Mapomatic - Applications of Mapping

The Beta testing is going well, as the above screenshot shows (screenshot from a Garmin Colorado 300 with our UK OSM on Garmin Map loaded). We’ve also started Beta testing our next project and plans are under way for other OSM / Garmin projects throughout 2008. Strangely the Colorado does not show the streetnames, although other Garmin devices do.

We’re still accepting new beta requests - more information here.

The UK SatMap Active 10 GPS device, which offers a whole range of OS maps (at additional charge) has just received a fairly major software update. The new version, v1.15 features the following updates:

• A blue ‘You Are Here’ dot to distinguish current location from the red track dots.
• The ability to hide inactive routes to avoid ‘clutter’ on a map. (Main Menu > Settings > Routes Control)
• A battery meter that gives a more accurate indication of the power remaining, and an indication of when the unit is connected to an external power source.
• A more accurate record of the trip data.
• The ability to download the raw track data from the Active 10 onto a PC (via SatSYNC).
• The ability to display elevation data derived from the GPS system as opposed to from an in built height data set. (Main Menu > Settings > GPS Settings)
• The ability to calibrate the compass from the compass page.
• A low power mode that automatically sets up the unit up to maximise the battery life. (Main Menu > Settings > Advanced Power Control)
• The ability to reset the track and the trip log simultaneously. (Main Menu >Routes Menu > Reset Data)
• A 15 second screen off option. (Main Menu > Settings > Power Control)

“The new software also has a new power management system that significantly reduces
the overall power consumption of the Active 10, thereby improving battery
performance. It should also improve the GPS acquisition time and upgrade the signal
lock in difficult conditions such as under tree canopies.
The most obvious change is to the start-up operation: when switched on, the Active 10
(with no map card loaded), goes to the GPS status screen first. Yellow blocks appear on
the bar chart whilst the unit is picking up the satellites, which turn orange once they
have acquired the data from each one. Once a sufficient number of satellites have been
acquired, the unit locks on, and then automatically switches to the GPS Map screen.”

About the only thing missing from the SatMap website is information on how to obtain the new software…

[Via UK Gadgeteer]

We’re now beta testing our Garmin OSM map image file. If you asked to join the beta and haven’t got access, please let us know. If you want to join the beta, please follow these instructions, and you should be able to join. A key point is you need to register in our forums, and then contact us (via email, not via comments here please), and we’ll add you into additional areas of the forum.

After a long time (in computing terms) running the same, stable firmware, Garmin have just released a new firmware (v3.60) for the 60Cx, 60CSx, 76Cx and 76CSx models.

The new features / bug fixes are:

• Correct German translation of ‘delete all waypoints’
• Fix data card unlock failure when 2 cards of the same map set are used in one device
• Improve sun times for polar regions
• Fix issue where ETA in non motor vehicle modes can be unreasonably short
• Improve robustness of compass when it would appear uncalibrated until a power cycle
• Increase precision of distance measurement to the cursor on the map page
• Allow backlight adjustment on the track back point selection page
• Fix shutdown when editing Estonian Grid coordinates
• Correct daylight saving time for New Zealand
• Improve selection of the names of cross roads with NT maps
• Correct potential shutdown when viewing a vertical profile

You may not want to apply this update if you are not being affected by the problems listed.

Back in January, Garmin released similar firmware updates for the eTrex HCx range (v2.50) , along with the eTrex HC range (v2.70) and finally the eTrex Cx (v2.90) models.