Garmin Ltd. announces that it will begin offering BirdsEye™ Satellite and Aerial Imagery, a service that gives users the option of loading highly-detailed photo-based maps to some Garmin handheld navigators.
The new service is based on raster images provided by DigitalGlobe, which are scanned, geo-referenced and overlaid onto the handheld GPS receiver’s display. The resulting images depict actual buildings, roads, trails, and land features found nearby. The images are among the most highly-detailed available and offer 0.5 meter per pixel resolution in some areas; what is more, users can view them at every zoom level from 6 meters to 19,3 km.

BirdsEye Satellite and Aerial Imagery will be of special interest for fishers, hikers, tourists and travelers, giving them a unique understanding of their surroundings, impossible when using vector maps.
The imagery can be displayed on Garmin’s Oregon®, Dakota™ and Colorado® series of outdoor navigators. The users will be able to download data without limitation for a single Garmin device. Customers can use Garmin’s free BaseCamp™ application for the PC or Mac OS X to quickly load, easily manage and view BirdsEye data.
The service will be available in March 2010, the annual subscription is $30.

Nav N Go Company, the developer of iGO8 navigation software, offers a 1-year map update subscription for Europe and North America maps for the price of a one-time update. This subscription, available to all legal users of iGO8 software with the maps of these regions, gives the right to download all the released updates during 12 months after the purchase date (up to 4 quarterly updates) and install them to the same navigation device.
The prices for one-time map updates are also reduced.
We take this opportunity to remind you that legal iGO8 users can purchase the updates for their map packages or single countries, as well as additional maps, through the official Nav N Go map update portal. As before, the map of Ukraine is updated free of charge.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all CarteBlanche Ukraine users and partners!

We sincerely wish you and your family happiness and joy, the warmth of smiles, harmony and peace!

Let only good trips, straight roads and exciting routes wait for you in the New Year!

To make your journeys more pleasant and comfortable, we would like to inform you about the new 2009.12 version of CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map for Garmin and compatible navigation devices. The changes in the new version are:

• Detailed coverage added for 66 settlements (including all settlements in Kyiv-Svyatoshyn District of Kyiv Region), namely:
  • Kyivs'ka oblast', Kyiv-Svyatoshyn District: Boiarka, Vyshneve, Bucha, Hostomel', Sofiivs'ka Borschahivka, Petropavlivs'ka Borschahivka, Bilohorodka, Vorzel', Horenka, Tarasivka, Khotiv, Novosilky, Chabany, Kriukivschyna, Mykhailivka-Rubezhivka, Hatne, Horenychi, Shpyt'ky, Dmytrivka, Petrivs'ke, Zabir`ia, Vita-Poshtova, Buzova, Myrots'ke, Lisnyky, Muzychi, Khodosivka, Maliutianka, Lychanka, Kniazhychi, Yurivka, Shevchenkove, Moschun, Luka, Petrushky, Kapitanivka, Liubymivka, Zhornivka, Bobrytsia, Myla, Nehrashi, Lisne, Stoianka, Nove, Kremenysche, Chaiky, Hnativka, Kruhlyk, Ivankiv, Hurivschyna, Zabuchchia, Horbovychi, Bucha, Mriia, Khmil'na
  • AR Krym, Simferopol' District: Hresivs'kyi, Myrne, Molodizhne, Komsomol's'ke, Ahrarne, Perove, Aeroflots'kyi, Bitumne
  • Zakarpats'ka oblast', Uzhhorod District: Mynai, Storozhnytsia, Rozivka
• Street network substantially updated for Simferopol', Sevastopol', Uzhhorod and Inkerman
• Building footprints added for 26 settlements, namely:
  • Kyivs'ka oblast', Kyiv-Svyatoshyn District: Boiarka, Vyshneve, Bucha, Hostomel', Sofiivs'ka Borschahivka, Petropavlivs'ka Borschahivka, Vorzel', Horenka, Novosilky, Nove, Chaiky
  • AR Krym: Sevastopol', Inkerman
  • AR Krym, Simferopol' District: Simferopol', Hresivs'kyi, Myrne, Molodizhne, Komsomol's'ke, Ahrarne, Perove, Aeroflots'kyi, Bitumne
  • Zakarpats'ka oblast', Uzhhorod District: Uzhhorod, Mynai, Storozhnytsia, Rozivka
• Points of Interest (POIs) quantity increased to 21 600
• A significant number of feedback messages from the users taken into account. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

Thus, detailed coverage of CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map covers 125 settlements where 18 millions or 39.2% of the Ukrainian population live. Total length of road coverage is more than 409 thousand km.

