Clarification: EOTopo 2023 and the new 4-Year Access "Expiry" Policy

With one of the previous updates to Exploroz app you were unable to access older mapsets.
Kevin

That's not really clear if you look at the changes. As long as I can keep using my old map set, I'm happy. Given the very small user base and the maps relying on OpenStreetMap anyway, I can't really see the price justified for updating them. I've previously updated but never noticed any difference. I do understand they need to make money as a small company, but I would have thought the yearly membership should cover that.

The maps need to keep up with updates to the app. To keep the old maps working don't update the technology in your phone - its about compatibility- cannot be fairer than that. How often do you have to update ALL the other apps on your phone to be able to use them - sounds like sour grapes complaining about this but not understanding the product and the progress of tech...

So Kerry how would you explain old (purchased not rented) maps (2021) being forcibly deleted from an old (version 7.62) app. They were compatible until ExplorOz decided they are now rentals and deleted them from my device.

Kerry

Re your quote “how often do you have to update ALL the other apps on your phone to use them”

Very big statement that is not right. I have over 80 apps on my phone and the only app that has updated is WikiCamps, but not cost for the update…..

If I had the purchase the other 80 apps for updates, I would delete then.

Every other maps that I have ever purchased ( non EO) are a lifetime purchase.

Hi Kerry,
To clarify the technical reality: your "compatibility" argument conflates the App Engine with Static Map Data.

• Data vs. Engine: A mapset is a database of assets. While the App Engine (the Traveller app) requires updates to remain compatible with iOS/Android APIs, those updates do not technically break the ability to render legacy map files.
• Intentional Lockout: In the v9.2.1 release notes, the entry "Removed support for EOTopo 2021" confirms an intentional software lockout. This is a code-level choice to disable access, not a hardware-driven failure of the data.
• The Control Group: I run Guru Maps and Memory-Map on the same OS versions. Their engines have evolved while maintaining 100% backward compatibility with years-old map licenses.
• Stability: Since EOTopo is built on stable OpenStreetMap (OSM) schemas, the data format isn't volatile.
As a paying member since 2018 with 3 devices running concurrently, I can confirm the "blue screen" and tracking issues are app-specific stability bugs (acknowledged in the v10.3 dev notes), not "tech progress."
Suggesting users avoid OS security updates to keep a map working is technically unsound. Compatibility is a standard development practice, not a "sour grapes" request.
Cheers,
Stefan

A lot of misunderstandings in all this so for our product I can clarify the following:

1. Stefan is incorrectly quoting that the terms of EOTopo use have changed. They have not.
EOTopo has always been sold as a one time purchase (not subscription). This purchase was for a single edition of the map based on the production year with 4 years of supported access to that edition within the Traveller app.

What does 4 year support mean?

1. new versions of Traveller that are released (new features, bug fixes, compatibility improvements with OS updates) continue recognising (supporting) your EOTopo map purchase for the stated time period. So the 2023 Edition is supported for year years - means not guaranteed to be supported in any updates to the Traveller app from 2027 onwards.
**We have already been through this transition in 2025, when support for the 2021 edition ended.
We have the capacity on our servers to support 4 editions at a time, so right now we are supporting the following editions of EOTopo: 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

2. you have access to download the version of EOTopo that you have purchased during the support period (access is provided in the Data Manager). After that, new versions of the Traveller app may not provide access to those downloads.

3. the purchase of EOTopo is tied to the users ExplorOz account (your login) allowing you to access the downloads via the Data Manager. This enables support via any device you are using.

4. There are no updates to the map accessible with this purchase. To update your maps, a new purchase of EOTopo is required.

------------------------------- THIS HAS NOT CHANGED----------------------------
WHAT'S NEW
We now have ADDED 2 additional ways to buy the EOTopo maps. Both of the new options are subscription based (annual). Unlike the above which is a single payment for 1 edition you can use for 4 years. These new editions give you the latest maps access whilst your subscription is active.

WHY HAVE WE OFFERED THESE TWO NEW OPTIONS?
1. to simplify the purchase decision - for those wanting everything (latest map editions annually + membership) Pro Access is the way. Many new buyers want this as simple as possible.
2. to enables existing members a way to update maps without doubling up, the Annual Map Access is one simple way to always have the latest edition, stay up to date. Many of our uses want this.
3. We have kept the existing 4 year option for those that are happy to keep using one edition for a few years. No change.

If you want to keep a particular edition of maps longer than the supported period, then turn off app updates. However any unsupported version could be prone to other incompatibilities over time so its up to the individual.

Have a look through the forum and on Facebook. The issues are well documented and not just with me. But anyway, it is what it is. I have probably one hour of video footage as I usually film every time one of my navigation app fails. Actually it's only EOT because none of the other fails.

