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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Garmin GPS > November 2007 > Mac OS X Leopard and Mapsource and City Navigator
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Mac OS X Leopard and Mapsource and City Navigator
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| Does Garmin offer Mac versions of Mapsource and City Navigator
for Leopard?
I found a link saying they would have Mac OS X software by the
end of 2006, but that link currently indicates "still waiting...".
http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/gps_vpc.html
[I find Garmin's web site quite annoying to try to find anything
easily].
If they have Mac versions, will Garmin move my Windoze license(s)
to my Mac, and if so, what do I need to do?
Failing all this, is there a good vendor of an Etrex Legend Cx
like hand held, with equivalent of City Navigator, with software
native for Macs?
(no, I'm not going to use Parallels, Boot Camp, VMware or anything
that requires a Micro$oft OS license. I've been looking at Wine, and
that is quite crude, in my opinion, and CodeWeaver's Crossover
doesn't seem to be much better either, by the products that they
support (that I need anyway). I will not be buying any
new Windoze software, and any that I can't move will only be
used once a week or month until I have native Mac replacements and
no longer have to boot the Windoze machine at all).
Thanks, John
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-15, 10:33 pm |
| John wrote:
> Does Garmin offer Mac versions of Mapsource and City Navigator
> for Leopard?
<snip>
No. There is no Mac software for MapSource.
The only software that Garmin has for Macs is for the Garmin Training
Center:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3339
I don't know the Mac versions but the details are at that link.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
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| David Spencer 2007-11-16, 12:33 pm |
| Jack Erbes <jackerbes@adelphia.net> writes:
>John wrote:
><snip>
>No. There is no Mac software for MapSource.
>The only software that Garmin has for Macs is for the Garmin Training
>Center:
I have a Garmin map installer on this Mac. Download it from the
Garmin website.
--
dhs spencer@panix.com
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-16, 3:33 pm |
| David Spencer wrote:
> Jack Erbes <jackerbes@adelphia.net> writes:
>
>
>
>
> I have a Garmin map installer on this Mac. Download it from the
> Garmin website.
When I called Garmin support to ask about this last week, I was informed
that there was no Mac compatible software that would allow the use of
any MapSource products.
Maybe they guy I talked to was wrong.
Can you provide a name for the "map installer" or a link to the download?
Jack
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| I googled "garmin mac map installer" and found:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3701
It is very interesting but I don't yet know what to make of it.
I'm hoping a Mac version of Mapsource is part of it.
Thanks, John
Jack Erbes wrote:
> David Spencer wrote:
>
> When I called Garmin support to ask about this last week, I was informed
> that there was no Mac compatible software that would allow the use of
> any MapSource products.
>
> Maybe they guy I talked to was wrong.
>
> Can you provide a name for the "map installer" or a link to the download?
>
> Jack
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-16, 10:33 pm |
| John wrote:
> I googled "garmin mac map installer" and found:
>
> http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3701
>
> It is very interesting but I don't yet know what to make of it.
> I'm hoping a Mac version of Mapsource is part of it.
I guess you Mac folks are going to have to figure it out out and get the
word out by word of mouth. Garmin either has it wrong or does not know.
I was trying to help a mac user get started when I called on it a couple
of week ago. At that time I was told there was no Mac software for
MapSource cartography products, only for the Training Center thing. And
I was told clearly and emphatically that there were no plans for that to
change anytime soon.
This would not be the first case where Garmin support people did not
know the answers. Let us know if you find that you can install
MapSource products on Macs, see the mapping there, plan routes, do
uploads to GPS receivers, and all the other things we're doing with PC's
now.
Jack
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-16, 10:33 pm |
| John wrote:
> I googled "garmin mac map installer" and found:
>
> http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3701
>
> It is very interesting but I don't yet know what to make of it.
> I'm hoping a Mac version of Mapsource is part of it.
>
> Thanks, John
And to further the confusion, here is a link to the MapSource Tutorial
for Mac:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/...ceTutorial.html
Why in the hell would they have a tutorial if they do not support Macs?
I'll bet Garmin doesn't really want to sell anything to mac users. They
are just too damn picky in the long run. They expect everything to work
right on the first try. :> )
But seriously, if you figure out if and how well that works, let us
know. I know a few folks that Mac users and that want to buy Garmin
handhelds but don't want to do it if they can't use something like
MapSource on a Mac.
