Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Streets and Trips 2004 is the third version of Microsoft's popular map software that I have owned and reviewed. This latest edition offers both major and incremental improvements over its predecessor. It is vastly superior to online map offerings and other map software that I have owned. For more information on how S&T compares to competing products, please look at my previous reviews for 2002 and 2003.
Specific Improvements for 2004 include:
1)Real-time GPS
2)Drive-time zones (show me where I can go in X minutes)
3)Arrows showing one-way streets on maps
4)Markers representing exists on major highways
Apart from these improvements, there appears to be an increase in accuracy. However, Microsoft doesn't seem to have a good method of removing long-defunct restaurants from its points of interest database.
What it is lacking:
1)Integration with real-time traffic
2)Map and location data updates via the Internet
3)Paths for pedestrian and bicycle travel
4)Coordination with other online map services, such as municipal door-to-door public transportation travel planners
5)Better integration and standardization of imported data so data sets like health clubs and WiFi hotspots could be included in the points-of-interest database at the user's choosing.
In general, the absence of connectivity is my biggest complaint. However, I would guess there is no business model for this as it would have to be supported by user subscriptions or advertisements, neither of which would be accepted in the marketplace.
As a final note, I recently tested the real-time GPS as a passenger with my Deluo USB GPS receiver. It is operates smoothly and with [apparent] great accuracy. Unlike OEM navigation systems, it doesn't include real-time direction, speed and travel status. Perhaps this is intended as watching the screen as a driver would be extremely dangerous. Nonetheless, it was helpful for finding obscure locations in rural areas.
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