[Q] Connecting the GPSr on an Android phone to a netbook/laptop - Android Software Development

Hi guys
I'm a South African who likes to participate in mapping with my dad, as well as geocaching from time to time.
My dad is a contributor to an organisation called Tracks 4 Africa (T4A), whom Google has agreements with. Basically, the organisation is made up of 4x4 overland enthusiasts, who contribute GPS data from the roads that they travel on in order to provide up to date map data for the overlanding community, as well as Google. There is a T4A layer on Google Earth.
My dad has also recently taken interest in purchasing an Android device for use in his travels, and I'm interested in hooking the GPS up to my netbook, and using either Ozi Explorer or Google Earth as my mapping program.
Is there anyway that I can get Windows, or possibly Ubuntu to see and make use of the GPS on my Android phone? I currently have a G1 that I purchased over in the USA, but I'm looking to get the Desire HD My dad will probably end up with a slightly lower end device, but not sure on that yet. (Android device availability and selection here in SA is still small :/)
Thanks a lot!!!
Gareth

Related

US model gps requirement

A while back if memory serves, the FCC in the US mandated that all new mobile phones must have a GPS receiver for E911 (our emergency number is 911). This is so that a more exact locationcan be provided to emergency workers.
Tmobile started selling the MDA (wizard) after this mandate (again if memory serves). I was wondering if anyone has any information on the gps receiver. My guessi s that it is like many many other mobiles where its part of the GSM radio and not part of the pda'smart components. I just think that it would be neat to expose this device to apps should it exist.
Does anyone even know if this does exist? I am just going on speculation to say that it does, I know many carriers in america wont even do a new activation on a mobile if it doesnt support GPS for E911.
Thanks for any info
i never heard something like that. sound like a april joke :lol:
and if there is such a function, i'm sure "they" use it to catch all the bad bad very bad terrorists in the country!
sorry i can't belive that... A GPS Sender in every mobilphone... _very_ unrealistic
lutzs said:
i never heard something like that. sound like a april joke :lol:
and if there is such a function, i'm sure "they" use it to catch all the bad bad very bad terrorists in the country!
sorry i can't belive that... A GPS Sender in every mobilphone... sound unrealistic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isnt a transmitter only a receiver, which costs a couple of dollars to implement, less if its like Qualcomm's cdma chips that do gps on the chip.
This information is transmitted when you dial emergency services. My nokia 6110 has one and I am about halfway there to getting it to display the location information on the lcd. But the wizard is more usable for more of what I need so I wanted to go with that for now
See
http://www.sss-mag.com/e911.html
http://www.skyaid.org/LifeWatch/gps_cell_phone_etdn_1999.htm
This stemmed from a 1996 order but the higher accuracy qas only to come about in 2001. As a result many carriers demanded that the mobiles they offer here have gps receivers.
They can be turned on from remote but in america it requires a title III warrant (dont believe the media hype calling international calls 'domestic wiretaps' ). title III warrants are the same arrants that are required to listen to the content of the call (CDR data such as who called whom, when and for how long, but not the content) never required a wiretap order only a subpoena if the companies dont volunteer that info, presumably that includes cell tower id info but not the gps info for some reason. Or so says a friend on the high tech crime squad locally to me.
I was just curious if this device did infact have one, as would seem to be required to get the resolution that is required without much more expensive network upgrades (such as a time delay system that tries to read the time offsets of GSM protocol messages or using multiple towers to more accurately pinpoint the location of the person. Although there are such time delay systems in europe, I do not know how widely they are deployed.

