Talkback: Anquet's New Apps With Cloud-Based Synch

Just a quick post for now, but I'll start by saying I'm not very happy with Anquet at the moment and I'm considering my options with regard to giving them more money to use maps I've only recently paid a not inconsiderable amount for.

So the bottom line is, I need to pay £50 to continue using my maps with the new software (v6 maps needs converting) and, perhaps more importantly in my case, my Android phone (v6 maps won't work with the Android app?). On top of that, there'll be a £6.99 charge for the Android app itself?

Part 2.

One of the factors behind choosing Anquet was the promise of getting maps onto my Smartphone. When I bought my maps in November 2011 (so my maps won't work in OMN) there was no Android app available, but one was promised. I was willing to wait.

During that time I was going to use my previous Smartphone, an HTC Tough HD running Windows Mobile, as v6 had 'Pocket Anquet. It never worked. I gave up trying and dreamed of the Android App.

Now it's on the horizon I learn it's not even a simple case of buying an App. I have to 'convert' my maps to make them compatible.

v6 has always been a slow and clunky affair for me. My PC is no slouch (quad core, >3GHz, 8gb RAM, dual gfx, W7, SSD). OMN promises to be better, but I can't properly test it as none of my maps work in it. I need to gamble £50 to find out.

Fortunately, other people have taken that gamble and it appears it may not be worth it.

So I'm torn: Invest in the future, pray it works and isn't just throwing good money after bad (what's to stop Anquet doing something similar for the next version?). Or cut my losses...

Part 3.

Some interesting comments in this blog.

The Android beta is available now. Anyone tried it and care to comment?

http://anquet.zendesk.com/categories/20051987-omn-for-android-beta-group

Will I be able to use my existing maps?

You’ll be able to use any maps bought in 2012 (in either OMN for PC or Anquet v06 – doesn’t matter which)  in the OMN for Android Beta automatically.

To use older maps in the OMN for Android Beta, you’ll need the v06 Early Bird Pro Upgrade. This includes everything you need to convert any v06 map into an OMN for Android and OMN for PC compatible download.

If you have older maps that you’d like to use in OMN for Android, but don’t feel that the Early Bird Pro Upgrade is for you, perhaps because you don’t need all the features it includes, you’ll need to wait until OMN for Android is out of Beta and live. Then you’ll be able to buy and v06 Android Map Reader plug-in separately for about £10 (TBC). This will let you use any older *downloads* in OMN for Android.

At the risk of making Anquet think that £10 (£16.99) is acceptable - I suppose that's better than £50 (£56.99). But it still sucks.

I have tested the Android app and I have to say I think it looks really good (so far).  The program was very quick and responsive although I did have some problems synching to the cloud after I had created a route on the free version of OMN.  So I suppose I have only really tested it with the demo maps on both programs as I need to pay to upgrade the purchased maps so that they will work on the beta android app. 

Having issues with Anquet v06 at the moment too, with some purchased maps not fully downloading.  How will I be able to continue to use Anquet V06 alongside the new OMN when my Pocket PC is no longer going to be supported? Not much point in doing any upgrades at all unless I want to move to the android platform for mobile GPS (as I only own an adroid phone and not a Garmin GPS).  What are these GPS devices that the OMN Pro supports?  No information about this on the website (I know that PPC won't work OMN as I did contact Anquet before).

Paul,

For info, I am a Pocket PC user too and have upgraded on the basis these are a thing of the past. Anquet has only ever worked on windows mobile (prior to recent iphone and now android apps) and does not work on WM 7 (only WM6 and earlier). No devices in WM6 and earlier are being produced now - the last was (I think) the HTC HD2. So it's android or nothing if you don't want to pay the apple tax!

Zippy wrote (see)

...Also, comparing the two, v6 appears sharper - OMN looks a bit blurry in comparison (and in comparison the memory map too)...

I've just been playing with the demo maps and putting v6 alongside OMN, I can see a difference too. OMN does look blurry.

Perhaps more annoying is that the app now does what I think v6 should have done, i.e. work!

I can scroll the demo maps, zoom in and out, without any stuttering, jumping or lag. v6 was as good as useless, very disappointing and imo not fit for purpose. I found myself wondering if I'd done the right thing going with Anquet's system.

Then along comes OMN and it appears usuable, but I have to pay another £57 to get my 5 month old maps (purchased Nov. '11) working with it and my (Android) phone.

I have an adroid phone and the OMN app in beta does look very good but just now deciding whether to upgrade or not.

Anquet fail trades description and trading standards. Anquet's email and web site says "It doesn’t matter how many v06 maps you have, how old they are or whether they are on disks or as downloads, the v06 Early Bird Pro Upgrade converts the whole lot". This is not correct. the 'Navigator' series of maps won't convert, Anquet no longer support it. After a small battle, I have got a refund from Anquet for my 'early bird' upgrade.

Despite this, they have not changed their web site or emails. I now consider this deliberately misleading and that they are laying themselves open to prosecution. Be warned.

PS: I hate the 'ribbon bar', hated having to re-download all my maps again, and could see little benefit for all the effort. I'll stick with v06.