TomTom - Tele Atlas Mapshare Explored

[Darren]

I recently happened across an interesting article on a blog site that covers some of the technology and processes behind the TomTom/Tele Atlas MapShare program.

In the article, blog author Mike Dobson speaks with Patrick McDevitt, VP Community Mapping for TomTom.

Those of you who use MapShare will doubtless wonder why changes take so long to be reflected in the map releases. Mike's article explains in some depth how TomTom/Tele Atlas use the data, the process they follow and the steep learning curve that came with the move into community sourced data territory.

It's an interesting read and one that I'm sure many of you will find interesting. Although the data discussed is from the US, it's clear that the issues faced will be identical for map corrections on this side of the pond.

The full article can be found on Mike's excellent blog site at http://blog.telemapics.com/.


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Darren Griffin

[Privateer]

Bo Peep bought me a TomTom 730T in October 2008. In May 2009 I thought that I would buy the updated maps and also a year's subscription to map update. At this point I became interested in TomTom's MapShare project. So full of hope I spent a lot time submitting loads of updates and corrections. I also gave my consent to allow the company to use my anonymous GPS data to improve the Tele Atlas map database.

I keep records of all of my submissions and I have not found any of my alterations in any of the later maps, even though most of them can be verified by Google Maps satellite view. I have therefore stopped submitting anything to TomTom / Tele Atlas as it's a waste of time as far as my submissions have proved. I'm sure that I'm not the only person that hasn't had their updates included in the later maps.

[AliOnHols]

If I read TeleMapics Mike Dobson's write-up correctly it appears that TeleAtlas are not only able to use the information as supplied by MapShare contributors but are also to use hidden information contained in route traces which contain data such as speed, direction, altitude, etc. etc. These route traces are not accessible to us users. Have we ever had access to them in previous NavCore versions?

This frustrates me. Why do we TT users have to resort to hacks, work-arounds and 3rd party apps to supplement our devices with features that all ready exist on our machines?

I was aware that TT tried to prevent us from using 3rd party applications, but I was not aware that they have engineered out a function that does already exist.

Why do this? It beggars belief

Not a Happy AliOnHols at the mo.
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Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

[mikealder]

[AliOnHols]

Many thanks for the information mikealder. I agree with your comment about GeoCaching so long as you are using a 3rd party app, pity the charge life of the TT battery does not make it feasible though.

Sorry, I don't mean to be negative but that article is a real downer for me.
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

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