Mapopolis 4.0 release date

05-13-03, 11:52 AM

Just got off the phone with the Mapopolis people. The release date is 5/15 for version 4.x of the software and maps. If you bought the software within one month you can return your purchase for full credit. Beyond a month, they will announce an upgrade path which was not specified. If it's like the past, it's credit on your remaining subscription toward the purchase cost.

csims · 05-13-03, 01:36 PM

Eh? You mean with the next release I have to pay for it again? WTF? I thought upgrades were free until the subscription ran out?

silentknight · 05-13-03, 01:40 PM

The software is free, the maps are what
cost money, and in no doubt the new software
will support all their maps... if there is new
software coming...

commoved · 05-13-03, 08:38 PM

Actually, the 4.0 software is not compatible with 3.x maps. To use the new software, you have to buy the new maps. I think they're including additional data in the data bases that the 4.0 program requires. I suppose they might come out with additional 3.x program ugrades. If they do, they would be compatible with your existing maps.

If you read their site carefully, you are entitled to download the version of maps you bought for a year. Their software keeps track of which version you bought, and automatically give you access to the appropriate maps. They have to pay Navigator for people that take the upgrade, so naturally they have to charge their customers to recover this cost. The cost of the upgrade is generally pro-rated.

All of this information, and much more, is explained on the Mapopolis site at gpspassion.com.

Balzz · 05-13-03, 08:55 PM

Crap! I just bought the maps last week. :-/

commoved · 05-13-03, 09:09 PM

As Bobpenn said, you can upgrade for free for 30 days. Should be no problem for you.

silentknight · 05-13-03, 09:20 PM

yeah i just heard that... been talking to them
through email after I read this thread...

Kind of a pain, I just downloaded every map
for every state in march....

Now im going to have to do the upgrade, then
download everything again, Hey for
any one who is interested there is a public
preview area here:

www.mapopolis.com/cooltraffic

silentknight · 05-13-03, 09:43 PM

Ok, who wants to see a long email from
mapopolis? which has me convinced to stay
with my current maps/software....

looks like my area wont even be updated
for along time, which leaves me hanging,
new software - no old maps
new software - only "few areas" covered...
old software - perfectly good working maps for me..
with all areas..

the new software (from what I could see after
playing for a few seconds... the only big change
I could see was the first screen, and the Clear
route crap :-) which I wont be using anyway...
i am sure there are more changes, but none
I was interested in..
------
Start of email from mapopolis
--------
There are no fixed dates/time periods for updates. We process them whenever
NavTech sends them to us. Last year they sent them 3 times. They already
sent one for this year, but then they called and told us not to process it
because of a problem. They are hoping to have a replacement around May 2003.

For each data release, NavTech incorporates misc. corrections collected
through their online Driver Feedback forms at http://update.navtech.com. Credible reports
are checked by drivers and changes may be made to any maps based on this
information. In addition they focus on so many metro areas for each
release. These are the areas to be added or extensively updated for the
next two data releases:

Next Release (approx. May):
Barrie & Kingston ON
Kamloops & Squamish BC
Wichita KS
Austin, Dallas & San Antonio TX Expansions
Lake Geneva WI
Akron OH
Erie PA
N. NJ Expansion
Oneonta NY Expansion
Keys, Miami & Naples FL Expansions
Savannah GA
Roanoke VA

Release after that (est. fall of 2003):
Islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai & Hawaii
Stockton CA
Napa/Sonoma CA Expansion
Little Rock AR
Green Bay WI
Rockford IL
Binghamton NY
Lexington KY
Albany NY Expansion
Burlington VT
Springfield MA Expansion
Charlottesville VA Expansion
Harrisburg PA Expansion
Washington DC Expansion
Reading PA
Atlanta GA Expansion
Columbia SC
Columbus OH Expansion

Release after that (est end of 2003)
Bellingham, WA
Billings, MT
Cheyenne, WY
Cedar Rapids, IA
Kansas City KS/MO Expansion
Sioux Falls, SD
Cleveland, OH Expansion
Pittsburgh, PA Expansion
New York City, NY Expansion
Ithaca, NY
Charlotte, NC/SC Expansion
Ft Pierce/Vero Beach, FL
Raleigh-Durham, NC Expansion
Washington, DC Expansion
Richmond, VA Expansion

Please note that map updates are not included free with any map or Map Pack
purchase. This is the relevant text from our website:

The purchase of an online Map Pack or Guide Pack entitles you to download an unlimited number of maps or guides from the purchased version of data for free for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Discount pricing is available for later purchases.

