Copilot live 7 map updates

While you're on Interstates, the posted speed limit will show up on the right hand edge. I paid attention to this while driving on I through downtown Mobile and I saw it did a good job adapting to the changes throughout the city. On the Mobile Bay Causeway, which has variable speed limits depending on the weather, there was no speed limit label indicated. The sun had set during our trip, so the screen went from light to dark.

In the pictures above, you will find that it appears similar to many other GPS apps, and the 3D map option reminds me of the new Apple Maps app. Here are some other pros and cons for this app. With the vehicle settings you can customize height and length specifications. If you enter a height for your RV, for example, any clearance information in the maps will be identified to you. Screen shot: Patricia Vollmer. Tell CoPilot Live that you want to join your Facebook friends at their locations.

The screen looks too wide or too narrow for a split second when you tilt the device. Installation and features The software is supplied on a 'nested' flash memory card: a microSD card lodged in a miniSD adapter that's in turn fitted in an SD card adapter. Most currently available Windows Mobile devices will support one of these three formats. The software self-installs and can be registered over the air, so you don't need to go anywhere near a PC to get up and running.

It runs from a flash memory card, which leaves storage space on the device itself unaffected. As ever, the downside is that if you need to use another flash memory card for any reason, you won't be able to access CoPilot Live.

As well as the navigation software itself, a new element of CoPilot Live is a desktop companion. Called CoPilot Central, this is designed to meet several needs. CoPilot Central allows you to download data such as new Points of Interest PoIs and automatically downloads software updates, installing them to your handheld when it's synchronised with your PC.

It can also extend CoPilot Live's reach with new maps downloaded over the internet and has a trip planning feature that allows you to pre-plan journeys and then download them to your mobile device. However, the demo version we saw suggests that it should be straightforward to get to grips with. ALK has taken a 'root and branch' approach to CoPilot Live 7, and there's a long list of new and updated features. Some are major changes while others are tweaks or refinements.

The user interface has been completely redesigned, and generally works well. There's a animated new 'preview' mode for running through trips before you set off. You can 'skin' the display with colour schemes — ALK calls these Themes, and there are plans for user-created schemes to be downloadable through CoPilot Central.

There are many speed and usability improvements: for example, searching for PoIs has been improved, as has the address entry system. Route calculation seems faster too. Performance We tested CoPilot Live 7 over a period of several weeks, working with a number of near-final releases.

A new opening screen offers four frequently used options: Destination, Favourites, Settings and Drive. Select Destination and you're presented with options for choosing Points of Interest, entering an address, going to your work and home locations and so on; Favourites takes you to a pre-saved list of favourite destinations; Drive simply brings up the map screen showing your current location. The map screen has its own Menu button, which brings up further options for entering destinations and managing the software generally.

A a small blue arrow at the bottom right of the map screen pulls up a submenu where you can choose what's displayed in an information row at the bottom of the map screen.

ALK have dramatically improved the look and feel of CoPilot 7. The interface is very clean and simple and the bright graphics make navigation of the menus and appraisal of on-screen information very easy.

Helpfully there is no need to use a stylus when using CoPilot, owners of sausage sized fat fingers will find the on-screen buttons generously sized and easy to access. The images here really don't do CoPilot Live 7 the justice it deserves, it is very bright and cheery and has a crisp look and feel that makes it stand out from the competition. Inputting a destination is straightforward and I'm pleased to find it does not require studious reference of the manual! Open the menu and Select Destination , the choose Address.

Using the on-screen keyboard. You do not need to type in the full name if you see the result appear, just select it to move to the next stage.

CoPilot 7 support full 7-digit UK Postcodes. One minor issue here is that owing to the use of large finger friendly buttons there is little room left for the pick list. You can see from the example screen shots above and below that there is room only for two choices and you need to use the scroll bars to see the other choices that match your entry. It isn't a big issue and given the option of more room for the pick list or larger buttons I think ALK have chosen wisely.

But I do wonder if there may not be a better solution such as an option to minimise the keyboard temporarily? Once you have completed the address entry you are shown an overview map that displays the start and end locations whilst CoPilot calculates the optimum route.

This is a useful feature as it allows you the opportunity to double check the destination is in the general area you expected it to be. In the example above you can see that the destination is located within London's congestion zone.

Because of this you receive the warning, another useful reminder that there will be a charge that needs paying! As I have already said, the display is crisp and clear with 'most' of the information you need presented on screen. However I would have liked to have a little more information available.

Although ALK provide many options for what information can be displayed, you can only have 1 or 2 of these items on screen. Personally I like to have at least speed, ETA, and remaining trip time but with the implementation here that isn't possible. This is a personal preference though and others may have a different view of this and prefer the lack of clutter. The usual 2D and 3D display options are present as well as a nice feature which allows you to have 3D for the main display with the view switching to 2D as you approach a turn.

Often it is much simpler to visualise a complex junction in 2D mode and this feature is a novel solution to that problem. There are also 'safety' views where the maps are hidden and instead replaced by simplified turn arrows and the last example above shows 'Destination View'. CoPilot 7 is also fully 'Landscape Aware' i.

CoPilot has always rated highly for the configurability of its routing and version 7 does not disappoint. I did not test the bicycle profile but this would assume you could not use Motorways but can use cycle paths. Likewise for the Walking option, it will allow navigation against the flow of traffic such as along one-way streets and will also include footpaths where they are actually mapped.

However it must be remembered that this is primarily a solution for vehicle navigation. The maps will not have concise details of non-vehicular routes and so with cycling as an example you should not expect CoPilot's maps to be aware of cycle paths and other routes if they are not running alongside roads themselves. The route type you choose will affect the calculated route. For example, the same route has been calculated below using, from left to right, Quickest, Shortest and Avoid Motorway route options.

During testing I found the routes suggested to be acceptable and almost always what I would expect. The differences where they did occur were mostly down to the use of Navteq map data. I have found that some local test routes will always differ dependent on whether Navteq or TeleAtlas map data is being used regardless of the device itself.

This allows you to finely tune the settings to suit your vehicle type, route preference etc and each custom profile can be quickly recalled as you need it. To activate this feature do the following:. Selecting it will give you access to all the options shown on the left. You can now finely tune your routing preferences, configure road speeds for all the road classifications and set which road types should be given preference when calculating routes.

This facility is very well implemented. CoPilot has always been a popular choice for those who want additional control over routing preferences and ALK have not disappointed in their implementation of is in CoPilot Live 7. There is a large selection of male and female voices to choose from and there are more to download from ALK's web site via CoPilot Central.