Dreamsoft Releases World Atlas 2005

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=167846&productType=2' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/...6&productType=2</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Turn your Pocket PC in ultimate World Atlas with nice graphics. Beautiful graphics and maps. Select by list option. Detailed, full-color maps. Easy installation."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/screenshot03.jpg" /><br /><br />Anyone interested in turning your PocketPC into a world atlas? Well, for $14.99 at Handango [Affiliate], you can! Of course, that is if you can deal with the lack of trial and limited product description (not to mention the <a href="http://www.dreamsoft.tv">company website</a> is still under construction). To the Dreamsoft's credit though, those maps sure do look pretty. I just wish they'd throw us a little bit more of a bone to go on. How about you guys? Anyone use Atlas programs on your Pocket PC? Do tell!

[Craig Horlacher]

I just bought it and installed it. Man, I'm not sure where to start.

- Copy the cab file to your pc and execute it to install, so there is no support for cf/sd install. At least it is only about 2MB

This is why I'm glad I've got 128MB of RAM.

- It brings up static images. They cut off the country you're triing to look at. This is nuts, it's really not so useful this way. The help says you can scroll up/down/left/right with the dpad controlls but that doesn't work on my e830.

- There doesn't seem to be any option to zoom in/out

- No vga support. I can't beleive anyone would release any app where graphics are important without native vga support these days. With low res graphics some of the "text" (just part of the map image) is so small that it's hard to read because the resolution isn't high enough.

- No exit option

It does seem to have a lot of countries. I also have TomeRaider 3 and the CIA World Fact Book in tr3 format. This has, in my opionion at this time, better maps and the the CIA WFB is free as is most other TomeRaider content.

I hope they release a newer and much improved version soon. I'm glad it was under $15 plus I got my ppct member discount:)

[DaleReeck]

You're a brave man to try sight unseen :D

[Craig Horlacher]

You're a brave man to try sight unseen :D
I'm a sucker for references. I find them very handy to have on my pocket pc. I'd love a good atlas. This would be very useful if the panning function would work. I'm hoping it's a minor bug they can fix quickly. Without that and only at 240x320, it isn't very useful to me.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Wow. I'm sorry and I thank you at the same time.

I'm sorry that this program came up with the limitations that you found and yet, thankful that you shared your assessment of the program.

Perhaps on the bright side, it appears that this company is just starting up (website is still under construction), so there could well be some upcoming improvements.

[BogdanK]

Heck - You can go to

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

and download the whole CIA factbook -
assuming we can trust CIA
:-)

There is a version without pdf maps which would make it about 30 or 40 meg program (Sits quite nicely on CF/SD card) and since it is simply html - Pocket Internet Explorer will handle it well.

There are even stripped down version of this publication - about 12 megs worth - just web and jpeg maps. (Free) If someone just can remember where they are.

There are products for $9.95 that offer the CIA factbook info formated for Pocket PC.

Although - what's the point - with a bit of tweeking you can do it yourself.

Just my 2 cnets

[Lex]

I use the CIA Factbook in simple HTML format on the PPC and view it w/ Pocket Explorer. Didn't even need to pay $9.95 ! http://www.coolsmileys.net/happy/dance.gif

[SteveHoward999]

assuming we can trust CIA
:-)


Hmm - well according to the CIA Scotland, England, Wales and Ulster are all regions, yet Northern Ireland is a country.

No I don't think we can trust the CIA at all.

[mbassoc2003]

Bought and installed World Atlas 2005.

The software sucks. It is of absolutely no use to anyone what-so-ever.

Will get a full refund from Handango (on the grounds that they do not offer a Demo). If anyone else has bought this then you can get a refund by filling out a refund form at http://www.handango.com/minibrand/miniReturnPolicy-Downloaded.jsp?lang=none&amp;siteId=318.

Bookmark that page because it is impossible to find in the menu system. They have to e-mail you the link, and if you fill out the form it saves you having to e-mail them to get the form in the first place.

[dreamsoft]

Hi! I am G. Georgiev - CEO and co-founder of the DreamSoft company. DreamSoft is located here in Bulgaria, Europe. We love to write a software for mobile devices - this is our first software - World Atlas 2005.

I have a list of all buyers from Handango - there is no mbassoc2003 :), but our software have a little problems:

-There is no option to zoom in/out (You have a option to scroll with Arrow Keys or Little JoyPad on your Pocket PC)

- No vga support

- No exit option

- Our web site is a under construction

Thanks to the "vector"!

Now we work on next version of this software and will add this functions.

Best Regards
G. Georgiev
DreamSoft

[Jonathon Watkins]

Now we work on next version of this software and will add this functions.

Thanks for responding quickly Dreamsoft. We look forward to the next version with the extra functionality. Have you got any timescale for the release?

[chu0009]

Will the company offer free upgrades as country's border changes with time? or will you have to pay for future upgrades?

[BudPritchard]

Hi! I am G. Georgiev - CEO and co-founder of the DreamSoft company. DreamSoft is located here in Bulgaria, Europe. We love to write a software for mobile devices - this is our first software - World Atlas 2005.

I have a list of all buyers from Handango - there is no mbassoc2003 :), but our software have a little problems:

-There is no option to zoom in/out (You have a option to scroll with Arrow Keys or Little JoyPad on your Pocket PC)

- No vga support

- No exit option

- Our web site is a under construction

Thanks to the "vector"!

Now we work on next version of this software and will add this functions.

Best Regards
G. Georgiev
DreamSoft

You need to provide a trial.

I refuse to buy software without a trial; PPC or Desktop.

[dreamsoft]

For all buyers of the World Atlas 2005 1.0 version - version 2.0 will be free. They will be e-mailed with free version of this software. The timescale - now we work hard, but i thing next version will be done in 1-2 months. :)

Best Regards
DreamSoft

[dreamsoft]

The trial version will be uploaded after 1-2 days :) in handango

[Craig Horlacher]

Hello dreamsoft,

Thank you for posting here. I do just want to mention again that on my pocket pc the scrolling/panning with the dpad does not work at all. I've tried every way and place I can think of.

If this would work it the program would be useful to me. Right now, it's not so useful since many places you look up often have part "cut off" in the default view.