM transmitter is by far the clearest and has no trace of the excessive noise and hissing I’ve noticed with other FM transmitters. Full marks for that! As an aside, I would caution against using this feature for telephone calls. As the audio is transmitted on an open FM channel, anyone in close proximity tuned to that channel will be able to hear the audio too! Spread the love with some podcasts and music, but be aware that your private conversations may no longer be that private 
The menu interface and operation method will be familiar to all nüvi owners and should be easy to understand by most everyone else.
The Bluetooth connection is used to initiate a connection with a compatible mobile phone to permit handsfree calling. The setup is very simple: Bluetooth on, phone discoverable and enter the authorization code. With the E90, the nüvi 710 is unable to read the contacts in the phone’s memory, which is a pity.
This feature is supported with a wide array of other phones and makes phone calls as simple as selecting a contact on the display. I hope Garmin will include support for the E90 in a firmware upgrade sometime soon. There’s a tiny microphone visible on the left edge of the bezel. In my three test calls, I had excellent reception and no problem making myself understood (or at least, no more problems than usual!). That feature seems to work very well. I’m sure the Bluetooth and FM transmitter will further reduce the available battery runtime, but these are very handy features to have.
In the box is the nüvi 710 unit, windshield and dashboard mounts, USB cable, cigarette lighter charger cable and SD card containing the local map set.
The nüvi 710 is a great GPS device for automotive use that includes many useful features to make commuting that bit more manageable.
Garmin Edge 705
Cycling can be more fun if there’s something to measure and something to look at. Being able to navigate and know where you are is probably even more important. Garmin has made huge inroads (pardon the pun) into the personal navigation space and is setting its sights on making GPS devices ubiquitous. The Edge series is specifically designed for cyclists. The devices are small and compact, weatherproof and fit securely onto road and mountain bikes.
My choice is the Edge 705, and it’s proven to be a remarkable gadget. The price was right, so I went for the full pack consisting of the Edge 705 unit, heart rate monitor and cadence sensor. Also in the box, two mounting brackets, charger, Garmap 2008 DVD, USB cable and some paperwork.
The Edge 705 has a colour screen that measures 3.5cm by 4.3cm and is bright enough to be viewed from most angles. Buttons are clearly marked and logically arranged. One-handed use is convenient, though the unit spends its time in the mounting bracket on the bicycle most of the time.
The Edge is weatherproof and is charged by attaching it to a computer’s USB port or the included charger. Charging times vary, but a three hour charge seems sufficient for more than 14 hours of continuous use. The built-in, non-removable battery is of the Li-Polymer type. The USB adapter on the rear of the unit features a rubber cap to protect the electronics from the elements. In my opinion, that covering could have been designed to close more tightly. Even though it’s designed for bicycle use, the unit has plenty of memory onboard. I bought a cheap 1GB microSD card and slotted it into the bay. With that arrangement, I was able to load the entire ZA street map detail, as well as complete topographical maps for the country. Not bad! The maps can be overlayed and the 705 is completely capable of turn-by-turn route direction. All that is missing is voice guidance.
The mounting brackets are attached to the stem or handlebar. The Edge sits quite comfortably and securely in the bracket and is easy to remove. Two brackets provide a selection of orientation and allow the Edge to be moved from one bicycle to another quite easily.
The heart rate monitor is the usual chest strap variety – remember to moisten it prior to putting it on: you may have some rather erratic readings otherwise that may cause considerable worry.
The cadence sensor is installed on the pedal. Both accessories are automatically detected by the Edge base unit and readings take place straight away. For very serious geeks and fitness fanatics, ANT+Sport technology is able to integrate a variety of additional wireless devices.
Basically, the use of the unit involves starting a measurement. The display options are flexible, allowing various types of data to be displayed at any one time. In the meantime, the map pointer shows your position and the unit records all relevant data. During all that, you may want it to guide you to a destination or to follow a pre-loaded track. Once done, the data is uploaded to Garmin‘s desktop training application for further analysis. That’s quick and easy using the USB data transer. Similarly, loading maps and tracks is accomplished via USB.
