[FOSS-GPS] Openmoko Freerunner compatible GPS software

[Fabrizio Giudici]

Can you try windRose? Official testing so far is only on PalmOS, but I 
know some people has run it over other MIDP phones. If it need fixes for 
windRose, I'd made it happily.

Cheers.

Risto H. Kurppa wrote:
> I have an Openmoko Freerunner phone and I like it a lot. I know that
> there are around 10 other Freerunner owners so I thought I'd post some
> comments.
>
> OK, Freerunner has some glitches (like I don't feel comfortable using
> it as my daily phone because of the bad battery duration and audio
> quality, both fixable with software) but it has GPS, accelerometers,
> GPRS, WLAN and Linux so I'm pretty happy and waiting for the software
> to become more usable. Since this is my first GPS device I'm kind of
> interested in the GPS tools and applications and here's a short review
> of some tools I've tried.
>
> Gpssight
>
> http://projects.openmoko.org/projects/gpv
> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/GPS_Sight
>
> GOOD
>
>     * Is able to sync Freerunner clock (though I don't think I've
> managed to make it work ever..)
>
> BAD
>
>     * small buttons of UI
>     * no satellite signal strength information
>
> Agpsui
>
> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Howto_Test_Your_GPS_with_agpsui
>
> GOOD
>
>     * Shows a lot of information about the connection: map, individual
> satellite signal strengths, position plot, signal log etc
>     * helps to test different restarts (cold/warm/hot)
>
> BAD
>
>     * after first fix pretty useless to a normal user
>     * bad UI, small buttons
>
> TangoGPS
>
> http://www.tangogps.org
> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/TangoGPS
>
> GOOD
>
>     * most comprehensive
>     * saves tracks (that need to be converted to .gpx before they can
> be used) to upload to Openstreetmap or other tools
>     * uses Openstreetmap as well as other map sources
>     * is able to show geotagged photos (haven't tried)
>     * can save and load POC:s and show friends (though I have no idea
> how it works and where the data is stored and so on)
>
> BAD
>
>     * Nothing really bad but there are some features missing to make
> it really smooth & usable. See my wishes below.
>
> WISHLIST
>
>     * zoom to show 1 pix as 4pix or so (the high dpi of Freerunner
> isn't always good, if the device is not so close to your eyes)
>     * Show better information about the satellites - signal strength
> for each satellite would be nice.
>     * GPX data format for better compability
>     * Ability to show GPX tracks (ie. create a track on the desktop,
> upload to phone and follow the track to get to places)
>     * multiple waypoints for more complex navigation
>     * default location where to go if no GPS signal available
>     * possibility to give a custom text to catenate in the saved gps
> track filename
>
> As you see TangoGPS get's most of my attention as the best and most
> usable tool there is available at the moment.. Feel free to implement
> my wishes :)
>
> Orrery
>
> http://projects.openmoko.org/projects/orrery/
> http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Orrery
>
> GOOD
>
>     * Shows the stars and the constellations on the sky
>     * Fast development - a new release just out again!
>
> BAD
>
>     * -
>
> Haven't used enough and don't know enough about stars to estimate it's
> usefulness but it's a nice tool anyway :)
> Other software
>
> I haven't tried the locations tool of 2008.8 or 2008.9. I also know
> that gpsd is running somewhere down there but I have no opinion about
> it. If it works, its good :)
>
> At Openmoko Projects page
> (http://projects.openmoko.org/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=308)
> you can find more GPS software. I'll propably have to try some of
> those as they get more mature or so. I should also learn to use
> navigation software like Navit.
>
>
> r
>
> Since this become that good post (my opinion :) I'll post it on my
> blog as well: http://risto.kurppa.fi/blog/freerunner-compatible-gps-software/
> )
>   


-- 
Fabrizio Giudici, Ph.D. - Java Architect, Project Manager
Tidalwave s.a.s. - "We make Java work. Everywhere."
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Fabrizio.Giudici at tidalwave.it - mobile: +39 348.150.6941