I just looked at my sendero latest maps download page and I only see maps 2009. But these are maps for Australia. I haven't seen any mention of 2010 maps. I thought it was only the software that was upgraded and that was the software for the Braille Notes not the maps. I stande to be corrected on that of course.
_____ From: erik burggraaf [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, 13 May 2010 11:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GWN] Tip1 for the new Sense notetaker firmware Again, it's the licensing, not the software that is at issue. What I'm reading is that braille note and mobile geo can physically share map data on properly licensed and compatible devices, but braille sense can't, which is a severe limitation. Don't forget that all these devices are built on the same development kit, no matter what brand name you put on it. That doesn't make them all equal, but it at least holds out the option to have them compatible. An option which, based on what people are saying here, braille note and mobile geo offer, but sensenav does not. Then we have the issue of the licensing for current maps. For example, I've just found out that 2010 maps are only licensed to mobile geo 2. That of course is so that I and others like me will have to by msp4 and mgeo2 to get a current map, which we have the option to do. But if the 2010 map were licensed to sensenav, then one way or the other sensenav could use it. Taking care of this licensing shouldn't require a firmware upgrade, but if it did, then it could be done by a patch without requiring an entire firmware, since they did that very thing for the braille note. If a fee had to be charged for upgrading maps, well, so be it. Everyone has a right to make money at what they do. Users who aren't greatly effected by using old map data can buy a case of beer on the weekend, where-as hard core travellers who need consistent accuracy could go without for a weekend or two and get the upgrade. In fact, I'm reasonably sure that any one who forked out 6 grand for a bsp, and $1600 for sensenav are not going to quibble at a $60-$80 upgrade fee for the map data for their high priced kit. Even sighted gps users incur that cost, although most commercial gps are farely disposable and so the cost is usually built into a whole new unit and they don't realize they're paying for it. This doesn't seem like rocket science to me. Old map, increasingly inaccurate, potential time, money and safety concern. Answer, give the customer an option to pay for a new map when an update becomes available. Then if you want to trundle around unfamiliar areas with a three year old map on your $8000 gps, well you go on and giver, but the rest of us can be getting on with the best possible information, especially when you're like me and you need it for work or school. best, Erik Burggraaf Join me Wednesday, May 26th at CNIB Tech Aids fair in Toronto. I'll be at the assistive computing booth from 2 to 4 in the afternoon and circulating for the rest of the day. http://www.erik-burggraaf.com 888-255-5194 On 2010-05-12, at 5:18 AM, Keith Bucher wrote: Erik, Sense Nav is a HIMS or Gw Micro product not a Sendero product. Sendero licenses it to GW Micro and HIMS. If you use Sense Nav, as of right now, you are stuck with the 2007 maps. The later maps are just for the Braillenote products from Humanware. Keith If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv
