rdean

Does anyone know where I can get free downloadable, no GPS required, no Wireless Internet required, driving directions?

I have tried the "MapQuest/AvantGo" combination and it is pretty bad. There is no friendly graphics to highlight major roads and were to turn like the web page and the directions get chopped of on the side.

Thanks.

spockcat

Google Maps

rdean

Originally Posted by spockcat

Google Maps

I looked at Google Maps, but I could not find a way to push the driving directions to my PDA?

I have a Dell Axim X51v if that matters?

kulnet

maps.yahoo.com ? I'm not sure if it will work.

rdean

Originally Posted by kulnet

maps.yahoo.com ? I'm not sure if it will work.

I have the same problem as maps.google.com I can not figure out how to push the map and or directions to my Axim? I even loooked the new beta maps.yahoo.com which is a lot like google maps. You can send it to a cell phone but not a pda as far as I can tell.

JakeRich

Originally Posted by rdean

I looked at Google Maps, but I could not find a way to push the driving directions to my PDA? I have a Dell Axim X51v if that matters?

Ah, you added a new requirement! What exactly are you looking for? Mapquest has an option to download to your PDA using Avantgo. If Avantgo is acceptable to you, that should work.

RigRMortis

in theory earthcomber is supposed to do what u r looking for...having tired it yet, just signed up

rdean

Originally Posted by JakeRich

Ah, you added a new requirement! What exactly are you looking for? Mapquest has an option to download to your PDA using Avantgo. If Avantgo is acceptable to you, that should work.

I have tried MapQuest/AvantGo and the directions do not seem to display correctly on my Axim X51v. I am not sure if it is the VGA display causing the problem or what.

The direction get chopped off about 3/4 th way. Also I was not expecting a full map (which I do not get) but at least something as nice as the direction looks when you print them off of the web page. With those you get pictures of the signs that you need to look for. With the AvantGo interface it is just text and again the text is to big to fit on my screen?

rdean

Originally Posted by RigRMortis

in theory earthcomber is supposed to do what u r looking for...having tired it yet, just signed up

I just signed up for it but it is not immediately clear if you can get driving directions on it. I download the maps for the two cities that I will be traveling from and then to, but I am not sure if I can get it to give be "street/miles/turn/exits" directions to get from point a to point b?

Have you been able to do this?

spockcat

Originally Posted by rdean

I looked at Google Maps, but I could not find a way to push the driving directions to my PDA? I have a Dell Axim X51v if that matters?

I didn't realize you wanted to download the directions to your Ax.

You can copy the directions from goggle maps to a text file. Then beam or transfer the text file to your Ax. Then open the text file on the Ax. I just tried it. Took about 60 seconds.

axjax

I think he'd like something like MicroSoft MapPoint, but a PDA version. No GPS involved, purely directions with static maps. If you want to go from The Intrepid Museum on the West Side to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, it would give you the directions and a "google-like" map that you could zoom in on.

If GPS mapping software allowed you to search/plan routes without the GPS being switched on or available, it might be the same thing. In the case above, it would be nice to zoom in on the Bronx and see the basic route along with the exits. In theory, if you have all the maps installed, the logic needed to plan a basic route from point A to B shouldn't be too taxing... should it?

Why? Well, if your GPS quits or you just don't want to spend the money for a moving map program... the concept of being able to call up directions from Pittsfield to Hartford out on the road in the form of a a PDA map would seem to be very interesting and useful.

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spockcat

Originally Posted by axjax

I think he'd like something like MicroSoft MapPoint, but a PDA version. No GPS involved, purely directions with static maps. If you want to go from The Intrepid Museum on the West Side to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, it would give you the directions and a "google-like" map that you could zoom in on. If GPS mapping software allowed you to search/plan routes without the GPS being switched on or available, it might be the same thing. In the case above, it would be nice to zoom in on the Bronx and see the basic route along with the exits. In theory, if you have all the maps installed, the logic needed to plan a basic route from point A to B shouldn't be too taxing... should it? Why? Well, if your GPS quits or you just don't want to spend the money for a moving map program... the concept of being able to call up directions from Pittsfield to Hartford out on the road in the form of a a PDA map would seem to be very interesting and useful.

What you describe can be done with the Dell navigation software. You can set a specific starting point. You can set a specific destination. It will calculate a route and give you the driving directions on a map or as a listing with mileage figures and turns. All this can be done without any GPS signal. Of course, he has to buy the Dell navigation software which comes with a GPS receiver. So it isn't free.

JakeRich

Mapopolis has probably the cheapest solution. The Platinum version does routing, but doesn't work with GPS at all. Just maps and directions.

rdean

Originally Posted by JakeRich

Mapopolis has probably the cheapest solution. The Platinum version does routing, but doesn't work with GPS at all. Just maps and directions.

I can not believe that Google or somebody has not jumped on this. I mean Google and Yahoo have all of the data for the directions they would just need to put a decent interface for pocket pc (at least better then map quest/avantgo).

I guess I will quit preaching to the choir! :)

It looks like Mapopolis for $34.00 for the Platinum edition might work. It seems to have a decent interface.

I have two questions:
1. It says I can download as many maps as I want for a 1 year period. Does that mean if I get 4 or 5 maps downloaded which have the directions to my clients that after one year I will loose access to the maps unless I pay another $34.00 or does it mean I can continue to view the maps I downloaded but I just can not download any more?
2. If I am going to spend $34.00 for this thing, what could I get for $100.00? If I spent $100.00 could I get a cheap GPS/Map software combination or would I have to spend twice that to get anything decent which makes the $34.00 that much more appealing (depending on the answer to #1).

By the way, I would like to thank everyone who has been posting advice to this thread. It just amazes to see the power of the internet.

Thanks again.

JakeRich

Originally Posted by rdean

I can not believe that Google or somebody has not jumped on this. I mean Google and Yahoo have all of the data for the directions they would just need to put a decent interface for pocket pc (at least better then map quest/avantgo). I guess I will quit preaching to the choir! :) It looks like Mapopolis for $34.00 for the Platinum edition might work. It seems to have a decent interface. I have two questions: 1. It says I can download as many maps as I want for a 1 year period. Does that mean if I get 4 or 5 maps downloaded which have the directions to my clients that after one year I will loose access to the maps unless I pay another $34.00 or does it mean I can continue to view the maps I downloaded but I just can not download any more? 2. If I am going to spend $34.00 for this thing, what could I get for $100.00? If I spent $100.00 could I get a cheap GPS/Map software combination or would I have to spend twice that to get anything decent which makes the $34.00 that much more appealing (depending on the answer to #1). By the way, I would like to thank everyone who has been posting advice to this thread. It just amazes to see the power of the internet. Thanks again.

Mapopolis' approach can be confusing. What you get is a year's access to download the version of the files you paid for at the time you paid. Once downloaded the maps never expire. Unless you want updated maps, you don't need to pay any more. If during the year they release a new version of the maps, you don't get to download the new version, but you can continue to download the older version. If you WANT the new version, they have offered credits for unused download time in the past, although that is not guaranteed.

For $100 you can get full GPS operations, including spoken commands, GPS updates, auto re-routing when you get lost, etc, etc, etc. You can try the Mapopolis version for 9 days (their demo maps work 9 days) and see if the value is worth it to you. Mapopolis is not the only package in the $100 range, you can look for others in the review sections and at buyGPSnow.com, Semsons.com, etc.