GPS software with Maps for Malaysia and Singapore

Global Positioning System is really taking off in Malaysia. The following is my GPS setup, A Holux GPSlim 236 bluetooth GPS receiver, and my trusty HP iPAQ hx2750 and my old phone.

Good News Everyone! I'm now a reseller for Rikaline Bluetooth GPS receiver! I'll be selling at below market price for all my blog readers. Follow this link for more info: Link to below market price Rikaline Bluetooth GPS receivers This is a list of some GPS Software with Malaysian and Singapore maps which will be compatible to any Bluetooth GPS receiver. This write up is just a brief introduction to available softwares at this time. You can use these with any Bluetooth GPS receiver and most Pocket PCs and Notebooks with bluetooth capability.

I have written about my Garmin GPS 10x with Garmin Mobile XT software on my PPC .. The short reviews are ready: Link to the new Garmin GPS 10x review and Mobile XT compared with Garmin Que softwares
Garmin Que (Pocket PC)

This software has the most comprehensive and accurate maps. Maps are constantly updated by active mappers at http://www.malsingmaps.com/ . It is "rather legal" to use Garmin Ques with your PDA and this software requires no purchase. However it would be "perfectly legal " if you used it together with a Garmin GPS 10 receiver. So according to sabre23T at malsingmaps, its still a grey area. A step by step guide for installation is available at http://www.malsingmaps.com/ so its really easy to install and use on you PPC. Just be thankful to the mappers at http://www.malsingmaps.com/
iMAP from Navitech (Pocket PC)

This has a fairly accurate map with a nice GUI. It is a clone of Mapking, But the Map has been polished up. I think they have also polished up their map so as it is now a right hand drive map. Roundabouts go clockwise. Supports 3D views. Supposedly the firm is based in Singapore. Their website is at http://www.navitech.com.my/ Trial versions of this software is available but quite difficult to obtain. Trial software is unavailable for download at their website but should be available on request. Their Maps are more detailed than Mapking, as they are newer. They're newest map is dated 15th October 2006. The interesting part of this software is that it also has the building footprint on the map as well. This is quite nice as you can actually judge the building size on the map. This software with Malaysian and Singapore Map costs about 450 ringgit on its own. However It comes bundled with Holux GPS devices purchased from Navitech. MAPKING (Pocket PC)

Brother of iMAP, Mapking Version 7 is one of the leading GPS software, and is also bundled with HP GPS enabled Pocket PCs. Their maps are not as accurate as iMAP as they are slightly older. Their roundablouts go anticlockwise due to the taiwanese influence. Creates some havoc at highway ramps. Their most recent Malaysian map upgrade is in March 2006. Trial versions are available from their website at http://www2.mapking.com/en/MK7/MK7_Dowload_Eng.htm A new mapking Version G10 is also out. It looks similar to the maps from Navitech, but the Map version for Malaysia is still the same maps as from Version 7. So newest "Mapking Style" maps are still from iMAP Navitech.
Handymap AI Gold (Pocket PC) Similar to Mapking and iMAP in its presentation, this new software reads all mapking G10 maps as well as iMap maps. So if you're going to install 1 "Mapking like" software this is the one to install. I have it in my PPC, and it also reads all the Malaysian Mapking style maps from MalsingMaps.com

MioMap/iGo (Pocket PC)

This software is originally meant for the Mio PPC but after some tweaking, currently it works on most Pocket PCs. wm2003se as well as WM5. This is actually a clone of the iGO software and all map upgrades will be handled by iGO. The MioMap V 3.2 uses iGO 2006 maps. This software has an Excellent looking map. Best 3D views available. But the map coverage is so so. You can find some POIs and roads with it. But its an excellent software to show off with.Supposedly it can actually find places with the postcode, but however, that doesn't work with Malaysian maps.
AGIS Navigator (Pocket PC)

The maps are not very detailed at all. One nice function that it has a direction arrow, so if you mark a certain location, there will be a line perpetually pointing to that location. (Some sort of beeline thing. Sooner or later, you'll reach your location. I can see it being very usefull in off road tracking. Otherwise, city routing is difficult. Their website is at http://www.asiagis.com.sg/ and they seems to be producing many new promising products.
GPS Tuner (Pocket PC)

This software doesn't come with Maps, but i've included this as you can make your own maps for this. It marketed as a GPS software solution for Off-Road use. Its great for off road use. With Google earth, you can make your own map, and the off road terrain can be quite clearly made out. See the topic on how to make the maps here:


Garmin nRoute (Notebooks, Carputers and PCs)

Garmin Nroute is the most excellent mapping software for notebooks. Nroute is available from the Garmin Website and requires you to have a licensed Garmin Mapsource software to be previously installed. Read more at http://www.malsingmaps.com/ It uses maps from Malsingmaps, so 'nuff said. Again, at Malsingmaps, you can learn how to use a Bluetooth GPSr to work with Nroute using GPSProxyPC and Com0Com. That is slightly complexed and exhaustive. I've given up with GPSProxy PC and have resorted to using Franson GPSGate. Franson GPSgate is easy to setup but it comes with a price if you're going to use it after its trial period.

Mapking for PC (Notebooks, Carputers and PCs)

Mapking for PC has a rather nice GUI too. Maps are similarly slightly old, last map in march 2006. Setup is simple for BT GPSr as the software searches the receiver itself. Finding POIs is rather straightfoward. Also requires purchase from the Mapking website.

Upcoming Navitel Navigator 2

This is by the same makers as Russa, its a Russian software, similar in implementation to Garmin que and is supposed to be the successor for Garmin Que. Its still not widely used yet as it costs 30 us dollars or more. Best thing is that it can convert Garmin maps which are available for free (still free at this time at malsingmaps) to be used with this software. A 3d version is on the way, so it may be the best looking and best functioning GPS software in the near future. This completes the current selection of Malaysian and Singaporean Maps fo the Pocket PC and notebooks today. As we go along, maps should become more accurate and useful. For the meantime, select one of these and hopefully get where you want to go.

I have written about my Garmin GPS 10x with Garmin Mobile XT software on my PPC .. The short reviews are ready: Link to the new Garmin GPS 10x review and Mobile XT compared with Garmin Que softwares read more about GPS at : Garmin GPS Guide for Beginners