The new Satmap GPS unit, due out shortly, looks
likely to revolutionise GPS use, particularly for Mac users.
As an individual, I've always found GPS units mildly frustrating -
that's partly because as an Apple user, it's been nigh on impossible
to get my computer and any GPS to communicate, which makes the GPS
little more than a glorified position locator and compass.
And
it's been made even worse by the studied user hostility of many GPS
receivers. If you can plot a route using mapping software on your PC
they're fine, but trying to manually input and name way points
straight to the unit is an exercise in futility.
Self Contained...
If the demo of Satmap we saw last week is anything to go by, the
new unit looks set to sort all that out at a stroke. The unit's
essentially self-contained and comes with a basemap of the UK.
For outdoors use, you load a relevant OS map selection on an SD
card and the unit shows you exactly where you are on the map. If you
have both 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 maps of the same area you can zoom in
and out and the unit will automatically switch from one to
another.
To plan routes you simply use a small joy-stick to move your cursor
around and select waypoints, which the unit joins up. You can record
walks with time, speed and elevation data, instantly produce
elevation charts and journey stats and so on. Pretty much everything
you can do with mapping software but in a self-contained unit, no
computer interface necessary.
As we understand it, you'll also be able to plan routes on line at
Satmap's own web site then download them to your Satmap unit via your
computer - PC or, say Satmap, most likely, Mac, though that option
will have to wait a month or two until drivers have been developed - and follow them on the ground using
the Satmap unit.
The hardware looks good too. Very neat, robust with a replaceable
polycarbonate screen and a choice of using AAs or a rechargeable
lithium polymer battery, plus a bike-mount option for
two-wheelers.
More Information
Price will be around £300 for the basic unit and we're really
looking forward to trying one out shortly. More information from
www.satmap.com.
James McNaught
