Terrabrowser 1.5b3 review
DownloadTerrabrowser is an internet browser for satellite photos and topographical maps which are obtained from the Microsoft Terra Server.
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Terrabrowser is an internet browser for satellite photos and topographical maps which are obtained from the Microsoft Terra Server.
The map data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and therefore only covers the United States at this time (although expansion to other map servers may occur in the future). Although a GPS receiver is not required to enjoy Terrabrowser, using one opens up more extensive features such as bookmark transfer, and tracklog/route display. Includes extensive bookmarking support, image cache, address search, region download, and many other features!
Terrabrowser features built in support* for Garmin GPS receivers, and also supports Magellan receivers when combined with the freeware program MacGPS Babel). Download waypoints from your GPS to display on the maps, edit them, upload new waypoints to your receiver.
Terrabrowser aims to be compatible with the rest of the GPS world, so it uses the XML based GPX file standard which allows easy exchange (file, copy/paste) with other GPS programs for Macintosh, Linux, Windows, etc. which support this format. The NMEA standard protocol is also supported* which allows for a "live tracking" mode to display the user's realtime position on a satellite map (cached or not).
Here are some key features of "Terrabrowser":
Three map types:
Color satellite maps (large urban areas only)
Black and white satellite maps
Topographical maps
Map is draggable with the mouse or controllable via keyboard.
Distance calculation option (hold down option and drag).
Date of photograph and human readable location information provided (note that dates may be inaccurate since the date is only fetched for one of the map tiles, not all of them).
Basic AppleScript support.
Ability to save maps to a JPG file.
Bookmarking ability for waypoints
Image cache maintained on local hard drive
Coordinate entry in Degrees Minutes Seconds, Degrees Minutes, Decimal Degrees, or UTM.
Search for locations based on zip code or address.
Offline browsing mode (uses cache only)
Scale bar
Customizable toolbar
Current mouse position read out
Many different zoom levels
NMEA Protocol Support
development still in progress...
Garmin Protocol Support
these features are still being developed and are not complete
waypoint upload and download
tracklog and route download
Support for GPX: the GPS eXchange Format
this is a standard file format which is compatible with many GPS programs.
display of waypoints
display of routes
display of tracklogs
Ability to send currently selected waypoints to third party web sites
mapquest.com
user defined web site.
Waypoint Editing Window
edit any field
add or delete waypoints
find waypoints
copy waypoints and paste them into another window/program
Printing Support.
What's New:
[new feature] Added menu option to open selected waypoint(s) in web browser with Google Maps.
[new feature] Info inspector now remembers its position between launches.
[new feature] The main browser window can now be re-opened under the View menu if accidentally closed.
[bugfix] Terrabrowser is now compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 and above ("Tiger").
Requirements:
GPS is not required
Broadband connection highly recommended.
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