If you purchase software under the premise that it is all fine. I just do not like changing terms and conditions after the fact, which is also against Australian consumer law.

For me personally, given that it is open street maps and that very few people use ExplorOZ nowadays, the updates and improvements from what I have seen are not really noticeable. I don't see me paying for further maps. However, I did pay for the yearly subscription fee as I understand that a company needs to make money.

Maybe it's the hardware of lower cost phones that doesn't work with Traveller?
I always purchase the higher level phones like Samsung S series or Google Pixel.
Never had any installation or operational issues.

Hi Stu

Paying a monthly fee for your software……you are definitely using the wrong computer…..

If you had a superior Apple Mac…..you never pay for any updates and all you Microsoft type payable programmes like Word, Excel, Mail etc are all included for FREE on your Mac but under a different Name line Word, Mail, Numbers etc. with no ever charging to buy or any updates.

But having said that, I do use Windows computers purely for using OziExplorer, so yes I know how Windows operate and for me, not in the same league as a superior Mac.

G'day Stephen,
The Microsoft/Apple discussions are reminiscent of the Ford/Holden comparisons we used to have.
Good & bad points of both. I used Apple products for years but transitioned to Microsoft & Android because of compatibility issues with other products. People use whatever system suits their needs. That's why both companies are successful.
Anyway I guess we have got a bit off track from the original discussion.

Cheers
Stu

Really, that would be against ACCC rules. I would contact EO and ask them to reinstate the maps. Please let me know how it works out, as I would assume the EO team will do the right thing and adhere to Australian Consumer Law.

This now reminds me of the change of warranty terms that DCS made. I understand if they need to change their business model, but not retroactively for customers who purchased under different conditions. Any changes need to apply to purchases made from the date the new terms take effect, not before.

Sometimes Stefan the juice is not worth the squeeze...

EOTopo has always been sold as a one time purchase (not subscription). This purchase was for a single edition of the map based on the production year with 4 years of supported access to that edition within the Traveller app.

Support for the 2021 edition ended in 2025 as per the 4 year support period.
The 2023 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2027.
The 2024 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2028.
The 2025 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2029.

Depending how you buy your 2026 edition, it may come to the end of its support period in 2030 if you buy the single edition, one time purchase option for 4 years of access. Otherwise, we now also offer EOTopo in annual subscriptions (Pro or Annual Maps) that you pay annual to access the latest edition at all times.

EOTopo has always been sold as a one time purchase (not subscription). Purchase for a single edition of the map based on the production year with 4 years of supported access to that edition within the Traveller app.

Support for the 2021 edition ended in 2025 as per the 4 year support period.
The 2023 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2027.
The 2024 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2028.
The 2025 edition comes to the end of its support period in 2029.

Depending how you buy your 2026 edition, it may come to the end of its support period in 2030 if you buy the single edition, one time purchase option for 4 years of access. Otherwise, we now sell EOTopo in annual subscriptions (Pro or Annual Maps) that you pay annual to access the latest edition at all times.

"have an old 2010 ipad that still uses really OLD ExplorOz maps"

How old is really OLD?

Hi Kerry,
I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not "requesting" that technology stands still; I’m stating that a product sold as a one-time purchase shouldn’t have a retroactive kill-switch applied to it.
Regarding your suggestion to "not update the technology"—telling a user to freeze their OS and skip security patches just to keep a map functional is, frankly, the only thing "ridiculous" here. In 2026, OS updates are mandatory for security and the basic function of every other app on a device. A well-coded app should maintain backward compatibility for its own data files, especially when those maps were sold without an expiry date.
As for the maps themselves, it’s worth noting that EOTopo is fundamentally built on OpenStreetMap (OSM) data with an ExplorOz overlay. Since the core road and track data comes from an open-source foundation, the "high cost of progress" argument doesn't really apply to the ability to simply view the map offline. If the engine can render the vector data today, it is a choice—not a technical limitation—to disable that access in four years.
Finally, regarding "operator error":
• ExplorOz’s own recent technical newsletters (v10.3) officially acknowledge the "blue screen" and "splash screen" hangs as known software bugs.
• I run Memory Maps on the exact same iPad and Android devices. It never crashes, never loses tracking, and never shows a blue screen.
If one app works perfectly and the other doesn't on the same hardware, it isn't "operator error"—it's a software stability issue. I’m happy to pay for a membership to support David and Michelle, but I expect the products I’ve already bought to remain accessible as per the terms I bought them under.
Cheers,
Stefan

So it appears you review products?
Hmmm any conflicts of interest?


You "are" being quite dramatic - "retroactive kill switch"??? Ffs ....asking for technology to stand still? Really?... that is being irrational.
Reading into my comments- "OS UPDATES" when I mention updating apps?
Even the NAB banking app will not work unless you keep updates current....
As I said you are being way too dramatic and I suspect biased

(Ill admit - Im biased -I love it - I use the app for wildlife surveys and exploration - there is nothing else out there that comes close to its functionality - but you do need to read the instructions....) -


From what you misread in just my comments maybe you need to take more time to check the manual.

