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Wired has an article about how you can develop for the iPhone without one.

Google Maps for Mobile now available for Symbian [via GPSWorld]

“Google Maps […] built on the native Symbian C++ […] available for S60 3rd Edition on Symbian OS.”

Google Maps also includes versions with GPS support for the BlackBerry 8800 and Helio Ocean.

Talking about Symbian, Nokia has a Sports Tracker software package for S60 v3.0 and 3.1 phones.

Freebies

Microsoft Research has some free mapping apps available for download like the WWMX GPS Track Downloader.

Want to blog from a PDA? Check Mobile Blogger for Windows Mobile: “Read what you like and blog what you think”. First on Solsie

Live Tracking? Try Hipoqih.

Want a tracking app for your Nextel GPS phone? Check the Gadgeteer.

Remember Twitter? Here is a J2ME version.

Tags: Pocket PC, Development, Symbian, Java by gpsguy
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The Telegraph found a study that concludes that man reads maps better, but can’t find the keys. Via The Register.

ZDNet found a patent for mobile search filled by Google. Talking Google… Blackberries can now run Google Maps Mobile as Windows Mobile PPC 2003 2nd edition users. Plus Google Developer Day 2007 is coming up.

Also .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Beta 1 is out. Via Solsie.

Tags: Pocket PC, Development, Blackberry by gpsguy
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Microsoft is killing the PPC 2003, obviously. I explain: to use GPS on a PPC now running WM 5.0 it is easier to use the API provided by them.

But, no access through a serial port no more. So, if someone develops code with this API, no way to run it on a PPC 2003. In fact, you might try if you find the gpsapi.dll around. And also bypass the install checks for OS requirements.

Or you find a way to extend this library to add serial port support (which is used by Bluetooth anyways).

Guess either you have a way to emulate it, which in the case of serial access is a bit hard or you move up to Mobile 5, or 6 (video on it available at MSDN/Channel 9), now that it is out anyway like in the just released Xda Terra. But in Germany, by O2.

BTW, all this triggered by the release of EveryTrail GPS Connector for Windows Mobile 5 users.

Tags: Pocket PC, Development, DIY by gpsguy
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MS makes available with its new SDK for Windows CE a way to simulate a NMEA data stream for GPS development on the Mobile PC. Check this blog, which says that:

“FakeGPS will set the GPS Intermediate Driver to read the NMEA strings from a text file instead of using a real GPS device.”

[Update: Windows Mobile 6 SDK to be exact, which is based on Win CE 5. Just helping to mess it a bit more.]

Tags: Pocket PC, Development, Embedded by gpsguy
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If you look after tools and libraries for Windows Mobile development you might want to start with Embedded Visual C++ 4.0.

EVC is a freely available (242Mbytes) download from Microsoft’s website. You can use this tool for native code development.

By going native you are cutting off support for managed .NET development from the scene. But you are sticking to performance and small footprint on your executables. The idea behind frameworks is that you can write code faster.

With EVC++ 4.0 can target PocketPC’s and Smartphones devices running PPC 2003 (Windows CE 4.2) with the emulators distributed with the Pocket PC 2003 SDK (a separate download).

Check this article on Development Tools at MS website and in particular the matrix at the bottom of the page with a comparison of their IDE’s capabilities. Here is another article describing Pocket PC development tools.

eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0

Be aware that you will need an installation key which can be found towards the bottom of the download page. Notice the latest version of the corresponding Service Pack available (currently SP4 is the latest).

Don’t install older IDE’s after newer ones as described at the end of the “Introduction to Development Tools” paper. Embedded VC++ 4.0 installs an older versions of the Platform Manager, version 4.0 which includes the Virtual PC/Windows CE Emulator Driver.

After that you will start seeing a ballon saying that ‘Virtual PC/Windows CE Emulator’ will cause Windows to become unstable. Windows has prevented these drivers from loading.’ Check this post about how to stop getting it (it does take quite a few steps).

The install also includes the Standard Windows CE SDK .NET (1.0 SP1).

The IDE provides Wizards for ATL and MFC code generation with support for a whole list of CPU’s where Win CE runs. You will need corresponding emulators for each of these CPU’s to run the compiled code.

For that download the corresponding SDK, in this case Pocket PC 2003 (84Mbytes) in order to obtain the necessary emulators (OS Validation required).

You can find a version of STL (Standard Template Library) for eMbedded Visual C++, an Open Source Library that remove exception handling from the original STL here.

MarshallSoft has a GPS library for eVC++ that includes code examples showing how to read and parse NMEA sentences from a serial port.

Check also another download called “Developer Resources for Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition” with White Papers and code examples (Validation of Windows OS version also required).

