Why the pocketPC always was our favorite for GPS navigation
For years we have used the pocketPC as our device for GPS navigation, because we could run, on the same device, programs for road navigation and other programs for in the outdoors. But times are changing.
On the road, in the great outdoors and even on the water with one GPS receiver
Magellan
On January 5, 2007 Magellan presented its CrossoverGPS at the London Boat Show. It is the world's first rugged, IPX-4 waterproof device designed to provide GPS navigation for both driving and outdoor adventures.
Pre loaded with both street maps and topographic contour maps, the CrossoverGPS guides users while driving, off-roading, hiking, geocaching, boating or fishing. It is compatible with all MapSend certified maps on SD-cards, including topographic maps and BlueNav Marine charts. Users have the option to add real-time traffic capabilities with the Magellan TrafficKit
For outdoor navigation it has multiple navigation screens and fields: compass, altimeter, distance to destination, cross track error (XTE), estimated time of arrival. The battery life is 8 hours in full use.
IGN (Institut Geographique National) France
On November 7, 2006 IGN France launched the Evadeo in Paris. A little smaller (110 x 87 x 21 mm) and lighter (183 grams) than the CrossoverGPS, but not rugged, nor waterproof, it comes with two 1GB SD cards. One for the Navteq vector maps for route navigation for the whole of France, and one for the IGN topographic raster maps 1 : 100 000 for the outdoors of the whole of France.
It is equipped with the SiRF III GPS receiver with integrated antenna and has a 3.5 inch touch screen LCD TFT 65K colors at 320 x 240 pixels. It's non-removable lithium-ion 1400 mAh battery will only last 3 hours in full operation.
The Evadeo has 3 navigation modes: voice-guided turn-by-tun street guidance for in the car, a street-guidance mode for walkers, and a special mode for hikers. It also has a search function for 1 700 000 place names, even the smallest villages, mills, chapels, lakes, creeks, historic sites, etc.
Users can download 1 : 25 000 topographic maps in chunks of 10 x 10 km. Included in the box are 1500 square kilometers of these maps.
DeLorme
On February 5, 2007 DeLorme introduced the Earthmate GPS PN-20, the only handheld GPS that can display DeLorme maps and aerial imagery. It is a hybrid GPS device capable of both street routing and topographical mapping. The Earthmate GPS PN-20 is a unique all-in-one GPS and mapping solution. Unlike other handheld GPS manufacturer's devices, no additional mapping software purchase or subscription is required. DeLorme Topo USA 6.0 DVD software is included with the device, with beautifully detailed topographic and road maps of the entire U.S., available aerial imagery, and a broad range of GPS capabilities. Topo USA 6.0 works with Microsoft Windows Vista as well as Windows 2000 and XP.
The included Topo USA 6.0 DVD software is a powerful pre-trip travel planning and post-trip data management tool. Users can automatically create road and trail routes, with GPS waypoints embedded.
The program's draw tools allow users to create tracks and insert waypoints as well.
Maps can be cut specifically for the area needed and symbols and annotations added. Aerial imagery can also be uploaded for GPS tracking and indispensable birds-eye visual reference. Up-close views reveal hiking and jeep trails, as well as structures, waterways, and other landmarks.
Map files, aerial imagery, routes, waypoints, and tracks can be uploaded to the Earthmate GPS PN-20. The device has exceptional data capacity, holding up to 10 tracks (10,000 points per track), as well as 1,000 user-defined waypoints, and up to 50 routes. A full 75 MB of internal flash memory is available for maps, as well as an SD Card slot within the battery compartment, capable of working with 2 GB or less cards (ideal for large-volume aerial imagery files).
The software's automatic trail routing is an exclusive DeLorme feature, as is the ability to download and save collected tracks as routable roads and trails within the software for future use. Any collected waypoints, tracks, symbols, comments, and other data can be easily downloaded and managed within the Topo USA software.
In addition to the Topo USA nationwide map coverage, the receiver comes pre-loaded with a worldwide highway/major thoroughfare reference base map. The Earthmate GPS PN-20's intelligent data layering feature allows users to easily toggle between maps and aerial imagery of the same location, ideal for hikers, campers, bikers, and others looking for multiple views of outdoor locations.
When GPS tracking on an uploaded road or trail route, an audible signal warns of upcoming turns, and there is a back-on-track feature should users go off course while driving or hiking along a route. On-device road routing is also available, with back-on-track and turn alerts, so the Earthmate GPS PN-20 is also a reliable in-vehicle navigation device.
With its waterproof rubberized housing, the Earthmate GPS PN-20 is designed for rugged outdoor use. It measures just 2.43" W x 5.25" H x 1.5" D and weighs only 5.12 oz., with an ergonomic design and large, easily accessible function keys.
Memory-Map
Memory-Map will launch the Road Angel Adventurer 7000 at this year’s Ordnance Survey Outdoor Show (March 17,18 and 19, 2007), a fully waterproof Personal Navigation Device (PND) to offer users both turn by turn on-road guidance and full OS mapping with Memory-Map’s award winning navigation software.
The new unit has a waterproof rating of IPx6, utilises Road Angel’s leading turn by turn navigation with full post code search and safety camera blackspot alerts and also includes pre-loaded Memory-Map’s award winning software, so it really is ready to go straight from the box.
Road Angel Adventurer 7000 features:
Final thoughts
We think that this is a good evolution. Three of the four devices are waterproof, which make them more suitable for use outside the car. Two of the four are for use in the USA, one for the UK and one for France, so they are not yet for everyone of us.
