See What's New in Map Suite 6.0

Map Suite 6.0 represents a leap forward for developers, with many improvements over previous versions of Map Suite. We've fully integrated the new features that have been available in our daily builds and brought other enhancements and bug fixes to the table. Version 6.0 represents a must-have upgrade for all .NET developers of Map Suite!

What's New in Map Suite 6.0

Here are some of the standout new features in every edition of Map Suite 6.0:

• Improved drawing performance
  In addition to the new Direct2D drawing mode (via our WicBitmap extension), we've also applied some very significant speed optimizations to the ShapeFileFeatureLayer that improves rendering of dense or complex geometries.
• The new Map Suite Code Generator
  The all-new Code Generator allows you to generate source code from objects that you have created in your project.
• Enhanced XML serialization of the map object
• New events for more versatile label formatting
• Layer transparency
• Support for WMS 1.3.0
• Support for the latest version of MrSid and ECW raster images
• And more

And there's lots more besides, including these great features from individual product editions:

• Out-Of-Browser support in Silverlight Edition
• Google Street View integration in Web and MVC Editions
• Google Traffic integration in Web Edition
• TinyGeo (.tgeo) format support in Desktop Edition
• And more

For a complete list of changes and enhancements in Map Suite 6.0, see our official announcement or browse the full change logs on the ThinkGeo Wiki. To find the change logs, first click on the product that interests you and then scroll down to the "Change Logs" section. For example, here are the change logs for Map Suite Desktop Edition.

Updating Your Copy of Map Suite

Upgrading to Map Suite 6.0 is free for customers with a current Software Assurance Plan! Those of you who are still evaluating Map Suite can also get a free upgrade to version 6.0 of your evaluation edition.

• To update your evaluation edition, simply download and install a new copy from our Evaluation Downloads page.
• If you've purchased Map Suite, login to the Customer Portal and choose "My Product Downloads" to access an updated full version.

If you're already using Map Suite, don't forget that you can install Map Suite 6.0 alongside your previous version and associate your projects with either one.

Not sure if you qualify for a free upgrade? Give us a call toll-free at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial +1-785-727-4133) and we'll be happy to assist you.

You Can Help Direct Development of Map Suite 7.0

Beginning with today's release, Map Suite moves to an annual release cycle. Whereas previously we had issued a major new release in May and a largely stability-focused release in November, we have eliminated the November release and will instead be focusing on delivering continuous bug fixes and updates throughout the year via the daily builds.

Our next major release of Map Suite is due in May of 2013 and will bring with it a host of new and oft-requested improvements, some of which we're hard at work on right now -- and which you will soon get a taste of in the daily builds.

You can visit our Enhancement Tracker to vote for or tell us about the features you want to see in Map Suite 7.0. Did the feature you wanted not make it into Map Suite 6.0? Don't worry -- we may yet include it in a future release! Let us know how important a feature is to you by adding your voice to its discussion topic in the Map Suite Enhancement Discussion forum.

Have Questions or Feedback?

Many thanks to the developers in our Map Suite community forums who have helped us test, debug and improve Map Suite for the 6.0 release. Our recent focus on deploying new beta features through the daily builds has been very successful and we intend to continue this practice going forward. Should you have any questions or suggestions for future improvements, let our developers know by posting your comments on this blog entry, or in the support forum for your particular Map Suite product.

We're already hard at work on Map Suite 7.0, the next major refresh of Map Suite that's scheduled for release in the spring. In the meantime, please enjoy working with Map Suite 6.0 and feel free to post your comments, questions and remarks on this topic, or send them to us directly at support@thinkgeo.com.

Thanks for choosing Map Suite for your GIS development needs!

Download Your Free Trial of MVC Edition 6.0

The beta has ended: Map Suite MVC Edition is now in full release! Those of you who have been waiting for the conclusion of the public beta period can now dive straight in and start working with next-generation web development techniques in your GIS applications. Free evaluations of MVC Edition 6.0 are available now from our website.

Since the beta version, Map Suite MVC Edition has gained Google Maps' Street View integration, as well as the full list of changes to the Map Suite core that were introduced in version 6.0. This means you'll enjoy WMS 1.3.0 support, improved drawing performance and memory usage, layer transparency, improved XML serialization, the exciting new Code Generator and much more.

For a complete list of what's new in Map Suite MVC Edition 6.0, take a look at the official features change log. You may also be interested in the list of API changes since the beta version.

Give MVC Edition a try today by downloading your free trial from our website, or visit our online store to purchase the full version. If you previously purchased a full licensed copy during the beta, feel free to login to your Customer Portal account and download your complimentary upgrade to MVC Edition 6.0.

If you have any questions about Map Suite 6.0 or how upgrades and licensing work, please contact your ThinkGeo account representative by email or by phone at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Save $100 on your next ThinkGeo purchase! When you refer a friend or colleague to ThinkGeo, he or she will receive $100 off their order when they mention your name — and so will you, in the form of a $100 discount good toward your next order with ThinkGeo. It pays to spread the word about Map Suite!

Try Map Suite Before You Buy

Now you can download free evaluation demos of our most popular products. They are fully-functional and contain no locked or inaccessible features. Try Map Suite free for 60 days and see how easy GIS development can be.