Yes there can be issues with such a high tech app which incidentally is continually in development and evolving which means its being updated and improved compared to the simplicity of other apps like MM which really dont change very often.

If they know about the problems you speak of then its fixable - looking for support in the forum is only going to yield comments from those who also cannot fix the problems you have.
Why persist? we cannot fix it for you or explain much at all.
Contact the help desk -

Hi Kerry,

I’ll try to address your points without the "drama," though I suspect we have very different definitions of what it means to own a digital product.
Regarding my "conflicts": As I mentioned, I’ve been a user since 2018 and have done work for both ExplorOz and Memory-Map in the past. If having experience with multiple platforms and being paid to create tutorials for the very app we are discussing makes me "biased," then I’d argue it’s a bias built on actually knowing how the software works (and where it fails).

To address your other points:

• The Banking App Analogy: This is a false equivalence. A banking app is a free gateway to a service. EOTopo is a paid product. If a bank told you that you could only access your 2023 statement for four years unless you paid a new "access fee," people would be outraged.


• "Retroactive Kill Switch": You call it dramatic; I call it what’s in the release notes. Look at Version 9.2.1 of the app history—it explicitly states "Removed support for EOTopo 2021." In plain English, that means people who bought that mapset can no longer use it in the current app. When a "one-time purchase" is intentionally rendered unusable by a software update, that is a "kill switch," regardless of how much we like the app.

• Technology "Standing Still": I’m not asking for the app to stop evolving. I’m asking for backward compatibility. Other "high tech" mapping apps allow you to view older, purchased map versions even after the app engine updates. Since EOTopo is based on OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, the data format isn't so volatile that it must be deleted or disabled every four years.

• Why the Forum?: I’m not here asking you to fix a bug, Kerry. I’m here because this is a community discussion about a significant change in the business model and licensing terms that affects every long-term user. If a company changes the rules for products already sold, the user forum is exactly where that should be debated.

I’m glad the app works perfectly for your wildlife surveys—it’s a testament to how great the database is. But liking the product doesn't mean we should ignore a shift in licensing that contradicts the terms under which many of us originally signed up.

Cheers,
Stefan

No user long term or otherwise is affected by anything. We HAVE NOT CHANGED the EOTopo license - the single purchase always was for a 4 year period and has always been documented.

Since Stefan has posted seeking "clarification", we can confirm:

1. EOTopo single purchases from the past, and in the future retain the same 4 year licence conditions they have always had. This has not changed. The only thing that has changed, is we are now offering 2 additional ways to buy your maps via subscriptions "Pro Access" and "Annual map access". The 4 year EOTopo single purchase option is still available as a third option with a clear name to ensure these 3 options are easier for people to understand.

2. I can also clarify that this statement is also false "EOTopo is fundamentally built on OpenStreetMap (OSM) data with an ExplorOz overlay...".

Hi Nick,
I’m not sure which video or comment you are referring to, but I’ve been a registered ExplorOz member since 2018. Whether there was a misunderstanding in a YouTube comment section years ago doesn't change the fact that I’ve used EOT and the Traveller app on and off for nearly 8 years.
To answer your question on why I "keep it": I’ve always said the POI and track database in ExplorOz is excellent. That’s why I’m still here. I want the platform to be great, but I’m not going to ignore the fact that the app's stability has been an issue for me for years—a fact backed up by many others on various platforms.
As for "beating a drum," have a look at the Version History (which I've attached).
• Notice Version 10.3.0 from just a week ago? That is when the one-time purchase was officially renamed to "4-Year Access." * Look at Version 9.2.1 from a year ago: it explicitly states "Removed support for EOTopo 2021." This confirms exactly what I’m concerned about: "End of support" isn't just a lack of updates; it’s a technical lockout. If you bought the 2021 maps thinking they were yours to keep, you found out a year ago that you could no longer use them in the current app.
A business can certainly choose how to run its affairs, but in Australia, those choices are governed by Consumer Law. If a product is sold as a "purchase" and then later converted into a "4-year rental" retroactively, that is a legitimate concern for any consumer.
I’m happy to pay my yearly membership to support the database and the team, but I expect the mapsets I purchased to remain accessible. That isn't "brand bagging"—it's holding a provider to the terms of the original sale.
Cheers,
Stefan

I appreciate you taking the time to do some background research, but I think you’ve drawn some incorrect conclusions that need clearing up.
First, to clarify my "conflict": I am not a paid consultant for Memory-Map. Several years ago, I was paid for a few weeks of consultancy work prior to the release of their MMFA software. That was a one-off project that ended years ago.

