It’s only 2 months since the last SatMap Active 10 firmware update, but Mapomatic have reported about a new firmware, v1.42.  The features of this new firmware include:

• When coming out of Hibernate Mode, the unit will now always read the SD Card without it needing to be re-inserted.
• The Set Trip Data option in Settings is now accessible on all versions of the products.
• The memory usage in relation to POIs has been improved.
• For customers using early versions of the unit which are displaying UK vector road maps (this is the simple base map which ONLY shows roads and is NOT the 1:250k OS map), v1.42 will now display roads names.
• The Default Key now resets ALL settings to original configuration.
• If there is only one route it is no longer automatically activated – the user has to set this now.

It’s nice to see companies like SatMap continuing to innovate and especially as they are provided updates for existing customers, and not just forcing people into new hardware to access new software functions.  Although generally minor updates, it’s still worth considering applying this update to your SatMap Active 10.

SatMap have quietly released a new firmware, v1.4, for their SatMap Active 10 devices.  As well as addressing a range of bugs, the full Changelog is included in this article.  Highlights include better Geocaching.com support, better power management, including hibernation support.  For the full changelog, read the rest of the article…

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Back in March we mentioned that SatMap were planning to release maps for more countries, and recently SatMap started selling maps for France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  These maps are generally available in both 1:50k and 1:25k variants allowing for a good coverage across the Alpine region.  As with all high quality mapping, it does not come cheap; for example, the French 1:50k maps are split into 21 regions, with each region costing £55, however, if the maps are similar to the UK maps (and we believe they are), then it could be well worth buying the regions you need.  They have also partnered with the German Alpine Club to provide coverage of the Alps, and are said to be the best maps of the region.

As always, head over to the SatMap website for more information on these maps and the SatMap Active 10 unit.

SatMap, the makes of the SatMap Active 10 (and SatMap Active 10 Plus), have this week released a new version of their PC software, and a new firmware for the Active 10 devices to go with it.   For us, the key new feature is the support of geocaching.com GPX files, giving you a full range of information about the geocaches; offering hints, cache descriptions, terrain, difficulty, and logs.  The changes to the PC software include:

• New graphical display: the new layout of the user interface makes operation clearer and easier.
• GEOCACHING.COM compatible: users can install either .LOC files or .GPX files. The .LOC files contain the latitude and longitude of the cache, and the .GPX files contain the full information offering hints, cache descriptions, terrain, difficulty, logs, etc. This compatibility allows users to fully enjoy the growing international sport of Geocaching.
• Google Earth compatible: so users can download .KML and .KMZ files for both routes and POIs from Google Earth onto the Active 10. The .GPX files from the Active 10 can still be uploaded and viewed on Google Earth.
• Microsoft Virtual Earth compatible: so users can download .KML and .GPX files for both routes and POIs from Microsoft Virtual Earth onto the Active 10. The .GPX files from the Active 10 can still be uploaded and viewed on Microsoft Virtual Earth.
• Enhanced Windows XP compatible: this allows users to run SatSYNC in guest accounts on their computers.
• Direct links to Satmap Online Route Planner and Route Share Network: this allows users to access the online web applications rapidly, making it faster and easier to move routes around.
• SD Card transfer of routes: users can now insert the SD Card straight into their PCs and do the import and export of files (using the Convert buttons) without needing the Active 10. This should make it easier for users to share routes or access routes as it means they don’t have to restart the unit to view any new routes when the card is inserted into the Active 10. It also makes the transfer of route files faster.

As for the firmware, which is needed to support these new features, it also includes:

Updates

• Zoom Floor lowered from 1:1,000 to 1:500 for improved viewing of aerial photography products when released.
• Support for Spanish and Catalan languages.
• More flash memory freed up for map handling, allowing bigger maps to be loaded in future.
• Updated support for German, Italian and French languages.
• Routes now saved by default to SD card (if present), allowing for optimal use of memory resources.
• Faster screen responses as soon as the Active10 acquires satellite lock, allowing for faster cold start times under certain conditions.
• Minor improvements for use with the SatSYNC application.
• Better handling of routes which have been “reversed”.

To us, the addition of the geocaching support really brings this device forward as a single, all-encompassing device which provides the benefit of OS maps as well as acting as an all-round device suitable for anyone who spends time in the countryside.

When we covered SatMap’s new Route Planner and Route Share last week, we noted that this would no longer be free to new purchasers of the Active 10 from today (and existing purchasers only have until the end of March to register for free access).  Well, SatMap have today extended their range with the Active 10 Plus, which will include free access to both these services.  On top of the standard Active 10 device, it will also offer postcode based lookup facilities, a new function not previously available on the Active 10, and due to license limitations, will not be available for retro-fitting to the Active 10 either.

The Active 10 Plus will retail for £379.99, compared to £299.99 for Active 10.  As well as access to the Route Planner and Route Share services (via a voucher in the box), the Active 10 Plus also ships with a World Base Map, a Lithium Polymer Battery (the unit will also take AA Batteries), a wall charger (with multi-country adaptors), and another voucher for 1/3 off a 60km² site-centred map (worth £35).

The new 1:5 million World Base Map allows better use of the device outside of the UK (or the main area you have bought maps for), providing some basic level of mapping.  For comparison, the Active 10 Plus ships with this 1:5 million base map, a UK 1:1 million high level OS map, and a 1:250,000 raster road map of the UK.  For those existing Active 10 users who would like this world base map, it is available as an upgrade for £39.99 plus postage.

