BaseCamp 4.3.0.3 BETA is Now Available

Former Member over 11 years ago

BaseCamp 4.3.0.3 BETA is now available and can be downloaded here:

http://developer.garmin.com/apps/BC/BaseCampBeta_4.3.0.3.exe

This release does not support XP.

You do not have to uninstall BaseCamp 4.2.5 and it will not overwrite that installation. The BETA and an official release of BaseCamp will live side-by-side but must be used separately. However the 4.3.0.2 BETA will be replaced.

Below is a list of changes. This is only a BETA release.

Improved UI for address search
Improved results for address search auto-complete
Fixed a bug where Top Results search didn't refresh in advanced
Fixed a bug where cancelling the address search find did not work
Fixed a bug where address searches were not yielding results on device maps
Improved matching of serach results if search results exactly match user entered criteria
Fixed inversion of route departure times
Update free-form search string whenever advanced search parameters change
Fixed a bug where attemping to do an address search forces a POI search
Fixed not being able to clear departure time on last via if set after inverting route

Post here if you have questions.

The BETA is currently only for English users.

Before using this release, back up your data.

NOTE: We are aware of some issues with routing. Moving waypoints caused the route to leave roads unexpectedly. We know about this issue, and a fix is undergoing QA, however it did not make it into this build. There is no need to report on this issue, we believe we have that under control.

Please post any bugs you may find here. This release is to assist us in testing with a wider user base and wider set of devices. Bugs may be present, and any feedback is welcomed.

Again, thank you for all who participate.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Analytics show that we have less then 10% of our users on XP. We have a tenth of that on Vista. Also Vista prevents some of what we use in the new BaseCamp. I agree that this should have been posted sooner. That is my oversight. However it is true that we are not supporting Vista.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Will not install on Vista.

Why not? .NET 4.5 can be installed on Vista.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (Offline Installer) for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2012

0 dandemandan over 11 years ago

By design. The curvy roads option was designed for motor cycle users who have Zumo hardware. If this is something users want to see for automotive use, it is something I can bring up.

Could you post the details of exactly what selecting the curvy roads option changes with regard to routing parameters? Is this something specific to the Zumo GPS only or does it have equal effect on other GPS units?

I created a custom profile to avoid interstates, customized to lower speeds for various road types, using shorter distance routing to try to stay on "Blue Highways". If the Curvy Roads options is better suited to Blue Highway and scenic roads, I certainly would like to use it.... either in custom profiles or just setting in the the Car driving profile....

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Why not? .NET 4.5 can be installed on Vista.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (Offline Installer) for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2012

I'd have to agree. Vista is still very much a supported OS, and if .NET 4.5 can be upgraded, why block the compatibility? I'm no expert with those underlying drivers, but I'm definitely not going to upgrade the OS just for one application, that's rather unpolished to begin with? It kind of amazes me that many years later, your mapping applications still can't compete with the refinement, smoothness and features of MS S&T from 10 years ago that worked perfectly well on XP and 98? Makes no sense?

If there's a weak link in your Zumo products, it's definitely the low priority of the associated mapping software. Not trying to be a jerk, but I've been putting up with the clunky software for almost 8 years with my Zumo 550 then 660, hoping for some marked improvements, and I have to say the lack of progress is rather glaring. Now, finding that you guys are going to arbitrarily start blocking still current OS's is going to definitely put a wedge in my support of Garmin products going forward. I urge you and your associates to rethink this strategy. Might even want to consider licensing an old version of SM S&T and just mod that instead of continuing down this path that isn't really showing much progress, imho.

Again, not trying to be a jerk, but rather sharing my honest opinion on the matter. With the premium we pay for these Zumo's, there is really no excuse for the current state of affairs regarding mapping software that just going nowhere fast. No offense intended. My .02 fwiw.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Could you post the details of exactly what selecting the curvy roads option changes with regard to routing parameters? Is this something specific to the Zumo GPS only or does it have equal effect on other GPS units?

