Global Mapping Systems has released version 1.10 of its GPSy Pro GPS communications and GIS mapping software for the MacOS, with improved DGPS-IP (Internet DGPS) support; QT4/MacOS 8.6; and MapBlast fixes.

GPSy Pro has been recompiled and optimized for the new G4 / Velocity Engine, and is now compatble with Solteknik BSB Charts of Swedish territorial waters. Version 3.33 of the standard GPSy application was released in July.

GPSy Pro is an enhanced version of GPSy that can display high-resolution BSB nautical charts on your laptop with your current position overlaid.

The standard GPSy 3.33 includes access to "free Internet DGPS-IP servers [for downloading] RTCM corrections in real-time to your GPS unit," and works with Ricochet modems and wireless PP connections.

GPSy is a full-featured Macintosh GPS communications software program that connects your Macintosh to virtually any data-output capable GPS unit on the market, collects the GPS system data, and displays your location, speed, heading, bearing, and other information in real-time.

Global Mapping claims that that the new recompilations/optimizations of GPSy and GPSy Pro make the new versions substantially faster, whit even greater speed to come when Apple releases a G4/VE optimized engine for QuickTime 4.

GPSy presents positional information in Degrees:Minutes:Seconds (41:18'56"N), decimal degrees (eg. 41.315550N), Degree: Decimal Minutes (41:18.933N); Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM); Universal Polar System (UPS); Maidenhead Grid; U.S. Military Grid Reference System (MGRS); Australian Map Grid (AMG); British National Grid (BNG); German Grid (GK); Irish Transverse Mercator; New Zealand Map Grid (NZMG); Swedish Grid; Swiss Grid; and ECEF X, Y, Z systems. You can choose a primary and secondary coordinate system and can select from a list of 124 geodetic datums for automatic translation.

GPSyLink connects GPSy to USGS topographic maps on CD-ROM; DeLorme's Street Atlas ® 3.0 and 4.0 (CD-ROM of USA) as well as iPC's MapFan II (CD-ROM of Japan). GPSy also includes links to most popular online Internet Map Servers. You can set a continuous update (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 seconds) rate or single location. GPSyLink can display your current waypoint using these map databases as well as your current bearing, heading, distance to go, and speed. This provides a sophisticated auto-mapping solution that rivals some of the more expensive ($3000~) built-in car GPS systems while also giving you the convenience of a hand-held GPS unit.

GPSy Pro is designed for high-end users who need to use BSB/NOAA/NDI nautical charts; people who work with large or multiple map files; or those who need high-end map calibrations. The software is still in the development stage and customers should expect to check Global Mapping's Web site often for upgrades. If you are new to GPS technology, Global strongly recommends that you demo or purchase GPSy first before stepping up to GPSy Pro."

GPSy Pro adds the following features to the standard GPSy feature set:

• BSB nautical chart format support for Canadian (NDI) and U.S. territorial waters (MapTech/ChartKit/NOAA).

• Ability to plot your position on high-resolution nautical maps on your boat "live" or at home using GPS tracklogs ("armchair captaining")

• Includes Chart Kit / BSB Region 1 - United States Planning Charts CD-ROM - a $199.95 value. ($20 shipping/handling fee for BSB CD-ROM or free with cable purchase; list of charts on CD)

• Extended navigation information (map file info; point information)

• Great Circle routing on navigation displays and precise local WMM-95 geomagnetic declination calculations

• A much more precise user calibration algorithm (10 coefficient polynomial)
-- allows even skewed maps to be calibrated properly in GPSy Pro
-- BSB charts are calibrated to nominal sub-pixel and sub-second accuracy (results may vary from chart to chart)

• Better memory handling than GPSy. GPSy Pro actually requires less memory and can display higher quality images than its predecessor.

• Better printing support -- GPSy Pro can print detailed subsections of maps at any resolution and includes navigational information include map ticks and scalars on printouts

GPSy Pro System Requirements

Provisional minimum hardware and system requirements (subject to change) for GPSy Pro include:

• MacOS 7.5 or higher
• QuickTime 3.0
• 68030/68040 or PowerPC
• 16 megabytes system RAM memory
• 3 megabytes hard disk space
• Grey scale screen (16 greys or higher).

Recommended Configuration:

• MacOS 8.1 or higher. Program is MacOS 8.5 and "theme" savvy.
• QuickTime 3.02.
• PowerPC @ 120 mhz or higher.
• 64 megabytes system RAM memory.
• Lots of hard disk space and CD-ROM drive.
• Color display (thousands of colors or higher).

For more information or to order contact: pro-orders@gpsy.com

Current GPSy owners should include their license key number in their message).
A free demo version of GPSy with the enhanced AltiVec capabilities is also available from http://www.gpsy.com/.

Charles W. Moore

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July 05, 2009