PocketPC (WinCE) GPS and Navigation Software
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PocketPC (WinCE) GPS and Navigation Software |
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by: Dale DePriest
Welcome to the site covering PocketPC (Pocket PC) products that are related GPS or to Navigation. In some cases these products may also be used with WinCE palmtops. The terms "pocket pc," sometimes called ppc, and "WinCE" may be used interchangeably in this context however some products may be specific to one platform or the other. This page was originally started by David Johnson, but I have taken over the maintenance and plan to expanded it significantly, as I get time, to include a full collection of available products, tips and hints to best use the hardware and the software, and reviews of selected products. I also have a page devoted to Palm units running Palm OS and a General GPS Page.
Table of Contents
Mapping programs for gps use come in two flavors. There are programs that support raster, also known as bitmap, maps and programs that support vector maps. Please see my article on Map display formats for more information on this topic. There are even programs that can support both types of maps.
Note that the mapping products listed below all support GPS but are quite useful with or without a gps attached. In the first listing I have collected those mapping products that support autorouting on the unit and voice guidance. These are generally road and street map products but some have support for other kinds of maps as well. The second table of mapping products includes collections of mapping programs that support road, topo, marine, and in some cases aviation maps. Aviation focused products are shown below under GPS Aviation unless they support also general use maps.
| Reference | Description |
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(commercial - demo available) For Windows CE/95/NT/XP. The same maps are used on the ppc and windows. Latest version had automatic route generation on the unit. There is a review of this product. Other support features are ability to interact with third party programs, Attachment of photos to waypoints, UTM grid support, waypoint icons, MapPaint program (part #3065) allowing you to make freehand drawings and notations on TeleType maps, Easy export of maps from desktop computer to handheld computer and Marine Map enabler (#9096) for Maptech marine charts. |
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The GPS Port@able Navigator from Portable Internet is a program and
map service that contains street level maps, gps support, Frommes
reviews, and in the future autorouting with turn by turn directions
including voice. There is a review
of the palm version of this product.
Their newest product is called "Wireless Navigation". It provides turn by turn instructions with voice commands to mark the turns. It works by entering your location and your destination using a cellphone network call to receive a download of routing instructions and map. You can then disconnect from the net to follow the route. A wireless internet connection is required for this product. Check their web site for details. |
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TomTom Navigator 2.2 is a door to door routing product with 3D displays and voice prompts. It is available for Europe and the USA. It uses TeleAtlas maps. There is a review available for this product. TomTom RoutePlanner is a sophisticated Road Map and Route Planning application for European countries and American states. It can display the major road networks on many different scales, and show you the best way to get from A to B. It is fast, easy to use, and makes full use of the features on your Windows CE device. You can even attach a Global Positioning System, which will track your position on the map. Other Tom Tom products include Maps-on-Line, and CityMaps. These are similar to the above with differing map content, and Navigator includes gps hardware. These products are for Europe only. |
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A database full of maps for the entire USA and some provinces in Canada. They also have maps for western Europe. They have a database of business locations as well using navtech maps. Some of the maps are really large approaching one meg or larger. Most are full counties. They have removeable storage support and turn by turn routing in the platinum and Navigator version. The Navigator provides voice prompts. Most versions have gps support. They do have miniamal aviation support. Some free demo tiger maps at the basic level are available. There is a review of this product. |
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An autorouting system with Navtech maps. Can be purchased with an integrated gps hardware box but this hardware will only work with this software. Check the site for ppc models that are supported. A separate software product is also available that will work with any gps using NMEA. Supports turn by turn voice instructions and automatic route calculation. |
| Mapping, Navigation, and City guide products. The navigation product called PocketMap Navigator features voice prompts for door to door autorouting. City guide features more than 1 million poi's with searching and the ability to add your own via an optional plugin. They also have bundle with hardware gps units. This product is from Space Machine. | |