The World Base Map is part of the European wide launch of the device, with plans to release OS type mapping for a number of Western European countries by Easter this year, including The Netherlands and Norway, where the device is already on sale.

Given the range of extras the Active 10 Plus ships with, it’s likely to count for the majority of sales moving forward.

Although still a little expensive (even as a waterproof GPS unit with access to UK OS Maps), if SatMap improved their geocaching support within the device’s software (and their FAQ says they are looking to incorporate in the future), we think they would sell even more units.

More information direct from SatMap here.

SatMap, the company behind the SatMap Active 10 GPS device (which was one of the first dedicated devices to offer OS mapping) have added two new features to their range.  The online route planner allows you to plan routes using a variety of different online maps (including OS 1:25k maps of the UK) and then download the route to your Active 10.  You can also view an elevation profile or print out the route on paper as a backup to the device failing (or running out of batteries).

The other facility they have launched is a route sharing website, where users can share routes.

Both these facilities are free to existing users as long as the device is purchased before 23rd March 2009 (you have a week left!) and you need to register the unit with SatMap before 1st April 2009.  Any purchases / registration after this time will be subject to an additional fee of £79.99 to use these services.

If you fancy having access to OS maps and elevation profiles direct on your Symbian phone, then look here.

Story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

It’s a while since we’ve heard anything from SatMap, but, according to Pocket GPS World, they’ve just released a new update (v1.3) for their device.  The Changelog states this update includes:

Map Features

• OSGB: the grid reference in the UK is now in 10 figure format (e.g. TQ 1596257240)
• European Datum: now included to support international mapping (e.g. UTM)

User Interface

• European Languages: Swedish, French, German and Italian are now supported.
• GPS Position: now has a new icon featuring a Direction of Travel Indicator.
• Planning Screen: now shows the blue GPS position circle and the brown planning position circle on the screen.
• 2D GPS Data Indication: if the GPS signal is poor, the unit will display position but not elevation data. This is shown as a “2D” icon.
• Map Scale: this is now displayed continuously during zooming.
• Trail Up / North Up: the switch between these two options is now instant.
• Live GMT (UTC) Time: now added to the GPS Status screen.

Functions

• Button Lock: now available on double press of the Power Button (indicated by the padlock icon).
• Power Off Confirmation: two key operation to close the unit down to prevent accidental power off.
• Press & Hold Backlight On: in the Power Control setting it is now possible to select an “Always Off” option on the Screen Turn Off function. This allows users to save power by having the backlight always off: to turn it on, press and hold the backlight boost button.

Settings

• Map Title Screen: this now auto cancels after 5 seconds.
• One Button Press: this is now the default setting, but the double press option can be restored in Button Control settings.

Routes

• New Data Box Options: total ascent, total descent, max and min elevation have been added.
• Trip Log Screen: the ?Stop? button now stops all data recording until re-started, including the height profile graph.
• Distance To End: now measures the distance to the end of the route, along the route itself.
• Knots & Nautical Miles: now available as an option.
• Waypoint and POI Names: now displayed when the cursor is over them.
• POI Naming: when POIs are entered there is a prompt to name them.

This update is available from here, with a warning that you must be running v1.16 or higher else you risk corrupting the device; story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

Although we’ve seen OS maps on other devices, such as the SatMap Active 10 before, and in software, such as the ViewRanger software for Symbian phones, Garmin are shortly to release UK OS Maps for their Garmin Colorado and Garmin Oregon GPS devices.

The OS Maps will come on a microSD card that you can slot straight into the units (although knowing Garmin you will not be able to transfer the maps to another memory card, as they use the “Secure” bit of the SD card standard to store the license to use the maps).  This should not be a major problem for these devices, as they have some internal memory for storing additional POIs, and they support multiple map files on the internal memory too.

What’s different about these Garmin maps though is that as well as featuring the full visual OS maps, all the data has been included to allow you to navigate via the maps too, and POI information is included as well.

At some point, Garmin will also sell the units and maps together, but in the meantime the OS Maps will be available from November priced at £129.99.

For those who want better mapping on their GPS units, but don’t want to pay at all, then Mapomatic offer the Garmin UK OSM maps (using the OpenStreetMap maps) free of charge!  OpenStreetMap is still a “Work in Progress”, so not every road or footpath is covered, but the data will still enhance your GPS if you only have a very rough basemap (or no map at all), and best of all, you can help improve the map by uploading your GPS traces, and adding the missing roads and footpaths yourself.

Story and picture courtesy of OUTDOORSmagic.com.

SatMap have released another update for their SatMap Active 10 unit. This is available for download, unlike previous versions, which were sent out on CD. You do need to have v1.16 or above to be able to install this new version, v1.2, but hopefully SatMap will continue to provide downloads from now on.

The enhancements with the new software include:

• Charger Control
• SDHC Support
• Improved map zoom handling
• UTM and MRGS Coordinate schemes
• Improved memory handling

Information courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

Over at Pocket GPS World, they’ve published a full and frank review of the SatMap Active 10. They’ve covered all aspects of the device, in fact the only additional “Con” we would add to the Pros and Cons is the overall cost, especially if you want a lot of OS maps on the device. Head over to read the review.

[Via Mapomatic]

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…