My GPS Dilemna

MoonMix

ok...

I know my way around Microsoft Street & Trips (sort of)...have been using it for years, on my COMPUTER.

Recently, I went back to work as an insurance inspector...purchased a Windows phone...& the GPS system that came w/ the phone is Here Drive. I've been using this for navigating to various inspections...but...IMO...it really sux.

So my questions are:

1) Is a cellphone-based GPS system of MS Streets & Trips available...???

2) If not...can I export addresses or even routes to my cellphone-based system from MS S&T? (Here Drive)...???

3) As an aside: What actually IS the very best GPS system available today...for someone such as myself who absolutely needs road accuracy to make a living...& can it run on a cellphone...???

thanx,


MoonMix

btw...just as an example of how bad Here Drive is for me...today, after my first stop...I was only 3 miles from I 476 in Havertown, PA; & was headed East to NJ. The app wanted to send me eastbound all the way through North Philadelphia on Rt 1, as opposed to a short jog to 476, N to the PA Turnpike; & East to NJ...!!! And it doesn't matter what configuration it's set to...'Most Direct'; 'Fastest'; etc....it always wants to send me on a bear hunt instead of just making practical decisions like I need it to do. AND...even when I was a half mile away from 476...it STILL wanted me to make a U-Turn on Rt. 1 & slug it out thru light after light after light...like it has a mind of it's own & wants to argue the damn point...!!! I hate it (sorry). So...this is what I need...a GPS app that's quite a bit smarter than the one I have now...thanx

Boyd

1) Is a cellphone-based GPS system of MS Streets & Trips available...???

I don't like Streets and Trips, but if that's what you want then perhaps you should get a Windows tablet? I have an older Windows 7 based tablet and have tried Streets and Trips. It's awkward on a touchscreen, but it runs.

No experience with Windows Phone, but Garmin makes a version of the StreetPilot app for it:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-go/apps/garmin-streetpilot-for-windows-phone/prod104128.html

It has a user interface very similar to the Nuvi. I used the iPhone version on a recent trip to Europe, but I was walking and not driving.



Garmin gets their map data from Navteq ("here") as well, so I don't know if it would show the same routing oddities. I live in Southern NJ and worked in Philadelphia for many years. I rarely agreed with the routes that Garmin would calculate from PA to NJ, it likes to send you right through Philadelphia where the traffic is terrible instead of on 476.

t923347

I'm a long time Streets & Trips user but that ride is coming to an end. As of July 1st, Microsoft has discontinued its entire group of PC mapping software products. There will no longer be new versions of MapPoint, AutoRoute, and Streets & Trips. So although current versions of S&T will continue to work, there will be no new versions, no map updates, and presumably no tech support etc..

Here is the official announcement which is a bit strange as there is still a "Buy Now" button on the bottom of the page:

http://www.microsoft.com/streets/en-us/default.aspx

alanb

Disappointing, but not surprising. I wonder if Delorme will follow suit with their Street Atlas USA product. I used to be a fan of Street Atlas, but it has been obvious for several years now that Delorme is no longer putting much effort into updates, new features, etc.

Boyd

Thanks for pointing that out Rick. I have an old copy of Streets and Trips and tried to like it, but I just couldn't. 😉

I'm surprised that Microsoft didn't pull it long ago. But surely the writing has been on the wall ever since they announced their reorganization. Supporting a product like that has got to be a losing venture. Garmin pulled their Windows navigation program (Mobile PC) several years ago.

t923347

I actually started using Expedia Streets and Expedia Trip Planner.in the late 90's. That product eventually became Microsoft Streets & Trips 2000 when Microsoft spun off Expedia. So I'm kind of all broken up about S&T going away. :( It has helped plan many many thousands of miles of tirps for me over the years.