Lowrance® Announces Software
Update Bringing New Functionality to HDS Gen2 Touch and
HDS Gen3 Multifunction Displays
Outboard Pilot Control and New Cartography
Options Added to Award-Winning Chartplotters
Lowrance®, a world-leading
brand in fishing electronics since 1957, announced today the release of new
software updates for the award-winning Lowrance High
Definition System (HDS) Gen2 Touch and HDS Gen3
multifunction displays. The newest releases are version 4.5 for HDS Gen2 Touch
and version 2.0 for the HDS Gen3. They provide users with greatly anticipated
features including Outboard Pilot control, C-MAP MAX-N+ 2015 compatibility and Power-Pole® integration.
Bringing
new functionality to HDS
Gen3 users, the updated software leverages the power of built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology to allow for control of Power-Pole shallow-water anchors,
as well as the all-electric MICRO Anchor products. These devices quickly and
quietly anchor fishing boats and kayaks with an easy to use touchscreen control
on the Lowrance HDS display – wirelessly engaging the anchor and saving precious
minutes.
For
both HDS Gen2 Touch and HDS Gen3 displays, the updates also enable
control of the Lowrance Outboard Pilot via the Lowrance SmartSteer™ interface; support
for Jeppesen® C-MAP MAX-N+
2015 cartography with the most current detailed marina charts; and custom contour
shading, composition and vegetation layer shading for Insight Genesis™ Premium
account users. Mercury VesselView® and Mercury SmartCraft® integration improvements for Smart Tow® are also included in the updates.
The Lowrance Outboard Pilot is an HDS autopilot add-on
system designed for boats up to 30 feet and contains everything needed to fit
an autopilot to a hydraulic- or cable-steer single outboard motor. The
SmartSteer interface provides intuitive control and can steer on a set heading,
to a waypoint or along a route.
C-MAP MAX-N+ 2015 cartography can now be used on HDS Gen2
Touch and Gen3 displays, offering enhanced situational awareness, with a
variety of presentation options, for a custom look and feel. Charts can be displayed
in different imagery styles, including:
o Shaded Relief – a three-dimensional view
that brings seabed terrain to life
o No Contours – removes contour lines
from the chart to minimize clutter
o Raster – gives the chart the look of a
traditional paper chart
o High Resolution Bathymetric – provides
a higher concentration of contour lines for greater depth detail
A new Photo Overlay feature allows users to view
satellite photo images of selected areas as an overlay on the chart. Users can
view the overlays in either 2D or 3D modes. These photos provide a “bird’s eye”
view of marinas, harbors and channel entrances, giving boaters valuable detail,
as well as important information for tournament fisherman and other traveling
anglers. Additional sport fishing overlays include: color fish ID photos,
localized sport fishing rules/regulations, and state angling records – all putting
important regional knowledge at every angler’s fingertips.
“We are constantly looking for ways our customers can get
more out of our already feature-packed systems,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO and president,
Navico. “With this new update and the addition of features like Outboard Pilot
and C-MAP MAX-N+ 2015 cartography, the already robust capabilities of the HDS
Gen2 Touch and HDS Gen3 are enhanced to make it even easier for anglers to get
out on the water.”
For more information about the new software releases,
Outboard Pilot, Smartsteer, the HDS Gen2 Touch and HDS Gen3, or the entire line
of Lowrance marine electronics, or to locate an authorized Lowrance dealer,
please visit www.lowrance.com.