| PocketPC Navigator software from Pharos with voice prompts and turn by turn navigation. | |
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Pocket Copilot includes a gps receiver and offers voice navigation. Automatic routing with street level coverage for the Continental USA. |
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Navman now supplies SmartST (Smart Street) software with their hardware product. This is a turn by turn automatic routing software with voice guidance. Versions are offered for Europe and the USA and only support the Navman gps. A review of this product is available. Note that the software will only work with Navman products. |
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Routis utilizes NavTech maps with verbal turn-by-turn directions to deliver you to your destination intelligently. Simply punch in your destination and Routis figures out the rest. There is a review of this product. The new 2004 version includes both a pocketpc product and a pc product. |
| Intellinav, a Netropa company, utilizes NavTech maps with verbal turn-by-turn directions to deliver you to your destination intelligently. They do not sell retail but are integrated into other products. This seems to be the engine behind the Deluo Routis product. There is a review of the Routis product. This is also available from Semsons.com as their i.Guidance product but I do not know if it is exactly the same as the Routis product. | |
| A Navigations system direct from iPAQ (HP). The product comes from Team Warrior. (see below) The product is only available with the included GPS jacket. | |
| A voice navigation system that features installation via a compact flash card that installs in the hardware sleeve for iPAQ. A bundled product is LiveWire Traffic that retrieves traffic reports in the UK via wireless connection. | |
| a 3D/2D map program called "Car Pilot" optimized for the UK but there are maps for all of western Europe available. | |
| A detailed street level product for Europe. It uses Tele-Atlas maps. Versions of PocketPC and Laptop. An API is available to design your own application using their GPS engine. | |
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Maps of Europe. MapSonic has GPS support. MapSonic, the navigation and map display software product, transforms your PDA into a genuine on-board navigation system. It has a voice guidance system. MapSonic is now available for Europe, covering over 100,000 towns in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. POI's are included as is a pc based program suitable for laptops or desktop. |
| Reference | Description |
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This product comes with some Pocket PC systems but not the newer ones. It can be purchased separately or is included with Steets and Trips and probably the other ones listed below. Upgrades and maps can be downloaded from the web site. Maps can also be obtained from MapPoint 2002, Streets and Trips 2002, and Autoroute 2002. |
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This product provides support for US street level maps and can route on the card. It also supports the Delorme topo 4.0 product to add topo maps to a ppc. ARM, SH3 are supported, Mips available. Requires WinCE 3.0 or Pocket PC 2002. |
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This program supports a gps interface and contains the complete topo maps of the US in raster form. This is based on the National Geographic Atlas. In addition it supports the Topo state series to provide 1:100K through 1:24K USGS maps for you palm. Multiple scales of an area can be downloaded simultaneously providing zoom capabilities. |
| Gps mapping program for bitmap maps by Hans Scholten. This is a promising program that displays your position on a bitmap map that you supply. It is unique in that the same source code works with both winCE and Palm by the use of a WABA runtime package. The program source is a kind of Java like language. You need to have a copy of waba installed plus the package from Hans. Note that Waba is in beta form so expect to re-link with each waba release. | |
| Designed and refined by experienced pilots, it combines the important features of an advanced color moving map, terrain avoidance and flight management system, flight planner, airport guidebook, flight calculator, clearance recorder, and copilot, into an amazingly compact and easy to use package. From controlvision. | |
| PocketGIS is a low cost, yet powerful, Geographical Information System (GIS) for field data capture which can display and edit map geometry and attributes. PocketGIS brings real GIS functionality to highly portable Windows® CE devices | |
| From the maker of WinGPS / WinGPSPro. This software is now commercial. I don't know what the plans are for the CE version of WinGps | |
| (commercial) FleetCOM 100 for corporate and Road Pilot 2 for consumers. Road Pilot features custom modules for differing user needs. Maps of Singapore. | |
| A WinCE version of Ozi Explorer complements the functionality of the
pc version and provides real time position display on raster maps.
