Still unavailable to mere users, but now bumped to 2.27.

http://support.magellangps.com.....itemid=325

Vantage Point Version 2.27 Improvements

Added support for National Geographic TOPO! Maps.
Added "Geocaching Live", "Geocache Filter" and "Pocket Queries" features.
Geo-referenced media files on the map now displayed on the map.
Improved the Map organization.
Improved "My Journal" windows.
Added the ability to disable downloading of Geocache images from Geocache descriptions.
Improve data synchronization.
Various bug fixes.

Sorceress wrote:

Mr.Carr,

I just retrieved a copy of the MVP_226 file. I am not to impressed. I see the same raster files and I have so many National Geographic State TOPO maps that I continue to wonder.

If National Geographic is going to support us. Magellan should persuade National Geographic to give its loyal customers and upgrade to the TOPO Software we presently own. One of the approach is to charge for a patch.

We can then continue to make our maps that will work with the X10 Series and not gouge us for more moneys for something we presently paid for and have.

I also continue to observe the same resolution problems on this version of VantagePoint as State Files. They do not have the clarity of the vector maps that are presently available and blur out at low scales.

Can I also assume that in some future firmware update that the present units will be able to handle the .rmp format?

Maybe I am overlooking something in my preliminary analysis and if so please correct me.

I'm sorry to be late on replying to this message. Yes, I do agree that it would be nice of NatGeo to allow us to upgrade to the newer system - however, NatGeo as we've formerly had it is gone! I'm not exactly sure of all of the details, but everything has basically been moved over to a new company, that is why the old TOPO Explorer program no longer works, because the server for it was taken off line the end of last month. Yes, I agree it would be nice. Also, the new setup with VP is going to be a subscription offer like that of Digital Globe. Pay a once a year price for unlimited use so it is going to be something very different from the older stuff.
Also, please know that I too can understand the money thing; because I too live on a very limited income, but also please understand that Magellan is trying to provide something that was widely requested by their customers; which is bringing NatGeo support back to their customers. The pricing, membership and avaialablity situation was out of Magellan's hands in the hands of the people now running NatGeo.
Ok, I have a question about the blurring of your maps - which maps in particular are you speaking off? Are they the Digital Globe maps for home made maps?

Please understand that I'm on your side, because I just a user like you. I'm actually a Pastor in Southern California and I don't work for Magellan; however, I have been blessed to get to know and work with the guys at the company and they're great guys and they want to help us. So, please don't feel like I'm making excuses for anything; but I just have a bit more information that most users... And I always will to see what I can do to get things improved...

David

Yes, that makes sense to me now.

Thank you!

Paganel and his colleagues know more about what improvements would be most important than I would.
I'm hoping his suggestions will make what I'm trying to do easier and more useful.

While I'm out "playing at treasure searching" I'm also collecting data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Geodetic Survey's recovery of benchmarks program, plus collecting environmental degradation data for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and I'm also sending data to the fish & wildlife departments of the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
This is volunteer work by citizens trying to do something to help.
I fish, hunt, hike, ski, explore and enjoy the outdoors and want to improve what we have.

Being a retired electrician I now have the time to do these things but not the money to get the equipment I would like.
I really want to get the most accurate data I can with my limited but growing experience, ability and knowledge with the equipment I can afford.

I hope this makes up for and explains my frustration expressed on my last post. :blush:

Well - jump on board and send me all of your wished for items and I'm going to talk with Richard about them. It is alot easier for me if I have them all written down instead of just passing an email here and there, because those have a tendecy of being pushed off to the side.

David

Paganel wrote:

We have a lot of suggestions that may make it even better. But we do not see the feedback. We do not know if our suggestions accepted, or they do not come to the developers. It's a shame, too.
It would be useful to get an answer from the developers that of our proposal is accepted, and what will remain as is. It will be a collaborative effort and would benefit from the program and the company Magellan.

Paganel,

Please do me a favor. Please write down all of your suggestions and I’m going to Email them directly to Richard and then I’m going to call him via Skype and talk them over with him and see what he says about each one and then I’ll let you know. I do know that they are very interested in non-Geocaching ideas, because Eric doesn’t want these units to be limited for Geocaching only use – but, Geocaching is playing a huge part in the market.

Thanks,
David
[email protected]

Tested the new version. I'm depressed.
We do not use U.S. topographic maps.
We do not play in the search for treasure.
Nothing of what we requested, not fixed.

Returned to the union maps in group. But now I can not delete or update just one card. Only the group. This is a very long time. A group can contain 2-3 GB. GPS still uses USB 1.1.

Downloading photos with the coordinates - it is beautiful. But this is not a vital necessity.

In my opinion suggests geocashing.com have the highest priority. All other developers are not interested. Add new bugs is more interesting than to fix old bugs.

Mr.Carr,

I just retrieved a copy of the MVP_226 file. I am not to impressed. I see the same raster files and I have so many National Geographic State TOPO maps that I continue to wonder.

If National Geographic is going to support us. Magellan should persuade National Geographic to give its loyal customers and upgrade to the TOPO Software we presently own. One of the approach is to charge for a patch.

We can then continue to make our maps that will work with the X10 Series and not gouge us for more moneys for something we presently paid for and have.

I also continue to observe the same resolution problems on this version of VantagePoint as State Files. They do not have the clarity of the vector maps that are presently available and blur out at low scales.

Can I also assume that in some future firmware update that the present units will be able to handle the .rmp format?

Maybe I am overlooking something in my preliminary analysis and if so please correct me.

If it's like the DigitalGlobe deal, you can purchase an annual subscription to download maps onto the unit, using NatGeo Topo maps. You can preview the maps, without a subscription, but this is for U.S. only.

I have only just began to check this update out, but so far
it seems pretty cool!
Although, playing back a trail is a whole new experience.
If you have walked in a tight circle it makes the map rotate
dramatically, reminiscent of the (thankfully fixed) spinning compass.
Taking a few steps backward and then forward again can cause
everything to jitter. I am sure these effects are exaggerated because
I do playbacks at the highest speed.
It will be interesting to find out if the bug that allowed this
program to crash on some machines running 64 bit Win 7 has been remedied.

Jaker