Nat Geo Maps at CES

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), going on now in Las Vegas, has been all over the news. Hundreds of new product announcements are timed for this show. Once upon a time, this show was mostly about stereo equipment. Now with electronics embedded in so many products, attendees see everything from refrigerators to cars there. The Engadget blog has had more than 400 posts in the last several days!

We're excited to be there for the first time in some years, demonstrating TOPO! and how it works on a Magellan Triton GPS.

NGMaps Sales Manager Alisha Daniels demos TOPO! + Triton at CES

Idiot Proof?

A member of our sales team called today and I mentioned I was in the midst of testing updated instructions on transferring TOPO! maps to Triton, having unboxed a 1500 unit.

He asked, "So you want to see if it's idiot proof?" I didn't take umbrage. He knows I'm not exactly a GPS power user.

The good news is the directions worked easily. We're just fine tuning them and some additional tips and will have them on the web in a day.

Since this was my first time handling a Triton I'll say I liked the feel of it, loved the screen, especially the touchscreen operation. And the TOPO! maps I transferred looked great.

Meanwhile, Magellan informs us that the flood gates have opened and many more Tritons will soon be washing into stores near you.

Question about Magellan Triton Delays

A Contours reader writes:

What is your view on the matter of the non-availability of a GPS-device (Magellan Triton) which is praised on your own web-page?

While we are not happy that the release has been delayed, more models are shipping to more stores each week. This is a new line that will be a standard for some years and so we view the delay as a short term disappointment.

While our relationship with Magellan is not exclusive, we are working closely with them and promoting the Triton line because they are the first company to do what thousands of our users and dealers have been asking GPS manufacturers to do for years: Allow them to transfer TOPO! maps to their handhelds.

Where to buy Triton GPS

Last month we let you know the exciting news about a new line of GPS handhelds that will be the first to support tranfer of TOPO! maps to view and track on-screen.

Magellan's Triton units have begun shipping. A report on where to find them appears here today.

Triton GPS Units are shipping

The long-awaited Triton line of handheld GPS units from Magellan have begun shipping. Not all models are in stores yet but we know some have arrived as we've heard from people who have bought them and are beginning to upload our TOPO! maps to their units.

Check out topo-triton.com for more details, links to a how-to and free upgrade for Triton users.

Watch a video about the top-of-the-line (not in stores quite yet) Triton 2000.

Real TOPO Maps on a GPS

Our friends at Magellan are introducing an exciting new line of handheld GPS receivers called Triton that will be hitting stores in the next few weeks.

We're particularly thrilled about this line because it will be the first GPS line offering users the ability to view authentic USGS topographic maps using our TOPO!® software.

Until now, topographic maps available for use on GPS units from major manufacturers have been simplified vector maps that do not have the richness of detail and image quality offered by our enhanced scans of USGS quads.

Watch this page for more information. We'll soon post a free TOPO! upgrade to enable use with Triton.