Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 [OLD VERSION] | ![Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T9M6PQ3DL._SL500_.jpg)
| From: Microsoft Software
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $30.00 (75%)
New (1) Used (10) from $9.98
Rating:  74 reviews
Sales Rank: 1342
Format: Cd-rom
Platform: Windows Vista
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows ME
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.6
MPN: B17-00284
Model: B17-00284
UPC: 882224045513
EAN: 0882224045513
ASIN: B000AOBSTS
Release Date: October 3, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Customizable trip-planning software with updated maps for U.S. and Canada | | • | Easily find hotels, ATMs, and more with over 1.8 million points of interest | | • | Plan trips and calculate mileage, time, and expenses; door-to-door directions | | • | Easily explore new areas; add multiple destinations and quickly alter route | | • | More than 5.4 million miles of routable roads and highways |
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Product Description
Find the best way to get where you're going & what you need along the way! Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 trip planning software. Now it is easy to plan your trip and track your location in real-time. Travel with complete confidence!
Amazon.com Product Description
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 is the customizable trip planning software that helps you get accurate directions, easily explore new areas and find the services you want and need along the way. With more personalized trip planning features than online mapping sites, and complete map coverage of both the USA and Canada, Streets and Maps 2006 will quickly prove to be an indispensable companion for all of your trips. 
The navigation screen with GPS pane. A blue progress bar counts down to the next maneuver. View larger. | 
Find all points of interest within a given radius. View larger. | 
Acquire your location with the Wi-Fi Location Finder. View larger. | Trip Planning with Door-to-Door Convenience
Streets and Trips 2006 is an easy-to-use, hands-free trip planning and guidance solution. Whether you're running errands or planning a cross-country road trip, Streets and Trips 2006 offers customizable maps and information on more than 1.8 million points of interest (POIs), such as restaurants, ATMs, museums, campgrounds and more. Online or off, Streets and Trips 2006 provides updated maps that give you accurate, detailed door to door directions and puts 5.9 million miles of routable roads and highways throughout the US and Canada at your fingertips. While you're driving, verbal turn-by-turn directions let you concentrate on the road while the software guides you. Customizable trip planning features allow you to plan multiple stops, find nearby places to visit, calculate drive time, and more. Taking advantage of the enhanced trip planning software is easy. To create a route and generate directions, you simply type in the starting and ending locations and click on "Get Directions." It's that simple. Your trips can include multiple segments, and you can instruct the software to customize your route by telling it what types of roads you want to travel, how much gas your car has, and the general area where you want to stop to gas up. Streets and Trips 2006 will do the rest, giving you your optimal itinerary, down to the precise gas station. Overall you'll have access to over 1.8 million local POIs such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations and ATMs, and by planning ahead, Streets and Trips 2006 will help you avoid delays with construction updates and other recent changes to your route. Microsoft's "Locate Me" technology uses Wi-Fi hotspots to pinpoint your location, so you'll know precisely where you are as you're traveling. If you drive past your planned exit, a single click will get you back on track. The "Re-route from Here" feature quickly recalculates directions if you miss a turn. To find a certain POI, such as a restaurant or gas station, you simply select from 35 POI types to display on the map. You have the option of searching within a certain radius of an address that you choose, your current location, a specific direction within a planned route, or all of the POIs along the entire route. Your results are displayed in a directory-tree listing. When you click on a POI, a balloon box pops up on the map with detailed information, including an address and phone number, and if you right-click on the POI icon, you can add it to your route list. MSN Virtual Earth and Other Extras
To enhance to your travel experience, Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 offers a link to MSN Virtual Earth, Microsoft's online repository of satellite maps. Let's say you're viewing a map of the theater district in Manhattan. If you want to see a bird's-eye view of it, just click the Virtual Earth icon and a satellite image of the area will load into your browser. Another convenient feature is the "Night Map Style" which makes reading your routes at night or in other low-light conditions a breeze. The map's background is black, and roads and street names are shown in shades of green for easy viewing. Also included with Streets and Trips 2006 is Pocket Streets for your Pocket PC or Smartphone, which you can load onto your compatible Windows-based Pocket PC or Windows-powered Smartphone for greater travel convenience. And best of all, once you register your software, you can access a full year of email and toll-free customer support, and you'll also have access to an online knowledge base dedicated to Streets and Trips 2006. So no matter where you're travels are taking you, you can drive with the confidence that you'll have Microsoft's extensive support and software behind you every click of your odometer.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 69 more reviews...
