Quote Originally Posted by 1300181 View Post
Hi,
May i know what is the different for below two maps?

City Navigator Singapore/Malaysia NT 2011.xx
Malsingmaps Malaysia/Singapore/Brunei NT2011.xx

Which type of latest City Navigator map i should download into my 1300 model?

Thanks.
Let me attempt to answer this question.

As far as I know, there are 4 different maps available for Singapore/Malaysia:-

1. City Navigator NT 2011.xx
2. Malsingmaps NT 2011.xx from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
3. MSM 2012 v5.xx from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
4. MFM map from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

1 & 2 are commercially sold (though you may get a free first update for 1 with your locally purchased device) while 3 & 4 are freely downloadable from their respective websites (you need to join as a member).

You can install any of the maps. It is up to you. The differences between the maps are as follows:-

City Navigator map is the commercial map being sold for Garmin devices. If you buy a Garmin device from US or Europe, chances are that it will come pre-loaded wih City Navigator map for North America or Europe. Local devices used to come with City Navigator map for Singapore/Malaysia too. I remembered that map data for City Navigator maps came from TeleAtlas but now it seems when I searched, I find Navtech. City Navigator map has junction view etc. But I think it is updated yearly. Maybe now quarterly but there is a lag time. So, you see the latest version seems to be 2011.xx.

MSM was started by a group of local hobbyists who started mapping the areas in Malaysia and Singapore. They were so successful that their map put the official City Navigator to shame. It was very updated (almost every week) and had many POIs submitted by members (me included!). Eventually, the MSM map became so famous that Garmin Taiwan approached them and a deal was struck. MSM received some funding or something (I am not sure) and Garmin got the use of the MSM map data. The Malsingmaps NT 2011.xx is the result of Garmin taking the MSM map and improving on it by adding Junction View etc. This map has features similar to the City Navigator map. But I was wondering why the file sizes were less than half of the City Navigator map. Latest version seems to be 2011.xx. This is now the default map supplied with local Garmin sets, although at one time, local Garmin sets will come with both City Navigator as well as this map. Not sure if this is still the case.

MSM itself continues to release their own free map on their website. It is actually the most updated of all maps. Weekly updates most of the time. However, there is no junction view yet. So, this map is good for those whose devices cannot support junction view anyway, or who simply want the latest map. The latest map is version 2012 v5.xx. Malsingmaps NT 2011.xx is behind by a few generations compared to this map.

MFM was started by a group of members from MSM who were unhappy with certain things, including the deal with Garmin. When MFM was started, I tried their maps and found the map very nice looking. It displays building outlines. Very cool. Now I have not used it for some time, so I am not sure where it stands. Like MSM, this map has no junction view yet.

I have been using GPS for many years but in recent years, I have not kept in touch with developments. Hence, I stand corrected. This is what I know. Please correct me if I am wrong.