So, as I was going through the posts of Wildfire users, I saw some users claiming that they cannot find any suitable GPS application with offline maps. So, I am here to post the details which might help many to solve this problem of their.
(Note: I'm not advertising but just helping people)
There are many application in the market which have feature for offline maps or cached maps like google map, rmap, oruxmaps, ublox, locus etc. (these are the maps that i have tested and used and are working on hTc Wildfire)
So, here is the guide.
First of all you need one of the above mentioned software installed on your hTc Wildfire (all the above apps are free of cost)
Next you need the offline maps and the guide is as follows:
Step 1. You need to download/create offline map and you will need to download Mobile Atlas Creator (also known as MOBAC and it is a free open source software) tool with SQLite library. Java Runtime Environment should be installed on your computer since this software is written in java. (Google to download the software)
Step 2. Run Mobile Atlas Creator and from the drop-down box in the left upper corner of the screen select map provider.
Step 3. Using the mouse select the area you want. You can zoom in and out using the scroll button.
Step 4. Choose zoom levels for you offline map. Please note that creating maps of a large area with high resolution will result creating data file several gigabytes in size.
Step 5. Enter a name of your map and click “Add selection” button.
Step 6. Select the desired format from “Atlas settings” drop-box.
Step 7. Press “Create atlas” button and the download of the maps will begin and be quite patient because it might take time depending upon your internet download speed.
Hurry you are half way done with the offline maps.
Step 8. Once completed, open the folder with your atlas file. Copy the file on your Android device to /sdcard/"your app folder"/maps folder.
Step 9. Open the android application and press Menu button and goto settings and select the user defined map i.e. the one you placed on your sdcard.
How to save Google maps for offline use on android and you can save your bucks
Enable the Google Maps Labs Map Pre-caching:
1. Open Google Maps android app.
2. Press Menu button->More->Labs->Precache map area.
3. Now when you search for a location, click on the map label that appears.
4. In the location view, press Menu.
5. Press Precache map area.
This can be used to view 10 miles around the selected area (offline).
Here you go. All is set and you are good to go. (Note: The first start up might take time but the consequence will not)
I wont be taking any credit for the information i shared because it is all googled anyways if you liked the info please don't hesitate to press the "thanks" button
I use locus. (old versions)
Even locus has this facility ... you can try downloading the maps in SQLite format (Step 6.)
Update : Google Maps offline use added*
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using xda premium
I use iGo my way and I'm sattisfied with it, had no problems with him
I use navfree for free GPS navigation free on play store
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA
sayemahmed said:
I use navfree for free GPS navigation free on play store
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Yeah, I have used it. It is pretty easy though.
Related
Hey guys,
wondering if there is a way to store the map data locally?
This way I dont need to always use the wireless connection to get maps on the run, and im sure it would speed up the application too.
Of course i dont expect to store the whole world, just my city. Is there a method to do this?
tia!
sephstyler said:
Hey guys,
wondering if there is a way to store the map data locally?
This way I dont need to always use the wireless connection to get maps on the run, and im sure it would speed up the application too.
Of course i dont expect to store the whole world, just my city. Is there a method to do this?
tia!
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I made myself a simple workaround - just make screenshots!
gpsVP
This is what the open source project gpsVP is all about.
http://code.google.com/p/gpsvp/
Code is free, and there is ateam working on enhancements.
I have had it running on the X1 for past week. Works great.
I have tried both Google and MS map caching. Not Openstreet yet.
In addition I created my own raster map using Mapcruncher to calibrate coords.
It take s a bit of getting used to, as user documentation is catching up.
You can seed the cache while connected to PC/Landline. Starting at the most zoomed-in level you want, the app will automatically download the higher levels maps.
Hi,
Nowadays I'm testing this one:
http://terracrosser.com/
This program has two parts:
- Mapper.exe
You have to copy it to the PC and it allow to select an area at gooblemaps or yahoomaps and tke zoom levels.
It dowloads the images with the size you have selected and at the end compress them in 1 file (that you have to copy to the PDA
- Terracrosser itself: for the PDA.
This is not a navigation program. It show in the photo or map image where you are.
The speed is not very fast, development is in progress. Also depends in how many maps have you download and the resolution of them.
Nice program and very, very nice downloader. Very simple.
I use NoniGPSPlot (http://aeguerre.free.fr/Public/PocketPC/NoniGPSPlot/EN/index.php) it's free (I donated though for the extra features & because it's awsome) and there's a free map downloading app that lets you cache maps from google, yahoo, live and openmap, builds the image (or slices to help with memory usage) at whatever zoom level you want. You just then load them into NoniGPSPlot and you've got the ultimate GPS tool, with no data connection required.
I mostly use it to log walks for Geotagging my photographs. I can download maps with footpaths on so I can plan in advance a route, the dog gets a good walk, I get some good shots and can geotag them later in lightroom, and we never get lost!
Does anyone know of a way to navigate embedded maps on websites when visiting from your transformer. For instance if you try to navigate the map at this NWS website you will just move the page around. How do I access the map and navigate within it?
I don't think you can - and trying to use the little control buttons at the side of the map is an exercise in frustration. I have the same issue with a property website that I use - the embedded map is so zoomed in it is impossible to see where it is, but if I click one of the buttons to zoom out I end up seeing the whole country. Wish you could just long-press a map to open in the maps application. (at least for any site using google maps).
The Google Maps app for android caches the map tiles of areas you visit. Also, the GM Brut mod allows you to cache map tiles to the SD card. I'm on a very limited data plan, so I'd like to have my entire city cached to my phone memory/SDcard. So far, the only way I can think of is to manually scroll all over the city using different zoom levels which very annoying... and stupid given the fact that it'll be erased if you install a new ROM.
