NatGeo Topo! Explorer

[chumley]

Since I've touched on this in a couple of other threads, I thought I'd put a bit more information out there for those interested HAZers.

I encountered a blog/review of a Topo! Explorer beta written by Stephen W. Hinch posted on Amazon. I'll give him all the credit here while copy/pasting a chunk of what he wrote as related to the new version of Topo!

extract:
The big news out of National Geographic Maps is that they will be introducing a new version of their TOPO! software, called TOPO! Explorer, this coming May. It's a completely new web-based approach to mapping, and although not all features were working yet, it looked to be very impressive. Since it is web-based, you will have access to a lot of capability at no charge. NG will provide full access to complete 24k topo maps of the entire US, along with aerial photographic images (think Google Earth, but with a different satellite image database that is claimed to have better resolution and is updated annually). There's also a neat hybrid presentation mode in which the topo map contour lines are displayed on top of the aerial photos, giving you exceptional insight into the topography of the land. You can view the maps and aerial photos online for free, but to do things like print the maps or interface to a GPS receiver, you'll need to buy the new TOPO! Explorer software package. NG hasn't overlooked their existing customer base, though. If you already own a current State-Series software package, you can download the Explorer interface for free.

Once you have the Explorer software package, you then need the maps (Explorer is an interface and navigation tool, but doesn't come with detailed maps). Again, if you already own State-Series software, your existing maps will still work. And you'll probably want to use Explorer instead of your legacy viewer, as the new user interface is much improved. It's now a lot easier to scroll the map across the screen, and the interface to your GPS has been updated. In the past, when you wanted to import waypoints from your GPS into TOPO!, you had to import every one, even if your GPS had hundreds of waypoints that you didn't care about. You would then have to laboriously go through the list and delete all the ones you didn't want. In the new program, you can easily select only those waypoints you want to import.

If you don't already have the maps for your region of interest, NG has made it easy to get them. You don have to buy an entire state, you can download individual topo quads for $1.00 each. It is billed as the "iTunes approach," although I'm not sure why they didn't complete the analogy by pricing them at 99 cents (a lesson you learn in Marketing 101). NG calls these "Superquads" because in addition to the 1:24,000 USGS map, you also get additional data including the appropriate aerial photography and Tele Atlas roads. So if you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime trek across Alaska, rather than spending $100 for the Alaska state-series software, you can download only those few quads you really want for just a few dollars.

Note that on a per-quad basis, this is a more expensive approach than buying the State-Series software, so if you want a significant portion of a state, you should still purchase the State-Series software (NG will continue to sell these products). The only things you won't get by doing this are the aerial photographs. At this time, licensing restrictions on the photography prevent NG from including these in the State-Series products.

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Above Review Posted Jan. 26, 2008

[joebartels]

That's grand however on-site solutions would be appreciated.

If everybody wants their photos on yahoo, book reprints on Trails, routes on TOPO!, etc... keep posting.

[big_load]

Improved scrolling would be nice. The way Topo! scrolls really drives me nuts, especially if you accidentally scroll past the edge of what you have CD's for. In fact, I consider Topo! really pathetic from a software quality and functionality standpoint, but the data makes it well worth owning.

[fricknaley]

In fact, I consider Topo! really pathetic from a software quality and functionality standpoint, but the data makes it well worth owning.

I totally agree with that statement, I wish they'd improve it a little bit in that regard.

[Al_HikesAZ]

That's grand however on-site solutions would be appreciated.
If everybody wants their photos on yahoo, book reprints on Trails, routes on TOPO!, etc... keep posting.

I agree with Joe. and if you want - go to Myspace for forums and you can be fragmented all over the web. HAZ is home.
Yahoo shut down their photosharing site. Anything that wasn't migrated to their new expensive site simply evaporated.

[joebartels]

Granted I'm not blind and realize super portals are forming like google and who knows what next. Unfortunately you will not get an in depth fully associated bag of info as presented on HAZ. Which for myself and believe others is something we really enjoy - hiking and it's various associated aspects.

if you accidentally scroll past the edge of what you have CD's for

Guess I've never really had much issue going out of bounds as most of my interest is within the AZ state region. I do remember how annoying it was changing CD's. There is a cure for that by transferring the CD's to your harddrive.

[chumley]

I just bought the state series for my new computer ... found it online for $79 ... $20 off ... (PM me if you want the contact info for that).

Transferring the CDs to hard drive was in the initial setup instructions. Very simple. Works great until I scroll into New Mexico

[chumley]

Just noticed that the Topo! Explorer site is up and running, though I'd be polite if I said it was still "buggy".

But for those who are missing the maps available from that other site that got bought by trailsdotcom, you can get a good size topo map from here to take a screen shot.

I haven't tried any of the save/export features yet, but I do notice that Nat Geo has uploaded all the forest roads as an optional layer on their topo maps. I even saw "A-S NF Snow Trails" as a layer, which I thought was a bit unusual. Anyway, its one more resource.

[azbackpackr]

Our A-S does have some designated cross country ski and snowmobile trails, which is probably what you saw.

I have the 60 Cx, but have only played with it in hand, I have no software yet, so it still has the highway stuff on it. I need to get a DVD reader-writer for my computer, too. Or a new computer!!! I am not very techy.