Legal users of CateBlanche Ukraine NT map may get the update for free at the Updates page.

CarteBlanche Ukraine company provides all the legal user of CarteBlanche Ukraine 3.60 and earlier map versions with an opportunity to upgrade to CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map free of charge, provided that the device is compatible with Garmin NT map format, before 01.03.2010. To upgrade please order a new Unlock Code at Unlock Code Ordering page and follow instructions that will follow.

Our working routine in the holiday period is as follows:

31 December–3 January: nonbusiness days
4–6 January: working hours from 9:30 to 18:00
7 January: nonbusiness day
8 January: working hours from 9:30 to 18:00

• In Kyiv, a uniquely accurate and reliable coverage of the in-block passages is added in the majority of the residential districts.
• The street-road network and address database in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv is considerably updated.
• Detailed coverage with address search is added in 8 settlements in L’vivs’ka and Donets’ka regions: Horlivka and Makiivka (Donets'ka region), Vynnyky, Briukhovychi, Zymna Voda, Lapaivka, Rudne, Kholodnovidka (L'vivs'ka region).
• More than 1300 Points of Interest (POIs) are added.
• All in all, the map has been considerably upgraded and refreshed, taking into consideration a number of corrections and suggestions received from the users.

Legal users of iGO8 and «CarteBlanche Navigator» software can download the update free of charge from the official map update portal of Nav N Go company.

Once again we thank to our customers for the feedback and proposals on how to improve the map. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

2009.09 is the first version of CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map created in the new Garmin NT format, with the use of the software provided by Garmin. Changing to this format offers great opportunities on expanding the functionality of the map. In the new map version, the following improvements have been made:

• Map coverage out of the cities is substantially updated throughout Ukraine. The total length of the street-road network is increased by 1.8 times up to 405 thousand km, its accuracy is also improved.
• In Kyiv, a uniquely accurate and reliable coverage of the in-block passages is added in the majority of the residential districts.
• More than 200 detailed road junctions throughout Ukraine are added.
• The street-road network and address database in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv is considerably updated.
• Detailed coverage with address search is added in 13 settlements: Dniprodzerzhyns’k (Dnipropetrovs'ka region), Horlivka and Makiivka (Donets'ka region), Vynnyky, Briukhovychi, Zymna Voda, Lapaivka, Rudne, Kholodnovidka (L'vivs'ka region), Illichivs'k, Mizikevycha (Odes'ka region), Kremenchuk (Poltavs’ka region), Smila (Cherkas'ka region).
• Building footprints are added in 16 settlements: Dniprodzerzhyns’k (Dnipropetrovs'ka region), Horlivka and Makiivka (Donets'ka region), L’viv, Vynnyky, Briukhovychi, Zymna Voda, Lapaivka, Rudne, Kholodnovidka (L'vivs'ka region), Odesa, Illichivs'k, Mizikevycha (Odes'ka region), Kremenchuk (Poltavs’ka region), Smila (Cherkas'ka region) and Kharkiv.
• More than 1300 Points of Interest (POIs) are added.
• Fundamental changes have occurred in the information layers of hydrography, forests and railways.
• All in all, the map has been considerably upgraded and refreshed, taking into consideration a number of corrections and suggestions received from the users.