UK Nexus

Hi quick question,
I just managed to sell my htc hd2 for £390 so am about to order my nexus one! (im in the UK) other UK buyers can you tell me how much its all coming to roughly, i understand its about £340 on the credit card from google then probably about another £60 from DHL once they invoice you?
Also I heard that if we're importing a nexus to uk rather than waiting another month or so to get uk version sim free (i guess from google.co.uk?) that the updates/rom etc will be the US versions and we may not get certain benefits/updates/default functionality etc that a UK/european bought nexus will get - what these are I don't know thou!anyone know?
What i was mainly concerned with was that I did hear this may effect gps/maps and sat nav for uk users and that we may not be able to use turn by turn in uk? This may not be true, its just something i remmber reading on another forum?
any thoughts would be appreciated
cheers
Well I believe the UK Nexus will have multi-touch.
I have my Nexus already running Google Nav as it works as per the old method for Hero/Dream.
It depends if you're planning on rooting it or not, if you are then you'll be putting a custom ROM on anyway, which will probably have multi-touch..etc (Cyan is already working on it).
Also the UK will more than likely have a T-mobile brading...etc.
Your Choice.
I have had my DHL bill as yet but it was a tad shy of £355 I think (depends on the exchange rate at the time).
yeah i think by all sounds rooting seems to be the way to go once peeps have had time to iron it out. havent had android phone before but like all i hear, i had the htc hd2 for about 4 hours before i was convinced winmo was a pile of ****! i think i may take the plunge and go for it -my GF keeps saying why dont i just get an Iphone! i think i need this phone to show her why!
If the euro Nexus does have multitouch there's nothing to stop Google updating those US phones sold to UK users - the hardware will be identical.
How do I test multi touch as I thought Eclair supports it out the box? I tried multi touch paint from market and it seems to work fine.
Use Dolphin Browser, this supports multitouch.
We KNOW the phones support it, its just Google couldn't release to US handsets for some reason to do with Apple and copyright??? not entirely sure.
The UK Nexus One ordered from google.com/phone (currently the only place to order the device) does not have multi touch support in the preinstalled apps. The device itself has support, the built in apps do not (ie the built in Gallery app does not zoom when you pinch) That's why installing multitouch supported apps from the Market work.
You will need to install a custom version of Maps for Google Maps Navigation to work outside the US. Keep in mind there are some limitations. Search for the thread in the Dream Android Development forum to read how to install and what the limitations are.
yamanote said:
The UK Nexus One ordered from google.com/phone (currently the only place to order the device) does not have multi touch support in the preinstalled apps. The device itself has support, the built in apps do not (ie the built in Gallery app does not zoom when you pinch) That's why installing multitouch supported apps from the Market work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I thought. I prefer the double tap
There is, afaik, no "UK Nexus" and "US Nexus".
They're the same.
If the preinstalled apps in the version sold to US citizens don't have multitouch, the ones sold to Brits won't either.
Same hardware and software, only if you're having it sent to UK, you get the option of getting an adapter for you charger separately.
It's explained on the official support page, which I'm not allowed to link to.
Be very careful about importing any phone into different regions. All kinds of problems can result, including NOT GETTING 3G COVERAGE! If things don't work for you, can you return the phone without trouble? That's a lot of money to spend on a phone that has problems!
John Cipolletti said:
Be very careful about importing any phone into different regions. All kinds of problems can result, including NOT GETTING 3G COVERAGE! If things don't work for you, can you return the phone without trouble? That's a lot of money to spend on a phone that has problems!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Neuxs One is a phone made for the whole world, so importing it will not result in problems with coverage as it supports the mostly used 3g bands around the world.
Also noone is importing the Nexus One to the UK since Google is specifically targetting UK residents and must of course provide customer service to them.
As for other countries which google is not really selling the phone to I don't know, but I assume that the warranty is world wide and you should not have trouble returning it.
fryarch said:
Hi quick question,
Also I heard that if we're importing a nexus to uk rather than waiting another month or so to get uk version sim free (i guess from google.co.uk?) that the updates/rom etc will be the US versions and we may not get certain benefits/updates/default functionality etc that a UK/european bought nexus will get - what these are I don't know thou!anyone know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got mine from Google in the US and it;s a UK edition. How do i know? The Amazon app is Amazon UK and navigation doesn't work.
SC
ScaredyCat said:
I got mine from Google in the US and it;s a UK edition. How do i know? The Amazon app is Amazon UK and navigation doesn't work.
SC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does obvious detect the network of the sim inserted, time and location of where you are automatically. Therefore updating the system and apps accordingly.
m00moo said:
It does obvious detect the network of the sim inserted, time and location of where you are automatically. Therefore updating the system and apps accordingly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? How did it update these apps exactly? I had no 3g/edge/gprs or wifi when I set up. Are you suggesting that OTB there are multiple app versions? Are you saying that if you happend to be in the US and used a UK sim you'd get UK apps? I doubt that very very much, particularly as a SIM is not even required to setup.
SC
Let me break it down for you.
The phone has a inbuilt GPS. When you turn your phone on the very first time regardless of your sim being inserted or not. The phone will set itself up accordingly to where you are. During the first start up the phone takes longer if you didnt notice.
TA DA
m00moo said:
Let me break it down for you.
The phone has a inbuilt GPS. When you turn your phone on the very first time regardless of your sim being inserted or not. The phone will set itself up accordingly to where you are. During the first start up the phone takes longer if you didnt notice.
TA DA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL I seriously doubt that happens either. If it did it would have taken a week for mine to start up. I work in what is essentially a giant Faraday cage. I just can't get a GPS signal inside.
So rather than you just making stuff up, can we stick to the facts?
SC
ScaredyCat said:
LOL I seriously doubt that happens either. If it did it would have taken a week for mine to start up. I work in what is essentially a giant Faraday cage. I just can't get a GPS signal inside.
So rather than you just making stuff up, can we stick to the facts?
SC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok you should stick to your idea of google having 4 boxes of nexus ones. they have one for US, UK, Singapore and HK.
They shipped you a UK one since your navigation doesnt work and it had amazon UK installed
m00moo said:
ok you should stick to your idea of google having 4 boxes of nexus ones. they have one for US, UK, Singapore and HK.
They shipped you a UK one since your navigation doesnt work and it had amazon UK installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also guessing that it didn;t to the laser etching as i signed in to gmail.
SC
I take it there's still no confirmation as to whether it will be available sim-free from an EU webstore when it is offered on Vodafone? In fact, unless things change, when it is subsidised by VF, it may be a case of signing up to a vodafone contract on google.com and still importing the handset. If there is some sort of google.co.uk offering, then presumably the price will reflect the VAT element.
i got one from ebay 470 free shipping..
Works fine so far, how do i get the maps working? whats the old hero method? Ive never had an hero lol

Google maps Navigation

Has anyone got this to work on the US HD2? thinking of buying one to replace my G1, but i hate to give up my voice search and Google navigation. sorry if this is a repost.
i guess no?
Yea i have a Nexus one..I just got a HD2.. Yea sorry no advanced Google maps..You type it in and it tells you where to go "no voice"! Sucks but in better signal on HD2
I know the feature is really nice for Android Phones 1.6 and up and I am really hoping that Google makes the program available for windows Mobile as well (however I have a feeling they are keeping it for Android for an extra incentive to buy an android Device).
Why not think of... Garmin XT?
You can get Garmin XT on HD2 which is even better than google maps navi... works without the internet easily
Try Co-Pilot
I just jumped from a G1, and I was definitely upset to give up the free Google Navigation.
Someone here suggested the Garmin XT software, and I'm sure it's great, but it's $99, which is more than I would want to spend.
Another option is Co-Pilot, which I purchased for my G1 (before Google released Google Nav). It was excellent, so I purchased it for my HD2. It's only $30, and it's a full-fledged navigation program. One thing about it that's better than the Google Nav is that you do not need your cell signal, as the maps are all loaded on your phone. As long as you have a GPS signal, you're good to go.
Good luck with your decision.
cool thanks guys....ya i may try it out for the 14-day grace period and go from there......I have always been anti Microshaft, but that huge sceen just keeps me wanting it.
I've been thinking of grabbing Global Navigator: http://www.pdafun.net/ It seems to use Google Maps, and seems VERY feature rich for a one-time purchase.
Why dont u just use Copilot8? I bought it last year for my HD and the version that comes with the HD2 is fully compatible with the key from the older version.
Also i used it while a tour through whole germany without any problem.
And you can buy another map like US or western europe or eastern europe.
I can really say that Copilot once made me erase Tomom from HD as i like the 3D feeling to it.
I highly recommend copilot 8. go to www.alk.com/htc for a custom version for the HD2. it's only $30 and works on any sd card (unlike most of the expensive ones that come with a sd card) live traffic and gas costs a whopping $20 a year if you want it.
Maps are on your card so it is better then Google or bing because you do not need an internet connection.
For thoes of us addicted to flashing roms just remember to unregister it before you flash your rom or it won't let you register again.
also don't forget to get the free upgrade of text to speech.
my buddy who is a manager at my t-mobile store said that if i get the HD2 that he will give me a free license for a year to try it out, for copilot 8 i mean. I just hope Android comes out for it though, or windows phone 7. big part of me wants this phone but other part isnt sure if i should chance jumping the gun or waiting.
Do ANY of them have voice search/speak destination?
I haven't seen it on CoPilot which i've been demoing and Garmin's site for the XT doesn't mention it.
-Tony

Whatapp for Navigaton in Florida please?

Thanks for looking in.
I'm just about to go on hol to Florida and I'll be needing Sat Nav. The default Google navigation is not an option as data roaming on o2 is extortionate.
I need an app with maps on SD.
I currently have Navigon but I don't see an American map option for that. I've looked into NDrive and Sygic but again I may have missed something but I can't see an option there either. My Hire car firm want $150 for hire of a Sat Nav unit (which is half the cost of hiring the actual car FFS)so screw them I'd rather sort something myself.
My Desire is Unlocked (Rooted) so a SIM Native to America with a Data plan would be an option... but I've struggled to find any mention of DATA allowance with American sims for sale on UK ebay. It seems a lot of folk have had problems waiting for activation on SIMS purchased on arrival so I'm not sure how useful this option is.
Hello there,
I'm currently using Copilot and it seems to be working very well on the Desire. Just checked and there is the facility to download the Florida map to your SD card (56 MB). Don't know the cost of purchasing Copilit but if you weigh the cost of purchase against the cost of data charges then it may be cost efficient. Hope this help.
Matt
Thankyou.
I completely overlooked Copilot
Hi there,
I've sent you a PM with further details that might help you out with copilot.
Matt

Whitelabel apps sales portal :: Apphamster.com

Sell your ready made apps (whitelabel Apps) again and again on Apphamster.com for FREE!
We offer developers the option to meet clients who are looking for applications against affordable rates and would not mind that the application has already been published once in a different name and design, in a different country or region.
Why would a restaurant owner from New York mind if another restaurant in Paris, Amsterdam or even Los Angeles also has the same application in a different layout design?…he wouldn’t if the agreement with the developer was clear about it and he got the app against a lower rate.
Most commonly this group of clients owns a small business and would like to have their own app. Unfortunately their budget is not big enough to custom design from a blank page, and why would they? Most application varieties have been designed by now.
Developers think about it, the possibilities are endless! You could copy your source code into a dozen new applications and re-sell these to clients around the world who could have what they need for their small business, against affordable rates.
Let us give you some simple examples:
- A car dealer car sales app,
- A destination travel app,
- A real estate app,
- A pizza delivery app,
- All of these applications can be used all over the world by many clients.
You could offer your current portfolio, or even develop new ‘white labeled’ designs for certain applications.
Service Contracts, Sales & Lease
Besides the initial development you could setup service contracts or offer future development.
You could sell your application for a single rate, or you could offer it for a lease. This would lower the initial expense for the user, and make it easier to choose for your app.
Sign up now and start reselling your Apps!
the Apphamster Team

Categories

Resources