Seems like a reasonable solution would be to allow two open apps, have each dock to either the top or bottom of the display (vs. docking at the bottom as they do now) and have the map shift focus to the open section if only one app is visible. In addition, add a pin button to the app window, allowing it to be locked open in whichever slot. If 1 app is pinned, a second app opens in the open slot which can also be pinned.
Might be even easier to add an app settings page that lets you select top/bottom for each app and a pin setting.
There's really no need for the map to take up the whole 17" landscape screen and it'd be easy to incorporate two open apps into the overall UI design.
With 2 open apps, audio controls could default to hidden and pop over the bottom app only when opened.