OziExplorerCE runs on a Windows CE device but it relies on map
calibrations etc to be provided by the full PC version of OziExplorer,
in this respect OziExplorerCE can be considered an add-on to the full
Oziexplorer software, you also need the full OziExplorer to calibrate
maps, plan trips by adding waypoints etc. It support NMEA and has
features to support Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance units directly.
There is an oziapi available that permits interacting with Oziexplorer with another program. One such program is NetGPS. This program will transmits your current position in realtime to a remote copy of Ozi assuming you have a wireless connection to your PDA. |
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| Map viewing software with optional GPS support. There is a free version which displays US maps which must be purchased. There are also "Deluxe" and "Pro" versions which have can display 3rd party maps. The "Pro" version supports GPS input. | |
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Maptech Pocket Navigator - GPS Ready - Software for the Outdoors
Topographic Maps and Nautical Charts in Your Handheld Pocket PC.
With Maptech's new Pocket Navigator software you have the key to outdoor adventures in your hand. Now hikers, fishermen, hunters, boaters, sailors, and pilots can transfer genuine USGS topographic maps and NOAA Aviation or Marine charts to their handheld Pocket PC. The next step in fun-filled outdoor navigation - be truly mobile, with the best cartography at your fingertips - be a "Pocket Navigator." There is a review of this product. |
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This is a pc product plus Pocket Navigator. It can use maps from
MapTech as well as non-Maptech cartography (DRGs, Softchart,
self-scanned, etc). They have topo, marine, and street/road level maps
for the UK and parts of Europe. The 4.0 release now supports 3D
rendering of map data. A demo version is available. See above, under
Maptech, for a review.
A new professional version offers import/export of ESRI shape files. |
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ArcPad supports industry-standard vector and raster image display. Data can be provided from the Internet via wireless technology. ArcPad includes a number of map navigation tools including zoom and pan, spatial bookmarks, and center on the current GPS position. You can Query your data--Identify features, display hyperlinks, and locate features. You can measure distance, area, and bearings on your ArcPad map. You can Navigate with your GPS--Connect a GPS and let ArcPad guide you. You can Edit your data--Create and edit spatial data using input from the mouse pointer, pen, or GPS. Include ArcPad in your GIS solution--Extract, convert, and project your existing data using ArcGIS Desktop or ArcView 3.x. A download trial version is available. |
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A program that provides raster map support, real time display, and will have location (waypoint) management and exchange tools. Currently in beta. |
| StreetFinder from Rand McNally is now available for PocketPC's in a program called MapShots. A trial version is available for download. Maps are downloadable directly from the web site. | |
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Fugawi is a full featured PC program that supports primarily raster maps but does include full map databases in selected areas such as the US. They have recently added the ability to select map areas from their pc product and download these maps to the pocket pc with full gps navigation support. Their products includes maps for US, Canada, and European cutomers. |
| Freeware. WinCE 95 moving map software with Garmin upload/download. Works in Garmin or NMEA mode. In NMEA mode it can work with NMEA mon shown below. Documentation in Japanese, but user interface is in English (Win 95 version. It should work well under Japanese WinCE 2.0 or 1.0 or English WinCE 2.0. The download page is here. The new english pages include instructions for map calibration. | |
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NavTech Software (Not to be confused with NavTech maps) provides EFISce, a moving map and flight planning package where you scan in your own maps. And iPlotter which is a similar product aimed at marine users. |
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This is a shareware program that provides realtime tracking and tracklogs for user supplied Raster bitmaps. It supports Windows bitmap files up to 256 color. Can provide voice distance to destination information and velocity. |
| Vito-Tech makes two gps products. Smart Map can work with shape files and comes with a pc based map manager. The second product is Vito Navigator which provides basic gps functions. | |
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Mapviewer from SWI is a city map display and travelling route
calculation software for PocketPC. It features unprecedented precision.
In fact, with more than 20 zoom levels, it allows you to follow the
outline of streets as accurately as reality. In addition, It displays
traffic directions. On the other hand, its path calculating engine
provides you at any moment with the shortest path between a departure
point and an arrival point. Features TeleAtlas maps which now own etak.
