'GPXSonar' for Pocket PC 2002

[+-=(GEO)=-]

Pfewww! I've managed to win the fight against PPC 2002 and there's finally a version of 'GPXSonar' available for this platform.

 

You can download it here.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own a PPC 2K2 device and I've only been able to test the program to a very limited extent under an emulator. For instance, I am unable to see my 'Tap & Hold' actions By the same token, I could not test the setup program.

 

Otherwise, the software offers the same functionality as the PPC 2003 version. It's also a beta release, just like the other one.

 

Please give it a try and post your feedback in this thread.

 

Regards,

Fabien.

 

[+phantom4099]

I could not get it to open my GPX file (created in august) on my Ipaq 3955. It just sat there with the spinning clock thing in the center.

 

Wyatt W.

 

The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions.

[davwil]

I had the same problem as phantom4099. The GPX file was from last week. The loading indicator just kept spinning (Somewhat faster than normal).

 

Model is HP iPAQ h1910. I had the GPX file stored on the 128 meg. SD card.

 

Sure am looking forward to using your software.

 

I should add, I had "stopped all" other applications before running GPXSonar.

 

[This message was edited by davwil on September 23, 2003 at 04:35 AM.]

[+-=(GEO)=-]

Thanks for the reports. I'll look into why this is happening as soon as I can get a better test environment and will post a new version shortly. But look at the bright side, at least, the setup works

 

[+Team Chevelle]

Any word on the 2002-compatible version? I'd really love to give this a try. I'm currently a happy GPXview user, but some of the added functionality of this sound like it might be time for a switch!

 

- John...

[+Geofool]

Just reporting that I had the same problem others have reported. Program installed no problem, but when I try to launch a PQ, all I get is the spinning clock icon. Looking forward to the next release.

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

I've updated the PPC 2002 version of GPXSonar and I've tested it under my PPC 2003 device. I'm glad to report that everything seems to work normally .

 

However, I had to compromise in order to get to this point: the size of the executable file is much larger than normal because I had to suppress almost all code optimizations normally done by the compiler.

 

Such optimizations are 'breaking' the app for some reason and since I don't have a PPC 2002 device, I am unable to run the code under a debugger and identify what's wrong (Anyone got a loaner ?).

 

So for the time being, the app runs fine but is a bit of a pig.

 

Please, give it a spin and let me know what you think.

 

Regards,

Fabien.

 

[+Geofool]

Seems to be working fine now, loads PQ's much faster than GPXView. For some reason the difficulty and terrain ratings are not shown properly on the cache description page. Just shows a picture icon. The same icon is there next to the cache name and the goecachers names too. Is this a bug?

 

Is the only way to access the hint done on the main page? It would be nice to be able to get the hint from the cache description page.

 

So far I'm liking this app. Thanks!

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

GeoFool...

 

I am not seeing any problems with the difficulty and terrain ratings (I've just re-installed the PPC2K2 to my device to check).

 

You should be seeing green and yellow stars just like on the gc.com pages.

 

Here's what I suggest: re-install the software using the default directory location (as opposed to the storage card for instance) proposed by the setup.

 

As a sanity check, verify the presence of 5 .gif files under Program FilesGPXSonarDocsImages

 

Let me know.

 

[+Geofool]

Yes...the 5.gif files are there. I'll try to re-install and see what happens.

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+Geofool]

OK, I installed again and no change. I found that if I tap and hold on the picture icon, and select 'Show Picture', the correct gif loads. Any ideas why this is?

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

GeoFool...

 

Could it be that your Pocket IE is configured to not show or load bitmaps by default?

 

[+Geofool]

Not sure what I did other than exit the program and re-started it a couple of times, now everything seems to be fine. Weird. Thanks GEO!

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+Geofool]

GEO,

 

With GPXview I was able to export pushpins for MS Street & trips. Does this program offer this function?

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+jollybgood]

Works on my Audiovox Thera. Pretty zippy too.

 

I noticed hints aren't included (unless I missed it).

 

Pretty spiffy tho.

 

Jolly R. Blackburn

http://kenzerco.com

"Never declare war on a man who buys his ink by the gallon."

[+Geofool]

Jolly,

 

So far the only way, as far as i know, to get the hints is on the main cache listing page, tap and hold to bring up dialog box. Then select 'cache options' then 'show hints'.

 

I much prefer the way GPXview uses hints. Not really a big deal though.

