Reviews
Mapopolis
Navigator
Where in the
world is Carmen Sandiego? Where's Waldo? If a mapping and navigation
package could solve these questions ö Mapopolis would be that
package! Mapopolis is a very comprehensive GPS, mapping, and navigation
package.
It works on
any PalmOS compatible system, which was very important to this
reviewer who was using a Sony nx70v as a test platform. Competing
products, such as Tom Tom Navigator, only work on the Tungsten
T3 at this time. Mapopolis comes in versions for PalmOS 4 and
5 and it also handles screen sizes from 160x160 up to 320x480
in portrait or in landscape mode.
You can use
Mapopolis to look up an address on a map, generate a route between
two addresses, and perform address lookup by GPS location. You
can add addresses to its database as ÎGeoMarks' in addition to
the businesses that are already listed in its database. This feature
is quite handy for adding private residences and newer businesses
to the navigation/address database.
Inputting
an address to look up, or during navigation, uses the same PalmOS
entry method you already use for everything else in your PalmOS
device. If you have your maps loaded into RAM (the maps can be
used directly from any external memory card as well) it can find
addresses from partial inputs ö even as you're entering them.
Mapopolis also remembers addresses you've used before so you can
recalculate a route from your current location easily or recall
previous directions with the same ease.
All options
aside ö how well does it map? Can it navigate you to your destination
successfully? The answer is an unqualified excellent and yes!
The maps produced are detailed, color-coded, labeled, and can
be zoomed, rotated, and even highlight points of interest and
businesses along the roads. You can view the maps in 2D and even
in 3D during your journey. When navigating you get voice prompts
from either a synthesized voice or a sampled voice. The navigation
features clear visual directions that cover your journey turn
by turn in precise detail. If you are using a GPS it will handle
the entire journey automatically and even reroute you if you miss
a turn.
Mapopolis
uses Navigation Technologies data, which they state is the highest-quality
digital transportation database available. This data includes
routes anywhere in the United States, major Canadian cities (the
CD edition contains continental U.S. only, online MapPacks includes
Canadian cities), and Western Europe.
When
compared to Tom Tom Navigator you'll see that Mapopolis could
use a little work in the 3D views. Mapopolis' 3D view is overly
detailed, which is not a flaw necessarily, but the simplicity
and clarity of the Tom Tom Navigator view is something to be desired
at times.
Since Mapopolis
doesn't require a GPS, and they take the unusual approach of providing
the program freely online to use with demo maps, you can evaluate
it easily yourself at any time. I honestly use this software on
a daily basis at times and find it completely reliable!
÷ Kermit
Woodall
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