The new release has maps being usable on the pc side.
The product includes two types of maps. Full detail that supports routing plus less detailed maps that do not but are considerably smaller. Current products are of Europe and seem to be language specific. French, English, German and Italian are covered. A new Turn by Turn product called MapSonic will soon be available. View the French language version for details. |
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GPS Dash is a shareware program that provides a dashboard like display for gps data. It also can provide map support for user supplied scanned map images and will collect NMEA data logs that can be played back. |
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GSpot is a program that provides a gps style display with support for scanned maps. It has a unique 3D satellite display. Waypoints and simple goto navigation is supported. Both a PC and a PocketPC version is supplied and they work identically. |
| PocketTerra | Programming framework to support MicroSoft Terraserver maps. A demo program using this framework is (or will be) available. |
| PocketStreetmap.com Coverage for GB |
Download maps on demand, street level coverage for GB, alerts to accident and speed camera locations. Has local entertainment listings. Maps of Europe are planned using Navtech maps. |
| Poccket Terra Field Data collection |
.NET framework for Mapping and GPS Field Data collection. Uses topo or aerial photos from the Microsoft TerraServer. A frame work with no royalties for VB or C programming. Works with your own SQL server for Data analysis. The demo can be used as a GPS mapping program using TerraServer maps. |
| GPS Ideas | A program that supports user scanned maps with navigation capability. It can produce a tracklog. Note that GPS Idea and Follow Me (described below) can share data. |
| GPS Tuner | GPS Tuner is a high precision measurement tool for Pocket PC. The
program delivers more accurate positions (even two or thee times better)
than your GPS device can. All that is due to the AVERAGING Software
Solution.
Map handling (zoomable), Digital Compass, Tracklog, Waypoint Manager help your trips! Runs on PPC2002 and 2003, uses .NET technology. |
| FieldMap | FieldMap from mobicomp is a java based tool that shows maps and permit gathering Field Data that is gis oriented. It can attach notes to points or polylines. Both vector and raster map support is planned. |
Note that some of the mapping programs described above in the mapping section can also work in Garmin mode for upload or dowload of waypoints/routes/tracks and for real time tracking. Memory-Map can also work with Magellan products for upload/download.
| Reference | Description |
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Commercial. Transfer waypoints to and from the Garmin GPS receiver. Upload TeleType GPS waypoints to the Garmin and download Garmin waypoints into the TeleType GPS program. Supports Windows 9x/NT/CE |
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A program based on the very successful g7toWin product. This is the swiss army knife of GPS waypoint maintenance. Upload/download waypoints/routes/tracks to Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance receivers. Create and exchange data with Fugawi, Ozi, Delorme. Freeware. |
| Their Rhino product is able to collect pseudorange data and carrier phase data from Garmin receivers hooked to a pockepc for post processing to achieve sub-meter position accuracy. | |
| The LinksPoint GPS Toolkit is an Application Program Interface (API) designed to simplify communications between a GPS receiver and its host, typically a PocketPC or Palm OS based handheld computer. The toolkit handles messages from most popular GPS protocols, including NMEA, Sirf, Rockwell, JRC and others. | |
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Navman now supplies SmartST (Smart Street) software with their hardware product. This is a turn by turn automatic routing software with voice guidance. Versions are offered for Europe and the USA and only support the Navman gps. A review of this product is available. Note that the software will only work with Navman products. |
| CompePocket can provide realtime tracking on the map of your choice. CompePocket can open vector maps (MPV) and raster maps (.IMP or .MAP), with image maps of type .BMP or .ECW. CompeGPS Pocket Land/Air can open maps, tracks, routes and waypoints, like the PC version program. It can also download tracks and waypoints from the GPS. CompeGPS Pocket Land/Air can open two maps at the same time. | |
| This program is specifically for TomTom Navigator and adds functionality to that product. It specifically adds a lot of POI functionality and some further automatic of TomTom functions. |
The section includes products that support gps but not traditional maps.
