EDIT: Topo USA 8.0 is now available to order.
NOTE: You can send in your free upgrade certificates if you purchased a PN-Series device with Topo USA 7.0 within the last six months. Customer Service is ready to process those orders now.
DeLorme will begin taking orders and shipping Topo USA 8.0 next week! Now that we have finished all of the design, development, and testing I thought it would be good to share some details about the major features that we have included with this release.
We targeted three areas with the Topo USA 8.0 project…
- Deliver a streamlined transfer process for moving Map Library selections to the DeLorme GPS…
- Provide improved waypoint management options in Draw…
- Include all of Street Atlas USA’s in-vehicle navigation features for those that bring along their laptops…
Since the PN-20 released with Topo USA 6.0 we have received requests from users to make it easier to get the aerial imagery, USGS quads, and other maps from our Map Library onto the GPS device. The Handheld Export tab provides lots of customization options for the serious map maker but many new GPS owners were just looking for the EASY button. Well, we’re giving you the EASY checkbox instead and we’re labeling it “Include maps for my DeLorme GPS with my Map Library order”. I’ll walk through the process in screenshots so that you can see the steps…
Use NetLink to select the area you would like to download to Topo USA and your DeLorme GPS:
Add the selection to your list and notice the new “Include maps for my DeLorme GPS” option:
Checkout then go to NetLink’s Downloads subtab when your order is ready:
After your download completes and the Exchange Dialog appears with your PN map selected, press Send:
View your downloaded Map Library order in Topo USA and on your DeLorme GPS device:
Just imagine how easy it will be to grab maps for your GPS device when you’re planning your next trip… Oh yeah, in case you didn’t notice, I get to sneak out of the office to go to GeoWoodstock VII! I’ll be working at our booth with another member of Team DeLorme. Stop by if you’d like to see any of the new geocaching projects we’ve been working on. We’ll have PN-40s available for people to try out… I’ve even heard rumors of a Team DeLorme geocoin!
Topo USA 8.0 users will enjoy two improvements to the way that waypoints are managed on the device; multi-select and Send to GPS have been added to the Draw tab. Now people can use Shift+Click, Ctrl+Click, and Sweep+Select with the mouse to select some, many, or all of the waypoints or geocaches in a Draw Layer or Pocket Query.
Right click the selected points on the map or in the tab area to Send to PN-Series GPS. This option displays the GPS Exchange dialog with the selected waypoints and geocaches allowing the user to press Send to copy them to their GPS device.
We’ve received requests from all of our Overlanders and other 4-wheel driving, off-roaders as well as our motorcoachers to deliver an in-vehicle program capable of displaying profile information and 3-D maps while still delivering the turn-by-turn spoken directions that Street Atlas USA is known for. We’ve gone one step further and delivered our 3-D NavMode display to enhance the navigation experience. Users will be able to listen to the spoken directions and even give voice commands to the computer. They will also be able to choose between 2-D and 3-D, Topo View, Street View, and Hybrid View. The screenshot below was taken while simulating a drive to Bell Buckle, Tennessee with aerial imagery and a hybrid topographic map.
This should give everyone a little more detail as to what is coming with Topo USA 8.0. There will be more information released with the marketing material next week. Keep an eye out for that announcement and, as always, feel free to post any questions you might have.
See you all in Bell Buckle, TN!
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme
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Looking good!
So, when should we start sending in the upgrade coupons that came with our PN-40s?
My upgread time has expired, but let’s get er ordered.
I just received my new PN-40 on May 7 with version 7 of maps software. Would really like the upgrade to 8 (getting maps to my PN-40 is a bear!). Am I eligible for a free upgrade to 8 since that’s the current version?
NOTE: You can send in your free upgrade certificates if you purchased a PN-Series device with Topo USA 7.0 within the last six months. Customer Service is ready to process those orders now.
Chip Noble
DeLorme
I just purchased street atlas 2009 with lt-40. I really want Topo 8 and since it comes with streets should I send it back or is there an upgrade?
thanks,
Leo
I ordered my PN-40 as a pre-order on 10/25/08 but I didn’t receive it until it shipped which was 11/18, am I ok on the 6months?