Of course, that’s not all. There are many more things the Edge is capable of, and we’ll look at the unit in a bit more detail over the coming weeks. All in all, a fantastic device that does everything it promises exceptionally well and offers the flexibility of a small, handheld GPS for many other applications. If you want an incentive to start cycling again, the Edge may be just the ticket
First impressions – GARMAP Africa Series 2008
I was rather surprised that a new version of the GARMAP Africa Series maps for Garmin GPS units is available. I have only recently upgraded to the 1.5 release and assumed that another upgrade would be available only much later this year or only next. I decided to purchase the ZAR 99 DVD containing the updated map set and was hopeful that the upgrade to the Street Maps would not involve a substantial cost.
When I upgraded to 1.5, I also checked for a new Garmin firmware update for my nuvi 300. At that time, the jump in functionality was rather substantial as I had neglected to upgrade the unit for quite some time. Late March saw the release of firmware 5.40 for the nuvi 300 and I decided to download and upgrade as a matter of course.
The upgrade seems not to have changed anything, as is evident from the Garmin change log. Updated display settings. Sadly, Marc‘s ability to hack the track on the nuvi 200 is not available on the nuvi 300…
On to the map upgrade. All map sets are provided on the DVD. The GPS needs to be connected and an Internet connection is required. All validation is performed online against the GPS unit intended for the upgrade. It’s a question of clicking Continue every now and then…
The upgrade procedure is well-thought out and works reasonably well. One issue I ran into was that the verification code sent to me during the activation procedure was not accepted by the GARMAP installation program. It kept on complaining that the code was incorrect and case-sensitive. That’s all well and good, except that the code I was provided with consisted only of numbers, with no letters to be seen. I tried to no avail to enter a lower-case 4, but eventually gave up and restarted the installation. This time, an alphanumeric code was provided. All uppercase, but at least this code was accepted.
The best part of the upgrade for me was that the 2008 map sets were provided without charge. Probably because I had purchased the 1.5 version at the beginning of the year, or maybe all 1.5 owners are eligible for a free upgrade. That’s how it should be.
I dumped the entire ZA onto the nuvi and had the GPS on during my travels today. As with the GPS firmware update, my experience is that there is very little new. Of course, I drive through some established areas and, yes, the most notable name changes to streets have been made. Other than that, I can’t see too much different. It would be interesting to hear from those of you who have seen some major additions and changes to the maps in your area.
On the whole, the fact that the upgrade was free and relatively painless is a big plus. It’s great to have the latest information, though I worry that GARMAP may be starting a campaign of frequent updates that may not entirely be necessary or even useful…
GARMAP Africa Series 2008
Users of Garmin GPS devices will be pleased to hear that the new mapset is available for purchase. The GARMAP Africa Series 2008 DVD retails for ZAR 99 and looks more like the top 100 hits of Madonna than a boring map set package The silver DVD box is quite eye-catching and cannot be reproduced online.
Of course, the purchase price of the DVD is simply to provide access to the map sets. If you intend upgrading or purchasing one or more of them, additional cash will have to be exchanged. The entire installation procedure takes place whilst the GPS unit is connected and an Internet connection is required. There is little chance of installing the map sets to multiple GPS receivers…
The following map sets are provided:
- Southern Africa Streetmaps, March Edition
- Southern Africa Streetmaps, DEM, March Edition
- Southern Africa Streetmaps, Topo & Rec, March Edition
- South Africa Waterways, March Edition
- Nigeria Streetmaps, Topo & Rec Version 2
- East Africa Street Maps Version 1
- Indian Ocean Islands Streetmaps Version 1: Mauritius
It seems that owners of Southern Africa Streetmaps Version 1.5 are able to upgrade without charge. At least that was my experience. Good thing too, since all we really want is access to the updated street names!
Garmin iPhone wannabe
The great thing about the iPhone is the innovation it has sparked. Mobile devices we’ve all become accustomed to over the last year will forever be changed due to the experience the iPhone is able to provide. Many companies are in the process of trying to emulate its success. Nokia is one. Garmin is another. Though not exactly a mobile phone manufacturer, Garmin has been able to provide military-grade equipment in a package suited to soccer mom’s and everyday users. The current line of nüvi GPS units is highly successful. This is their latest offering, to be unveiled at the 3GSM conference this month:
The nüvifone. GPS with mobile phone, all in an iPhone-like package. HSDPA, media playback, touchscreen interface, camera with automatic geotagging and full GPS functionality. Doesn’t seem to be Windows Mobile-based either, which is a relief. So, what’s not to like?
Available sometime later this year.
There’s more information in the media gallery.
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