Jack
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| I have a guess. It may be that the news found in my original
post at:
http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/gps_vpc.html
is close to coming true. i.e. it is nearly complete, is
being documented on the web site (where they forgot to
"protect" it), but it is still "unofficial". If this is
true, then an announcement could be forthcoming very soon,
unless known bugs preclude it.
Lets hope they do announce soon!
Meanwhile, I can get along with Google Earth Plus ($20/year)
(the free version won't read GPS units)
which reads off my GPS unit. No write, but with this and
Google Maps I can get along without Mapsource for up to
a few years! I have City Navigator on my GPS and haven't
reloaded anything on that for almost a year now. Or I
could boot up the Windoze machine to use Mapsource there,
which I haven't had to do for days now. :-) Ever since I
got my browser bookmarks and all my email accounts and
folders over on the Mac, it has become my home platform.
It boots seven times as fast (50 seconds) and shuts down in
10 seconds! :-)
So I haven't had time to check out the Garmin Mac links yet.
I have my hands full with replicating software on my new
platform. Yesterday and today was leaving Photoshop Elements
(Windoze) for Gimp on Mac (free open source).
I'll get back to it in days or a week after I reinvent the
rest of the easy stuff.
John
Jack Erbes wrote:
> John wrote:
>
> And to further the confusion, here is a link to the MapSource Tutorial
> for Mac:
>
> http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/...ceTutorial.html
>
> Why in the hell would they have a tutorial if they do not support Macs?
>
> I'll bet Garmin doesn't really want to sell anything to mac users. They
> are just too damn picky in the long run. They expect everything to work
> right on the first try. :> )
>
> But seriously, if you figure out if and how well that works, let us
> know. I know a few folks that Mac users and that want to buy Garmin
> handhelds but don't want to do it if they can't use something like
> MapSource on a Mac.
>
> Jack
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| nospam 2007-11-19, 4:33 am |
| In article < 473e4779$0$20647$4c3
68faf@roadrunner.com>, Jack Erbes
<jacker@midmaine.com> wrote:
> And to further the confusion, here is a link to the MapSource Tutorial
> for Mac:
>
> http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/...ceTutorial.html
>
> Why in the hell would they have a tutorial if they do not support Macs?
the 'tutorial' is a flash document that shows how windows mapsource
works.
> I'll bet Garmin doesn't really want to sell anything to mac users. They
> are just too damn picky in the long run. They expect everything to work
> right on the first try. :> )
they had a huge booth at the last two macworld expos and have a booth
again next year. it isn't cheap for a booth that size, and i doubt
they're doing it just for fun...
> But seriously, if you figure out if and how well that works, let us
> know. I know a few folks that Mac users and that want to buy Garmin
> handhelds but don't want to do it if they can't use something like
> MapSource on a Mac.
although there is no mapsource yet available, there *is* a download
tool, and is possible to download maps to the gps on a mac without
needing windows. this is the key issue for most mac users, since there
are numerous other mapping tools such as google earth. the only issue
is that the download tool needs an existing windows installation to
convert the maps, but once that's done, windows is no longer needed.
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-20, 10:33 pm |
| nospam wrote:
<snip>
> they had a huge booth at the last two macworld expos and have a booth
> again next year. it isn't cheap for a booth that size, and i doubt
> they're doing it just for fun...
My point is not that they do not want to do it, just that they have not
done it yet and are keeping everyone pretty well confused as to what can
or can not be done and/or will ever be able to do.
I don't own or use Macs and don't care if they ever get it going. My
frustration is that I am occasionally asked by Mac users what they can
do with Garmin hardware and software. I've not really been able to
answer that questions or feel that I've not answered it. It is not
clear to me at all that it can or cannot be done.
John (the OP on this thread) posted the following link where you can
download "MapInstall for the Mac software version 2.0.0.1 Beta as of
August 15, 2007":
http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3701
There is a note on that page that says "To migrate the maps from your
Windows PC, download MapConverter onto your PC and follow the
instructions" and the word "download" is linked to this page:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/down...ils.jsp?id=3706
There is also a note on the MapConverter download page that says you can
"View instructions on migrating Garmin map products from Windows to the
Mac here. (PDF file- 245KB)" and that link sends you to this document:
http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/ Map...ter
s.pdf
The *.pdf document says that, at the finish of the migration process,
"your Garmin map products will be available for use with Garmin
applications on both your Windows PC and your Mac".
