Just wanted to add that I'm interested in such a solution too, I'm
willing to pay for the maps, but I don't like the idea of having some
proprietary software on my phone, I would appreciate the solution of an
opensource GPS Navigation Application in connection with the maps from
Teleatlas, etc.
I just think that this is not really an easy project to realize it, in
two ways, firstly its a question of money (If you develop an application
you need to know the specifications of the map-formats so you need to
buy them in order to develop). Secondly it seems to me that writing such
an application wouldnt be quite easy in general, I bet there are not a
lot of people being experienced in GPS programming (correct me if I'm
mistaken).
But I don't want to take down your idea, as I said I would, in contrast,
appreciate the solution!
Hans L wrote:
Just wanted to say that I am another user that would be interested in
a commercial mapping application running on an OpenMoko device. I
realize that mapping requires an enormous amount of effort.
OpenStreetMap is a noble effort, but one that I would consider in it's
infancy. Maybe someday it could provide maps for the majority of the
inhabited landmasses on earth, but I don't think that is happening any
time soon. Even if an open project was able to eventually map out the
majority of the world, I think it would continue to take a tremendous
effort to keep those maps up to date. This is why I consider a
commercial service to be worth paying for.
I haven't ever used a TomTom device myself, but like many such devices
TomTom does not make their own map data. They ahve to buy their maps
from another provider (TeleAtlas). There are a few major map
providers like this. The other major one that i know of is Navteq
(provider for Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, Garmin navigation devices, etc.)
I'm wondering if it might be possible to have an open GPS navigation
application, which can optionally read its map data from copyrighted
data files(which the user would purchase) provided by these commercial
map companies.
I guess it is a question of whether the map providers are willing to
cooperate and divulge the details of their file format to an open
source project, or alternatively converting their data into some open
format for use with such a project.
-Hans Loeblich
P.S. Sorry Patrick I accidentally replied only to you instead of the
mailing list on my first try.
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