Samsung Galaxy S II and Oruxmaps

[sinbad7]

I´ve been spending a lot of time lately with my new Galaxy S II and I must say it is truly quite incredible. Took a little getting used to the tiny alpha keyboard but you develop a knack after a while.

An open source navigation app called OruxMaps seems very promising.
It has a list of on-line maps which cover more than the usual ones and a few more.
You can run it in two modes,on-line maps or imported maps on the removable memory card of 14GB.

Took a little time to get the knack of how to convert a standard .kap file to the special system required by OruxMaps and even longer to figure out how to move them from my desktop to the card. The instructions were far from clear.

OruxMaps also have an OruxDesktop map format converter which needs an Oziexplorer .map input as well as the corresponding .png bitmap,and from this it produces the full scale map which you can even select to be made in several layers,12% 25% 50% and 100% in order to be able to zoom with just a click. Works very well.

It would be great if we could find a way to optionally also output the Oziexplorer .map format from GE2KAP. This way we could keep ALL as open source software and use MapCalII to calibrate other map sources.

OruxMap uses GPS and you can create WPT´s and Routes. It can also export the tracks to .gpx format.

Attaching a couple of screenshots from the Galaxy of a couple of .kap maps I just converted. (they are larger than the Galaxy screen)

Tore

[sinbad7]

OziExplorer now offers a freeware version which has all the .kap map import functions in order so you can create the .map file for the OruxDesktop converter.
Hopefully,though,Paul may be able to include a .map option in his GE2KAP conversion program.

Tore

[sinbad7]

Thank you Paul for extending the use of GE2KAP to also include the preparation of the 2 files required as input in the OruxDesktop file converter. This makes chart conversion easy and keeps it within the open source family.

See attached example conversion from a FREE NOAA chart of the Rikers Island passage.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I have created an OruxMaps archive which you can access to download maps in the special OruxMaps format. Here you can also upload your own converted charts. Requires registration with your email address.

Tore

[sinbad7]

There is a very easy way to create .kap maps for OruxMaps,using NoniMapView.
You can select from a great variety of map types but alas,no maritime maps with
soundings so far.

Just select the area you wish to cover,set the required zoom factor and the program
does the rest,creating a .jpg and a .map file which you enter direct into the
OruxDesktop map converter, and hey presto, you have a .kap map

Tore

[sinbad7]

Apparently it is now possible to add OpenSeaMap to the on-line map directory of OruxMaps by adding a short script to the onlinemapsources.xml file.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I added an extra section to the onlinemapsources.xml for openseamaps but the maps displays only fragmented sectors. Perhaps the code is not correct?

Any of the OpenSeaMaps in .kap format can be downloded from their website and easily converts using OruxDesktop although it has some difficulty finding the chart bitmap. I used Chartconvert to split out the bitmap and entered it first and second the .kap file of the same name,and all went without problems.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I added an extra section to the onlinemapsources.xml for openseamaps but the maps displays only fragmented sectors. Perhaps the code is not correct?

<onlinemapsource uid="19">
<name>Open Sea</name>
<url><![CDATA[http://a.tile.openstreetmap.org/{$z}/{$x}/{$y}.png]]></url>
<minzoom>1</minzoom>
<maxzoom>19</maxzoom>
<projection>MERCATORESFERICA</projection>
<servers></servers>
<httpparam name=""></httpparam>
<cacheable>1</cacheable>
<downloadable>1</downloadable>
<maxtilesday>0</maxtilesday>
<maxthreads>0</maxthreads>
<xop></xop>
<yop>0</yop>
<zop></zop>
<qop></qop>
</onlinemapsource>

Appreciate if any of our programing buffs could have a look.

Tore

[sinbad7]

I am pleased to advice that OruxMaps tracks can now be uploaded on-the-fly to
mapmytracks.com, while creating the track. A later version will also be able to upload tracks automatically to EveryTrail.com

A special version of OruxMaps for sea sports is also under way,adding even more features.

I am in contact with the developer and inputs and suggestions from smartphone users are very welcome.

Tore

P.S. See attached a sample of a route planned with qtVls optimizing the course and speed, and imported as .gpx to OruxMaps.

[sinbad7]

I have installed a great FREE marine weather forecasting tool for Android by the name Meteo Consult Marine covering most of Europe but not Norway,Sweden or the Baltic. Very handy tool.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B3t...3FISEp4U3pNZTQ
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B3t...VlzZ3ZSSDlwbmM

Tore

[sinbad7]

The links in my previous posting did not seem to work. Try these!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B3t...3FISEp4U3pNZTQ
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B3t...VlzZ3ZSSDlwbmM

Tore

[sinbad7]

Jesper is presently in the process of setting up a copy/paste integration between
the very useful route planning and wind optimizing program qtVlm and OpenCPN.

Providing the standard Windows copy/paste system is used,you can also do the same
for Android phones which saves you the slower method of export/import.

This new facility will be incorporated in OpenCPN´s next version probably out next week.

Tore

[sinbad7]

BETTER AND BETTER!

When the next OpenCPN version has the facility to copy/paste to/from qtVml, the planning and maximizing of routes will be very easy just by switching between the dual screens.

I have set up a special POI which will also enable me to copy the .kml file to my KML directory and send it as an attachment to an email to my Galaxy S II mailbox. My OruxMaps app can then access the route details from this mailbox. Easy way to do it without any hard connection,WiFi or bluetooth.

Tore

[sinbad7]

Although there is a good GRIB manager for Android called ´mobileGRIB´, I think the route planning using grib input is better done on a laptop or PC and the final optimized route transferred to the Android device as a kml or gpx file. But still a handy app for your smartphone together with the Meteo Consult Marine app covering most of Europe.

Tore

[sinbad7]

Can recommend a couple of great FREE apps in order to establish copy/paste facility between your PC and your Android phone. Especially useful for copying optimized route files from qtVlm in .kml or .gpx format to the OruxMaps nav. prog.

FTP Server Sets up the link
ES File Explorer The file manager

Tore