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

About the hints:

 

The next release will have an option to show them on the page this way: 'encrypted', 'plain text' or not at all.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

About the pushpins:

 

Currently, GPXSonar only exports waypoints using the Magellan protocol. This is because I own a MeriPlat and use GPXSonar to store waypoints directly on the SD card of the GPS. Very handy in the field

 

I plan on adding a bunch of other formats later.

 

[+Geofool]

I really like the field note option. So cool. Any added features will be a bonus.

 

********************************************

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[davwil]

VERY nicely done. I got my PQ this morning and reloaded everything and the GPX file loaded fine.

 

I have yet to play with all the features but of all the great GPX viewers for the PPC out there (GPXView, Spinner, etc.) yours is what I'm looking for.

 

Thanks,

Dave

[+trippy1976]

I'm working on a review of this for cachegear.com right now. I will have to finish it tonight... it just does too much

 

--------

trippy1976 - Team KKF2A

Assimilating golf balls - one geocache at a time.

[+leatherman]

Just loaded it. The cache pages are very clean. I don't find it faster than GPXview on my h1910.

 

As for aesthetics, which everyone well differ, some of the fields are unnecessary.

I have no use for the waypoint. The waypoint can be seen on the cache page. This is a product of Spinning my waypoints on my GPSr. Making the waypoint the name of the cache. Which makes the name more important to me. Snugging the cache name up to the icon would be great.

The note field should be after the cache name.

The distance from center should be next to the name.

The difficulty and terrain field could be one field.

 

So being able to eliminate some of the list fields, or move them to the right of others would be great.

 

I think single clicking(highlighting) should open the cache page. On my h1910 clicking and holding makes the red ring of dots spin around twice before the choices pop up.

 

Great work. Thanks for the beta.

 

POWDER!!!!!!

[+ThisWayOut]

It will open on a double-tap

 

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

[+leatherman]

Ok, the double tap works.

 

THX

 

POWDER!!!!!!

[+phantom4099]

I can't get PIE to open up the page. Do I have to have GPX files of a later date than august? I have an Ipaq 3955.

 

Wyatt W.

 

The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions.

[+alexm]

quote:

---

I can't get PIE to open up the page. Do I have to have GPX files of a later date than august? I have an Ipaq 3955.

---

 

Similar problems here, but I haven't nailed them down yet. For the record, here's what it looks like:

 

1. App starts, I pick a GPX. little "busy" ticker ticks on.

2. App switches to "list". ticker speeds up.

3. I get bored, tap screen and get "filters" screen with "busy" ticker going on.

4. Click "Apply" and get partial GPX listing with "busy" still ticking.

5. Click on cache. Get no IE page, but URL reference appears proper.

6. Close GPXSonar. Get assertion failed (Wincore.cpp line 332).

7. Get PPC BSOD (exception 0xc0000005 @ 97644).

 

I've got one GPX that will load right every time. The other 3 give various pieces of the above problem, sometimes without the "filters" screen, and sometimes with. Sometimes a total lock-up, sometimes not.

 

Hmph. I can offer to run it inside the MS PPC Dev Kit 2002 debugger if that would help any (have to install it again... are the debugging symbols stripped from the EXE?) I'll offer up GPX files or whatever if it will help any.

 

From what I've seen of it working, this thing is the Bee's Knees, man..

 

alex

 

(edit)

Oh yeah, iPAQ 3835, PPC 2002 w/all service packs, GPX and EXE in Flash ROM (not memory card).

[+-=(GEO)=-]

alexm...

 

Thanks for the feedback. I'd really like to get a copy of the GPX files that make the app crash. If you could zip them up and email them to me, that would be great.

 

Regarding running the software under a debugger: I can make a special build available to you with the debug symbols.

 

The fact that the GPX and the EXE are in Flash RAM is fine. As a matter of fact, the EXE must be in the main memory.

 

I'll send you an email shortly.

 

Thanks,

Fabien.

 

[+trippy1976]

I like the application and am finishing my review shortly. I have a lot of good things to say about it, but I have two things that I think are big gaps.

 

- No search capability. I can sort, but I still have to scroll through a lot of pages to find anything real specific

 

- It uses a TON of memory. Over 8MB on my Axim, that's without Pocket IE open. This is vs. under 1 MB with iSilo and spun PQs.