The key is (FROM THE PURCHASED VERSOIN OF DATA). The reason we can't just give free
updates is that we have to pay NavTech each time each data release is
accessed. If we gave free updates, we would have a business model that
included our paying NavTech royalties greater than what we charge for the
products.

However, Map Pack holders are presented with a link (under Past Purchases)
that lets them effectively renew/restart (375 days) their Map Pack with the
newest data when it becomes available. The charge to do so is indicated and
prior to the last 3 months of a Map Pack, it includes a credit for the time
remaining on the current Map Pack.

My personal opinion is that renewing once a year should be good enough. Only
taxi drivers and appraisers of new real estate need to get all the updates
as soon as they are released.

Hope this answers your question,

Cheryl @ Mapopolis Support

____
end of email

stevenrp · 05-13-03, 10:35 PM

silentknight....

So the new maps only work with the new 4.0 software and the maps you downloaded in March won't work with the 4.0 release?

Planet-Ed · 05-13-03, 10:44 PM

I take it to be the new maps will work with the older software however you will not get them for free ... You have to buy them since they are not the same version from the package you purchased ...

jwmiller56 · 05-14-03, 12:17 AM

While I was looking for a good map program I could run on my Axim I came across the Mapopolis public trial for their ClearRoute system which was good for 10 days. I was impressed enough to buy the Holux 270 with the Mapopolis Navigator software from Semsons (which was reveiwed here on the Aximsite).

When I received the GPS package I started downloading the maps that I bought which were (and currently are) release 4 maps. When I tried to run the program I got a message stating that this program was not compatible with these maps

I did not realize that the program that was used in the public trial was a newer version (V4.0) of the software and it is not compatible with the R4 Maps. When I emailed tech support they advised that I must download the current program, V3.24, to use the R4 Maps. After I downloaded the correct program everything worked fine ... except it did not look as good as the public trail program did. I was getting these stick roads instead of the nice outlined roads when I zoomed in (there are some other nice features in the new program ... see the Mapopolis Forum at gpspassion.com) . Initially I felt like I was pulled in with the bait and switch routine but the Mapopolis techs advised that there was a good chance that the new maps (Release 5) will be out shortly and if the release falls within 30 days of my purchase (approx 3 weeks ago) I should be able to get the upgrade for free.

As I understand from my discussions with Mapopolis:

The current program is Version 3.24 and it uses Navigator Maps Release 4

The new program will be 4.XX (I saw a reference to 4.02) and it will use the updated Navigator Maps - Release 5.

The new maps cannot be used with the V3.24 (or prior) program and the current maps cannot be used with the V4.XX program

walkabt · 05-14-03, 11:18 PM

jwmiller is correct.

Current version is 3.24 works with NavTech maps release 4.

ClearRoute public beta was 4.05, new version will be 4.10. Version 4+ only works with NavTech maps release 5. Tried using old maps on my system.

I emailed Mapopolis and since I just bought the maps five days ago I will get the map upgrade.

Also, Mapopolis support told me that the place guides won't work on the new version, but I noticed that a lot of the places are on the trial maps I downloaded for version 5 NavTech maps, so that may be a moot point.

Here are some screen shots from Mapopolis 4.05beta.
Photos

the_paladin · 05-15-03, 08:58 PM

I guess they are not going to have a release today. I must have been checking their site every 30 minutes for the last two days!

walkabt · 05-15-03, 09:03 PM

They told me to check back on Sunday or Monday, maybe that was for the upgrade.