Long time ago when I got a iPhone 3G, I remember I easily download all the Google Maps of my entire city using a desktop application called GMDL (Global Map Download Tool) which after download it, you convert them into iPhone maps cache format using an option it have. Then you navigate inside iPhone and put the maps "cache" you downloaded into the map cache directory... and voilà, easy as that.
My question is: Is there a way like the one I've explained to do that? Again, I want to be able to use Google Maps anywhere in the city without having to download the maps on-the-fly over my data plan. Is there a practical way to achieve this, so I won't have to scroll several times (once for each zoom level) over the entire city?
A desktop application that can export to GM format would be the best solution.
Thanks.
alainalemany said:
The Google Maps app for android caches the map tiles of areas you visit. Also, the GM Brut mod allows you to cache map tiles to the SD card. I'm on a very limited data plan, so I'd like to have my entire city cached to my phone memory/SDcard. So far, the only way I can think of is to manually scroll all over the city using different zoom levels which very annoying... and stupid given the fact that it'll be erased if you install a new ROM.
Long time ago when I got a iPhone 3G, I remember I easily download all the Google Maps of my entire city using a desktop application called GMDL (Global Map Download Tool) which after download it, you convert them into iPhone maps cache format using an option it have. Then you navigate inside iPhone and put the maps "cache" you downloaded into the map cache directory... and voilà, easy as that.
My question is: Is there a way like the one I've explained to do that? Again, I want to be able to use Google Maps anywhere in the city without having to download the maps on-the-fly over my data plan. Is there a practical way to achieve this, so I won't have to scroll several times (once for each zoom level) over the entire city?
A desktop application that can export to GM format would be the best solution.
Thanks.
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Check this
http://www.mapdroyd.com/
I've considered MapDroyd, but it is an Android application. Is there any desktop application which can do all things I explained GMDL do? I remember it was an easy and confortable application to use.
Thanks.
alainalemany said:
I've considered MapDroyd, but it is an Android application. Is there any desktop application which can do all things I explained GMDL do? I remember it was an easy and confortable application to use.
Thanks.
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Maybe try this one then
http://code.google.com/p/gmapcatcher/
Man thank you very much, you're a quick replier
I'm not sure it can export to Android devices... are you sure?
alainalemany said:
Man thank you very much, you're a quick replier
I'm not sure it can export to Android devices... are you sure?
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Check If the downloaded maps are in a picture format, if it is then you can use gallery to view the map, unless Google maps can open it, which I doubt. Those are the only two I know of that can help you.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 4G using XDA App
alainalemany said:
I've considered MapDroyd, but it is an Android application. Is there any desktop application which can do all things I explained GMDL do? I remember it was an easy and confortable application to use.
Thanks.
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Wouldn't it be easier to spend $20 on CoPilot Live and get the entire North America coverage?
There was an article just a couple of days ago that states that Google maps is going to offer an offline option but it probably won't come for many months.
I recently purchased and had professional installed the JY-CL001N2. I like the unit but I feel with the potential it has I could love it. Here are my issues:
1. When I start my vehicle it takes 10 minutes for the GPS to lock. By the time it does, I am almost to my destination. Is there a way to speed that up? I am using GPSLock because once it locks on the signals it, I can tell it what GPS program I want it to open which leads to my second issue.
2. I like using Google Drive. I know that it is Google Maps but with Google Maps you have to select the location or select Drive. Why can't I just select drive. I know where I am going. I just like to use Drive because I can get real time traffic.
3. Since Google Maps does not support speed monitoring I am using Maps Speedometer which I like. It created an overlay on Google Maps and lets me know what my current speed is but I can't get it to open when Google Maps/Drive opens even though I have set it to do so.
4. Is there a way I can set what apps I want to open on startup?
If anyone can offer insight to these issue and/or ways to resolve it, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Hi there,
Is there, or can somebody make, an app that opens the shortcut to Google maps driving mode? The shortcut made by maps doesn't show up on my HU and in this way i hope i can start GM in driving mode.
Google Maps doesn't create the shortcut. The Launcher does.
You are probably using CarWebGuru. That doesn't show additional intents/activities by default.
Long tab the icon, select explore and you get all available launch intents.
It should be very simple to create such a kick-start app. I already created several. I will have a look tonight.
Edit: It seems that this is only possible by specifying a destination. In that case you can't start it directly in Drive mode.
I'm indeed using CWG, my favourite because of its many customization options and it's the best looking. Too bad Google maps and cover art don't work in the main widget.
Tried the long press before but that didn't work. I hope you can make that app. That would make me, and probably other people also, very happy.
Marc NL said:
I'm indeed using CWG, my favourite because of its many customization options and it's the best looking. Too bad Google maps and cover art don't work in the main widget.
Tried the long press before but that didn't work. I hope you can make that app. That would make me, and probably other people also, very happy.
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There is indeed no icon for Drive mode as Google itself does not support that.
I created an app that starts Google Maps in Drive mode, but that is actually not possible without a destination. So it will not go any farther than this.
see attached:
- apk (only a starter so only 18 Kb)
- launch icon (so you know how to find it) and it is called "StartapsInDriveMode" in the launcher
- screenshot of Maps
Tested it on both my phone and head unit and it works.
Thanks allot.
It briefly shows the full application and then switches to driving mode. This is the same behavior with the shortcut created by maps, so this is normal.
Nice job.
And btw: Google maps note also works in the main widget of CarWebGuru... I hope this stays like this.