Tags: Pocket PC, Development, DIY by gpsguy
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Nokia bought gate5 and made its products available not only for Nokia phone users but also for anyone running Windows Mobile. It has a different look & feel but the functionality seems to be exactly the same as its Symbian counterpart reviewed by GpsPassion.

If you have a Smartphone running Windows Mobile, like the Palm Treo 650 (thanks again LT!) grab the .cab file at the download site and try it out. It is not required by this package but a GPS receiver will make things easier.

Check the post on Google Maps for tips on how to set up a Bluetooth partnership with a GPS receiver. Smart2go will pick that up and after the initial startup it will zoom into your current location much like Google Earth showing a 3D image of the Earth and going down into a detailed map of your surroundings.

If you don’t want to pay for data transfer to obtain maps you can try the MapLoader covered on this other post. It works with a memory card used at least once by Smart2Go and with Nokia phones.

You can choose between 2D or 3D view, search for POI (point-of-interest) like hotels, restaurants, gas stations, hospitals, etc. You will be presented with a list of the pretty up-to-date results and detailed information as address and telephone.

For navigation with voice directions you will need to choose the preferred language and pay between 11.67 US$ for a 7-day license and 129.77 US$ for a 3-year license. You can also pay 12.97 US$ for a month of use or 116.79 US$ for a year license.

Smart2go also sells city guides for 7.99 Euros each.

Check these demos of Smart2go on the Nokia N95 at YouTube (demo1, demo2).

Tags: Maps, Pocket PC, Nokia by gpsguy
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I had a chance to play with a Palm Treo 750 running Windows Mobile 5 (Thanks LT!). It supports Bluetooth so you can connect it to a GPS receiver (no, the Treo does not include one).

After installing Google Maps for Mobile you need to establish a partnership with the GPS receiver, it should list Serial Port under the available services. Determine which COM port will be used by the receiver.

Now under System | Settings | GPS select the same COM port under Hardware. Notice that there is a different COM port selection that you need to make for applications under GPS | Programs. The idea is to use a different COM port than the one the receiver is connected to.

GMM installation is pretty straight forward, you will obviously need to be connected to the Net in some form, thru Cingular you can use GPRS/Edge and Google Maps will let you know how much data is being transferred each time you hit a button.

The UI isn’t much different than what is already available for other phones with the main difference being the support for GPS data. Just select the Tracking GPS Location from the menu and see it connecting to your receiver.

Don’t worry about setting the COM port for GMM itself, you already set it up earlier on.

If you have a good fix you should get maps for the corresponding area you are in. Select View | Satellite to switch view (no hybrid available).

Search for pizza, gas or anything else and you will get the little icons with corresponding names and addresses. You can also search for locations.

You can also check traffic conditions for areas where this data is available. Green lines show that things are running freely at that time.

All in all, perfect app with the perfect price. And GPS support just makes it even better.

Tags: Maps, Traffic, Pocket PC by gpsguy
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If you got a SmartPhone running Windows Mobile 5 go get the .CAB file and check GpsPassion Forum. Also available for Palm.

Tags: Maps, Pocket PC, Wireless by gpsguy
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Helio has its Buddy Beacon, DodgeBall uses SMS and Loopt will be free this year for Nextel Boost users of true GPS phones from Motorola ($2.99 a month next year).

Broadcast your location to a group of friends and family and network. This is something that Mologogo has been doing for free since its beginnings.

According to the Chronicle, there is a major difference regarding privacy between Helio and Loopt services:

“Loopt users, who are being tracked at all times, have to turn off the system if they don’t want to appear on their friends’ maps. Buddy Beacon requires users to update their location every time they want to be seen by their friends.”

In a similar vein, 509inc is providing server and client infrastructure by using HTTP as data protocol to broadcast GPS coordinates with location of smartphones running Windows Mobile.

[Update: Boost/Loopt started “Connected with the Dots”, a new location-based game. If you live within 50 miles of New York City you can sign up. You will receive invitations with prize information and location. The first Boost/Loopt user to get there if eligible, wins.]

First on VentureBeat.

Tags: LBS, Pocket PC, Mashups, Connecting the Dots by gpsguy
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“[The Benefon Twig] also offers a series of location-based services that keep you in touch with other Twig owners. You can send your location to a friend with a Twig handset and it will navigate them back to you — particularly useful if you don’t know where you are.”

It also offers a way for you to find friends carrying Twigs. Privacy concerns are also addressed. Still according to CNet’s article:

“You can control who has the opportunity to stalk you.”

It is in /. from CNet.

Slashdot also carries news about Windows CE 6 Souce code (including Kernel) becoming available. Check WeDigIt for updates.

Tags: Pocket PC, Hardware by gpsguy
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