TrekBuddy

[guest]

[Ranger]

You can use for such task some browser extension like GMapToGPX, it works as Firefox plug-in (I never had a chance to test it with Camino)
http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx
Java script source code is available on this page.

[UziCorp]

@ Ranger - you have some good points although I was thinking about dynamic navigation, 'in the field', when you don't have access to your computer.

Say you get lost travelling somewhere and you find it too difficult to retrace your route. Therefore you would have to create a new route from where you are to your destination. Or you might change your mind and want to go elsewhere. Thinking about it - this method requires a lot of data as all the possible (position) points need to be on file beforehand.

You said that using vector maps would be easier but there would be a problem with the source. I'm not sure if there are any freely available - Are the garmin maps open for anyone to use? I suppose some of the maps from otehr desktop gps software might be usable but there would be a problem with copyright/licensing (to protect their intellectual property).

Having the world, or even continental or country maps on a phone would be really pushing mobile navigation to its limits. (The map might be about a gigabyte!) If all coordinates for each area were known then a dynamic route could be constructed using similar algorithms to the travelling salesman problem. I guess at this stage it might not be practical to do this on a phone though, still I'd like to use this for road navigation if possible.

@ Sandos

Thanks for the information - although I'm a java guy and some C++ code looks a little odd for me. It was very informative to look at and yes it has made me think that it might be easier than previously thought. I agree that memory would be a limiting factor, to search for the map on the memory card and build the search tree in RAM. Like you I too would be interested in how a phone may perform in this situation.

Thanks

[Ranger]

[Atanvarno]

well, there exists free GIS information in the net. but the informations are to rough for navigation purpose. i guess the mapscale is about 1:1'000'000 or maybe 1:500'000. so the free data is useless.

i agree with ranger. to use TB like a swiss knife makes sense. because else one could buy any handheld GPS, which include powerfull processors with all vectordata needed.

but for ad hoc planing (when map is in general prepared) or for planned navigation, TB might become very usefull.

[UziCorp]

I agree with the both of you, Ranger and Atanvarno. I was just exploring the thought of using it as a in-car navigation.

I bought a gps for its main purpose for in-car navigation in cities such as London and could not afford a complete system such as a TomTom. I've used on-line tools such as Nav4All etc. but don't like the reliance of using the external source to get you to where you need to go. (Plus they've not been so stable as I expected and have left me stranded in places. I'm glad that no matter what happens I can still rely on hadcopy maps and a sense of direction).

To have the ability to create your own route is great but not so easy (or safe) when you are busy at the wheel. I hope that I am not coming across as someone asking too much. From what I have seen and what TB is featured to do. I like the way it is going and that I can use my gps for more than what other stand-alone systems can do. It's amazing and I respect all the development that has been put in. Today I used the HPS and CMS whilst on a drive today (I learned that the speedometer on my car quotes speeds higher than expected).

Now I plan to use a map off-road and see where I can go - something that commercial car-navigation GPS systems don't specialise in. To use satellite photos and OS maps together make it quite a practical navigation tool. I'll also try and produce a map for London too.

Like said before, this is much like a swiss-army knife, but one that grows more tools every time. It is very useful indeed.

I have much to learn.

[Lakva]

Above all we have keep the state of development in our minds
TB 0.9.57 is still beeing developped and from the version nubmer I can say, that even author (Kruch) wants TB to do something more then now.

0) We already may have a raster map (this means no road info for the app), and we may have some WPTs prepared in PC tool, web tool or even in TB.
1) The main new in this state is following prepared path of WPTs.
And the next step is displaying another set of WPTs with the meaning of POIs, I thing...

Following WPTS and creating route is (from programmers point of view) huge difference!!! Even if there is some available road info.

2) Kruch is planning to enable using of vector map - OK, those may contain some road graphs... I Suppose this will be version 2.x
3) Maybe sometimes after that... Kruch may decide to create version +3 with path planning. It is possible and I'll be one of the first people, who will encourage him!

We are close to finish step 1) now. So I thing TB is best choice for hiking, cycling, geocaching and some another funs. It is possible to use in car too. With some limitations, as a little aid!
BUT even step 2) will be very difficult and time consumpting. It is even possible, that it will apear "shooting the moon". It may be impossible to finish such task. There is not many apps using vector maps in Java...
And step 3)... I don't know any java app, which is able to calculate route. There are few - Nav4all, Navigon (I think)... - which seems to do this. But those are on-line apps - donwloading each map and each route from the net. Not the application itself, but some server is calculating the route.
So it is probably, it is virtually impossible to plan route in the phone using Java - because of memory limits above all, but may exist another reasons...

Unfortunately I must be pesimistic in those considerations. And if you ask me how to solve full car navigation using phone now, I must say: "Now? Buy (or get somehow) Smart2go or Tomtom or something similar for smartphones. Or download Nav4all (It's still free, I think) or Navigon for Java phones, but expect some expenses for data transfer.

[kruch]

[Ranger]

So I see that we can agree
But where is Kruch ? What you think about it ?

[kruch]

[Ranger]

We can agree that some limits exists
I see some expectations that vector maps will solve a lot. But indeed what ? I can accept that TB knows nothing about loaded raster map content, I can interpret map myself. Support for raster maps is on good level now, only gmi support is unfinished. If vector maps in TB can be another map source only, I don't need them. But if it will be some start point of map content interpretation, I will change my mind in one second, and vote for new VectorTB.
Probably is better, that we will concentrate now on simlply elements like routes support and stability of app, to have them finished. What we need more ? RMS, if someone have not maps. It should be easy to have maps not displayed, such mode is visible for moment when new map loads with long route used. Just universal calibration for transparent map.
What for TB one year birthday ?

[UziCorp]

Yes, of course there needs to be some sort of limit.

Car navigation would be more suited to vector maps as you don't require such resolution, just being able to zoom rotate and pan maps when following a route etc.

I agree with Ranger that stability and routes should be finished as a small solid knife is more usable than one big flimsy one that breaks often.

TB had it's birthday- SPAM, we should celebrate!

[kruch]

@Ranger Very good point on non-interpreted vector maps! They have their value, though - small size and easier zooming.

RMS is ...routing mapless screen?

[Ranger]

Yes. Something like this one.

[guest]

Another good feature for routes would be if you could list the comments from the gpx-file (go left at this street, go right on that street, etc.) in an extra screen or alternatively to GRTP-001 to GRTP-xxx on the waypoint list screen. However you should be able to toggle to this screen from the map if waypoints are loaded.

In addition to "Navigate" you should also be able to "Move Map" to each waypoint.