Google/Yahoo maps on a mobile phone
Ok here it is, I have cut-paste some of it from different places but included the source for those.
PROS:
No costs involved
Don't need to buy a GPS specific device
Extremely detailed maps for anywhere in the world available from anywhere that has internet and a web browser
Can pick and choose EXACTLY which areas and zoom levels you want to install, right down to the metre.
Not platform dependant. I did this on my eeePC using Linux, I've heard this isn't possible with Garmin mapsource (although I bet it is).
You can have an all-in-one device. My Nokia N82 now operates as a Phone, 5mp camera, high quality video camera, GPS and MP3 Player
Less devices to charge from your battery also Mobile phones don't drain much as they are made to be efficient.
Can use satellite imagery. I think this would be handy for desert crossings and places where there are no roads.
CONS:
NOT Waterproof/shockproof. Maybe you can get around this with some of those cases on eBay.
Small screen
No voice directions and I think (but not sure) that routes can't be reprogrammed without the internet
What you need:
- A mobile phone with either internal GPS or a bluetooth device. There are some other options such as 'serial' or 'GPSGate' however I don't know what they
are.
- An internet connection. If you are on this website you then obviously have one but it is even easier if you can connect your phone via WLAN (although not entirely necessary, I HIGHLY recommend it).
The first part will be to configure the software, the second will be to configure GPS tracking.
PART I - GPS Navigation setup
Step 1) Install mgmaps application
Download and Install (source:
Mobile GMaps - Download)
Installation instructions:
* Open the WAP site
Mobile GMaps on your mobile phone, then select the download link. This is the recommended method of installing
Mobile GMaps.
* If the above does not work for some reason (e.g. you are using a PDA or your phone does not support WAP 2.0), you will have to take the longer
path. You'll have to download the JAD and JAR file(s) on your computer, upload them to your phone (using bluetooth, infrared, or serial/USB cable), then
install the application by opening the JAD or the JAR file on the phone. Hint: you can open the WAP site in your PC browser to download the
JAD/JAR files for specific versions.
Step 2) Configure maps for offline mode (so you don't need internet)
With internet access on your phone it will now be working already!! However there is now a major problem which is that it's currently downloading maps on
the fly over the WLAN connection. For adventurer riders this is useless of course and even for city driving you will want to make sure you have no download
limits. However we can overcome this using 'Stored maps' which are also available if you are offline.
To learn all the features of the software then go here:
Mobile GMaps - Help - Documentation
Now go to the following website:
Map Creation Tool for MGMaps
SINGLE click around the target area that you would like to download. i.e. Single click 3 times and you will have a triangle.
Choose Zoom levels 0-3 until we get it right (as they will show up wherever you are on the map).
Choose fast and rough (also for first time)
Click 'Generate'
You will be prompted to save a .map file. Save this to your desktop or home folder.
Windows:
Download and installthe following file:
http://www.mgmaps.com/cache/gMapMaker-setup.exe
Run program after installation, click 'GO' and open map file.
The maps are downloaded by default to C:\Program Files\gMapMaker\MGMapsCache
Copy these onto a folder on your phone using USB, I highly recommend the memory card because they can get very big.
Linux:
Open terminal (ctrl + alt + t on a eeePC)
Download -
http://www.mgmaps.com/cache/MapTileCacher.perl and
http://www.mgmaps.com/cache/MapTileFE.zip (not necessary but a nice front-end)
Put them into the same directory as your .map file is saved to and extract the zip there too.
Run the following command:
user$> sudo MapTileFE.perl
The maps will download to your computer, copy these onto a folder on your phone using USB, I highly recommend the memory card because they can get very big.
In your phone open the mgmaps application, choose the following:
Menu >> 7. Settings >> Map Browsing >> then TICK THE BOX for Stored Maps
ON THE SAME MENU move down to 'Storage path' press 'options' and choose browse, find the location which you transferred the maps too. Mine is "Memory
card/data/Maps/"
Save out of the application, go back in and it should work!
Linear Mode