Therefore, at the moment CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map contains a detailed coverage of about 60 settlements, with 47 cities, including all regional centres and some other important cities. For two thirds of this coverage building footprints and numbers are also available. The population living in the settlements with the detailed coverage is about 17,8 million of people, which constitutes 38.5 % of the total Ukrainian population. The basic street network coverage (without street names, address search and traffic regulations) is available for the majority of settlements with more than 5 000 inhabitants.
CarteBlanche Ukraine company provides all the legal user of 3.60 and earlier map versions for Garmin with an opportunity to change to CarteBlanche Ukraine NT free of charge, provided that the device is compatible with Garmin NT map format, before 01.03.2010.
If the navigation device does not support this format, CarteBlanche Ukraine company offers to purchase a compatible device and to receive a new CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map as a gift.
Please note, that the subsequent map updates will only be issued for CarteBlanche Ukraine NT map!
Once again we thank to our customers for the feedback and proposals on how to improve the map. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

A possibility to update the map of Ukraine for CarteBlanche Navigator software to the version 2009.06 has appeared on Nav N Go portal.
In the new map version, the following improvements have been made:

• The road network throughout Ukraine, including both national roads and the streets and roads within some cities, has been significantly updated and expanded. The total length of the street-road network is increased by 1.8 times up to 405 thousand km, its accuracy is also improved.
• About 170 200 detailed road junctions throughout Ukraine are added.
• Detailed coverage with building footprints and address search has been added in 4 cities: Dniprodzerzhyns’k, Kremenchuck, Smila and Illichivs’k.
• In Dnipropetrovs’k, Donets’k and Zaporizhzhia building footprints have been added, and the road network together with the address database have been substantially updated
• The basic street network coverage (without street names, address search and traffic regulations) is created for the majority of settlements with more than 5 000 inhabitants.
• Several thousands of new Points of Interest, including fuel stations, banks, railway stations and hotels have been added to the map.

At the moment, every legal user of CarteBlanche Navigator software can update the map free of charge online, as well as purchase additional maps of other countries for their navigation device. To do this, it is only necessary to create an account on the portal and download free PC software Naviextras Toolbox, which is used to download and install the new maps and updates.

The developer of iGO My way 2006 Plus navigation software, NavNGo company, has announced that this software has been discontinued. Therefore, all technical support for iGO My way 2006 Plus will also be cancelled.
At the moment, Carte Blanche Ukraine company, the official iGO distributor in Ukraine, continues to provide support, including updating the map of Ukraine to the version 02.2009, for the existing users of iGO My way 2006 Plus software. For more detailed information please see the Update page.
For the users, it is recommended to change to the newer, advanced software version NavNGo iGO8.

• The road network throughout Ukraine, including both national roads and the streets and roads within some cities, has been significantly updated and expanded. The total length of the network has increased by 1.8 times, and 170 detailed junctions have been added.
• Detailed coverage with building footprints and address search has been added in 4 cities: Dniprodzerzhyns’k, Kremenchuck, Smila and Illichivs’k.
• In Dnipropetrovs’k, Donets’k and Zaporizhzhia building footprints have been added, and the street network together with the address database have been substantially updated. In many other settlements the major street network without naming has been created.
• Several thousands of new Points of Interest, including fuel stations, banks, railway stations, hotels etc. have been added.
• Fundamental changes have occurred in the information layers of hydrography, forests and railways.
• All in all, the map has been considerably upgraded and refreshed, taking into consideration a number of corrections and suggestions received from the users.

Therefore, at the moment Carte Blanche map of Ukraine for Nav N Go iGO 8 contains a detailed coverage of 47 settlements, including all regional centres and some other important cities, with more than 37 % of the Ukrainian population living in the covered area. The total length of the road network is about 400 000 km. The map includes more than 20 000 POIs, most of them having contact information.
The legal users of Nav N Go iGO 8 can download the update free of charge so long as they log in on www.naviextras.com. The site also offers an opportunity to update or purchase the maps of many other countries for Nav N Go iGO 8 and a number of iGO-based PNDs.
Once again we thank to our customers for the feedback and proposals on how to improve the map. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

Carte Blanche Ukraine company is happy to announce that the production of a new navigation software based on the popular Nav N Gо iGO8 version 8.3 program is started under its own trademark «CarteBlanche Navigator».
CarteBlanche Navigator software is intended for its use on personal navigation devices and built-in navigation systems without factory-preinstalled iGO8 software. The list of the compatible devices can be specified on the “Platform” page.
The software will be supplied with the map of Ukraine produced by Carte Blanche Ukraine Company. Free map updates and the possibility to purchase additional maps of other countries through the official Nav N Go portal will soon be available to the legal users.