Like many people who test and review gear, I do have an affiliate link for their maps—just as I had an affiliate arrangement with ExplorOz until they terminated the program without notice. I also have affiliate links to Gaia and many other GPS Navigations apps.

In fact, if we are talking about being "paid," ExplorOz actually paid me to create one of their official tutorial videos. By your logic, shouldn't I be "conflicted" in their favor?

The reality is much simpler: I am a user who has spent my own money on both platforms. My views aren't "bought"—they are based on three years of documented performance. Whether I have an affiliate link or not doesn't change the fact that:

1. The ExplorOz app frequently hits a "blue screen" or loses tracking on high-end hardware while other apps (like Memory-Map) do not.

2. The 2023 mapset I purchased is now being retroactively capped with a 4-year limit that wasn't transparent at the point of sale.

Accusing me of "brand advertising" is a convenient way to avoid discussing the actual technical and legal concerns I’ve raised. If the app worked perfectly and the licensing terms remained as they were when I bought them, I’d be the first to post a positive review—just as I did when I was making tutorials for them.

Let's stick to the facts: Does a "one-time purchase" from 2023 legally expire in 2027 under Australian Consumer Law? That is the only question that matters here.

Hi Team,
Thank you for the screenshots. However, these documents are from Help Guides and FAQs, which are not the primary Point of Sale descriptions. When I purchased EOTopo 2023, the marketing emphasized a "one-time purchase" for the mapset.
There is also a significant legal difference between "Ending Support" (no more updates or help desk assistance) and "Ending Access" (deleting or disabling the maps).
• Under Australian Consumer Law, a product must be "fit for purpose" for a reasonable period.
• For a digital map, a "reasonable period" doesn't usually involve the file being rendered unreadable or deleted after 4 years simply because a new version exists.
Given that I have already documented significant reliability issues (the "blue screen" bug and tracking failures), being told that the product I paid for has a pre-programmed expiration date—which was not prominently displayed at the time of my transaction—is unacceptable.
I would like to know if ExplorOz plans to provide a legacy viewer or a way for 2023 purchasers to retain the offline access they paid for without being forced into the new 2026 subscription/4-year model.
Regards,
Stefan

Point of sale terms here from 2023

EOTopo has ALWAYS BEEN sold as a licence offering support in the Traveller app for 4 years.

Hi David and Michelle,

I appreciate you sharing the backend screenshot. It’s helpful to see how your internal systems are structured; however, from a consumer perspective and under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), the primary concern is the transparency of terms provided at the public-facing Point of Sale.
I’ve spent some time reviewing the public documentation and Terms of Use from 2022 through to late 2025. Based on these records, it appears there may be a discrepancy between your internal policy and the terms officially communicated to customers:

• Explicit Rights to Continued Use: Your own ExplorOz Traveller product documentation (July 2022) explicitly states: "The license covers the map version you purchased... You will not be forced to buy a new license to continue using the app. Without the purchase of a new license, you can continue to use the version you already have". This clearly communicates an indefinite right to use a specific, paid-for map version without a time-limited "expiry".
• Finality of Purchase: The Terms of Use consistently state: "Purchase of downloadable products such as maps... cannot be returned, cancelled or refunded. Please choose carefully". In a digital context, a non-refundable "one-time payment" for a specific version strongly implies a permanent license for that data, not a 4-year rental.
• Recent Change in Transparency: As your own Version History for v10.3.0 confirms, the one-time purchase option was only "Renamed" to include the "4-Year Access" branding just a few days ago. This confirms that this specific limitation was not a prominent, clear term of sale for the 2023 maps.
• Consumer Protection: The Terms of Use acknowledge Non-excludable Rights under the Trade Practices Act and Consumer Guarantees Act.

Retroactively applying a 4-year expiration to a product sold without that explicit condition could be viewed as a major failure under ACL.

I’ve been a paying member since 2018 and have used and supported ExplorOz for nearly eight years because I value the POI and track database. I don't want to escalate this unnecessarily; I simply ask that you don't apply this 4-year limit retroactively to legacy purchasers of the 2023 maps.
Allowing us to retain offline access to the specific version we paid for—even without further updates—is a fair outcome that honors the original terms of sale.

Regards,
Stefan

The naming change was introduced to clearly distinguish between the three available map options now offered in the app:

* Pro Access (Membership + maps)
* Maps-only annual access
* The existing 4-year map access (one-off purchase)

It was a product naming update to reflect the expanded purchase options, not a change to how the 4-year access works.

EOTopo map access has been sold as a single purchase with a 4-year access period tied to the map edition for many years.

That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is that we’ve added two optional annual subscription choices:

* Pro Access (Membership + maps)
* Maps-only annual access

The original one-off purchase option remains available and continues to provide 4 years of access as before.