For a long time, the nautical chart publisher from Eckernförde relied on raster chart technology, i.e. a digital image of the paper charts, and only sold the digital app product in a bundle with the paper charts. But now the company is breaking new ground: with the latest major update to the iOS, Android and Windows app for tablets and smartphones, the programme can now also display digital vector maps, which can be zoomed more continuously than the raster maps and in which a lot of detailed information can also be accommodated at deeper zoom levels. This allows for a partially tidier map image and the display of an extremely large amount of information. However, raster maps are often better in terms of clarity, especially in the overlay. In recent years, NV-Verlag has also managed to produce a kind of hybrid of raster and vector maps using active elements in the raster maps.
Users of the NV Charts app can now benefit from these two advantages of the different map models: In the extensively revised app, users can switch back and forth between raster and paper maps with a single click, as shown above in the example of the journey to Copenhagen. This gives users the best of both software worlds.
However, the new technology will only be available for all Baltic Sea map sets and the two Greek sets in 2019. The latter include the Ionian Sea and the Cyclades, with two more sets to follow in 2020. Another new feature is that all maps can now be purchased digitally only. Other additional features: More than one map set can now be displayed at a time, previously only one set could be used at a time, which was sometimes annoying in the areas of map sections.
The routing tool has also been simplified; it now works simply by pressing and holding on the display. Another new feature is that, thanks to the vector display, the chart image can now also be adapted to the water depth of your own boat, i.e. a specific depth zone can be emphasised.
More information on the Website of the NV publishing house
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