As far as Topo 8.0, its pending release, and those who are entitled to the free upgrade – will there be PN-40 East, Central and West DVD’s included with version 8.0? I guess this question is more for those who received Topo 7.0 and the 3 regional DVD’s with the PN-40 when they were purchased as a package.
I love my PN-40 and Topo7 software! They are both powerful. While the added tweaks in Topo8 are going to be great, shouldn’t this version be considered a simple patch to Topo7? Say a patch to 7.2? The added functionality doesn’t seem to warrant a leap to version 8.0. The interface, menu structures, etc. all appear to be the same. While extremely powerful software, Topo7′s (Topo8) interface can seem daunting to newbie’s and has received criticism for its lack of intuitiveness. Once the interface is mastered however the Topo software is extremely powerful but it will turn away some less apt hobbyists. This is hoping that version 9.0 will see a makeover. I’m love’n it either way! Awesome job DeLorme!
The terms of the upgrade offer require the UPC code for the PN-Series GPS. What if you’ve already sent that to Delorme for other reasons?
Everyone with upgrade/UPC questions, please contact our customer support team at 1.800.511.2459 Thanks.
What if you purchased your PN-20 with Topo 7 withing the last 6 Months but you did not get a slip for the free upgrade? Do we still get the free upgrade with proof of date of purchase???
Hey, Chip. I just got my DeLorme PN-40 in the mail from Amazon. I have to say, though – you’re seriously going to make me _send in a card_ to get the upgrade? That’s seriously low-rent.
I’m not even complaining about the shipping and handling charge. This is the 21st century. Provide a way for us to give you proof of purchase and pay for the upgrade online. It’s not rocket science.
I’m looking forward to using the device and the software, but figured I would let you know that this, more than anything else, soured my “out of the box experience.”
Thanks for the feedback Peterb, I’ll pass this along to our marketing department and web group to see if there’s a way to bring this process on-line for future releases. I can see where it’s frustrating to have to wait a couple of days to receive the upgrade.
Chip Noble
DeLorme
How much exactly do I need to make the check out for? I’ve seen on the forums that it’s been updated to $10.62? and another post that says $11.15? and the upgrade card says $9.95? I’d like to make sure to send adequate postage to ensure to get it as soon as possible.
My wife purchased a PN-20 for me for my birthday in March. I have all the materials that came in the box and can not locate a coupon for the free upgrate to TOPO US 8.0. Any Suggestions??
I ordered my PN-40 as a pre-order on 10/25/08 but I didn’t receive it until it shipped which was 11/18, am I ok on the 6months?
Love that you have a Mac compat widget…now if you would come out with a PN40 that did not require Windows at all, I would buy it…..Any chance that PN40′s will become Mac comp w/o using Windoze?
This machine looks great, and the tech is spectacular. BUT, until you make the PN-40 MAC COMPATIBLE, I have to go to with the garmin, which works with MacGPS pro. Mac users Love their macs, and the reason why is THEY WORK. Given the propensity of windows to get viruses, crash, or have Vista installed, I’d rather go with a slightly inferior GPS and keep my data. PLEASE work on MAC COMPATIBILITY. You’re losing market share by the hour if you continue to ignore this growing (and SMART) segment of your target audience.
I agree with Jim. I picked up the PN-40 to try it out but can’t get anywhere without Windows. I should have done some more research…but ‘ll be taking it back and getting the Garmin Oregon 400t. Macs and maps actually make a good combo ya know.
If you are returning a PN-40 simply because it can only interface with Windows PC’s then you are denying yourself a truly exceptional GPS unit! With the Mac at best having a 10% market share in the overall PC market, adding GPS software for the PN-40 for the Mac diminishes that return even further. Think about it…Mac owners in the overall PC market is 10%…Mac owners who buy the PN-40…3%. Why should DeLorme add many man hours of programming for Mac compatibility when the return on the investment is negative? Get a cheap Windows computer (which I’m sure you already have access to) and run this PN-40 software to its full extent! The PN-40 rocks! Mac’s are yet again missing out. Convert! [Former Amiga owner/user]
I’ve noticed people keep talking about computer market share of Macs vs Windows (vs Linux) machines as to whether it is worth porting Delorme software to Macintosh. However, I think it is worth noting that demographically speaking, the market share of people looking for mapping software/GPS units may have little correlation with the number of Windows computers in existence… While Windows definitely has a considerable presence in the desktop computing market, does this have any actual correlation with the demographic of people who are in the market for buying GPS technology? I’m guessing all those kids who sit indoors playing on their customized gaming towers or soccer moms who check their email on their cheap windows machines are not interested buying mapping software!
