GPS software makes GPS so much more fun

GPS software runs on Desktop PC�s, pocket PC�s, Palm PDA�s and now also on GPS phones. The software that runs in GPS receivers is burnt into the internal memory and you don�t have access to it. GPS software makes creating and managing waypoints and routes a lot easier and even more precise. On the other hand it is extremely important that you know without hesitation how to create waypoints and routes directly on your GPS receiver. In emergency cases, when you can not respect your planning, you certainly will not have a desktop PC with you to create new waypoints and routes. You MUST be able to do it in the field, without thinking, with only your GPS receiver. Only then should you use GPS software.

The different GPS software categories

1) GPS to Google Earth/Maps. Google Earth is such a wonderful instrument, because it allows you to project your waypoints and tracks everywhere on our planet. Even in the most remote areas. And Google Maps gives us street level detail for places for which we normally would not have our own maps.

2) GPS software for developers. Developers of GPS software for all operating systems can take advantage of a lot of work that others have already realized.

3) GPS utilities. GPS utilities make working with GPS devices a lot more comfortable. A computer keyboard is much handier to enter GPS coordinates and waypoint names than the few keys on a GPS receiver. Moreover they allow conversions from one datum or from one file extension to many others.

4) GPS mapping and navigation. These programs let you "play" with maps. Calibrate them and use them on desktop computers or pocket PCs. Often scanned paper maps will form the basis for GPS navigation in the field.

5) GPS for Macintosh. Also for the Macintosh computers there exist GPS utilities and mapping and navigation software.

6) GPS for Linux. Linux users content themselves often with less "comfortable" programs, but they too have their utilities and mapping solutions.

7) GPS for cell phones. We better get used to GPS software for cell phones, as this category only now takes of, but will become increasingly important in the near future. One day almost all cell phones will have a GPS chip built-in and will be able to do more with GPS than our actual modern GPS receivers.

8) GPS Tools. Not everyone needs GPS tools, but if you want to experiment with seperate GPS receiver modules or special programs, you can hardly live without them. Use them on your own risk, because maybe you will mess-up with internal settings, without knowing how to correct this.

9) Online GPS tools. Online tools are different from the above ones. Maybe we better had named them online "utilities".

10) Geocaching software. Some are very small programs for simple tasks, but in this category we also find very clever solutions for everything Geocaching. And what's more, they exist for several operating systems.

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