PRODUCT UPDATE RELEASE NOTE - HX-2 GPS NAVIGATOR - DECEMBER 2022

1 December 2022 

Introduction:

Based on customer feedback, the Hema-X development team and our mapping team have been hard at work continuing to make enhancements to the maps and functionality of the HX-2 unit.

Today will see the fourth major update of the maps since the HX-2 was launched. Outlined below is a detailed description of the changes you will see in release 1.4.1, the most significant changes include:

• On the ‘Off-Road’ Vector map, the inclusion:

  •  of track distances (in KM’s) 

  • around 1000 track notes from Hema’s Map Patrol and Alpha Users

  • labels for Overgrown, Not maintained, 4WD All Weather, 4W Dry Weather tracks

  • Improved labeling and symbols for gates and grids (rotated and snapped to roads)

• Following the recent release of our new Mid North Coast New South Wales printed map we have added two maps of the area (including Barrington Tops National Park) to our Adventure Map collection available in the HX-2

• Over 14,000km of new and updated tracks processed by the Map Patrol & mapping team

• Subscription updates: Rooftop have added their new Mallacoota-Merimbula, Kosciuszko National Park Forest and Kosciuszko Northern Activities Maps to their subscription available on the HX-2

• A significant number of functionality improvements to make the HX-2 easier to use

As special thank you to those involved in the Hema Alpha Program who make a huge contribution to ensuring we have the best maps in Australia; Peta & Andrew Murray, Flynn Drage, Lyndon Kettle, Andrew & Renee Derry, Ian & Julie Glyde, Ben & Hayley Carceller, Kev Smith & Sally Turner, Ed & Vanessa Cameron, Isabelle Kranhold & Jeremy Wilson, Glenn Marshall and Ray Andrews. If you would like to find out more information about joining our Alpha Program please visit our Alpha Maps page on our website at this link.

Summary of feature changes:

Map Data Updates and Visual Improvements - Offroad Vector Map

• Approximately 14,000km of roads and tracks updated in rural and regional Australia including latest HERE road data in city and urban areas for NT, QLD & WA.

• Alpha track updates throughout Australia with significant updates in Queensland.

• Distances added to tracks (in Kilometers) - refer to image 2 below

• Track notes added from Hema’s Map Patrol and Alpha Users - refer to image 1 below

• More detailed labels for track conditions such as;Overgrown, Not maintained, 4WD All Weather, 4W Dry Weather tracks - refer to image 3 below

• Grid/gate symbols updates - refer to image 4 below

• Improved airfield data

• Updated localities

• Updated national parks

• Updated marine parks

• Updated aboriginal areas

• Updated mine area

• Updated Grid/Gates and Fords

• Other minor fixes

Map Updates - Adventure Maps

Following the recent release of the Mid North Coast New South Wales printed map we have added the following maps to our Adventure Map collection available in the HX-2:

• Mid North Coast NSW Main map

• Mid North Coast NSW Barrington Tops NP

Subscriptions - Rooftop Maps & Meridian Maps

There are now Rooftop Maps and Meridian Maps subscription offers available. These can be purchased via Hema Maps Cloud under My Account/ My Subscriptions. It is also available through the app stores (Apple and Google Play) for 4x4 Explorer App use. The combination of these two subscriptions extends the comprehensive coverage of maps in Victoria/Southern NSW through Rooftop and Meridian’s detailed and independent mapping styles.

The Rooftop annual subscription is priced at $99.99 (inc GST) per annum and Meridian Maps subscription is priced at $49.99 (inc GST) per annum. Both subscriptions can be used across both the HX-2 GPS and Hema’s 4x4 Explorer App.

For this release, the following new/updated maps have been added to the Rooftop subscription for new and existing subscribers:

• Cann River Orbost Delegate

• Cann River Deddick BowenTrails

• Kosciuszko Northern Tumut Kiandra

• Kosciuszko NP North Kiandra to Jindabyne Khancoban

• Kosciuszko NP North Kiandra Cabramurra inset

• Kosciuszko NP South Jindabyne to Khancoban

• Mallacoota - Merimbula

• Mallacoota Inlet - Fishing Boat Access

• Mallacoota Inlet - Fishing Boat Access - Mallacoota

• Mallacoota - Merimbula BenBoyd NP North Inset

• Mallacoota - Merimbula BenBoyd NP South Inset

Development Updates 

Here on-road navigation - The HX-2 is currently running on the HERE Premium SDK (3.x). This is being superseded by the new 4.x SDK. Initial testing has shown that it is not yet ready to be implemented into the HX-2. We are working closely with HERE to get this update as quickly as possible as it does offer some significant improvements,  particularly in the routing engine.

Hema Cloud (https://cloud.hemamaps.com/) - We are continuing to roll out improvements to the Cloud to make planning your trips and tracks as seamless as possible. In recent weeks, we have made some significant enhancements in this space.

Reversing Camera - Hema has recently released a ‘Heavy Duty’ reverse camera with increased range to offer a solution for those who would like to use their reversing camera on a caravan or camper trailer. This has full interaction with the HX-2. You can purchase the Heavy Duty Reversing Camera on the Hema Maps online store for $299 at this link.

Images showing before and after changes to the Offroad Vector Map:

(Image 1 - Before)

(Image 2 - After: Track notes have been added - yellow triangle with exclamation mark)

(Image 3 - Before) 

(Image 4 - After: Track Distances appear at larger zooms, also track conditions were added)

(Image 5 - Before)

(Image 6 - After: Track conditions have been added)

(Image 7 - Before)

(Image 8 - After: Fixed Before/After Grid and gate symbols have been optimised)