Thread: iPad - Memory Map vs Mud Map/VMS

Originally Posted by naviguesser

Has anyone got an update on this since VMS V.3 has been out?
Are the maps supplied usable?
Or is Memory Map better even though maps have to be bought?
I am confused over VMS and multiple devices, can I use on my iPhone and iPad? I know Memory Map only allows one device.

Or forget them and just get a Chinese unit running Ozi ?

I don't need a turn by turn street navigator

As a Memory-Map user who has just switched from an iPhone to a Chinese GPS, I'd highly recommend sticking to the iOS device. It's been a bit of a shock to the system.

Memory-Map is far more usable on iOS than on WinCE, so if you have the iPad I'd using that as my first choice. I reckon you'd be better off spending the money you'd otherwise invest in a Sino-GPS on a bluetooth GPS receiver to improve the iPad GPS performance.

Memory-Map is actually fairly flexible in terms of licensing if you purchase via their PC application or website rather than the iOS application. There are options to buy map licensing for 2 x mobile, 2 x PC, or 2 x mobile and 2 x PC.

Don't believe the hype about Ozi. The OziCE application is horrible - the comments about "steep learning curve" should give you some idea of that. The only thing Ozi has going for it is the range of maps available in their proprietary format.

cheers
Paul

Update.

Leaning toward VMS at the moment, unless someone tells me the Itopo 25k maps are rubbish.

Just seems good value for money to me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they are ony 250k not 25k.

They are not rubbish, but me the range of maps was better with memory map. I got the Hema maps, 25k NSW topos and Vicmap 25k topos. I prefer the greater detail of the 25k topos, plus you get the 250k maps included.

To me there's no real difference in the apps, its a question of which maps suit you best. Try and have a good look at both before you buy. At least with memory map you can download the maps for a trial.

Cheers,
Jon

Hi Naviguesser,

I bought the VMS app for my iPhone just before xmas with a view to compliment the paper maps while in the Vic High Country. My thoughts and specific replies to your queries.

VMS (mud maps) sell the Vic Maps 25k series for $50 odd for the package or individually. The Vic maps are now rather dated. They are the original maps from the 1990's and scanned as a map file. Following several bush fires and the passing of time the Vic maps might not be reliable. The additional maps you can purchase at higher detail for regions outside Victoria seem to be limited. I'm struggling to find 25k or 50k for the tracks around Sydney. Might be me, not VMS. Might be that map providers haven't done Sydney in the same detail.

The standard off-road topo maps are 250k. They are not bad. The iTopo maps are scanned from paper maps so zooming just increases size and blur factor. The smartTopo maps zoom with clarity and are 3D when you get to a certain zoom factor. The 3D effect works on all maps but is more evident in the city where it shows buildings. There was considerable disparity between Hema paper map, the Rooftop paper maps and the mud-maps. The major tracks were marked on all 3. Each map provider seemed to have minor tracks not marked on the others. It would be nice if there was more collaboration between map providers (I suspect that would be like asking Apple to collaborate with Microsoft).

Through the VMS maps site you can purchase other maps not in the suit but be careful because some of the maps are in the suit and the system allows you to buy them again off the net.
VMS 4x4 - maps

I don't know if you can upload third party maps. There is no software that runs on your PC/Mac (it's web based) so there may be limitations to import third party maps.

I think mud maps extended their licensing from single device to 2 devices (or 5; can't recall). I recall receiving a promo email. Worth reading the fine print.

I suspect that the GPS receiver in the iPhone is inadequate. The phone/app struggled to find my actual location and often the location stalled at the last place I was stationary for a while. Not much help when you are at a junction and are unsure the track names and where you actually are. Sometimes it worked, mostly not. If the iPad has an external GPS receiver accessory i'd invest in that. Will look into it for the iPhone but no doubt it will take up the connector so I can't run the phone off the 12v to maintain charge. I'm giving discredit to the iPhone's GPS receiver. It could just as well be the app software. It worked with greater reliability on the hwy but not perfect.

Version 3.04 (current version) crashes on me regularly. The icons freeze and the only way to clear it is to reboot the phone. It was annoying to reboot at least daily, it was not a major concern because the map was never accurate and i relied 99.9% on paper maps. It would be a pain if you were logging the track for later reference and the location froze or crashed. You would end up with a track log that flew across valleys when the GPS locked in from ridge top to ridge top.

You can sync your track logs and waypoints from the iPhone to your PC/Mac. I'm having trouble getting mud-maps to show my data on the web interface. Again not sure if it's me, the software or mud-maps.

Through a combination of bugs in v3.03 and a complaint to Apple (I spend lots of money with them) I was refunded the original purchase price. It's "a nice to have" but it's not worth $200. I get better value from my $10 paper maps. That comment is a consequence of my experience of its unreliability to do what i need it to do. Others may have a different and more rewarding experience. Closing comment - don't expect it to be "the be all and end all" of GPS solutions. It's no substitute for a paper map spread out over the bonnet.

cheers MLD

I have both Memory Map and VMS on my iphone and ipad. I didn't have to pay extra to get them on both devices. I prefer Memory Map because I can download gpx routes from the web and import them into the Memory Map application on my pc then send it to the ipad/iphone. It gives me a nice little red line to follow on the map. I haven't found a way of doing that in vms. I reckon the vms smart topo 25k maps are rubbish for off road, they are really only street maps with contour lines. Get onto most fire trails and you are off the grid.
The iphone gps is poor in overcast weather or hilly terrain. The ipad gps is quite good all the time. Beware that you have to buy a car charger specifically for ipads if you are running it on gps all day. It will go flat on an iphone car charger.

Originally Posted by OffTrack

Don't believe the hype about Ozi. The OziCE application is horrible - the comments about "steep learning curve" should give you some idea of that.

I disagree. IMHO, the steep learning curve is mostly for the extra features most people may not want/need.

Each version of the Android version gets better and better. The only feature I'm still waiting for, is pinch zooming, but that's a want not a need. As soon as I can find a 7" Android tablet with decent GPS, that's where I'll be heading. I still find 10" tablets too big for me in the Defender.

Mind you, Androzic is OK on Android also. Not as many features, but what do expect for free?!

My wife has a 7" Galaxy Tab and it has a good gps. She got it because the ipad was too big for her hand bag. Runs Android.

Originally Posted by mikehzz

My wife has a 7" Galaxy Tab and it has a good gps. She got it because the ipad was too big for her hand bag. Runs Android.

Just sold mine recently, as the GPS was too unstable. Also didn;t like how it couldn;t charge from 12V, had to use the inverter which has an internal fan that was a bit noisy.

Lovely tablet though, especially with the custom firmware I had running on it

Apparently the old Optus Mytabs aren't too bad for in-car nav.