In all honestly, I still don't know WTF a track is, but I have a trip scheduled for June and I've created each days "routes" in Basecamp and confirmed my Garmin will give me turn by turn directions through each one.
Then the app can already do what you want. Wait till you have a GPS lock, then long click on a spot on the map. The Point on Map popup will display. Click on it. Then click "Route To" on the menu. Select "Follow" for turn by turn instructions with distance to turn and all that jazz. What I was talking about is this same feature but based only on a track so that it works when there is no road database to rely on...That will be a cool feature.
What I want is between the two. I created a winding route that already follows streets on DSM.com for an all pavement trip I have coming up on June. I want to pull that route up in the app (easily done) and have the app give me turn by turn directions through the route I already created. And this is at the heart of how I would use the app. We don't have much open country here in Michigan so most DS riding is on marked dirt roads, and routes that tick tack around to stay on dirt. Would be nice if the app would give me audible info as I go instead of having to look at it to figure out where and more importantly when to turn.
Any one try this app on a Kyocera Echo, or know if it will work with the "tablet mode extension app"?
Hey Crafty, got a quick controller question. I haven't read this thread all the way through, but I've seen references to a controller and I watched a few you tube videos I think on your version 1. I think you may still be working on it? Anyway couple questions. How does it interact with the phone? BT? What profile(s) does it use? Will the controller control the phone for other things and not just the maps? Would it be able to control my music, play, pause, FF, volume? Even if I'm already connected to an A2DP/AVCRP device, could the controller still connect? If the controller can do more than just the maps, I would definitely be interested in a controller for more than just the map. Obviously one of the biggest issues with smart phones is gloves don't work that well (unless you add some capacitive thread) and winter/thick gloves just suck altogether. I've been using my music on my phone more while riding, but struggling with controlling it. One of these days, I'm going to catch up on this thread. Your App looks awesome.
It connects to the phone via USB (and not bluetooth) and provides power as well as instructions. The app currently will adjust music volume based on riding speed automatically if you want. The remote will also adjust audio volume by turning the knob. It doesn't pause, but you certainly can mute just by turning the volume all the way down. At present, Android doesn't have an API to control apps generically. The audio API has some hooks that I connected to for volume and it wont do anything for a random app. Did you have anything else specific in mind? I am always open to good ideas and if I can figure out how to do, it magically appears in the next version...
Hmm, okay wasn't thinking USB, but that works. So my next question if the controller is plugged into the phone via USB, can you still charge the phone while the controller is hooked to it? Maybe a pass through from the controller to the phone? The GPS and full back lighting definitely tend to eat phone batteries quick? I was really just looking for a way to control the music on my phone with some sort of controller and I knew you had this one coming. Being able turn down the volume is definitely a plus. I was mostly after pause/play, FF, and volume controls. I wasn't sure there was any kind of Android API for this or not, but figured you had some sort of idea if there was. I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on the DSM app, I just need to catch up on this thread, but I think it will definitely suit my needs. And you have been top notch with supporting it as I have seen.
The remote charges the phone. The entire reason it is USB is so it charges the phone. I could have done BT but then you would have to charge both your phone and the remote. That seemed lame to me so I wire the remote to the battery of the bike and it charges the phone (which is SUCKING JUICE with the screen on full and the GPS running). I think a basic audio control function would be trivial to implement. I created one for the Nook (e-reader) once so I'm pretty sure it is possible. I'll add that to the list.
There is not a universal API for media players in Android. I'm think I can slave the default Music app but beyond that it going to be spotty. I'll work on a proof of concept.
BlueLightning, this works well. I have next song, previous song, pause, play, and volume all working. What kind of phone do you have? <object width="853" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJrl2EVywOg?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJrl2EVywOg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Crafty, I have (two) T-mobile HTC G2's running stock Android 2.3. Man, that rocks. I'm going to go ahead and purchase the app. You have done a wonderful job on this. I look forward to that hopefully being implemented into the app. In the mean time, I need to start playing with it and get used to it. Are the controllers for sale, or are you still working on them? They look pretty sweet too.
On Thursday some parts for the second (and last) old style remote are coming in. I'm going to build it up. I've got $200 in it. It is yours at cost if you are interested and willing to come to ATL test it out before you take it home. It is the same one I have on my bike. I do not know if your phone is compatible with it in the stock configuration, but Cyanogenmod 7 for your phone does work according to the source code for the latest stable build I just parsed. I won't be certain until you have a chance to try it out on your hardware, but I'm confident that it will work for you if you install CM7. This model of remote was built as a test bed and is bigger and less refined than the final version will be.
I tested the audio remote control with some other software on my phone. It works with the Amazon Cloud Player and Pandora (pause did not with with Pandora but skip and volume do) as well. These happen to be what I've got on my phone and they work so I'm thinking that while there is no universal media API what there there is widely used. I suspect it will work with most audio playing software.
I will have cheaper and smaller ones coming as soon as I can figure out how to get the cost down. Volume is key to the cheaper part. There are just not enough of you guys to get the cost down to where I want it so I am trying to develop other markets so we can have our gizmo at a price we'd be willing to pay for it. I'm having fun developing the remote, my first gizmo, and it providers a valuable function for me, but at $200 it is not a "value". Once I finish my process for determining the cheapest way I can make these without going broke I'll take orders. The parts for this unit in question were purchased for a buddy who found out his phone wouldn't be upgraded by his carrier so as to be compatible. So now I'm sitting on a half built of remote. I'd like it to go to someone nearby so we can get together if need be to solve problems that may occur. Mine has been rock solid so far but close proximity makes me feel better for the second device in the field.
It's the same controller. I need to develop the roadbook first, using the remote with it will be trivial. Designing and building the system to create, transfer, and display the roadbooks on the phone are the hard part. It's real hard actually. Hence the delay.
This is actually an idea I wanted to talk to you about... an app or addition to let you scan or take pics of the chart or road book and use your phone like a road book. Being able to high-lite or notate it would truly rock and using it with the remote would be fantastic.