 The Competition Heats Up And Microsoft Falls Short November 12, 2005
Patrick S. Pope (Chicago, IL)
73 out of 95 found this review helpful
While I have been a big fan of Streets and Trips since the 2002 version, this latest release is a disappointment. This is due to accuracy problems and the competitive landscape. Since S&T 2005 was released, the big news in map software is Google's launch of Google Earth, which includes over twelve (12) terabytes of satellite data. Microsoft has responded with a less robust product, MSN Virtual Earth, which has some connectivity with Streets and Trips 2006.
The latest release of S&T 2006 has the same fast, robust interface as previous versions and some new features such as a night mode (which itself is of dubious value). However, my limited testing has uncovered glaring errors in the map data. Specifically, the NYC subway system depiction has several erroneous or omitted subway stops in Manhattan alone. While this may seem trivial, the NYC subway is the busiest in the United States. Moreover, some of the errors are grossly inaccurate, such as showing a B/Q Subway stop at Lexington and 63rd. Neither line passes within a half mile (quite a long distance in Manhattan) of this location. Other less egregious errors include an omission of a 28th street stop on the 1/9 train.
There has always been a poor representation of the public transportation system in Streets and Trips, severely limiting its utility for urban users of the software. The Chicago Transportation authority (CTA), for example, has online point-to-point directions that include walking, buses and subway. S&T has no such feature, nor does it even have walking directions that overlook one-way streets. At least there should be plug-ins for different metropolitan areas, if not including built-in overlays of train and subway infrastructure that appear with a simple toggle. Even worse, many of the subway stops that are correctly positioned in Streets and Trips do not show at magnification levels that clearly depict stops that are farther from the viewing center of the map. Such visual anomalies can cause much confusion for users. This problem appears to be worse than in previous versions.
My major complaint with earlier editions of Streets and Trips was that it didn't integrate with other location-specific data sources, such as Citysearch, Craigslist or metropolitan traffic web sites. Microsoft's integration with MSN Virtual Earth is a nice start. However, the map quality and features are below that of Google's offering. Moreover, it uses a less robust web interface, which [the lack of] is the main reason users like Street and Trips in the first place.
Streets and Trips 2006 is still the fastest map software with the smoothest interface. However, Microsoft needs better quality control and bug reporting. Longer-term, Microsoft needs to create an ecosystem around Streets and Trips with various entertainment, travel and transportation data sources included in a real-time format. Otherwise, Google is going to drive it off the market.
Pros
*Speed
*Some interactivity with MSN Virtual Earth
*No advertisements
Cons
*Lack of integration with third-party data
*No available data for other continents
*No map or point-of-interest updates
*Quality control and difficult bug reporting
*No plug-ins
*No bookmarks
*Lacking non-driving (cycling, walking) maps and public transit grids
 Must have for S&T 2005 users! October 17, 2005
Brian Morris (Pittsburgh, PA)
50 out of 57 found this review helpful
I got Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 w/GPS early in 2005 and there were quite a few usability issues with the program. The biggest gap was no voice commands. This new version includes new voice command prompts, which are pretty good and on the screen in VERY large size font it shows you what you will do next along with how much of a percentage you've traveled on the road at that moment. For example, if I am on Smith Rd. and will travel on that road for 5 miles before I turn left onto Jones St., on the screen it shows "Turn left in 5 miles onto Jones St.," plus it has a progress bar showing how many of the 5 miles you've traveled.