• Added detailed coverage, including street address search, for 6 cities such as Berdychiv, Kam'ianets'-Podil's'kyi, Mariupol', Melitopol', Myrhorod and Uman'.
• So far, the map includes detailed coverage for about 50 settlements including all regional centres as well as some other important cities. The population that lives in the cities we cover in details is about 16.5 million people that is about 35.7% of entire population of Ukraine.
• Substantially updated street road network and address database in the cities of Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k, Zaporizhzhia.
• Added building footprints for the cities of Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k, Zaporizhzhia as well as Berdychiv, Kam'ianets'-Podil's'kyi, Mariupol', Melitopol', Myrhorod and Uman'.

• Added more than 30 road junctions captured in details in Cherkas'ka, Dnipropetrovs'ka, Donets'ka, Kharkivs'ka, Khmel'nyts'ka, Poltavs'ka, Zaporiz'ka and Zhytomyrs'ka regions.
• Added over 2000 points of interest all over Ukraine.
• Added new segments of Kharkiv-Simferopol' national road in Dnipropetrovs'ka and Kharkivs'ka regions to provide optimal routing for the drivers travelling from northeastern regions of Ukraine or from Russia to Crimea.
• Solved compatibility issue of CarteBlanche Ukraine installer with Windows Vista.

Once again we thank to many our customers for the feedback and proposals on how to improve the map. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

German authorities took action over pirated iGO My way navigation software in three cases at this year’s CeBIT exhibition. Only a few meters away from the booth of NNG Global Services - a subsidiary of Nav N Go, a company of Chinese origin was promoting itself as well as its products as iGO My way, which later proved to be cracked software copies. The Chinese citizens, upon the customers’ request, pulled the cracked iGO My way software out of their pockets. “The vendors will have to take responsibility not only for selling pirated software, but also for infringement of NNG Global Services trademarks,” explains András Fazakas, Chief Operating Officer at NNG Global Services.
In two other booths, the vendors were speaking very convincingly about their strong relationships with NNG Global Services. They were found to be using pirated iGO My way navigation software on their navigation devices. One company quoted a special price for the software – which, they claimed, was the result of an agreement with NNG Global Services. In both cases the Hungarian software development company, however, has never heard of the companies in question.
The above actions are part of a series of raids conducted internationally by a trademark protection company, commissioned by NNG Global Services to curb illegal software use.

At a press conference today in Budapest, Hungary, Nav N Go’s Portal Manager Attila Simon today announced the launch of naviextras.com – Hungarian Nav N Go’s new map update portal. During the short initial phase, map updates on the website will be provided for Nav N Go iGO 8 PDA navigation software and for Navon navigation products. Further GPS devices will continuously be added to the range of supported navigation solutions. In addition to updates, users will also be able to purchase extra maps to add to their existing ones. Soon, map updates for more than 50 devices will be available.
When designing the international website, which is available in English, German and Hungarian , the primary focus was to make the update process as simple as possible. The new free PC software, Naviextras Toolbox, connects to naviextras.com through the internet; so, having purchased a map through the website, users can immediately download it by using Toolbox, and without having to enter an activation code.
Device and software registration will also be simpler. Toolbox will automatically identify and register the device or the software version after the first completed connection; so, there is no need to copy the license codes either.
Maps available at the live launch of the portal contain the third quarter 2008 version, with the very latest maps for Europe, offering a greatly extended network of roads and a POI database with several thousand POI entries.
This is the first occasion that Nav N Go software users can purchase up-to-date maps of the USA, the Middle East, Asia, and South America – when traveling abroad on holiday or business, users can expand their navigation data without needing to buy a new navigation device.
Apart from the above, the portal offers additional contents for download, allowing the navigation programs to be extended with 3D buildings in most European capitals, as well as in South America, Canada, and Russia.

