Is there a (open source or commercial) software solution available for the Linux platform to build a custom embedded navigation device? It should be able to display maps and do routing (just like a TomTom/Navigon/Garmin/... navi device).
Unfortunately all navigation solutions seem to target Windows CE only.
Something based on OpenStreeMap data is not an option, because the map data is IMHO not always good enough for serious routing / driving instructions.
Since I'm searching for a long time now without luck I'm not too restrictive on the implementation details, however it should be possible to extend the software with custom functions or ideally embed the navigation in my own software.
Android with Google Maps comes to my mind, but I'd like to avoid setting up Android for my device.
Alternatively, if there is no such solution, I might use a end-user navigation device if that allows me some kind of communication with my own device to control it.
I'm open for any suggestions, thanks..
There is a huge list here. Take a look if anything suites your needs.
Related
I have a GPS 84H-3 sat nav which runs on windows CE. It uses iGO for navigation.
The interface has an icon which opens the Windows CE desktop. It appears to give unrestricted access to the file system. It has reader versions of various MS office programs; other than that it seems to serve no purpose.
I have 3 questions:
Why would the manufacturer leave access to the desktop in the devices interface?
Is it possible to download and run an updated version of iGO on the machine (I found that the existing iGO version has a icon in the programs folder and the non-Windows interface has a app which lets me set the file the system runs when I click on the navigation icon; remember that the file system is accessible)
Is it possible to run alternative navigation software on the machine?
this question is not well suited to Stack Overflow, but I will try to answer:
1) to allow users to run other programs, simply to make this device more user friendly.
2) probably yes, I suggest you ask iGO for any updates to your software
3) I suppose yes, but you must be aware that navigation software very often needs some form of integration with device, ie. it should take over the sound subsystem of your device while generating navigation voices, it should allow to switch between device UI interface and back to navigation, etc. This might need some changes from navigation software side (like usage of device API).
Be aware than an embedded OS like Windows CE isn't the same as a desktop OS. The application is likely part of the OS and it's quite likely that you cannot replace it without replacing the entire OS, which would have to come from the device OEM. You might be able to "hide" the existing app with a new one, but it's also possible that any replacement will get lost when the device is restarted.
Running any other applications (a replacement navigation app or other) would depend on a lot of things. The app would have to be built for CE. The OS would have to have any dependencies the app needs. The app would have to "understand" or be configurable for any peripherals you may need to use (like the GPS).
It may be possible to install apps or override behavior, but it's completely up to the device OEM on how they implemented things. They have the choice of blocking all apps but the one(s) they want which would give you zero ability to do anything, or they may have left it wide open. Short of some formal documentation from them, testing would be the only way to know for sure.
I haven't used Visual C++ before, however I'm starting a project that will require me to use it.
I want to get raw data from the USB. Almost every website tells me that I need to write a device driver for it first... Well I know that!
But I want to start simple - with my wireless mouse receiver, which obviously has a driver installed, which works. How can I access the contents which that receiver provides to the computer, using Visual C++?
This is a great project - a ton of fun too. Perhaps you can find some resources from this related post. I go into a lot more detail there. But I'll answer a little bit here too.
First off, you definitely don't want to write a driver. The time of writing drivers is mostly behind us. :) At least for what you are trying to do in particular. As I detail in the aforementioned post, we now mostly use HID descriptors to communicate with HID (usb) devices instead of writing drivers. This is awesome because it seriously simplifies the task.
I will highly recommend you or anyone in the same position use the libusbx library. It makes things very simple and straightforward in terms of communicating directly with HID devices. Again, see the post for a much more involved answer, but this should do it. Good luck!
is it possible to detect the color temperature settings of a monitor or display with css, javascript, html5, silverlight, java, flash, or anything that could be used on the web?
no problem if it's not working for all the cases, I am interested in everything.
if it is not possible right now at all, is there work in progress for this field (under what name)?
No, there isn't any way to detect this from web-based tools. In fact, there isn't really any way to detect this (in general) from a computer at all. You can change your monitor's settings all you like and your computer never knows the difference. It just sends the video signal down the cord and doesn't really care what the monitor does with it.
There is some information that goes back from the monitor to the computer, but in general color temperature is not included in that information.
However, some platforms that are more integrated, like many Apple products, may have a way to get this information from the system, but it would likely need to be a native application that has access to low-level system APIs, which most frameworks (especially web ones), including those you mentioned, tend not to have access to.
My company has a Compact Framework.NET WinForms application which runs on rugged handhelds manufactured by companies like Motorola, Intermec and Psion. These are expensive devices with built-in barcode scanners that are used in harsh conditions.
The configuration of the handheld application is managed by business users through our web site. The devices pick up the configuration when they sync from within the handheld application. Field workers use the handhelds, business users use the web site.
The business users have expressed the desire to, for lack of a better description, configure and preview or even fully use the actual handheld application through a web browser. They want to make configuration changes in the web site and immediately see what the impact will be in the handheld, without having to have a physical device (again, the devices are quite expensive). They want to be able to create training materials or conduct sales meetings and be able to demonstrate the application to their customers without having a physical device on hand.
Microsoft offers several Device Emulators, but they are probably too complex for business users. They are developer tools. One idea might be to somehow use the emulators within virtual machines possibly in conjunction with Terminal Services or even some kind of clever screen capture/VNC to show an emulated device in a browser. I suspect running emulators in the fashion may not exactly be a scalable solution, however. Also, only one emulator at a time on a single machine can be "cradled" and connected to network.
I'm looking for any suggestions which might help me meet the business users' requirements.
Thanks.
The only thing I can think of offhand is not that simple, but would probably be useful (and certainly the only "true" way for them to test).
I'd create a service that works like the Remote Display app (part of the WinMo Developer power tools, also ships with Platform Builder for CE), in fact it might just use that app (the source code for it actually ships with Platform Builder, so the eval version of PB would get you that source).
You would then create a web interface that acts as a "shell" for that service, marshalling the display image out to a web page and image clicks back as mouse events to the device.
I am a .NET programmer who needs to port one good Desktop OTP system already at work to be used into cell phones. As far I know J2ME is the correct answer to do it. I'll appreciate any good advice about IDE, first steps, books or any other information.
Well, Eclipse IDE have good J2ME support, or so I've heard.
For api, read the javadocs:
http://java.sun.com/javame/reference/apis.jsp
You'll have to figure out which device you want to target, and grab its emulator.
Then, proceed making a hello world app with the aid of tutorials.
I would give NetBeans a try as well. Eclipse and NetBeans are very similar, but the differences can be night and day depending on your personal preferences. NetBeans also has great J2ME project support, and it is plug and play for any emulator of a device you may need to target, though I recommend sticking to the default or SonyEricsson's. Motorola's was always buggy and never reflected the device at all, and Nokia's was always sloooow.
Also, there are a ton of devices out there. Before you jump head first into this you should define a scope of exactly which devices you will need to target. This will have a huge impact on scheduling as porting is no small task.
Finally, just get your hands on the actual devices you need to target. Emulator is a good way to start, but there are always so many nuances and problems that pop up once you throw the app on the device that it's best to have your target devices from day one.