Map App will travel
Connecting state and local government leaders
Street Atlas USA 2007 Plus navigates you throughout the U.S. and Canada using equipment you probably already have.
As a busy government technologist, you could often be on the road, keeping up with a complex schedule. And the burden of knowing where you are going and how you're going to get there usually sits squarely on your shoulders.This is where a program like Street Atlas USA 2007 Plus from DeLorme Publishing comes in. It lets you navigate throughout the United States and Canada using equipment you probably already have.We found the map program very extensive, containing more than 3 million streets and 4 million places of interest.Other Web-based map programs may approach this level of detail, but Street Atlas has features they lack. You can, for example, export a portion of the map and sync it with any personal digital assistant running Palm OS Version 3.5 or Windows Mobile 2003.It can then interact with the Global Positioning System built into your PDA without additional software or equipment. It can even export static maps into a portable media player for reference.Finding a route was as simple as clicking on our start and end points. Street Atlas then showed the best route, letting us choose the one with the shortest time or distance. Both routes showed mileage and average travel time. We were able to add stops along the way, and Street Atlas adjusted the route accordingly.Street Atlas even gives you the option to download aerial images, which will overlay onto the map. These can be useful when you are trying to locate a destination by using landmarks. Although this is a paid service, the Street Atlas Plus package lets you download a fair amount as part of its basic purchase price.We found the $59.95 price for Street Atlas within reason, considering the sheer amount of information you are buying. It is also available from the General Services Administration schedule for $47.75, making it a good deal.Street Atlas USA Plus 2007 would be just the thing for anyone who travels by automobile, and it could be invaluable over long distances in unfamiliar territory.
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