Freeware of Mapping; how to create and upload free maps/free custom maps/free POIs on GPS devices?

Freeware of Mapping; how to create and upload free maps/free custom maps/free POIs on GPS devices?

Here is the overview of Garmin Custom Maps from Garmin.

Free software:

• Mobile Atlas Creator is an excellent open source (GPL) program which creates offline atlases for GPS handhelds and cell phone applications. Starting from v1.9 beta 2, it remove all map sources that are not basing on OpenStreetMap data because of conflicting with map providers. A few words about Custom Map Sources for MOBAC. You may download a copy of MOBAC 1.9 beta 1 here by BpACKer.
• Terra Incognita is a mapping tool with a range of features and functions. You can use this program to download web source maps or local files maps and generate OziExplorer, Kmz, JNX, GPSdash or TrekBuddy calibrated map file.
• ExifTool is a very powerful tool for editing meta information in image, audio, and video files. Exiftool GUI is a GUI for ExifTool. For geotagging a group of photos without any tracking information. ExifMixer is an another great GUI for ExifTool, it's good to change Exif in batch. 
• GPXSee is a GPS log file viewer and analyzer that supports GPX, TCX, KML, FIT, IGC, NMEA and OziExplorer files.
• Google Trail: a fascinating freeware converts Google,Yahoo Map, Openstreet Map, Cloudemate, or Bing maps into Garmin Custom Maps intuitively. It is simple and works like a charm, though it doesn't have as many features as Mobile Atlas Creator and OkMap.
• GPSMapEdit is designed for visual authoring of GPS-maps in various cartographic formats
• GPS Visualizer is a free online powerful GPS and mapping tool.
• GPX Editor is a must-having good program for loading, modifying and saving your GPX 1.1 files.
• ITN Converter is a great small freeware; it is a good one on both converting different formats and planning route simple and efficient.
• GpsPrune is an application for viewing, editing and converting coordinate data from GPS systems. 
• I use Picasa and Google Earth, or Lorc GPS Photo (the file size is much smaller). However, when I have tracking information downloaded from a GPS receiver, I usually use GeoSetter to geotag my photos taken along the trail. You can download GeoSetter Beta here.
• OkMap is an interactive software which allows you to work on your computer screen with digital maps that you have either bought or scanned.It downloads and saving maps from Google Maps with automatic calibration. It generates compatible "Garmin Custom Maps" (kmz format). OkMap also supports JNX file format since version 9.7.0.
• Viking is a free/open source program to manage GPS data. You can import and plot tracks and waypoints, show OpenStreetMap, Terraserver, Bing Aerial and other maps in it, download geocaches for an area on the map, make new tracks and waypoints, see real-time GPS position, etc.
• GPSBable is good at converting waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers and mapping programs. I also install EasyGPS, a data transfer from your GPS receivers and computer, for a quick view of my downloaded waypoints, routes, and tracks.
• How to create/plan route for a GPS Unit?You can use the BaseCamp, a powerful but big freeware from Garmin, to create routes, waypoints, and tracks. Here are some training videos.
• MapSetToolkit generates TDB files for Mapsource and TDB files which will supports file TYP.
• DNRGPS is built to transfer data between Garmin handheld GPS receivers and GIS software.

Tips:

• How to Convert Google Maps Direction into GPX file
• A few words about Custom Map Sources for MOBAC
• GPSFileDepot is a great source for GPS files including custom maps, custom points of interest, ximage hosting, articles, tutorials, and tools. If you don't have the topo maps on your Garmin GPSMAP, you can just use the maps on GPSFileDepot. Some maps  even better than Garmin's maps. A lot of thanks to GPSFileDepot and also to Garmin company for its mercy of letting us to use these free maps on Garmin GPS units. This is a excellent combination of great but expensive GPS units and free maps. Now I don't need necessary buy a GPS units with a installed topo map from other companies .
• Tip: How To Load Maps On My Garmin GPS Unit with BaseCamp
• Tip: How To Install MapSource If It Didn't Come With Your GPS
• Tip: How To Load Maps On My Garmin GPS Unit
• How to Load Maps Seperately on GPSMAP 62s: you need rename the file with name of 'gmapsupp.img' under the directory of 'Drive:\Garmin\' to a name with a '.img' extension. Then do the same for each extra mapset, using a different name with a '.img' extension. The GPSMAP 62 identifies any map file with an '.img' extension, but Mapsource creates a file named 'gmapsupp.img'.
• Tips: Garmin blogs - Trail Tech 
• BaseCamp views and organizes your maps, waypoints, routes, and tracks and send them to your Garmin device. MapSource plans and organizes trips with MapSource, computer software.
• Wiki Q & A about Garmin Custom Maps.
• How to Use GMapTool to combine multiple maps into one mapset file for Garmin GPS
• How to Use GMapTool with cGPSmapper to convert finalized gmapsupp.img back to MapSource maps (Use Gmaptool to install maps images in Mapsource)

Website for free tools and map images:

• GPS Visualizer is a free, easy-to-use online utility that creates maps and profiles from GPS data (tracks and waypoints, including GPX files), driving routes, street addresses, or simple coordinates. Use it to see where you've been, plan where you're going, or visualize geographic data.
• GPSFileDepot is a great source for GPS files including custom maps, custom points of interest, ximage hosting, articles, tutorials, and tools.
• Gmap-pedometer.com is a Web app designed to let you track the precise distance of your workouts, and track and log your activity.
• Libre Map Project is to aggregate and make digital maps and related GIS data available for Free.
• Free Topographic Maps from Anyplace America
• Free topo maps from USGS.
• National Park Service Maps
• Army Map Service Topographic Map Series
• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection by UTAustin. You can find some China Maps.
• Natural Earth is a public domain map dataset available at 1:10m, 1:50m, and 1:110 million scales. Featuring tightly integrated vector and raster data, with Natural Earth you can make a variety of visually pleasing, well-crafted maps with cartography or GIS software.
• Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) is the official public access geospatial information clearinghouse for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• MapCenter - a place where you can share your maps for Garmin GPS receivers and find maps created by other GPS enthusiasts from all over the world.

How to Create Custom Point of Interest (POI) for Garmin GPS

• Download Garmin's POI Loader
• Creating Custom POI Files.
• An informative article by Sam Penrod.
• POI-factory  is a place which GPS users get together to share locations and discussions with other GPS users since 2006.