About a few weeks ago, ich asked the guys from Navigon (a german developer of high quality navigation systems) with an e-mail (navigon.com), wether they are interested in porting their java-based navigation solution, which got very good ratings in several tests, to the OpenMoko-platform. And the best: Till now it's officially a beta version and doesn't cost anything but runs very stable. But even maybe if it costs some money later, I think everyone would be happy about a good navigation solution for OpenMoko.
They wrote back, that they are interested in that thing an have already heard about it. But they don't know the specs of the Java-VM on OpenMoko (is there one at all?) and of the gps-chip. They asked me if I have contact to the developers and that they would have a closer look to the thing if yes. Till now I don't have contacts to the developers but now registered at OpenMoko to get this contact. I'm writing this because I think it's a very good chance for the OpenMoko community to get a feature, that not many other smartphone have, except Nokia N95 e. g.. But don't missunderstand me: I don't want to become the Navigon solution an application for all Neo1973 from factory on but as a third party navigation solution which is still not in sight for this phone. The Navigon-Programm is not Open-Source. But in matters of free software, everyone should also have the freedom of choice, in my opinion. I'm very amazed about the idea of the great OpenMoko display combined with a very fine Navigation programm and think, that a lot of other potential Neo1973 buyers or users would also be very happy about the option to use the Neo as a navigation device. Maybe you could call it a killer-application. That's also good way to differ from iPhone etc. >From my side, I would even spend some menpower to make this thing running on >the upcoming OpenMoko based Neo. But I'm no developer. I'm a teacher for >economics and information technology. I can talk to make the guys from Navigon >to build there Navigation programm to this platform, can visit them, can make >testings an QM and reports to the community. But I need the interest of the >community and the support and the willing of the developers to have such an >application on Neo. And I need the specs to give them. A Neo-device for the developers would be very helpful, too, I think. Maybe this task could also do someone else, who is more on the technical side, but I would do it anyway because I'm so amazed of the idea. I would like to be happy, if someone of the responsible core-devs from OpenMoko would contact me to talk about that and to see if this project can be realized. Christoph -- Psssst! Schon vom neuen GMX MultiMessenger gehört? Der kanns mit allen: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/multimessenger
