When we were discussing the upgrade policies of the various OS mapping
software recently, Paul S dug out another company, ISIS Outdoors. My
interest was caught when I noticed that they had a product (MapWise Basic)
which would allow the user
| to add your own maps, either scanned in from existing paper maps, or
| electronic images.
I'm pretty sure it said "electronic maps" instead at the time. So I
asked them whether that meant interoperability with their competitors'
OS maps but (as one might suspect) it just means it can handle jpeg files
and bitmaps.
They were playing down this particular product and instead pushing their
Hillwalker series, for which they don't regard Tracklogs and Anquet as
competitors. They sent me a demo CD, which I've played now. "Played"
is the right word as it isn't actually a demo version of the program but
merely a promotonal slide show about their software - pretty much the
same information that's on their website at
http://www.hillwalker.org.uk/
Hillwalker contains route descriptions for UK hills and also for the Alps
plus images, videos and music to go with it. The user can also incorporate
their own photographs and route descriptions and manage tick lists. As
an add-on, you can also buy the relevant OS maps, and you can buy them
separately, too (that's the MapWise series). Nothing new then that I
was craving for, but other people may think different.
The selling point, apparently, is that the maps, route descriptions,
photographs, tick lists, kitchen sink installation plans etc are all
inside the same software. Why that is such an advantage is beyond me,
but there you go.
One point I thought was useful for someone who hasn't got digital maps
from other vendors yet: The map data come in (10x10)km^2 tiles, and you
can buy any rectangular area comprising 20 tiles and then purchase up to
19 extra tiles (which can be separate from the rectangle and don't have to
be contiguous) with each 20-tile rectangle. This may avoid the annoyance
caused by things like the Llyn peninsula... They also sell some of the
Parks as a bundle.
As I understand it, MapWise versions other than the Basic one, ie the ones
which come with OS data do not allow you to add scanned or otherwise created
map data.
To end on a positive note, their response to my email was very quick and
contained the information I wanted, and the CD came round rather quickly,
too.
Disclaimer: nothing to do with them, just curious.
--
Rudi Winter, Aberystwyth, Wales