Laptop GPS World

Streets and Trips 2009 is now in Canadian stores. Sorry for the bad quality of the above picture, as I took it with my old mobile phone.

I just stopped at the local FutureShop in Richmond Hill, ON, to see if they already have the new 2009 version, and yes, there it was waiting for me in the software utilities section, on the shelve right beside DeLorme Street Atlas. But while the DeLorme mapping software was available in both versions, with and w/out USB GPS, the store currently had only Streets & Trips 2009 with out the optional USB GPS unit.

In my case it didn't much matter, as I have USB GPS receivers from earlier versions. Most USB GPS receivers on the market today will work just fine with any version of Microsoft Streets & Trips.

As I'm typing this, I'm actually still on the parking lot of the store. I opened the software box, and all I really need from there is the activation code, which is on a sticker inside the DVD box. I no longer need to install the program, because I installed the 60-day trial version the day it became available as a free download (details in the review). My trial version recently expired, and now it only took few moments to activate it, and bring it to life all over again.

So there you go; I just wanted to share the best thing that happened to me today.

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Marvin

Good news!

I have seen also on the future shop web site that the bundled gps version is available for $84.99.

MisterMoonlight, $84.99 CDN is a good price for S&T 2009 + GPS Locator. With the current exchange rate that's something close to $1 US, isn't it?

Microsoft was kind to send to Laptop GPS World three pieces of the new USB GPS receiver based on the u-Blox 5 chip. I'm going to look at one of them, and the remaining two are on their way to Ken in Regina and tcassidy. In a few days we will very likely post our impressions.

For the time being these units will be included only in Canadian Streets & Trips 2009. Friends in the US will still see the GPS-500 SiRFstarIII based Pharos USB GPS receiver included in S&T 2009 w/GPS Locator packages.

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Marvin

Marvin,

I am always curious

Do you have any idea why different GPS versions are sold on both side of the borderline? It looks strange to me...

Are the canadian citizens the beta testers of the new GPS unit before spreading it at large just in case

MisterMoonlight, at least from one source I heard it was due to more stringent regulations in Canada (something like FCC requirements in the US).

Today I did a side-by-side comparison between the GPS-500 SiRFstarIII and the new u-Blox 5 unit. I drove among the tallest buildings of downtown Toronto, while running two instances of Streets & Trips, recording two GPS tracks simultaneously. I'll try my best to find the time tomorrow to post screenshots of the tracks, and my impressions. Hopefully tomorrow Terry and Ken will receive their new GPS Sticks, and soon they will be able to share their feedback, too.

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Marvin

Marvin

Yes i am waiting to see the differences too. When i drove in Toronto last summer, i lost the gps signal a couple of time near the bigger buildings in the city, with the Pharos 500 unit.

Let's see if the new unit is better in the same condition. I like the dual gps challenge idea you are running. I hope you are taking care to put the two units very close so they are getting a similar signal.

And today a new surprise:

Future shop is now selling the new 2009 version with gps unit at $79.99 on their web site until 11/6/2008 (there is a $5 discount)

With gps $79.99:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...60&catid=10711

and from costco.ca:

without gps $54.99:
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....000000&Mo=5633

with gps: $84.99
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....*3670*&topnav=

Here we are starting to share our first experiences with the new u-Blox 5 USB GPS receiver: Review: u-Blox 5 USB GPS Stick - New GPS 'Locator' for Microsoft Streets and Trips

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Marvin

I checked out the local Future Shop yesterday. They had the S&T2009 with GPS receiver ($79.99) but they didn't have the software only version.

Glenn

The software only version is available at costco.ca ...

I'm waiting for Microsoft to release a french version of S&T 2009 before I buy. I'd love to hear the street names spoken in french. They should also add a spanish version for the USA.

If MS wanted to, it shouldn't be too costly. Most of the software text is already translated with the previous Autoroute versions.

Yep, nice idea. I am beginning to test low cost third party french voice engine to get an idea of how good it would be (much better than english microsoft Anna with french street names). The problem is that the french streets are pronouced much better this way, but the directions (english like turn left) pronounced in french are very bad...

In France Autoroute 2007 the bundled voice is of Nuance Virginie_Dri40_16kHz. I selected Virginie as my default voice for the computer. She speaks french perfectly and english with the normal accent we are familiar. The cost tough is prohibitive once converted from euros unless you can find one used with low shipping. S&T 2009 works well for the french streets name like this, but left or right can hardly be recognised. If we could only substitute the english navigation text to french.

In the latest flyer that came in last night's paper (southern Ontario), Staples has S&T 2009 with GPS for $59.95.

Glenn

Wow! $59.95 CDN w/GPS! Glenn, thanks for letting us know!

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Marvin