Nav N Go has completed the latest version of Nav N Go iGO 8, its popular 3D navigation software. Current Nav N Go iGO 8 users will have online access to the new software early in 2009.
In addition to the traditional two- and multi-point route calculation, address and POI search, the new software version features several new functions designed to facilitate en-route navigation. When driving on a highway, exits are easier to identify, as the program displays signposts and road signs. When approaching the next maneuver, the program simplifies navigation by only displaying the most important street names, so they can be more easily identified. What's more, the new version of Nav N Go iGO 8 is also available in new resolutions, and requires even less memory, which means it will run on a significantly increased number of devices.
As usual, Nav N Go will provide Nav N Go iGO 8 PDA navigation software owners with version upgrades through the internet, similarly to the upgrades from iGO My way 2006 to Nav N Go iGO 8 in spring 2008.
Given the fact that the new software version requires different map formats because of the additional software features, version upgrades can only be downloaded together with the necessary map updates.
The version upgrades will be available through Nav N Go’s new update portal, www.naviextras.com, expectedly in February 2009. Updates can be uploaded to the original Nav N Go iGO 8 SD cards by using Naviextras Toolbox, a newly developed free PC software. A further advantage of Naviextras Toolbox is that it can directly upload updates to PDAs supporting Mass Storage protocol, which means that an SD card reader will not be required for such devices.

Corresponding map version for Nav N Go navigation software is 2008.10.

• Added detailed coverage, including street address search, for the cities of Vinnytsia, Ternopil', Kryvyi Rih and Bila Tserkva.

So far, the map includes detailed coverage for about 40 settlements including all regional centres as well as some other important cities. The population that lives in the cities we cover in details is about 15.5 million people that is about 33.4% of entire population of Ukraine.

• Substantially updated and enhanced street road network in Kyiv and suburbs. We did not limit ourselves to just roads for cars but added also many unpaved roads, park alleys and forest openings that will be useful for bicycle and pedestrian tourists.
• Added building footprints for the cities of Kyiv, Bila Tserkva, Boryspil', Brovary, Irpin', Obukhiv, Ukrainka, Vinnytsia and a few smaller settlements.
• Added more than 40 road junctions captured in details in Dnipropetrovs'ka, Kyivs'ka, Ternopil's'ka, Vinnyts'ka and Volyns'ka regions.
• Added about 1000 points of interest all over Ukraine.
• Some corrections of the road network and address database all over Ukraine.
• Map installation procedure made much easier. You can load CarteBlanche Ukraine map to Garmin GPS navigator or install it on your PC for viewing and further loading it to navigator by means of Garmin MapSource software. You can also choose between Latin and Cyrillic versions of the map.

Once again we thank to many our customers for the feedback and proposals on how to improve the map. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be considered in the next releases.

Corresponding map version for Nav N Go navigation software is 2008.07.

• Added detailed coverage, including street address search, for the cities of Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Luhansk, Sumy and Yalta as well as some cities around Kyiv such as Boryspil', Brovary, Irpin', Obukhiv, Ukrainka.
• Added detailed coverage for the South Coast of Crimea (Big Yalta region).
• Improved routing over cities of Kyiv, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovs'k, Simferopol' and Kherson.
• Added more than 50 road junctions captured in details in AR Krym, Chernihivs'ka, Chernivets'ka, Donets'ka, Khersons'ka, Kyivs'ka, Luhans'ka, L'vivs'ka, Sums'ka and Zaporiz'ka regions.
• Added about 500 points of interest all over Ukraine, particularly – in the cities of Rivne and Zhytomyr. Added certain number of border crossings. Naming of the border crossing has been standardized to include names of the crossings in both countries, country codes and type of transport, allowed for the crossing, if differs from automobile.
• Some corrections of the road network all over Ukraine.

