Map Software for the Lifedrive

[SKreme]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with map software that worked. I tried one that had been working fine on my previous palm (I think it was mapopolis) and it was horribly slow, kept freezing up and just wasn't worth the wait so I deleted it. Now I am looking for another program, is there anyone that has been using any map programs without any problems? (By map programs, I don't mean GPS. I just want something that I can preload maps of certain cities on my LD and then when I am in those cities, I can navigate around the city without problems.) Thanks in advance for your help!

[TimothyP]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with map software that worked. I tried one that had been working fine on my previous palm (I think it was mapopolis) and it was horribly slow, kept freezing up and just wasn't worth the wait so I deleted it. Now I am looking for another program, is there anyone that has been using any map programs without any problems? (By map programs, I don't mean GPS. I just want something that I can preload maps of certain cities on my LD and then when I am in those cities, I can navigate around the city without problems.) Thanks in advance for your help!


Im using Tube 2, its mainly a subway map, but it also comes with street maps of certain parts of the city. Not sure where you plan on going, but they have maps of every city with street maps for some parts included. Look at it here (http://www.visualit.co.uk)

[SKreme]

I am looking for something that functions like mapquest. Something that I can put in 2 addresses and get directions between them. And it needs to be for US maps. Doesn't look like tube 2 does that but thanks for the suggestion.

(Just as an aside for anyone looking for it... Metro functions similar to Tube 2, it has maps for subways and buses and tells you the shortest fastest way to your destinations but it is freeware. Has most major cities in US and Europe. Get it here: Metro (http://www.nanika.net/Metro)

[SoS]

try handmap (http://www.handmap.net/Palm/) . Works ok on my LD (I installed maps on SD cos I had some problems with them on the HD using an earlier version of the viewer software)

[SKreme]

try handmap (http://www.handmap.net/Palm/) . Works ok on my LD (I installed maps on SD cos I had some problems with them on the HD using an earlier version of the viewer software)

I'll check it out. It offers address to address directions?

[SoS]

I'll check it out. It offers address to address directions?


Im afraid not at the moment - but it is pretty inexpensive!!

[SKreme]

Im afraid not at the moment - but it is pretty inexpensive!!
Oh. Well, that is what I am looking for. I need a map program that allows me to "mapquest" directions from one location to another without an internet connection or gps unit. (Maps may be stored on card or hdd.) If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know. Thanks!

[SafeHarbor]

Hi, Skreme,

You might want to give Mapopolis another try. Write to support@mapopolis.com and request the LifeDrive help document and download their latest version. I'm using their NavCard and Mobile Crossing GPS with my LifeDrive and have put over 1,100 miles on the combo so far. I would not call Mapopolis slow...

Good luck.

[ussdfiant]

Hi all, are there any really good FREE mapping programs?

[evildude]

While not FREE, TomTom V5 (latest build) works on my LD, I'm using it without gps spport for now, and its speedy scrolling through the map - while mapopolis was a nightmare.

I would call mapopolis slow and barley usefull. Its find is slow, pulling up contacts that have very little bearing on the street address I want, and needing the other name of the street in many cases, (ie 327 route 7, not 327 hoosick street - it cant find hoosick).

TomTom does not have this problem.

For free, you have kmap, The palm java engine and some kind of internet connection - google maps/kmap is very good.

[SKreme]

I emailed Mapopolis and this is what they replied:
The preferred product for the LifeDrive is our NavCard
or TripCard (because it automates so many of the things
that we have to do by hand wich the regular maps.)
However, there are some simple things that you can
do to improve program performance remarkably on the
LifeDrive.

It's SO simple: run all your maps for the SD card!

Yes, I know there's that tantalizingly huge hard drive,
and it would be wonderful to use it carry the entire
US in maps. However, the hard drive is not designed
to run continuously like the one on your PC. Instead,
it's intended to spin up, grab some data or start
a program, and then spin down again.

Enroute, Mapopolis makes almost continous but tiny
reads from the maps file, and it does this in a
seamless fashion that we don't even detect. This
works great with SD cards, but it keeps the hard
drive too excited on the LifeDrive, and it might
even hurt the drive.

Also, half of the LifeDrives 64 MB of RAM is
actually ON the harddrive.

The key to good program performance with Mapopolis
on the LifeDrive is to keep the program from
running maps on the hard drive. This means out
of "RAM," too.

Please find attached a short help file in
PDF that addresses running Mapopolis on the
LifeDrive. It explains a little bit better why
you don't want to run your maps in RAM *or* on
the hard drive.

Arrange your maps in a logical order on the
SD card, and you'll find that Mapopolis runs
VERY WELL on the LifeDrive. (You might want
to get an inexpensive USB card reader to
help with managing your maps on the card,
especially if you intend to carry a LOT of
them.)

By the way, I have over 1,100 miles navigating
with my LifeDrive now. Mapopolis has never
crashed on it, and it's never gotten me
lost. (And that's the name of the game,
isn't it?) :-)



So far I HAVE been running mapopolis maps from the SD card and it was still slow. I believe I was using v2.31 so I will download v2.32 and give it a shot. I will let you know how it went.

[SKreme]

I emailed Mapopolis and this is what they replied:


So far I HAVE been running mapopolis maps from the SD card and it was still slow. I believe I was using v2.31 so I will download v2.32 and give it a shot. I will let you know how it went.

I upgraded to v.2.32 while running the maps from the SD card. Still took pretty long to work. Not only that but when I tried to exit mapopolis it sent me into a reset. I would not recommend it. I'll give tomtom a try. If anyone has any more suggestions they would be appreciated.

[ShadoPanther]

Hello Skreme,
I just recently purchased Delorme Street Atlas 2006 Handheld and I love it. It does what you are asking; you can predefine any size map you want all the way to street level; and with the LD, you can make a LOT of maps or some really big ones. Once the maps are loaded into your LD, you have the ability to create routes on the LD without using the desktop software, a big plus for me when I want directions while I am out and about. Whether you create routes on the desktop or the LD, there is no internet connection required. I have only had it for a few days, but so far, it is the best affordable mapping software I have used. For a test, I put in the entire state of Maine, and it took 12 MB, loads kind of slow the first time, but very fast every time after that. Good Luck in your search.

[ShadoPanther]

Just found another cool feature. If you have more than one map, it automatically links them together. I put in New Hampshire, and I can zoom out to see both Maine and New Hampshire without having to switch maps.

[SKreme]

That sounds great! Thanks Shadopanther! How much did it cost you? Does it come with the whole US or do you have to buy maps seperately? Sounds like what I am looking for. I'll check into it. Please give me an update when you have used it more if there is anything that you dislike about it.

[ShadoPanther]

So far, still loving it. It was $49 at Staples, and it comes with the entire US for the desktop. Make sure you get the handheld edition. You can make the maps in whatever size you want for the Palm, so if you want, you can pretty much put the entire US on your Palm for about 695 MB. Of course, you would want to make each individual map a lot smaller to save loading times, but since Street Atlas automatically links the maps together when you zoom out enough, it should be a breeze. I am slowly loading more and more maps, so I will let you know if it effects load times. I have noticed that the more Points of Interest there are, the slower it loads(ie I put in Manhatten and it took a little longer to load due to the HUNDREDS of POIs). It has a nice feature for driving at night too. You can reverse the contrast so that it is easier to see the route at night. Just so you know, I might not be able to post this week, doing some major remodeling in my house. Will let you know more when I can.

[SKreme]

Thanks a mil! Please do keep me updated. I really appreciate it!