OK, I've played with my new Iguidance software and have decided it's not really what I want so I'm going to have to go shopping for something else. I've read everything I can find on all the choices but I can't figure out if they would be any better.
What I'm looking for is something that would let me see more of my planned route - in other words - I want to zoom out a lot farther than +/- 50 miles, as is done in IGuidance. I would also like to see a lot more data at that scale, at least some more roads. IGuidance hardly shows anything at that scale and so it's hard to tell where you are. When I go traveling with this I'll have to take along the ole' paper maps.
So, those of you with different software, could you chime in and let me know the maximum zoom scale your software allows, and what kind of data is displayed at that range (just interstates or other roads? town names?). I'd hate to buy another program and find out they all work this way, but none of the descriptions/reviews I've read have mentioned this.
OK, I've played with my new Iguidance software and have decided it's not really what I want so I'm going to have to go shopping for something else. I've read everything I can find on all the choices but I can't figure out if they would be any better.
What I'm looking for is something that would let me see more of my planned route - in other words - I want to zoom out a lot farther than +/- 50 miles, as is done in IGuidance. I would also like to see a lot more data at that scale, at least some more roads. IGuidance hardly shows anything at that scale and so it's hard to tell where you are. When I go traveling with this I'll have to take along the ole' paper maps.
So, those of you with different software, could you chime in and let me know the maximum zoom scale your software allows, and what kind of data is displayed at that range (just interstates or other roads? town names?). I'd hate to buy another program and find out they all work this way, but none of the descriptions/reviews I've read have mentioned this.
Thanks
All of them show less data at greater zoom scales. Otherwise the screen would simply be a mass of lines. In addition, at greater zoom the screen draw times would increase to the point of not being usable. The software package I know zooms out the furthest is Mapopolis, which can zoom until about 1/3 inche on the screen is 1000 miles. Not very usable, but certainly very small. OCN5 can also zoom out pretty far. At the highest zoom you can fit just about the entire US on the screen.
What is it you are attempting to accomplish? Most users of GPS find a middle ground that shows a comfortable distance ahead of them on the route. I prefer about 1-2 minutes of road visible, so I like it when the zoom varies depending on my speed. I get detail, but no lag in display.
What I'm trying to do is plan my trip ahead of time and check to see how it's routing me. I don't plan on just entering a destination and following it blindly. I'm talking about a trip of 1000-1200 miles, not just around town.
With the small area of the maps it's very hard to then pan over to check the route, especially since there is very little detail shown at the larger scales. I guess i thought I'd not have to have a paper map any more to see the "whole picture" but I see now that this stuff, for a PDA anyway, is not meant for that.
I am used to using DeLorme Street Atlas on my laptop and I was expecting something that looked more like that. Since IGuidance runs on the laptop too I assumed it would show more than it does.
Unfortunately, if you are used to looking at a laptop screen (I uses MS S&T), then nothing on the pocket pc will compare.
I use OCN4 (waiting for ver 5 upgrade), and I just plotted a trip of ~550 miles (Spartanburg, SC to Hattiesburg, MS). The whole route shows up on the screen with the major roads. No text on screen (ie road names).
A route of 875 miles (Wilmkington Beach, NC to Jonesboro, AR) also shows the whole route with interstates shown. That's about as far as I could go with the map I have cut on my sd card. If you want, I could post a screen shot (if I can figure out how to do that!)
Hope this helps somewhat. :approve:
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Mapopolis will let you zoom out pretty far, but the feature you really want is their simulation and route screen. They show you a leg-by-leg set of directions, and you can step through the route to see how it plans to take you. For a trip of 1200 miles (do you really drive that far in one leg?) it still won't show on the screen with much data. If you don't really drive 1200 miles in one leg, why not plan either a day at a time, or a tank of gas at at time? That way you can see better where the package is routing you.
THANK YOU! That was exactly the info I was looking for and hoping that another software pkg had it.
As to why I don't plan my route a day at a time or a tankful at a time, well that's one thing I want my software to do for me. I'm used to putting in the destination and several "stops" along the way and then looking at the summary to see about how long it's going to take for each leg so I'll have an idea of where I'll be stopping.
It looks like Mapopolis or OCN5 would be more to my liking. I hate to just buy another one since I just got IG, so maybe I'll download the trial version of mapopolis to check it out.
Given the thread of your comments about IG, you may still be disappointed with the free Mapopolis download. You will be restricted to free maps of any 2 COUNTIES of your choice and you will have only 10 days to "play" with it.
So, download when you will have some free time to devote to "playing" with the program. It WILL give you the "feel" of the operation, appearance and routing characteristics of the program, but not the LONG DISTANCE routing features and the MAP APPEARANCE of a long trip route at max zoom. However, you will be able to route a max trip accross 2 counties and zoom out to the max to get a "feel" for the map detail and what it might look like for a cross country trip and whether it will meet your needs.
Dispite the limitations of scope and duration of the free trial download, Mapopolis should be praised because it is offering more to its potential customers than its compitition.
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