That sounds to me like MapSource can be used on a Mac. But Garmin's
tech support guy said that is not the case.
John is still trying to figure this out I think. He may not have a
Windows PC and own a MapSource product. I own a MapSource product and a
Windows PC but don't have (or want to have) a Mac.
So at this point I think I am seeing that there is a process of some
sort here that can or will culminate in having a MapSource product on a
Mac.
If anyone figures it out, or has already done it and can describe the
practicality of the process and the level of satisfaction attained, it
goes to answering the OP's question. And my curiosity about the process
too.
> although there is no mapsource yet available, there *is* a download
> tool, and is possible to download maps to the gps on a mac without
> needing windows. this is the key issue for most mac users, since there
> are numerous other mapping tools such as google earth. the only issue
> is that the download tool needs an existing windows installation to
> convert the maps, but once that's done, windows is no longer needed.
If you read the *.pdf file above I think it either says or implies that
you'll have a fully functional, unlocked, MapSource product installed on
a Mac at the finish of the migration process. Can anyone confirm that?
Jack
| |
|
| > John is still trying to figure this out I think. He may not have a
> Windows PC and own a MapSource product. I own a MapSource product and a
> Windows PC but don't have (or want to have) a Mac.
>
> So at this point I think I am seeing that there is a process of some
> sort here that can or will culminate in having a MapSource product on a
> Mac.
>
> If anyone figures it out, or has already done it and can describe the
> practicality of the process and the level of satisfaction attained, it
> goes to answering the OP's question. And my curiosity about the process
> too.
I'm still here in the background. I haven't had time to try looking at
this rat's nest. I really want a shrink wrapped native Mac product,
and it seems no one has one yet. Maybe iPhone version 2! We can only
hope! Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google is now on Apple's board of
directors, and they know a LOT about maps and GPS.
I have a Garmin Etrex Legend Cx, Mapsource on the PC I am turning into
a boat anchor (not that it hasn't been since the day I bought it),
and City Navigator. I'll throw it all away for the first vendor to
deliver a good native Mac implementation for a handheld GPS, hardware
and software.
Let's see now, iPhone (next generation) + Google => ??? I see no reason
why a cellphone can't offer everything Garmin offers on my Legend,
including software. Google Earth already reads GPS coordinates from
my Legend so I can wait for such a device for up to two years before
I need to purchase anything else from Garmin or otherwise. So let's
see who wins. Personally, I think Apple and Google will eat GPS device
manufacturer's lunch (among others). Say a next generation iPhone with
an Open Software plug in application that runs under their new software
tool kit due next year to standardize cell phones (to the dismay of the
phone companies that currently disable many features on the phones they
sell so they can maximize their profits). You go Google!!!
John
I drop suggestions into Google's suggestion box occasionally. Note
that Google employees are not only hired for their top notch ability,
but get one day a week to work on any project they please. What a
brilliant way to achieve rapid innovation!
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| nospam 2007-11-21, 4:33 am |
| In article < 47436652$0$19757$4c3
68faf@roadrunner.com>, Jack Erbes
<jacker@midmaine.com> wrote:
>
> My point is not that they do not want to do it, just that they have not
> done it yet and are keeping everyone pretty well confused as to what can
> or can not be done and/or will ever be able to do.
i asked them at last years macworld and they said 'it was harder than
we thought.' in less than two months, it will have been two full years
since their first time at macworld with very little to show for it.
even a small company with far less resources than garmin has could have
written a mapsource equivalent in all of that time.
