Map Share, TomTom's map-improvement technology which was announced last week, seems a lot less radical than most had assumed after it's first announcement. The different types of possible corrections are limited to five in this first version.
Revolutionary
With Map Share, the user can make his/her own corrections to the digital map of his/her PND and share it with other users of the new software. All the reactions of those present at the gathering in Cannes last week were enthusiastic, without exception. Reports later in papers and online media were also very positive about the new technology. This is no surprise, because the basic principle of Map Share may surely be called spectacular, revolutionary even. It will no doubt help TomTom leap ahead of the competition.
Limitation
But now it seems that Map Share will be more limited than we gathered from the initial information, including a lot of screen dumps (see
here). On those, possibilities like postal code corrections and even adding missing streets and roundabouts are shown.
Unfortunately, TomTom let us know today that these kinds of changes will not be available on the device, and will also not be a part of the Map Share download in which corrections available to all users are centralised. These corrections will be reported to Tele Atlas though, who will implement the corrections into future releases.
This disappointing limitation only leaves room for five types of corrections with Map Share:
- Reverse driving direction
- Add a missing Point Of Interest (POI)
- Change a Point Of Interest (POI)
Disappointment
Many will consider these limitations to be pretty disappointing. A spokesperson for TomTom has let us know that they are working on implementing the other features which were first announced into the next released of Map Share. "We aim to release another Map Share version which will enable , for example, the adding of new streets and roundabouts".
Other news:
Well there goes a very good reason to upgrade then....
Pathetic TomTom!! Announce something that's coming and then withdraw...
It's the RDS/TMC saga all over again...
Tom Tom =
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 16:34 hour
By:
ajh
I guess it is a bit disappointing, but even the things that are included will make a real difference. There are a number of roads near me that have the direction incorrectly coded, and to be able to change that will improve things. If they hadn't shown the extra functionality, we probably wouldn't be that disappointed!
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 17:51 hour
By:
DarrenUK
I will still get the new tomtom for other reasons, but this mapshare news is disappointing if not unsurprising. Those who thought that the idea people could alter maps and upload inaccurate changes just for a laugh will probably tell you it is for safety reasons. If this is so, then they would have scrapped it altogether and replaced it with something like the upcoming Navman system. The reasons I suspect for the change are purely commercial.
( insert "ker-ching!" sound here) If people can alter and update their maps free of charge, then who would pay for commercial updates in 6 months to years time, when they would already be out of date?
I suspect that tomtoms map providers have asked tomtom if they are trying to put them out of business!
Wish they had kept the add roundabout feature. I live near Canterbury, Kent. The council seem to put new roundabouts and pelican crossings every twenty feet. The distance inbetween they fill (or should I say "unfill") with potholes. Your tax money at work!
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 18:45 hour
By:
raylight
I still think that its worth upgrading to the new 720, even though the mapshare is limited.
it is a much slimmer, and better looking unit, than the one version 2
Also the new features it will have , are definatley worth the upgrade.
Just depends on the price now !!!!!
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 18:56 hour
By:
steveJ
But is it worth upgrading from a 910?
. At the moment, possibly not!
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 19:13 hour
By:
DarrenUK
I've just had another look at the screencaps for nav7. I don't think tomtom have been misleading us or gone back on features they said it would have.
If you look carefully the screencap for add roundabout, change postcode etc, it appears after the screen which you go to, to report errors. Those of us who thought that we could change those things ourselves (me included), have been looking at the screencaps in the wrong context. This wouls have been clearer if tomtom had a flash "demo" that we could look at. So they are not as evil as we thought!
However I still think that the decision not to include them as user upgrade features is commercial, and they have to keep making money out of their existing users somehow.
I don't have an x10 series tomtom, but I would still think that the speech recognition and other safety features would make it worth the upgrade if you have one.
The actual features in "Mapshare" are pathetic. They don't address most of the real problems users have.
Its a NON-feature.
Their competitors must be laughing their socks off.
Posted on: June 12, 2007 - 22:58 hour
By:
uocooper
I wouldn't call the clarification disappointing. Map Share is still something that I think can be a huge benefit to TomTom owners. The fact is that the corrections that you can make in Map Share 1.0 cover about 90% of the errors I see. I'm also happy to see that the changes you report via Map Share make their way back to Teleatlas. Map Share will improve just as the rest of the TomTom software has with each release.
QUOTE This disappointing limitation only leaves room for five types of corrections with Map Share:
(un)Block a street
Reverse driving direction
Change a street name
Add a missing Point Of Interest (POI)
Change a Point Of Interest (POI)
I think this possibilities is good,
If I had a extra wish it must be the possibility to change a speed limit.
I don't think it is easy to make and application, that gives all of us the possibility to draw in a map, change roads, crosses etc.
There has to be a man made controll after all on such changes.
I am satisfied if the most of the information placed on the map can be changed.
I am looking forward to get the Navcore 7 ether on a new unit or on my 910.
Posted on: June 13, 2007 - 11:01 hour
By:
samjohnson
It still sounds pretty exciting to me. This is just the first version, and it's already a revolutionary concept. Don't really get how anyone could find it pathetic or disappointing. Even in it's first incarnation Map Share is way beyond anything the competition is doing. If it works, of course. I'm gonna be very tempted to trade in my 710 for one of these.
Posted on: June 13, 2007 - 11:36 hour
By:
nemosinbad
i for one am looking forward to the release of this software update, I used to have a TT go300 and the map errors were so bad i had to get rid of it, Now if only I could get a TT with Navtech map data and this Navcore 7 software...Anyone who thought end users would be able to put roundabouts in willy nilly and be able to send that info to everyone else on the scheme should have there head examined, I wonder how many roundabouts would have appeared on the fast lane of the M1!!
Even the Block/unblock function is very risky, I wonder how many people are going to be driving round the M25 only to find there TT is telling them the road is permantly blocked, chaos
I don't see a "no right/left ammend function on there anywhere, am i not looking in the right place
My Dream device
1,A 5inch screen
2,split screen display (birds eye and 3d) views with sticky independant zooming
3,nearest petrol in road miles not "as crow flies"
4,RDS TMC with a contact No. so you can let them know that the A2 is actually closed!!!!
5,RDS FM Transmiter - it will cut into whatever CD or Radio stn your listening to.
6,All the features of Navcore 7
7,custom menus
8,reliable speed camera data
9,preview of next junction
Posted on: June 13, 2007 - 11:38 hour
By:
nemosinbad
Sam Johnson...
I do believe you will be able to keep your 710 it's a software upgrade
Posted on: June 13, 2007 - 12:21 hour
By:
samjohnson
QUOTE Even the Block/unblock function is very risky, I wonder how many people are going to be driving round the M25 only to find there TT is telling them the road is permantly blocked, chaos
Well I don't know, I would imagine they would have thought of that. I don't think it would be that hard to filter incoming corrections. And if you look at their 'levels of trustworthiness', the lowest level is reported by 'some' so even in that case more than one person would have to report the same correction. They will surely have some kind of system in place to sort out silly corrections, it will be interesting to see how it works in practice.
Posted on: June 13, 2007 - 14:41 hour
By:
angel13
Typical Tom Tom: Like TMC - Garmin had it Tom Tom announced it. Said it would come with the new x10 series. More than half a year later it was released and to date it still doesn't work.
Should have bought a Garmin.
16-05
June 12, 2007 - 15:52 h
