Depth maps

[haknslash]

In order to download a map you have to pay for a service I believe. Like mentioned in the article they will be using a 3rd party to provide prints so all is good.

 

[biffdotorg]

Printed maps aren't free either. It's just saving the folks money that have no need for paper these days. Navionics "boating USA" is either free or $10, and the US/Canada version is like $23. Caribbean is like $29

But the point was, that the same quality maps are being created by the same folks, they are only shifting the responsibility to print them to the user, rather than pre-printing something that is not used by everyone anymore.