> That sounds to me like MapSource can be used on a Mac. But Garmin's
> tech support guy said that is not the case.
he is correct. it is not the case (other than running windows on a
mac).
there are two parts to the current garmin mac utility. the first part
is an application that runs on windows that lists all of the installed
maps, verfies the unlock codes as valid (if applicable) and then copies
(and gzips) the selected maps to wherever the user specifies. it is
also very picky about the maps being unlocked and i actually had to do
a clean install of them because for some reason, it refused to believe
that they were unlocked.
once the map file is on the mac, it is unzipped and then opened with
the garmin map manager utility, which simply copies the map files to
the application support folder so the downloader can find them (and
this is a step that anyone could do manually). since i used a shared
folder between the two machines, there was no reason at all to gzip it
and then unzip it moments later, but there was no way to disable that
step.
the map installer is NOT mapsource in any way shape or form. it is, as
its name suggests, a tool to install maps. that's it. it doesn't do
anything else, and in fact, it doesn't really do much of anything at
all if a gps is not connected -- if it doesn't see one, the only option
is quit. if it does see a gps, a map selection window appears, and
then the desired maps can be selected and downloaded. and to think
this sophisticated tool took 18 months from their first announcement of
supporting macs.
prior to this tool, the only way to download maps on a mac was to run
the windows version of mapsource somehow. on an intel mac that works
quite well since both vmware fusion and parallels desktop support usb.
however, on an older powerpc mac, virtual pc was the only option and
usb did not work with garmin gps units, so a usb-serial adapter was
required, and needless to say, downloading maps was very time
consuming.
for copying track logs, waypoints and routes, either to or from the
gps, there is a third party utility called load my tracks and it can
communicate with a number of gps units, including garmin:
<http://www.cluetrust.com/LoadMyTracks.html>
there are also other shareware/freeware options that support gamrin
(and other) gps units.
hope that helps!
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|
| nospam wrote:
> In article < 47436652$0$19757$4c3
68faf@roadrunner.com>, Jack Erbes
> <jacker@midmaine.com> wrote:
>
>
> i asked them at last years macworld and they said 'it was harder than
> we thought.' in less than two months, it will have been two full years
> since their first time at macworld with very little to show for it.
> even a small company with far less resources than garmin has could have
> written a mapsource equivalent in all of that time.
It sounds like they need outside management consultants to help them
hire a top notch Mac lead programmer and form a team with motivation
from the top to get over this. They seem to be thinking "inside the box"
with existing (incomplete) internal resources and need an outside,
objective, perspective. As it stands, they've been sitting ducks for
two years (at least) waiting to be someone's lunch. Mmmm, duck! Is that
new GPS device a G(oogle)Phone, an iPhone, or ... Whatever it is, it
will synchronize with my Mac.
John
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| Jack Erbes 2007-11-21, 12:33 pm |
| nospam wrote:
<snip>
> hope that helps!
You bet it does! Thank you very much.
So I guess the bottom line is that once the maps are migrated from a PC
and on the Mac, there is no "Garmin map application" that can display or
use the map files in any form.
If that's right, I'm sort of wondering why anyone would want to go to
all the trouble of migrating the map files. I guess it is something to
do while you are waiting for the arrival of MapSource for Mac. :> )
Jack
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| nospam 2007-11-21, 10:33 pm |
| In article < 4744720b$0$19629$4c3
68faf@roadrunner.com>, Jack Erbes
<jacker@midmaine.com> wrote:
> So I guess the bottom line is that once the maps are migrated from a PC
> and on the Mac, there is no "Garmin map application" that can display or
> use the map files in any form.
it can display the maps along with a pan and zoom control, and it shows
the boundary boxes of the various map regions so they can be selected.
it is sort of a 'mapsource lite' with a lot of emphasis on 'lite.'
> If that's right, I'm sort of wondering why anyone would want to go to
> all the trouble of migrating the map files. I guess it is something to
> do while you are waiting for the arrival of MapSource for Mac. :> )
in my case, i have a powerpc powerbook and loading maps when i travel
is a royal pain because serial communication is my only option. on a
recent road trip, i let it run overnight while i slept, and the gps was
ready to go with updated maps when i woke up. with this utility, i can
download maps via usb in substantially less time. on the other hand, i
don't do long road trips very often, so i rarely change the maps that
are installed.
however, with intel macs, the benefit is less because mapsource can run
under windows with full usb support rather than being stuck with serial
only. however, it does require buying vmware fusion or parallels
desktop and a copy of windows. that's not a big deal if someone wants
to run a few windows applications, but if mapsource is the only windows
application they need, it is a lot more expensive than simply using the
garmin utility.
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