Delorme needs to realize that the demographic of people who are interested in buying GPS units and mapping software might be a little more tech savvy and interested in being outdoors than the average consumer. Looking purely at computer market share is a terrible mistake…
I was all set to buy this model until I read that it does not interface with Macs. As a Mac user, I am looking for a GPS unit that will let me export hiking trail history to my computer, in order to update my property map, among other things. If Delorme’s offerings do not support this for my Mac, I am not going to support Delorme with a purchase. And I certainly am not going to buy a PC in order to interface with GPS software–talk about the tail wagging the dog.
Brings to mind a ‘Demotivational” poster that reads, “If we keep ignoring our customers, maybe they’ll quit bugging us.”
If Delorme aspires to be the top dog in the GPS market, it will go the extra mile to build for Mac compatibility. Period.
The number of Mac users is irrelevant. It’s the number of Mac users likely to buy the product that matters. I’ve been developing x-platform GIS software for 10 years. Macs account for 25% of our downloads. Since Macs work and people like macs, mac users tend to buy more software. Furthermore there are dozens of mac users who want your product badly enough to check your blog and complain when they don’t get what they want. Ignore enthusiastic users at your peril…
That said porting to another platform is non-trivial. They’ve probably written the whole thing w/ Windows Forms and DirectX. Using Qt and OpenGL *is* the best way to write x platform graphics software and re-factoring all their codebase to those frameworks is a large, but in my opinion, worthy undertaking.
I’ve never used Topo USA, but one look at the screenshots confirms that it’s a UI disaster. All of this is a sub-issue of the larger reality that GPS companies are *not* software companies. They would probably do better if they opened their standards and allowed people who know how to write software to do it. They would have happier users, they would get to concentrate on what they’re good at, and they would probably sell more GPS units. They could even have some approval process for allowing 3rd party devs to access the map downloads.
There is no point in begging for a mac port though. There is probably some MBA in charge who knows nothing about the software industry who is “trying to control the whole channel.” He probably can’t reboot his smart phone so there is little hope in him seeing the value in a mac port.
It’s a shame, b/c it looks like a great device.
Garmin is much more Mac friendly, so I will be returning my PN-30 for a Garmin. Should really take “Mac Compatible” off the box.
Does the free upgrade from Topo USA 7.0 to Topo USA 8.0 still apply if I pick up a PN-40 bundled with the Topo USA 7.0?
Thanks!
This might be a dumb question but I was recently given a PN-40 with Topo 8.0. I don’t use a PC, what do I do? To the best of my limited knowledge all four of the discs that came with the device require a PC.
Please enlighten me. Thanks.
I have to chime in with the choir here.
I am really disappointed that the PN-40 looks like such a great device (aerial photography does it for me), but has zero Mac compatibility.
Sorry, I am with the other guys who will not buy a 2nd computer just to run mapping software.
Everything else I love is already on the Mac, and it all works much better for me that way.
The market share for Macs may be low, but there seem to be a noisy contingent who want to see Delorme convert. Will it happen?
I am also disappointed Delorme is not Mac compatible. I just bought a PN-40 (last week) and am hoping to use if for trail mapping and identifying maintenance issues. However, this week, my IBM laptop started having issues (AGAIN) and I am trying to decide whether to throw my money away on another PC or upgrade to a Mac and return the Delorme. I REALLY don’t want a Garmin. I did a lot of research and not only are they are more expensive, but the topo maps are not as good (contour lines are 10 ft on the Delorme – I think Garmin only goes to 20-30 – if that).
