Navigate Cities Like a Local

Dave Andrews

Metro Navigator, a Windows CD-ROM program, can eliminate a big frustration in business or recreational travel--getting where you need to be when you don't know exactly where you are. The beta version I previewed came with maps for New York City, Baltimore/Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta and included information on such areas of interest as hotels, banks, and sports arenas. Once you enter your starting point and multiple destinations, Metro Navigator uses its digital mapping and routing databases to create detailed directions and a map with up to six levels of zoom and multiple overlays (e.g., subway stations, ATMs, and other points of interest).

The program accounts for one-way streets when it gives directions. But when I attemp ted to test the program's ability to give me alternative directions to points north of Boston from Logan Airport at a time when the tunnel to the airport is often congested with traffic, it directed me to the same tunnel instead of showing me t he back way. It appears that Metro Navigator is not as savvy as a local limousine driver. However, it's quite good, and I plan to use it on my next trip to Chicago.

Now if only Philips would release a version with maps of Hannover, Germany, and Las Vegas -- the sites of two major computer trade shows--I'd be a real happy camper.

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Where to Find

Metro Navigator...................$69.99

Philips Media Software 
Los Angeles, CA
Phone:    (800) 883-3767 or (310) 444-6500
Fax:      (310) 445-5780
Internet: 
http://www.metronavigator.com

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Metro Navigator

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