GPS Review: Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS

Microsoft is no newcomer to the Streets and Trips world, and that doesn't stop them from added a few new features to keep the product fresh for 2006. So, while the vocabulary is limited, Microsoft Streets & Trips has included voice prompted capability in 2006. It does not do Text to Speech directions (i.e. "Turn right on Maple Street in 200 feet", instead it says "Turn right in 200 feet"). The GPS modiule is provided by Pharos Science and Application Inc. and turns any laptop, Windows Mobile based PDA or Smart phone into an all inclusive GPS tracking device. All you have to do is plug in the GPS Locator via a USB port and you can start using the mapping software in real time.

The folks over at PC Magazine tried out the software and unit and thought things were good, but not great.

"Creating a route and generating directions is simple. You merely type in the starting and ending locations and click on "Get Directions." Trips can include multiple segments. In fact, if you have more than four, you can also instruct Streets and Trips 2006 to optimize the route. You can also configure your vehicle's estimated mileage, the starting level of your fuel tank, and the level at which you want to refill, and the software will include refueling stops in your list of directions." For comparisons, see our article covering the reivew on Delorme LT-20 with StreetAtlas 2006.

"Similarly, you can indicate the starting time for your trip and the number of hours in your driving day, and the program will include overnight stops in your direction list. A trip summary of days/hours of driving time and estimated fuel cost is included with your directions. As with the driving guidance pane, you can choose whether or not to display the directions on screen during navigation.

Streets and Trips 2006 also has a GPS pane that you can choose to display. The panel shows your current latitude/longitude, direction of travel, current speed, and GPS signal strength. This is also the control panel for arranging the map display, creating a "bread crumb" GPS trail, and controlling the voice options. If you want to create a route from your current position, you also start the route-generation process from within this pane.

Finding points of interest (POIs) such as restaurants or gas stations is fairly simple. You can select from 15 restaurant and 35 POI types to display on the map. You have the option of searching within a user-defined radius of an address, your current location, a specific direction within a planned route, or along the entire route. Search results display in a directory-tree listing. When you click on a POI, a balloon box pops up on the map with detailed information (including an address and phone number). Right-click on the POI icon, and you can add it to your route list. "

Summary - Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 with GPS Locator

"Though it's not as fully featured as Delorme's Street Atlas 2006, Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 is far easier to use and offers better GPS locating capabilities. As such, it's a better bet for most users."

For the full review - ReadHere

February 4, 2006

GPS Review: Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS