Tracy:
I have always enjoyed having the latest toys. Several years ago I
purchased all the stuff (pda, external Gps, antenna, cigarette lighter
attachment etc.) and Anywhere Map. I tried to make it work for
several months and concluded that for me in real cross country flying
-- weather, bumps, bright sun -- that I was not comfortable with the
unit. I moved it over to the passenger side and returned to my Garmin
for navigation. On one long trip I noticed my wife was working and
concentrating on the unit -- boy was I proud of her -- then I notice
that she was playing solitaire on it. The pda is in a drawer (I'm
back to a manual pda (small datebook)) and I thoroughly enjoy my
Garmin (396 with XM). I have talked to several people who are happy
with Anywhere Map -- probably a personal preference issue.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
dave
On Aug 18, 2008, at 7:01 AM, smodking wrote:
>
> 08-18-2008
>
> As a new owner of the Anywhere Map ATC, I hope I can be of help with
> some of the questions and concerns.
>
> The HP iPAQ 310 thus far has been great. It is small, has 20-channel
> GPS and the screen resolution is great. Anywhere Map has issues.
>
> Control Vision has created an interface that allows the user to
> switch between aviation and the HP road mapping software. HP uses
> NavTeq, so if you have another GPS device that can't find an
> address, this unit won't either. TeleAtlas, which is used by TomTom
> also has issues and both mapping companies appear to use the same
> data as my house is a quarter of a mile further west than the GPS
> reports.
>
> Anywhere Map and the HP Road Map boot slowly after selecting one or
> the other. The HP road map interface is very responsive to the touch
> screen interface, moving the user about quickly. There is a wheel on
> the side that allows the user to zoom the map and Anywhere Map uses
> it too for the same thing. Anywhere Maps implementation is
> unresponsive, unlike HP's. When using the Anywhere Map you must turn
> once and wait to see what you got for a zoom (even stated on the web
> site) verses the HP road maps that instantly update the map as you
> turn the dial. Control Vision is aware of the issue, but the fix is
> late. Jay Humbard reported via the web site that fixes would be out
> late july and now it's mid-August.
>
>
> The Anywhere Map software is sluggish to the touch. The user pushes
> a button and often times you push it again thinking you missed it
> the first time. Here is a list of issues I found and reported to
> Control Vision:
>
> the small tabs that do not work reliably on the search for
> anything page and WX page.
>
> When searching I select NEARBY and turnoff ShowPVT and each
> time I return to search, I have to repeat these steps
>
> canceling a route (Flight Plan [FP] or Direct To) requires 5
> clicks to cancel (FP-->File-->Clear-->Yes-->Done). Control Vision
> needs a cancel button on the first page to reduce clicks
>
> the sluggish performance of the touch screen performing the
> requested action (button depress)
>
> the wheel performance for zooming
>
> zooming in to 1.5 nm +/- you will see aberrations in the screen
> that shows horizontal lines randomly spaced (you must be navigating
> or in SIM mode for the issue to show).
>
> panning the map delivers a delay in the screen repaint (no WX used)
>
> the ATC has locked up and has required the reset button to
> reboot the device. I've even received a"Fatal Error" dialog box, but
> once the dialog box was dismissed, the unit seemed to function the
> same. SOmething crashed, but I don't know what.
>
> sliders on the Simulator Page that only want to work in one
> direction (up) and resist movement (down) when tapped
>
> the itty-bitty attitude and airspeed gauges (if they worked) would
> be extremely hard to read ESPECIALLY in an emergency
>
> searching for an airport brings up the keyboard, upon which you
> type in the airport identifier, but if you press on the keyboard
> verses the user is returned to the map and the search is aborted.
> You have to do it all over again and be sure to press so that you
> can press OK on the search page to return search values. You'd
> think would initiate the search and close the keyboard overlay.
>
> a hard to read screen in direct sunlight. It's very bright, but if
> you fly a low wing aircraft, you will likely have a hard time seeing
> the screen at times.
>
> poor customer service. I'll explain this in a minute.
>
> I really think Control Vision has a great idea, but they need to
> follow through with what they started. I get the sense they brought
> this to market before it was ready, likely to show it off at
> Oshkosh. The biggest issue is the responsiveness of the touch screen
> and the size of some of the controls. In order to work the tabs
> found on the WX page and the "search for anything" page, one needs a
> stylus.
>
> The various pages that the user visits aren't consistent. Many are
> gray (without color) and look very much like pages from Windows (the
> unit runs on Windows) while others are in full color and provide a
> nice looking interface.
>
> I have NOT used the XMWX, so I cannot report on connection issues,
> but if you browse the web site and read the known issues and tips
> for connecting, you'll see there seems to be issues to get the
> bluetooth devices to talk to each other if you don't boot things in
> the right sequence. It also appears if you turn off the ATC and then
> later after lunch get back in the cockpit and turn it back on,
> you'll NOT get WX to connect if you powered off the unit without
> closing the mapping software. Again, I cannot confirm this as I have
> not used XMWX on the ATC so far.
>
> Now about Customer Service: I called Alan Kirby on a Thursday and
> never heard back from him. Late on Friday I called again and did not
> reach him, though the operator said he was around. I ended up
> sending him an email stating the above bullet points. I get a
> response back from Jay Humbard, the CEO on Sunday afternoon. He is
> his email to me:
>
> Dear Mr. Petit,
>
> First, I am sorry that your calls went unanswered. We were short
> staffed on Thursday and Friday, it is vacation season and we are
> bound to have a few people out this time of year.
>
> I am also sorry that you do not seem to care for our product. I
> have looked through your list of comments and suggestions and can
> tell you that some of them are being added to the list, some are
> already on the list, and most seem too trivial to me to bother
> adding to the list. Since I am the chief cook, bottle washer, and
> the chairman of the ATC product committee, I have the final say in
> these matters.
>
> While I appreciate your considerable experience in the field, I also
> have well over 25 years experience in the field, as well as 9 years
> of experience with Anywhere Map software development specifically.
> We will just have to agree to disagree on most of your issues. I
> will say that the ATC is the best selling product we have ever
> offered, and our return rate is very low. I must say that I also
> think you hit the nail on the head in your self-assesment.
>
> By the way, the user waypoint named "JAY" that is in your "used"
> unit, is near my home. This waypoint is in every Anywhere Map
> system that has ever been shipped, over 30,000 of them, and nobody
> has ever regarded that as a flaw before you came along.
>
> If you wish to return the product, our standard terms will apply.
> You may review them on our web page if you are not aware of them. I
> think that you would be much happier paying an extra $1000 to
> purchase a Garmin with it's pathetic user interface.
>
> Sincerely Jay Humbard
> CEO
> Control Vision Corp.
>
> What I found interesting is he'd rather NOT have me as a customer
> and didn't think most of my comments were worthy of his time.
> Instead of showing concern and asking me to bear with them while
> they get the kinks worked out, he tells me to return the unit and go
> buy a Garmin.
>
> The "self-assessment" remark is in regards to me saying "I bet you
> think I'm a pain-in-the-butt" and he agreed. Great PR on the behalf
> of the CEO!
>
> If you've ever read the return policy and I did BEFORE I purchased,
> you'll notice that they want to make money on the returns. For a
> point of sale that is over the internet and without the ability of
> the customer to hold it and fell it, their policy is very
> restrictive. It screams that they've had many returns of earlier
> products. Reviews seem to indicate this may be the case.
>
> The reference to the "USED" unit is due to the fact that my unit
> arrived without the protective screen cover and was smeared with
> figure prints. I asked if the unit was used and of course, they
> denied it was. Then I found this odd way point named "JAY" and again
> it seemed as if someone used this unit before I got it. Instead he
> tells me they ship the unit with this useless way point. No big
> deal, but just seems odd to me is all I'm saying.
>
> well, that should give anyone enough pause to stop and think before
> buying from Control Vision.
>
> Regards,
> Tracy Petit
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=199249#199249
>
>