| Reference | Description |
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| Freeware. NMEA monitor displays a satellite status page with graphics showing satellite strength and position. It also show text data on your position and velocity. It works with Garmap. | |
| This is a free satellite status viewing page that can be used to log data and view results. It also has an averaging function and the ability to serve as a real time display of gps velocity data. | |
| GPS Mapping / Data Acquisition / Soil Sampling | (commercial - demo available) For Windows CE/95/98/NT |
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"Farm Site Mate" can be used for site specific mapping, scouting, soil sampling and variable rate control. Site Mate allows you to easily create maps of field boundaries, weed areas, tile lines, spray paths, soil sample locations, or anything else you may need. Optional modules for scouting and sampling and for variable rate control. |
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This is a solution product that combines field data collection software with a Symbol PDA and linkspoint gps hardware. Includes server platform offering desktop menu configuration and data management software, plus handheld client software that provides integrated GPS location capture and barcode scanning. |
| StarCaddy software displays a digital map of the golf course on your PDA, using GPS to give you the exact distance to the green, doglegs, sand traps, water hazards or any other course feature. | |
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Stores and displays courses, calculate distance, shot tracker, voice speaks distances, suggests clubs. |
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Preview detailed layout, try the course from your office. Yardage to the green, collect stock data. Build your own database of courses. |
| Weather system display using gps and cell-phone technolody to provide up to the minute radar weather data from Nexrad images. From controlvision | |
| This is not a map display program but rather a map making program. It is a GIS field system to produce maps or other field collection tasks related to GIS. | |
| Click on software. The is a waba based application that can be used to take notes in the field. | |
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A free program called GPS Engine that is a simple data logger. It records lat/lon altitude, time, and velocity. The also have a navigation calculator intended for flying use. |
| WinFast Navigator CE from Leadtek is an excellent troubleshooting tool, particularly for the SiRF chipset. View the development screen to see the NMEA messages or the Signal level screen for gps status. Be careful since you could make the gps fail to work with some programs by manipulating data with this utility. | |
| GeoAps has several products for Pocket PC. A datalogger for gps data acquisition, a motion activated data logger that is intended to operate in background while you do other things, and S-Calc, a survey calculation tool. | |
| A gps tool that lets you design your own application and capture the kind of data you are interested in. No programming required. | |
| The linkspoint automatic vehicle locator uses a wireless pocketpc with a gps to provide vehicle tracking plus you can take the pocketpc with you for use in the field. The AVL features a map display for the fleet back at the office. | |
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The Chaeron GPS Library (and sample programs) provides a high level Java interface to GPS (Global Position System) devices, making it easier to GPS-enable your Java applications. It is designed to be portable and will run unchanged on many platforms including Windows, PalmOS PDA's (Jump and SuperWaba VM's), Linux, Apple Macs, PocketPCs and more. |
| an interactive waypoint database on the web and a client product that allows users to upload and download waypoints based on their GPS location. | |
| Vito-Tech makes two gps products. Smart Map can work with shape files and comes with a pc based map manager. The second product is Vito Navigator which provides basic gps functions. | |
| Sentry-soft is a product that resides on the today screen. It offers a quick reference for GPS receivers with a full set of GPS display screens that can be rotated on the page. This is a good tool to establish an initial connection to make sure your GPS is working properly. | |
| A program that provides the functionality of a standalone GPS receiver that does not support maps. Supports points and tracklogs for navigation. Can share data with GPS Idea (above). |
There are several products already described that have aviation support. So a search on aviation to find them. In addition there are some products that are specific to aviation. These products are listed here. Some support maps but these maps are specific to aviation use and thus they are not listed in the mapping section.
| Reference | Description |
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NavTech Software (Not to be confused with NavTech maps) provides EFISce, a moving map and flight planning package where you scan in your own maps. And iPlotter which is a similar product aimed at marine users. |
| A planning and moving map program for aviators. Includes support for ifr and vfr, aircraft data, flight log, more. | |
| Moving terrain map called MountainScope with color coded saftey zones based on gps altitude. Also include aviation database that provide aeronautical chart like overlays. There is a review of this product. | |
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Focus on Aviation products and also has a hardware Gyro Module available for IPAQ units. |
| Several programs of use to the Glider Soaring community including a WinCE based data logger that supports the IGC standard. It can also display a flight review. These are free programs. | |
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Maptech Pocket Navigator - GPS Ready - Software for the Outdoors
Topographic Maps and Nautical Charts in Your Handheld Pocket PC.