However, I also don’t want another PC. A friend who works for IBM told me that they make their laptops to last 3 years so you will have to buy another one. Macs are made to last. Maybe right now the market share is 10% but I would be willing to bet the share of outdoor enthusiasts is higher. Half of my friend now either own a mac or are thinking about purchasing one. I hang out with mountain bikers, hikers/backpackers, kayakers, as well as trailbuilders, park service personnel, and sustainability professionals (i just finished a sustainability program – 90% of the students own macs – the new ones are more eco friendly as well). People are catching on. The younger generation is sold on Mac. They are willing to pay 3x more for a Mac than a PC – does that tell you something? If Delorme doesn’t start being PROACTIVE instead of REACTIVE (I am a business person who works for a technology firm so I understand this concept well), they are ignoring a growing market. PS – most of my friends that currently own a GPS own a Garmin. Many have never even heard of Delorme. I had hoped to convert some people but the Mac thing might make it difficult.
FYI – you can sign a petition asking Delorme to make their products Mac compatible here: http://www.petitiononline.com/delormex/petition.html
There have been over 3000 signatures to date.
Everyone complaining about delorme suport on MAC. I realize it is frustrating but with programs like Boot Camp and Parallels Run your MAC and Windows to. You don’t see us going over to Primarily MAC base programs and complaining to them that they are not writing it for Windows.
I am running VMWareFusion on my MacBook Pro and unfortunately TOPO USA 8 does not work on that either. I can install TOPO USA successfully but as soon as I open the program, it crashes right way! It is my understanding that VMWareFusion is equivalent to Parallels. I’d be interested in learning if anybody has been successful with either one of the programs mentioned above.
I run Fusion on my iMac here at DeLorme. Topo USA opens with the 3-D pane open, which doesn’t play well with Fusion. I turn off 3-D in Fusion. It’s in the virtual machine settings > Display. Other than the lack of 3-D, the other software features appear to work just fine. I don’t believe Fusion is officially supported but my personal experience has shown it to work fairly well. I’ve run Parallels in the past and it had the same 3-D issue. I don’t remember which version of Parallels that was though – probably not whatever the latest is.
-Mike
I use Topo USA under Parallels and it works fine.
If a customer purchases a Delorme GPS unit and owns a personal computer that runs Apple OS (a “Mac”) or Linux then Delorme’s software will not run on their computer… this is less an issue of “Windows” software vs “Mac” software than it is about Delorme customer support for their customers. Garmin seems to get it, Delorme not so much.
Even if a Delorme product has great features, the message is that they are unconcerned with customer support by being tied to Windows (which has little to do with the actual GPS product). Garmin, even if they are lacking some of the “features” of some Delorme products is making a clear statement that customer support matters by…supporting their customers…
Any chance (please Lord) that this version would connect seamlessly with a Garmin Oregon 400T? LOVE your software but can’t ever get it to work with my Garmin GPS’s.
A few thoughts on the comments for a Mac version.
For those of you that say just use BootCamp, VMware or Parallels, you first need to buy the program (yeah, I know bootcamp is free but it is a pain in the butt). Then you need to buy a anti virus program (yeah I know there are free ones but I have tried them and they do not work well), then install, deal with all the drivers and items not working just to use one program. There is no other software I need that requires a completely different operating system. So I do not use Delorme any longer.
Mac is gaining market share at a massive rate. If Delorme doesnt come out with a Mac version soon, someone else will come out with a similar Mac program. And you know how loyal Mac users are.
Yes it would be a big undertaking to write new code. But obviously the effort was made to write the code that is in the program now. It paid off in sales. Another investment would pay off even more.
Or you can just be stubborn and look back one day and wish you had made the effort.
I agree with Glen that Delorme will loose market share if they don’t develop a Mac version of Topo USA.
I am a devoted Mac user and am considering between the Earthmate PN-60 or a Garmin Oregon 450t. The Garmin software was easy to download and works well on my Mac Pro, whereas from reading these posts it looks like Delorme software doesnt work on Macs.
I refuse to buy Windows and use an inferior OS with Parallels just so I can use Topo. If Delorme doesnt port their software over to Mac soon, I will be one more customer that they have lost.