Android Phone for NexRad and Navigation

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by Rainman901

Hey Dennis, ..Just got your info and started EMFB up on the Droid. Andyroid is now cruising the motorways on mine. I'll start it back up this afternoon for the ride (drive actually) back home.
Thanks for the hardwork and the great app.

thanks for the feedback and letting me know it's working..
so far, feedback has been 100% positive (and working on all phones) so I'm a happy camper.

All the work should payoff down the road (so to speak).
Their old api was fast and lightweight but very limited in functionality.
Now that I've switched to the new api, it's a bit slower but I'll be able to add A LOT more bells and whistles..
.. stay tuned !

:-)

Dennis

[drdubb]

I've used my droid for a couple of years to aid navigation, but your app appears to answer some needs. I downloaded it last night and put in a test route from myplaces and watched myself go to work.

You mentioned cache ing maps prior to entering areas w/o reception. I too ride the NC mountains and I frequently lose my navigator function. Are you referring to adding the myplaces maps to layers or to what other function are you referring? As you can tell, I'm a noob at this.

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by drdubb

..You mentioned cache ing maps prior to entering areas w/o reception.
I too ride the NC mountains and I frequently lose my navigator function.
Are you referring to adding the myplaces maps to layers or to what other function are you referring?
As you can tell, I'm a noob at this.

no worries mate, we all started someplace..
actually, it's even easy than that.

Open MAPS on the phone and then tap somewhere close to the middle of the GREAT SMOKY MT park.
..zoom out so you can see most of it.
Then, from the MENU select "MAKE AVAILABLE OFFLINE".
That's all you have to do .
If you try to zoom out too far, it will "complain" that the selected area is too large..
.. just zoom in a tiny bit and try again.. with some trail and error, you can almost get the whole park in one chunk

And the best part is you can save multiple "areas" like that.

Once you have the basic area set, now scroll first a bit DOWN (with some overlap) then UP and then LEFT and RIGHT..
.. picture a checkerboard.. you can save multiple areas all around the main area (in this case, the park).

Using that method, I have most of Western N.C., N. Georgia, and E. Tennessee saved so I never worry about losing signal...
.. if you had enough memory on your phone you could save the whole U.S.

I always have a map of where I am and the little blue triangle shows my current position on the map
.. just like a stand alone GPS.

give it a try and let me know if you got it..?

Thanks,
Dennis

[oldogge]

Dennis,
Just checked the app on my HTC and your upgrade appears to be working as advertised, thanks! I have been able to store several smaller maps in the phone but need a tutorial for "caching", if you could recommend one.
Many Thanks,
Dog

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by oldogge

Dennis,
Just checked the app on my HTC and your upgrade appears to be working as advertised, thanks!
I have been able to store several smaller maps in the phone but need a tutorial for "caching", if you could recommend one.
Many Thanks,
Dog

Dog,
Great.. glad to hear it's working.. I'm still "tweaking" it to make it better..

about caching.. can you be a bit more specific?
(the post right above yours just asked something similar I think)..
.. what else are you trying to accomplish?

thanks,
Dennis

[oldogge]

sooo....somehow missed your previous reply before I posted my question about how to cache...will try your suggestions, thanks.
Dog

[oldogge]

Dennis,
Just followed your instructions above and currently downloading several maps. Many thanks!
Dog

[drdubb]

Thanks for the help. Had to get a newer version of maps. Now I'm downloading maps. Already made my tracks for my spring trip in google maps.

Now, how do I get that eye level thing going?

I told all my friends on the Nightawk forum about your app.

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by drdubb

Thanks for the help. Had to get a newer version of maps. Now I'm downloading maps. Already made my tracks for my spring trip in google maps.

Now, how do I get that eye level thing going?

I told all my friends on the Nightawk forum about your app.

Thank you..
.. what eye level thing is that?

Dennis

[drdubb]

Did I not see somewhere the use of satellite and navigation to give a clear lwr angle view?

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by drdubb

Did I not see somewhere the use of satellite and navigation to give a clear lwr angle view?

I think I know what you mean..
Read this..
http://www.fogbog.com/gl1800/Android...hing/index.htm

Nearer to the end is some information about how I use the SAT view in NAVI mode.

Dennis

[drdubb]

Thanks again wing wing...that was the page.

I guess I need to get out and practice.

[wingwing]

sneak peak at v 5.22.. just putting the wraps on now...

new screen layout
new "follow me" NexRad options
new sms response format
dynamic location updates

Default view:



But I like to change the colors to Yellow on Black..



in a few more days... look for 5.22

was hoping to get more stuff done this winter,
but the api3 change took more effort than I thought.

stay tuned...

Dennis

[elron]

[wingwing]

Google is up to their old tricks again so I need some help asap..
I just pushed 5.22 up for download access.
But after this month, Google is making some changes and I won't be able to push any new versions up for awhile after that.
(30 to 60 days)

So PLEASE, take the time to "test" this v 5.22 asap.
If something needs fixing, I only have another 5 days to fix it..
After that, it will be quite awhile before I can get back to it.

There are A LOT of changes "under the hood"..this is a major change.
Quick summary:
>> MUCH Faster start
(don't be in a hurry to disable the splash screen, you can't easily get it back)
>> New look
(higher button contrast for better visibility and color change for user touched feedback)
>> The static "title bar" is now the active "message bar"
(The Weather alerts, system messages and SMS #'s display in the new message bar)
>> Better SMS response format
(There are now separate address and lat/lng responses for universal device support.. for those with iPhones who txt you)
>> Full support for gm maps apiv3
>> Two optional modes for "NexRad Start Radar"
("classic v5" for backwards compatibility, or "Pre-view v6" in the Menu options)
>> MUCH faster dynamic updates in NexRad
(old updates were twice per minute; the new updates are every 5 seconds)
The effect is like a moving map GPS with real time NexRad superimposed over your current position.
Classic 5 will use a bit less data than 5.21 but Preview 6 will use a bit more


PLEASE take the time to beat it up asap.
.. spring is coming and I'm trading this keyboard for some handlebars pretty soon.


Thanks in advance,
Dennis
www.fogbog.com