The DeLorme Weblog

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…

1. Deliver a streamlined transfer process for moving Map Library selections to the DeLorme GPS…
2. Provide improved waypoint management options in Draw…
3. 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