 

It's far more functional than anything I've used as far as note taking and bug tracking. Those are two great features. It's not as fast by any stretch and uses up a lotta, lotta memory.

 

I heard a rumor at one point you were eventually hoping to set this up to sync with gc.com, is that still a goal? That would be incredible to be able to log in the field and sync to gc.com when I got home.

 

--------

trippy1976 - Team KKF2A

Assimilating golf balls - one geocache at a time.

[+-=(GEO)=-]

Trippy...

 

Thank you for the feedback.

 

If you read my earlier posts in this thread, I have explained the compromise that I had to make to get the app to -even run- on PPC 2002.

 

I am aware of the footprint problem but this was the best that I could do given that I don't have the proper environment to test/debug.

 

Don't forget that the memory being used is also related to the size of your GPX file (I may actually compress the data at some point).

 

I've noted the request for a search function. It does make sense in some situations. I'd be interested to get more details about what you're looking for.

 

About synch'ing with the site: This is not a rumor. It is one of the major goals of this app. Some technical details need to be worked out with gc.com before I take a stab at it.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

alexm...

 

Thanks for sending me the GPX file causing your PPC to crash. The good news is that I can reproduce the problem under my PPC2K3 device as well as the emulator.

 

I should have a fix shortly. I'll contact you directly so that you can test it on your device before I make another build.

 

Regards,

Fabien.

 

[+Geofool]

It seems the north/south bearing tables are reversed. Caches that are north from me are showing south and vise versa.

 

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+-=(GEO)=-]

GeoFool...

 

Thanks for the feedbaack. There's a list of known issues in the 'readme' at the very beginning of the installation program. The fact that the calculation of the bearing may be inaccurate is one of them.

 

However, I'm not sure that the reversal that you write about is that systematic. I need to investigate what's really happening here.

 

Regards,

Fabien.

 

[+Insp Gadget]

Any closer to getting a working model of this program out? I tried it and the icon just kept spinning. Can't wait to see what it's like!

[+-=(GEO)=-]

Insp Gadget...

 

GPXSonar does work on PPC 2002. There are some issues with memory consumption but it works.

 

Can you be more specific about your problem? Any specific GPX files being loaded causing trouble? What's the config of your PPC? etc..

 

Thanks.

 

[+Insp Gadget]

I am using a Jornada with 64mb of ram and an external 512mb CF card. The GPX files are locaded in the main memory as well as GPX Sonar. When I click on a file, it just spins for he longest time. The longest I let it run was 15 minutes after which I had to do a soft reset. The GPX files are new.

[+Geofool]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Insp Gadget:

I am using a Jornada with 64mb of ram and an external 512mb CF card. The GPX files are locaded in the main memory as well as GPX Sonar. When I click on a file, it just spins for he longest time. The longest I let it run was 15 minutes after which I had to do a soft reset. The GPX files are new.

---

 

Are you sure you have the latest BETA release? I had this problem before the second release.

 

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[+Insp Gadget]

I d/n the version that came out the first day. Where can I get the new one?

[+Geofool]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Insp Gadget:

I d/n the version that came out the first day. Where can I get the new one?

---

 

Use the hyperlink in the first post of this thread.

 

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[Growley]

Here is a problem I am having that maybe someone else has experianced: When I tap the icon it opens fine. I select one of my PQ and all the caches display. I tap on a cache and my Axim beeps and a message comes up saying: The page you are looking for cannot be found. Any one else had this problem?

[+Geofool]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Growley:

Here is a problem I am having that maybe someone else has experianced: When I tap the icon it opens fine. I select one of my PQ and all the caches display. I tap on a cache and my Axim beeps and a message comes up saying: The page you are looking for cannot be found. Any one else had this problem?

---

 

This hasn't happened to me. It's possible that your PQ is corrupt. Did your try another one?

 

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[Growley]

I didn't try another however, they open up fine under GPSview.

[+dino_hunters]

do you have the program installed to a memory card? It MUST be in main memory. That was my problem at first too.

[Growley]

tylosaurus, That did the trick! I reinstalled GPXSonar to the main memory and it now finds all my caches. Thanks, Dave.

[+-=(GEO)=-]

The home page for GPXSonar is now http://gpxsonar.homeip.net/

 

I'm now hosting it myself ever since I changed ISP. I'm hoping to have a bulletin board online shortly to support discussions about the program.

 

Regards,

Fabien.