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Thread ID: 115074	2010-12-31 20:05:00	Android	The Error Guy (14052)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1166052	2010-12-31 20:05:00	Ok, so here's the deal if you like, I want a GPS unit for finding my way around places, not so much NZ but overseas, more specifically, Beijing. The in car GPS units are nice but I seem to find that the GUI (especially with tomtom) for me is rather ugly. Not to say the devices are bad, I just don't like the GUI and because I have to look at it every time I use it, thats a problem for me :p So my plan was to buy something like this, there is an endless supply of them on trademe www.trademe.co.nz They most likely use resistive touch (ugh!!) but since all the other fancy pants GPS units use that too, i'm not missing out. On later reflection, since having owned a phone with software similar to that used on the GPS units, and knowing how funny the software can be (lack of support, apps etc) I thought would it be possible to flash the firmware and ROM so that the device would run android? Any android OS would be fine, as long as It could accept input from the touch panel and read the SiRF 5 GPS chip. any added bonus such as music playing would be bonus I guess. Is that idea possible? practical? or should I just live with the current OS? I'm guessing if possible, this will be a good learning curve to start developing for android platform and get some 'droid knowledge Cheers!	The Error Guy (14052)
1166053	2010-12-31 21:09:00	I have enough trouble getting my Optimus to work properly, which was designed from the ground up for Android. I'd say this is highly unlikely to work and even if it does, it's almost certainly going to be dreadful to use. Be happy with what you've got, I think. CPU compatibility and amounts of RAM could be a massive stumbling block, I imagine.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
1166054	2010-12-31 21:56:00	Haha, sounds like a challange!! I'll try to be happy. when in china I might see if there is anything that uses the 'droid	The Error Guy (14052)
1166055	2010-12-31 22:05:00	Most of these Chinese units run IGO software,have one of these units and is not bad Have used TomTom/Garmin,the TomTom is a very sturdy unit (compared with the Chinese ones) but the map looks plain (don't know about the latest ones) IGO has a upgrade (Primo) which I have looked at and is very good One thing about the Chinese ones ,I don't think anyone would pinch it	Lawrence (2987)
1166056	2010-12-31 22:17:00	iGO looks interesting, even if the device didn't have iGO and the existing software was cr** then I could probably put primo on	The Error Guy (14052)
1166057	2011-01-01 23:02:00	No way could you get Android on these. You would have to find the right hardware drivers (probably don't exist) and compile a new Linux core. Not going to happen. I have a Chinese no-name GPS (win CE 5) with IGO on it. It's not bad but I am no expert on these things. Personally, I don't care what the screen looks like as I would run off the road if I looked at it! I just listen to it. I also have an Android 7" tablet with IGO on it. It seems to work but I would use the Chinese one in preference as it has spoken street names. The name brand GPS's have come down in price so you are probably better off going with one of those.	linw (53)
1166058	2011-01-02 06:39:00	well, if it has win CE then you could boot into android as a shell over the top, or mod the heck outta win CE. I'm going to buy like 5 of these :D ... if I win lotto, I can only get one at the moment. lets hope I don't bust it!	The Error Guy (14052)
1166059	2011-01-02 09:43:00	I got myself a Samsung Galaxy, used it a lot on my trip to Aussie. Be aware that as far as I know there is only one free navigation app for android which is google maps, the latest update makes it decent (it updated while I was in aussie) but the problem is that you NEED an internet connection to recieve map data while driving around, google maps has some caching but its useless without internet. Pros: Sat images street view when you reach your destination Cons: needs internet voice will sometimes speak in tounges/gibberish	Deimos (5715)
1166060	2011-01-04 19:46:00	It's possible to cache the maps, there are 3rd party apps that'll do that quite happily from what I understand. Added that turn-by-turn now works for NZ, I'm absolutely freaking stoaked with my Nexus One and car dock, not to mention you can get the Google "Car Home" from the Market if your phone of choice doesn't ship with it by default.	Chilling_Silence (9)
1166061	2011-01-04 20:34:00	Yes, turn-by-turn on the Nexus One is great (I just love hearing the Maori street names getting mangled - having to re-interpret them is half the fun of the trip!!!) However the turn-by-turn navigation is EXTREMELY battery hungry (in my experience) and sucks battery power even if plugged into the car charger. Phone gets damn hot too!	johcar (6283)
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