I created a custom profile to avoid interstates, customized to lower speeds for various road types, using shorter distance routing to try to stay on "Blue Highways". If the Curvy Roads options is better suited to Blue Highway and scenic roads, I certainly would like to use it.... either in custom profiles or just setting in the the Car driving profile....

To be honest, it is not a feature I worked on and so I am not entirely sure of the details. My understanding, however, is that it will choose a more scenic route to a destination. While it should work on other devices once the route is calculated, it was really designed for motorcycle routes.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I'd have to agree. Vista is still very much a supported OS, and if .NET 4.5 can be upgraded, why block the compatibility? I'm no expert with those underlying drivers, but I'm definitely not going to upgrade the OS just for one application, that's rather unpolished to begin with? It kind of amazes me that many years later, your mapping applications still can't compete with the refinement, smoothness and features of MS S&T from 10 years ago that worked perfectly well on XP and 98? Makes no sense?

If there's a weak link in your Zumo products, it's definitely the low priority of the associated mapping software. Not trying to be a jerk, but I've been putting up with the clunky software for almost 8 years with my Zumo 550 then 660, hoping for some marked improvements, and I have to say the lack of progress is rather glaring. Now, finding that you guys are going to arbitrarily start blocking still current OS's is going to definitely put a wedge in my support of Garmin products going forward. I urge you and your associates to rethink this strategy. Might even want to consider licensing an old version of SM S&T and just mod that instead of continuing down this path that isn't really showing much progress, imho.

Again, not trying to be a jerk, but rather sharing my honest opinion on the matter. With the premium we pay for these Zumo's, there is really no excuse for the current state of affairs regarding mapping software that just going nowhere fast. No offense intended. My .02 fwiw.

No one thinks anyone is being a jerk :) Don't worry about that. I said once before that I have been a professional software developer for over 10 years. If you don't have a think skin this is not your business :) Anyway, we are evaluating this based on the comments we have received. Currently we have dropped support for Vista by design. But we prevent this manually in our installer. Again we are reevaluating the impact on reinstating Vista support but I will have to get back to everyone in the near term when we come to a decision.

0 alandb over 11 years ago

I would also like to add my vote for continuing support of Vista for BaseCamp. I was looking forward to the general release of 4.3 and am now disappointed that I won't be able to use it.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

No one thinks anyone is being a jerk :) Don't worry about that. I said once before that I have been a professional software developer for over 10 years. If you don't have a think skin this is not your business :) Anyway, we are evaluating this based on the comments we have received. Currently we have dropped support for Vista by design. But we prevent this manually in our installer. Again we are reevaluating the impact on reinstating Vista support but I will have to get back to everyone in the near term when we come to a decision.

Thank you for accepting the constructive criticism. I hope your team agrees that needlessly disenfranchising your customers doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

If you don't have a think skin this is not your business :)

Yep :D Most developers are kept behind locked doors with a "Don't feed the engineers" sign on the door. Some Garmin developers show themselves in public and take the hits. I admire that.

*Steps on soap box*

I used to take tech service calls myself from time to time and have been yelled at by customers. Most of the time I agreed with them but my hands were tied. I also went out into the field, aka "real world", to diagnose issues. I'd try and take what I learned and incorporate that into new product designs. Marketing people hate being told "that won't work in the field because..." though. Marketing people have (wet) dreams while engineers bring stuff to reality.

*Gets off soap box*

PS; I did it for over 25 years. It's a young persons game (unless you just don't care) though.

PPS: I recommend reading The soul of a new machine for those that want to know what being a developer is like. It is, IMO, very accurate.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Well Garmin wants to do its best to foster a community. This forum, and our interactions with our customers is part of that. I may not always have the answers, but I'll try to give I the best information I have when I have it. I was not a party to the Vista decision but we are currently doing some testing. It will not be my decision one way or the other. But that's what this form is for... To communicate these things to the users. Now I will say I have looked at the analyitics, and while I know that there are some users out there on Vista, it is a very, very small fraction of use. And as a little secret.... At home, I still have a Vista machine believe it or not. I'm cheap. Won't by a new compy. :). Anyway, I understand the frustrations. I will report back when I have something.