I was a simple upgrade (have your CD ready when you plug in the GPS device for the first time), and upon my first use it appears that they haven't fixed some of the bugs and annoyances in trying to find a restaurant or gas station. To illustrate this, if I wanted to find a gas station on my way home from work (15 mile ride), I could choose within so many miles of my current point or so many miles from the entire route. Let's say I'm half way home and decide to look for a gas station, I put 1 mile from my current point, and it looks at a one-mile radius of 5 miles ago?? (Bug, I suppose.) So instead, I put within 1/2 mile of my entire route. Then it lists all gas stations within 1/2 mile of my route (from beginning to end regardless of how far I am from the beginning) and organizes them by distance from my route (instead of how far I am from the station at the moment).
These observations are subject to change as I use the program some more and if I find that I'm doing something wrong. I will post more comments if I can in the future.
[UPDATE - 3/1/06] I continue to have usability problems trying to find places, such as restaurants. I got so frustrated trying to find an Applebee's on a trip lately that I used by cell phone as a modem for my laptop to use their website's locator. Microsoft, I hope you read this!
Overall, it is a big improvement if you want to keep using your Microsoft GPS module from 2005.
 It's so frustrating and disappointing. Who signed off on this release? May 4, 2006
Matthew Johnson (Atlanta)
20 out of 23 found this review helpful
I've used 2002, 2004, and now 2006. All things considered, 2006 is merely a slight improvement over 2004.
I miss the feature from 2004 and 2002 that alllowed you to estimate your travel speed on various types of highways. Now you have a slider that defaults to 'average' (whose average? I don't know) and you can tell the program you'll be going faster (how much faster? I don't know) or slower. In 2004, you could just tell it: I'll be going 80 on the interestate.
My disappointements are with the feature I was most looking forward to: the voice navigation.
1) Not LOUD ENOUGH. When I'm going 70, I can't hear the driving guidance over the sound of my tires on the road or the wind flying by my car. I know my laptop speakers are powerful enough to do the job. My music, which I can't turn on if I want to use voice navigation, is much louder than the voice in Streets & Trips.
2) When I drive under a bridge (and lose GPS signal for 0.25 seconds) I don't actually need the voice navigation to let me know out loud. After the 10th time on a long trip, I start to get annoyed. How about if I lose GPS signal for 5 seconds, then the software can tell me? Or better yet, let me set the time.
3) Use the voice feature to try to pronounce the road I'm turning onto. I know it won't always get it right, but it'll be close enough.
4) My voice navigation turns off, seemingly at random, while I'm driving.
5) The program locks up while I'm driving - often. Especially when I'm near a turn, which is exactly the wrong time.
6) When a new highway gets built parallel to an old abandoned highway that MS doesn't know is abandoned, and you find yourself driving along the new one, be prepared to be told repeatedly that you are 'off-route'. A smarter program would understand that if my car is travelling parallel to the old highway at 65 mph, I'm probably not actually off-roading. Put simply, 90% of the time, when Microsoft Streets and Trips is nagging me about being 'off-route', I am actually on the correct road, and the problem is that Microsoft's map doesn't know where the correct road is.
7) My laptop won't hibernate unless I remove my GPS first. This didn't seem to be a problem with older versions of Streets and Trips. I think it's because the voice navigation warning window that 'warns' me that the GPS antenna is gone interferes with my laptop's attempt to sleep.
It seems to me that Microsoft didn't road test this software at all. Or maybe they road tested it in a huge lab-on-wheels van with multiple technicians.