With Maptech's new Pocket Navigator software you have the key to outdoor adventures in your hand. Now hikers, fishermen, hunters, boaters, sailors, and pilots can transfer genuine USGS topographic maps and NOAA Aviation or Marine charts to their handheld Pocket PC. The next step in fun-filled outdoor navigation - be truly mobile, with the best cartography at your fingertips - be a "Pocket Navigator." There is a review of this product. |
| The Navair product features richly featured map with clear terrain detail, distance sensitive displays, flight plan functionality, multiple pilot and plan profiles. Flight and navigation status details are provided on transparent overlays and even menus are translucent so you can see the map underneath. They also have a realtime weather product. | |
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This is a free flight planning and moving map display for private pilots. The sofware is free but donations are encouraged. Works on pocketpc and pc. Includes world navigation database. |
| Combines the important features of an advanced color moving map, terrain avoidance and flight management system, flight planner, airport guidebook, flight calculator, clearance recorder, and copilot. | |
| Here is a place to vote for your favorite aviation software and perhaps find one you hadn't noticed before. | |
| Not to be confused with pocket Navigator, the PocketNav product is the software solution for glider pilots from Cambridge Aero Instruments. This can be an add-on to their GPS-Nav product (a secure flight data recorder). They also support Glide Navigator II. | |
| CompePocket can provide realtime tracking on the map of your choice. CompePocket can open vector maps (MPV) and raster maps (.IMP or .MAP), with image maps of type .BMP or .ECW. CompeGPS Pocket Land/Air can open maps, tracks, routes and waypoints, like the PC version program. It can also download tracks and waypoints from the GPS. CompeGPS Pocket Land/Air can open two maps at the same time. |
| Reference | Description |
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| A free GIS program covering the World and some areas with more detail than the world level. There is a pc program and a pocketpc version. Includes raster maps that are also usable in g7towince or waypoint+. The pc version has GPS support and pocketpc support is coming in the future. |
| Reference | Description |
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This is a free windows program that translates and stores waypoint data in a wide variety of formats thus permitting waypoint interchange. Supported formats include GPX (XML exchange format), GEO (geocaching), Magellan including the palm versions, Garmin, GPSMan, GPSUtil, Tiger, CSV (comma separted values), Delorme Xmap, MapSend (Magellan poi format), PCX5 (older Garmin format), Cetus, GPSPilot, PSP (Pocket streets and trips), MXF (Maptech), DNA (Navitrak), OZI, Holux, with more being added all the time. |
| Reference | Description |
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 A UK site covering hardware and
software. Has articles, reviews, and link data. |
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| A site covering thoughts, opinions, and links for gps receivers and mapping programs on PocketPC platforms. | |
| A site covering PocketPC with some reviews on gps systems. | |
| A site covering lots of topics including pocketpc. |
Includes mapping or navigation features or products available that support these topics.
| Reference | Description |
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| This is a program that calculates sun and moon positions but I included it here since it can be used as a compass display as well which makes it suitable for emergency navigation assuming you can see the moon or the sun. | |
| Mapquest provides downloadable maps & U.S. driving directions that are ready-to-use on WinCE; Palm devices using software from AvantGo.com. | |
| A site containing lots of software and hardware for sale. Click on travel for gps products or search for gps. | |
| A commercial web site devoted to gps products. | |
| Chris De Herrera's Windows CE Website | Great technical information + comparisons but no gps products. |
| CEcity: Software | Software archive |
| CEWare | Software archive |
By Dale DePriest - All rights reserved.
