Microsoft Pocket Streets 2005 Now Available: As A Stand-Alone Product

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/pocketstreets/default.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/pocketstreets/default.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"New at consumer electronics stores in North America and online on October 15, 2004! Pocket Streets transforms your Microsoft Windows Mobile–based Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone, or Smartphone into your personal guide to thousands of North American and Western European cities. With the Pocket Streets street-level mapping assistant and guide, your mobile device can take you where you want to go!"</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/pocketstreetsmithsonian.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Microsoft had earlier released Pocket Streets 2005 as a part of its desktop product <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6143">Streets and Trips 2005.</a> Now Pocket Streets is available as a stand-alone product. You can check out the product enhancements over <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/pocketstreets/new.mspx">here.</a> The most significant one is the GPS support in the Smartphone version. I feel that the product is <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/pocketstreets/price.mspx">priced</a> high. If you are interested in Pocket Streets, I must suggest that you evaluate the desktop version which retails for $34.99 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=smartphonetho-20&amp;path=tg%2Fdetail%2F-%2FB0002DOEAM%2Fqid%3D1098467616%2Fsr%3D8-1%2Fref%3Dpd_csp_1%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Dsoftware%26n%3D507846">Amazon.com.</a> [Affiliate] The desktop version includes Pocket Streets, and right now there is $10 Mail-in-Rebate. :-)

[Santa Fe]

I'm a big user of map products. Streets and Trips 2005 for the PC is very good. But the Smartphone version is a waste of time on my i600.
1. It is difficult to zoom in and out to get a good view of the map.
2. Search results so far on the Smartphone version are sometimes different than those on the PC (and wildly incorrect where I use it).
3. As always, and this is the phones problem, you cannot view the screen in direct sunlight which renders the whole process useless outdoors.

I'm using the version bundled with Streets and Trips 2005 so I don't know if the stand alone version is any better but I'd recommend waiting for someone else to review it before buying it.

[Kris Kumar]

1. It is difficult to zoom in and out to get a good view of the map.

I agree. Mapopolis offers more intutive way for zooming in and out. Also the zoom in and zoom out is lot quicker.


2. Search results so far on the Smartphone version are sometimes different than those on the PC (and wildly incorrect where I use it).

I have noticed that problem on the Pocket PC. Prefer the Mapopolis for the Smartphone. :-)

I'm using the version bundled with Streets and Trips 2005 so I don't know if the stand alone version is any better but I'd recommend waiting for someone else to review it before buying it.

The stand-alone is I believe (from what I have read) the same version as the one bundled with the desktop. I like the desktop version a lot. So don't mind buying the desktop version, and using the freebie Pocket PC and Smartphone apps that come bundled for free. :wink:

[Danborg]

The most significant one is the GPS support in the Smartphone version.

I am very interested in using my Audiovox SMT5600 with map software and a GPS. Can anyone recommend a specific bluetooth GPS receiver that is known to work with the SMT5600? I would like something as small and portable as possible, obviously. I'd really like to play it safe and use something that lots of others in the community are already using.

Thanks in advance,
Danborg

[sn1p3t]

Excuse my ignorance, but are all the major city's maps on the phone, or does it have to connect and retrieve the map data?

[Mike Temporale]

Excuse my ignorance, but are all the major city's maps on the phone, or does it have to connect and retrieve the map data?

Maps can be downloaded and saved on your memory card. So you only need to carry maps for the citys you want, with you.

[Kris Kumar]

I believe all the Bluetooth GPS sensors will work with the Smartphone.

I have the older version of this Socket BT GPS sensor. (http://www.socketcom.com/product/GP0822-523.asp)