MapSphere 1.01.257

If you like to travel and if you want to be able to see where other people are travelling, then the MapShere application is right for you. This is a free mapping application for Windows that lets you explore the world and keep track of all your trips. On top of that, it lets you view other people’s trips and chat with other fellow travelers.

The MapShere installation file is 11.4MB in size. It is recommended that you install the application on a PC powered by Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7; a simple setup wizard will take you through the installation process. You will need at least an 800MHz processor, 256MB of Ram, 30MB of disk space, a graphics card that’s compatible with DirectX9, and a monitor capable of 800x600 resolution to run MapSphere.

A Welcome to MapSphere dialog is displayed when you first run the application. The dialog informs you that the free MapSphere application provides access to maps and satellite images and that it offers access to communication capabilities that come in handy in a trip. The dialog also invites you to create a MapSphere account – that’s a simple process that will take little of your time.

On MapSphere's interface, there are buttons for the main functions at the top, a map view in the middle, a detailed map and overview map to the right, and a pane with tabs for Navigation, Tracks, Geocaches, Users, Groups and Trips at the bottom. To better understand how MapSphere works, you are well advised to click the Tutorial button from the Welcome to MapSphere dialog. The tutorial will tell you that you can manage contacts, chat with other users, create groups, create trips (trips include tracks, photo albums, blogs, and chats), and it will present a demo trip.

The maps and satellite images MapSphere displays are downloaded from different sources, such as OpenStreetMap, Terraserver, LandSat, and so on. All the downloaded data is stored locally so you can access it even if you do not have internet access. You can choose between a 2D and a 3D mode when viewing mapping data.

Support for GPS receivers is provided, meaning that you can track your current position. Your position is visible to everybody by default; you can limit your visibility to certain contacts or to a certain group if you don’t like the default behavior. And speaking about location, you can see the location of other users and their GPS tracks.

Get the free mapping software application MapSphere to track your trips, explore the world, and socialize with other fellow travelers.

Pros
The minimum system requirements are quite low. There’s a handy Welcome to MapSphere dialog that helps you create a new account and presents a brief tutorial. Downloads maps and satellite images from various sources, stores mapping data on the disk so it can be accessed offline. View the map in 2D or 3D mode. Track your current location, view the location of other users. Chat with other users. Create trips – they contain tracks, photos, chat notes, and other multimedia content. MapSphere is free.

Cons
None that I could think of.

MapSphere has been reviewed by George Norman on 30 Mar 2012. Based on the user interface, features and complexity, Findmysoft has rated MapSphere 5 out of 5 stars, naming it Essential