1. Wow! Free Metro Manila maps for Palm devices! So how do they work?

First you'll need to buy an app.....

2. Teka, teka..... kala ko ba FREE?!!!

Yup, the maps are free, but the map viewer is not. :-)

3. So what do I need to buy?

You need to have a registered copy of Handmap for Palm OS, using the demo version won't work, because my maps only work with registered versions.

4. I can't even test it out first????

I know it's a bummer, but that was the way they implemented it. They provided a free software that lets you create maps, but to view the maps, you need a registered version of their app. The app costs 16 USD, and can be bought at www.handmap.net.

5. Are you an employee of Handmap???

Hehe, no! I'm just your average Filipino Palm enthusiast who just happens to have some free time on my hands.

6. So How many maps do you plan to make?

One map for each city in Metro Manila, so far I've only finished QC, Manila, san Juan and Mandaluyong, so I've still a long way to go.

7. How long can you finish them all?

I honestly don't know! :-) A map usually takes a month or two to finish, that is if masipag ako. But sometimes things like christmas and summer vacations get in the way! ;-)

8. So what features does Handmap have?

It has a search feature, so you can search for street names and intersections, points of interest are also included in the map, so you can also search for that. The maps can be zoomed in or out, and can also be dragged around.

9. Are they accurate?

Accurate only in the sense that I scanned and traced over an actual street map, the streets should be in the right places. But the scale showing the distance between locations is another matter entirely, I have no way of knowing how accurate they are, so if a given distance in the maps is 1km, more or less lang yun.

10. Does it support GPS?

The map viewer has a GPS plugin, but I don't think my map's geographical coordinates are correct, so hundred percent, GPS won't work on my maps.

11. On what devices do they work on?

I've personally tried it on Clie TH55, Clie SJ30, Treo 90, Zire 71, Treo 650. I've seen it run on other member's handhelds like Lifedrive, TX., T3, Zire 72, Treo 600. Basically, if you have a newer handheld, it will run with no problem. If it's an older model... there might be some problems.

12. What problems?

I found out that on slower handhleds that use the motorola 66mhz dragonball processors, the screen refresh rate suffers a lot especially on the big maps, sometimes nag dodouble image yun screen, and the only way out of it is to tap on home to quit the app, and relaunch it again. This also happens on the Treo 600 and the Zires, although I don't know why it should happen on the Zire72 since it has a 312mhz processor.

Another problem is with my unit, the TH55, everything is fine and dandy except for the small annoyance that sometimes it causes my handheld to reset.

13. Sa Palm lang ba ito? How about on PPC devices?

Thanks to a Mapalad member (I forgot the name), he discovered that by renaming the extension from .pdb to .hmp , it will run on PPCs, that is of course provided that you have the registered version of Handmap for PPC.

14. Anything I can do to help?

Yes! If you see any mistake like mispellings, or simply inaccurate street locations, just email me at hiltontiamlee@yahoo.com, that way I can correct these errors with some later release, help me make these maps as accurate as possible.

15. Anything else I should know?

Just visit www.mapalad.org for news on when when a new map is available. Please post all questions and discussions about the maps into this Mapalad Handmap Thread.

UPDATES

August 17, 2006

Hay natapos din! After 8 months, natapos din ang Mandaluyong map! ;-) Next up is Makati, I promise not to take another 8 months to finish it, ok? Btw, the Mandaluyong map also includes San Juan, You'll also want to delete your old QC and Manila maps because I uploaded newer versions with some minor changes. See Ya! Oh yeah, don't forget to head off to the Mapalad discussion boards for comments and suggestions.

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July 5, 2006

Hi people! It seems like an eternity since I last updated my maps. Kelan na ba yun? December 2005? Hehe, sobrang haba ng hangover koh!

Anyway, the reason why it took that long (aside from summer gimmicks and Mapalad meets...) was because of something DMY (a fellow Mapalad member) discussed with me. He gave me the brilliant idea to integrate the whole of Metro Manila into the individual maps, thereby making it easier to navigate around. Only the major street routes will be displayed though, and only the specific city will be detailed.

Now with that done, I can get on with the very very late Map of Mandaluyong which I had been promising everybody as far back as the Mapalad Christmas party. :-) Don't worry, 25% of it was already finished when I started the integration on Metro Manila, so I think it's safe to say you can expect it sometime in August.

Don't forget to log on to this thread at www.mapalad.org for discussions and feedbacks about the maps.

Thanks and good night!

Monkeyking