TWO years ago, downloading free maps of Singapore and Malaysia for your Garmin personal navigation device (PND) was a simple affair: there was only one map available.
Not anymore.
Today, there are six versions for Garmin devices and two for MapKing, each with slightly different details included. Garmin and MapKing are the two key mapping software available in Singapore.
This makes it tough for PND users to decide which to buy and use.
Commercial maps offer more features like searches by postal code and name of establishments. They also tend to be updated more frequently.
Free maps, which rely on contributions from the community of map users, currently do not have the same depth of detail and features.
A PND kit comprises digital maps and a GPS receiver placed on the car's dashboard.
Sales of such devices have grown. EastGear, which distributes GPS-based personal navigation devices, said that 'thousands of units' were sold each month last year - a ten-fold increase over 2007.
The uptake could be because of falling prices over the past year.
For example, the entry-level Garmin Nuvi 205W can be bought for under $400. It had cost over $600 two years ago.
There are more choices available as well. Users here are not limited to Garmin-based devices and software and can choose from several manufacturers such as Shinco, Marbella and Mio that make use of the popular MapKing software.
Here is a survey of the maps available.
1 MalSing maps, www.malsingmaps.com
Free public version (January 2008) and free gold version for contributors (September 2008)
BACK in 2002, there was not a single GPS map of Singapore or Malaysia available. The major GPS makers such as Magellan and Garmin were interested only in the bigger, more lucrative markets in the United States and Europe.
However, one Singaporean was determined to make the difference. Known only by his nickname Aprivate, the food lover began logging locations of eating haunts in Johor Bahru and Singapore. He was soon joined by a community of enthusiasts who shared their maps Web 2.0-style.
From this humble beginning, MalSingMaps was formed around 2004.
Its gold version is available only to preferred users - people who have contributed, via forums on the website, by giving feedback on map errors and offering logs of yet unmapped roads, postal codes and points of interest such as eating places and buildings.
In return, they can download for free the latest versions of maps, such as the September 2008 Gold map, as opposed to the free public versions released earlier. The updated version has information on the KPE (Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway), which opened on Sept 20 last year.
2 Jerome Wee maps, Gpsmaps.jwpixs.com
Either a contribution to the listing of places of interests or cash offerings to the website
LITTLE is known about Jerome Wee, despite efforts by enthusiasts to contact him. What is known is that he was one of the original contributors to both Garmin and MalSing maps.
The Plus+ maps are special bundles with Garmin and MapKing hardware from distributors like EastGear.
These maps allow you to search for places by postal codes, locations of ERP gantries, speed cameras and traffic junctions with cameras that catch errant motorists who beat the red light.
The enhanced Plus+ version also comes with local e-mail and telephone support should you have trouble installing or using the maps.
3 MySGFree maps, www.malfreemaps.com
Free
ABOUT six months ago, a spin-off group of enthusiasts came up with free maps that incorporate many of the features found in Jerome Wee's versions. These maps are up-to-the-minute, with the latest version - 1.45 - released on March 9.
4 Garmin maps, www.garmin.com
Comes bundled with some Garmin PNDs
GARMIN has released its own maps known as City Navigator Singapore and Malaysia But these are not as detailed and up-to-date as the ones from MalSing or MySGFree maps.
5 MapKing maps, www.mapking.com.sg, for free map updates; www.mapking. com for purchases
Bundled with PNDs with MapKing software; $99 for map alone
USERS of this software are more fortunate as they have to decide between just two versions. They are the MalSing maps Gold edition and the more detailed and accurate MapKing maps from the Singapore Land Authority, updated this month.
The latter is definitely the one to go for as there is more coverage of postal codes (98 per cent of Singapore's postal codes) and up-to-date road information such as the CBD viaduct at Cross Street and outline drawings of the buildings around.
The writer has been an IT professional for 30 years.