Hard to beat for the price November 22, 2005
H. Le (Philadelphia, PA United States)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
Last year I bought Street & Trips 2005 with the GPS package, and I wrote a review on that. If you refer to that review, there are some things that I am somewhat dissatisfied with the 2005 version. After spending many hours searching online and reading review and forum posts, it appears that the only software for laptop GPS navigation that provides all the function and capabilities that one would want or need at a reasonable price would be iGuidance 2.1.1, the one downside to it was that the software costs more than 4X the price of Microsoft's Streets & Trips, this prevented me from purchasing it. After a long wait, Microsoft (as expected) released the 2006 version of Streets & Trips, I read up on the new features and decided that combined with the price (after rebates), it would be a great deal.
On my previous review of the 2005 version, the one thing that I (and a lot of other people) felt that was missing was the voice navigation. It was extremely difficult to follow the small prints for the directions, combined with no voice guidance; it was dangerous to use it unless you have a passenger to help with the directions (which is kind of pointless).This new version solved that problem, combined with a modified interface; the voice guidance is finally on. It is so much easier to drive solo and use this software because combined with a large text field displaying the next action; the voice guidance is clear and easily repeated by pressing the spacebar. There is also a progress meter to show you how close you are to that next action (turn, exit, ect).
The first BIG gripe that I have with the voice nav is that it only says the action and not pronounce the road or exit you are turning into, thus for conformation, one would have to look at the large text plane to see the name of the road or exit number. This is what I don't get, the software uses Microsoft's own voice synthesizer to "speak", then why is it that it cannot at least try to pronounce the name of the road?
The second gripe that I have is that if you go off route, the software doesn't automatically reroute you, and there is no option to turn it on, so you would have to hit F3 for it to reroute.
Another gripe, not a major one, but still annoying is that fact that every single time you start the GPS tracking, the software pops up with a disclaimer about how unsafe it is to drive and operate the software at the same time. I guess this is necessary since software is still not very driver friendly.
All in all, Microsoft did try to alleviate a major problem of its previous version; however, I didn't feel that MS spent much time improving the software. I undoubtedly admit that the 2006 version is much improved, but I would have expected a greater improvement given that Microsoft has been producing Streets & Trips for numerous of years now.
For the price, I am glad with the improvements, however, if I could return it, I would spend the extra money for the iGuidance instead.
Nice upgrade to a good product October 29, 2005
Gregory A. Beamer (Nashville, TN United States)
17 out of 20 found this review helpful
I have been a Streets & Trips user for at least four versions (probably more, but I remember back to 2003, so I will stick with that). It seems I get hooked into getting a new version every time I see one at Sam's. A few years ago, I got a GPS unit and have loved the integration with newer versions of Streets & Trips.
On the whole, I purchased this version of S&T primarily for the voice directions. As I am normally the navigator in the car (wife loves to drive), I will probably never use this feature that much, but it is nice to have.
What I find most useful:
* Drag and drop rerouting. So much fun to be able to reset my path without having to add mutliple "stops" in between. Still not perfect, but a much needed addition.
* Driving Guidance pane: Nice having something pop up that does not take over the map (like our Honda Odysee does - showing my geekness now?).
* Locate me. If you use WiFi on your laptop (who doesn't) and can find a network, you can get a good idea of where you are. I may be the only one who thinks this is cool (esp. when you can always plug in GPS, but I think it is cool).
* Night map style. Nothing really special, but having the ability to have a night map that is not glaring white is a nice addition when you are driving around with the map on in the evening.
I have read the other reviews and have a few words.
* Yes, it is possible that there is not as much detail. I would assume Microsoft, like everyone else, purchases this information, so you will find that most products mimic the same routes, as there are few providers out there. I have not experienced any problems in my area, but I can see how this might be of concern. The naming of roads has always been a bit nasty, IMO, but I have not found a product that is any better.
* The PocketPC limititation? I can understand this as well, although I have never had the need to load more than 5MB in a single map on my Pocket PC. In fact, when I travel, most maps fit well under 2MB. I do not see this single limitation, esp. in light of the competition, as a showstopper, however.
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