[ActiveCaptain]

I can't believe Maxsea TZ is going for $346 on Defender. You Americans always get such good prices on everything!

I'm not as concerned about the "3D" aspect, it's more just the appeal of a really fast vector/raster charting engine. The weather downloads seem really slick too.

The very latest version of MaxSea Time Zero is being released today or tomorrow. It will be available for less than Defender is selling it.

Lots of new features. I've been testing this latest version for over a month. It's just incredible what they've packed into this software:

• [li]Windows XP and Vista and Windows 7 (32 bits / 64 bits compatibility)[/li][li]Connection to GPS and other data (NMEA compatible upon serial ports or Ethernet by Furuno)[/li][li]Autopilot compatibility[/li][li]Worldwide planning charts included[/li][li]US NOAA chart area included (vector, raster, 3D, satellite imagery)[/li][li]New mm3d "C-MAP by Jeppesen" Vector Charts Compatibility[/li][li]Worldwide tide database included[/li][li]US tidal currents included[/li][li]Worldwide 3D database included[/li][li]Exclusive TimeZero real time GPS navigation and 3D engine[/li][li]Exclusive TimeZero look and feel (work spaces and ribbons)[/li][li]TimeZero automatic full screen feature[/li][li]Customizable Toolbar, Ribbons and NavData[/li][li]Undo / Redo function[/li][li]Exclusive TimeZero charting engine (seamless, smooth!)[/li][li]Exclusive TimeZero PhotoFusion (photos and charts)[/li][li]Time Zero 3D navigation (recording Marks, Waypoints & routes, etc.) [/li][li]Unlimited vessel track and track line coloring[/li][li]Unlimited Marks, waypoints & routes, Marks, Waypoints & routes lists[/li][li]Marks and routes transfer to GPS (many supported)[/li][li]Search engine to localize on chart worldwide places.[/li][li]POIs: Online Photos Google PANORAMIO compatibility - Adding to "My Photos".[/li][li]POIs: Active Captain compatibility.[/li][li]Free web service weather updates (rain, cloud, air temp, wind, waves, currents, pressure)[/li][li]Weather and tidal animation[/li][li]Alarms[/li][li]Logbook[/li][li]AIS and ARPA Targets display; targets lists[/li][li]Display DSC Waypoints and MOB[/li][li]AIS Online[/li]

Although I obviously love the full offline ActiveCaptain support with synchronization, there are some really interesting things in this new release:

- Full weather support without any additional fees for the data - no pesky monthly or yearly subscriptions

- AIS online support if you don't have any AIS hardware currently but are in internet range

- Undo/Redo - I never realized how nice this is. First, it means that there's no annoying "Are you sure you want to do this?" type of warnings when you're deleting something. They're no longer needed because you can always undo the operation. And of course, other operations are undo-able too. Move a waypoint in a route by accident - no problem - just undo it.


MaxSea Time Zero's zooming and panning is something that every boater who uses electronic displays should experience. It's something totally new an unique. "Instant" doesn't describe it well enough. You've just gotta see it.