MFM's dilemmas, futures and possible solutions - threads del

[cruiser]

This is one thread, less any dilemmas... will prove very interesting to follow & keeping track on.

Yes, updates of Maps seriously requires commitment & endless resource of dedicated members contributing their roles in unrelenting supply of routes and changes along the many diverse paths to highways.

Since I had my Nuvi 650 and after three years with it... without falling prey / updating to the pricey $$$ tag that Garmin charges for map upgrades, the saved money simply afforded another new unit I recently purchased, the 775T. Will stick to this course of vested engagement instead, it makes economic sense as well.

[powerleakin]

Hi. Good discussion going on, I think it should continue.
Anyway my 2 cents:
I think that MFM is a very great project. Big international players in the gps ecosystem are all aware of MFM. And our major strength lies in the fact that it's free. And maps updated every week. Commercial map providers can't come close to MFM. Period.
Lately, I understand that some of the PND developers are giving problem to MFM by monopoly, changing compiler etc for their own benefits. This is very sad.
Thus i also support the idea of our own gps software. With it, no companies can take advantage from mfm. Going open source will be good and in line with the aims of mfm. But like antyong said, I know there are a lot of things to consider and it's no joke to do it, but if we can do it, it'll be a game-changer, I'd say. Most of the great softwares are open source, like firefox.

[tuah]

Open source sounds

[tympg]

The idea of having an independently developed GPS navigation client has been crossing my mind since I got into this hobby back in 2005.

Now, if we could have someone/some people who actually has/have the skillset & resources to develop such a product, that'll be great . Otherwise this thread is mere wishful thinking (some will say: N.A.T.O.).

[FrancisTLim]

Haha!! What tympg said is right. I too did bring up the suggestion of open source GPSR software at last Nov GG in Malacca to Bro Antyong and the others, but then I realised two things. Firstly, without even having to bring it up, most of the software savvy guys in MFM would already have thought of open source. Secondly, without having a strong lead (person or small group) with strong skillset for this, it will all only remain as wishful thinking.

Well, no harm in hoping. Who knows, maybe someone in Finland or Ukraine or Russia or somewhere in this world is already starting work on this? Even the Garmin compiler started this way. Only that it didn't go open source.

[shawchyn]

MfM's Navigation software can come true only with action and not dreaming. I also come across this idea since I take this hobbies up. But, after doing some more studies, i realized that this is not an easy task but need all the talented mind out there to help MfM to make this dream come true.

Try to explore more different ways to make it happen, and I believe we do have lots of talented programmers in our MfM user group here that can constribute.

Last nite when I had a chat with my friends, they told me that one of the way that MfM can do is working with some IT college to have this idea as their course projects, I think this idea also have been discuss previously.

I also agreed on that is not a bad idea.

[aikliang]

actually if you google the internet for open source gps you can find tons of information about them. below are some which I have found since the last time I posted on this:

http://opengts.sourceforge.net/
http://home.earthlink.net/~cwkelley/
http://www.marengo-ltd.com/gps/
http://www.gpscreations.com/
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/03/roadnav- ... avigation/
http://www.gpstk.org/bin/view/Documentation/WebHome
http://www.opengpstracker.org/
http://www.tegmento.org/gpsylon/
http://opensourcegis.org/

the last link is actually a site that list down more sites that are into open source navigation, both hardware and software.

maybe some of the bros here who are programming inclined can have a look at those sites and give their comments. Me? I gave up after a few pages as I couldn't understand what they were saying....

I will stick to contributing tracks and poi's and helping other bros

[sulphur]

1 MfM boleh !

the background is from ASEAN logo.

[keong8260]

Open sources... hmmm, sound very promising.

[tympg]

Software Development Kits for Various Mobile Platforms

• Android SDK
• iPhone SDK
• iPad SDK
• Symbian S60 3rd Edition SDK
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Development Tool Kit

NOTE: Each of these can be several GBs in size.

Anyone interested in taking the plunge?