Once again we thank to many our customers for the feedback and support. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map will be surely considered in the next releases.

• Considered some streets in Kyiv became one way recently.
• Improved routing in Kharkiv.
• Improved routing over the border of Ukraine when used with Garmin City Navigator maps.
• Added an indication of map version number in GPS navigator as well as in Mapsource program.

Corresponding map version for Nav N Go navigation software is 2008.04.

• Added detailed coverage for the cities of Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kirovohrad, Rivne and Zhytomyr.
• E95 European road, that crosses Ukraine from North to South, has been detalised. Most of it now presents in the map as a dual carriage way, with road junctions, crossroads and U-turns shown precisely.
• E40 road has been also detalised along the segment Kyiv – Boryspil airport. "Highway" road type has been assigned to this segment.
• Corrected street network and improved routing over city of Odesa.
• Added more than 60 road junctions captured in details in Cherkas'ka, Chernihivs'ka, Dnipropetrovs'ka, Ivano-Frankivs'ka, Kyivs'ka, Kirovohrads'ka, Mykolaivs'ka, Odes'ka, Poltavs'ka, Rivnens'ka and Zhytomyrs'ka regions.
• Added over 2000 points of interest in the cities of Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kirovohrad, Luts'k, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Rivne, Uzhhorod and Zhytomyr.
• Some corrections of the road network all over Ukraine.

We thank to many our customers for the feedback and support. Suggestions that were not taken into account in this version of the map, will be surely considered in the next releases.

• Fixed the problem with street address and city search in Ukrainian (Cyrillic) version of the map in Nüvi 2xx devices with localised firmware and in MapSource program.
• Some minor corrections of road network attributes.

Corresponding map version for Nav N Go navigation software is 2008.01.

• Added detailed coverage for the cities of Luts’k, Mykolaiv, Poltava and Uzhhorod.
• Corrected street network and improved routing over Donets'k and Zaporizhzhia.
• Some most recent changes in traffic management in Kyiv are taken into account.
• Added more than 50 road junctions captured in detail in Dnipropetrovs'ka, Donets'ka, Mykolaivs'ka, Poltavs'ka, Volyns'ka, Zakarpats'ka and Zaporiz'ka regions.
• Improved routing with Garmin City Navigator 9 map.
• Some corrections of the road network all over Ukraine.

Many thanks to Serhiy Cherskoy, Andriy Pavliuk, Serhiy Zharkov, Yuriy Grytsyshyn, Petro Riznyk, Farid Zaripov, Vitaliy Punko, Alexander Khirkh-Yalan and many other customers for precious remarks and asistance in map improvement.

Corresponding map version for Nav N Go navigation software is 2007.10.

• Added detailed coverage for the cities of Simferopol', Sevastopol', Kherson, Kmel'nyts'kyi, Cherkasy.
• Street address search function now works in all 12 cities with detailed coverage.

We plan to extend the detailed coverage of the map including street address search substantially in the next version of CarteBlanche Ukraine map.

• Improved routing in Dnipropetrovs'k, Kharkiv and L'viv.
• Provided an option to dial POI's contact phone numbers from the GPS navigator via mobile phone (for Bluetooth compatible devices).
• Added more than 20 road junctions captured in detail to provide precise guidance over them in Dnipropetrovs'ka, Kyivs'ka, L'vivs'ka, Mykolaivs'ka, Khersons'ka, Khmel'nyts'ka, Cherkas'ka regions and in Krym (Crimea).

We will keep adding detailed road junctions in the next versions of the map.

• Some corrections of the address database in Kyiv.
• Added more than 1000 POIs such as banks, ATMs, service stations, shops, restaurants, tourist attractions and other.
• Many corrections of the road network all over Ukraine

Many thanks to Yuriy Grytsyshyn, Petro Riznyk, Valentyn Murashko, Valentyn Sovietov, Pavlo Khomenko, Volodymyr Parkhomets, Arsen from Kyiv, Oleksandr from Khmel'nyts'kyi, Serhiy from Donets'k and other customers for valuable remarks and support.