The best turn-by-turn navigation app – no need to worry about the new iOS6 maps problems

There are a lot of people reporting problems with iOS6 maps – but I don’t understand why people even bother trying anything other than Waze. It is a free turn-by-turn navigation app BUT with more – much more - it also provides free real-time traffic updates from other Waze users and provides search results directly from Yelp, Bing, Google, Yellow Pages and Foursquare.
Waze uses your phone’s data connection for maps and real-time traffic updates.
Simply put, if you are navigating along a route and other Waze users are ahead of you, then the Waze servers are constantly fed their speed information which it uses to figure out the fastest route to your destination.  Your information is in turn used to route Waze users behind you!
So, you can see it’s a win-win situation where you are helped by others ahead of you, and you help people behind you.

There is a large user base in South Africa and I use it daily in Cape Town to great success!   :)

Download from the iStore here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waze-social-gps-traffic-gas/id323229106?mt=8
Download from Google Play here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waze 
or just browse with your mobile device to:  http://m.waze.com

Telmap 5 maps were not showing [Solved]

I was extremely happy with the beta version of Telmap 5 on my Blackberry Bold (9700) until the maps disappeared at the end of June 2011 and I was wondering what was going on.  A colleague even emailed Telmap support and got a response to call Vodacom support as they were contractually not allowed to deal with clients directly (#Fail).

I kept on opening the maps to see if they were back.  I read on the Internet somewhere that the Telmap servers were undergoing an upgrade so I was hoping…

Until last week the maps were blank.  Funnily enough the maps of Europe were displaying fine – so I then suspected that perhaps Vodacom were blocking the maps for some reason – perhaps to force users to use the Vodafone Sat Nav software :( 
Luckily (for Vodacom) that wasn’t the case :) 

I was quite a happy user and excited when I eventually found an app that provided turn by turn navigation! – and I certainly didn’t want to be forced to use the SatNav software.  It shows weather at my locations and other widgets too.

Last week, I opened the Telmap software and it wouldn’t open saying that the software had expired!  I pressed the BB button and there was a link to “upgrade”…
I took a deep breath and thought that if I upgraded then I would lose “My places” – and wondered how I could extract these from the BB backups that I had made. 
Another deep breath accompanied by a click on the “Upgrade” link and I started downloading the new software…

A short while and a reboot later the software started up; the maps were visible again, and I didn’t even lose “My Places”! :) :)
Navigation working again too :)

I am now upgraded to version 5.41 build 49

Now if only this software would show traffic info and tell me where the speed traps are…

Similar posts:
Update your Blackberry Bold 9700 Vodafone Sat Nav GPS Navigator

Update your Blackberry Bold 9700 Vodafone Sat Nav GPS Navigator

I have been looking for a way to get better turn-by-turn GPS software on my Blackberry since I got it.  The Vodafone Sat Nav GPS Navigator software just doesn’t work as well as my old Nokia 6110 Navigator phone.  The main problem that I experienced was that when it’s in navigation mode, (in other words, when it is giving you directions) the voice prompts come slightly too late and I miss the turn… the screen does not allow a slightly more zoomed out view to see if this is the time to turn.

I even tried the Garmin product for 30 days, as well as their onboard version of their product: Garmap that’s offering a R200 discount (so you pay R399) but the discount voucher didn’t work – I even emailed them 7 (yes, seven) times – still not sorted out :(
 

My BB Bold 9700’s version was running Vodafone Sat Nav version 4.65.87 and I needed an upgrade.

 
I then came across Telmap site - Telmap is the Israeli company that produces Sat Nav software - Telmap 4.5 world edition is available on Blackberry AppWorld for $79.99

I found this great way for you to receive the Telmap5 navigation system for your mobile phone for free.
All you have to do is register for free at http://global.telmap.com/tugpcbeta to join the Telmap User Group.

Notes:
a) this will UNinstall the existing Vodafone Sat Nav software, and you DO need to reboot your phone after the installation.
b) Traffic info does not work in South Africa.
c) It is a 6.1MB download (I hope you are on BIS)
d) It is beta software – so make a backup of your entire phone using the Blackberry desktop software

TelMap info:
”
The Telmap User Group is a group of beta testers for Telmap5.  As a member of the User Group you will receive Telmap5 software for free and will be able to navigate everywhere we have geographic coverage including Europe, North America and more.  Feedback can be returned at any time using our feedback form, and every so often we will conduct an online or phone survey asking you to answer some specific questions about the product.
You should know that you must maintain your own data package, and that we may keep GPS logs of your navigations.

We are currently accepting new users with the following devices:
- Android devices (English, French and Hebrew)
- BlackBerry 9800 Torch (English, French and Hebrew)
- BlackBerry 9780, 9700, 9300 (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Hebrew)
”

Here are the installation instructions:
1) Click on the “Register” button (at the bottom of the page) to join the Telmap User Group: http://global.telmap.com/tugpcbeta
(a download link and registration code will be emailed to you)
2) Open the email on your phone and click on the download link – a 6.1MB file will then start downloading and be installed on your phone.  My version is version 5.12.32.01 build 02.  Release notes are here: http://downloads.telmap.com/tug/doc/TUGReleaseNotes.htm
3) It will replace the old Vodafone Sat Nav version and will ask for phone permissions
4) Reboot your phone after the install is complete.


Feedback can be given using this form: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/193403/feedbacks-on-telmap-navigator-v5-0
(not for installation problems… rather use: tugadmin@telmap.com)
Telmap User Group Forum is here: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=137


Telmap5 offers:
- Full-featured in-car navigation with moving maps and sound instructions with street names
- Turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation with moving maps that follow your location and bread-crumbs for orientation
- Simple and easy one-line search for anything you need
- Widgets that let you personalize your experience for in-car navigation, pedestrian navigation and mapping
- Rich UI with animations, shadowing and graphic effects – all based on a map
- Weather information for any location
- Cell-ID positioning technology lets you use mapping and local search even when you are indoors with no GPS fix
- Tiled maps for quicker map download and smooth panning
- And much more…

The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour route on Google Earth

It’s the final countdown until the start of this year’s cycle race in Cape Town.  Over 35,000 cyclists from around the world participate and this year is no different.  If you haven’t competed before – then you’ll be looking for a route map – there’s one on the official web site – it’s a 1MB pdf file (but not very detailed).
Go here if you need the route profile.
But that’s not what I was after… in this day and age, I wanted an overlay of the route onto Google Earth – I couldn’t find this so I decided to create my own.  I also wanted a route to load into my Garmin GPS.
I created the route using Garmin’s MapSource program (version 6.13) I then used its “View->View in Google Earth” feature to transfer it to Google Earth. 
Then, in Google Earth, I saved the route using “Save to my places” and then “Save place as” functions.

See the route below (in pink):
  

The route in words:
The start is in the city centre, outside the Civic Centre.  Travel along the M3 to Lakeside where you will be diverted on to Boyes Drive. Rejoin Main Road at Kalk Bay after a steep descent from Boyes Drive.  Take the coastal road to Simonstown and then go past the entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Continue to Scarborough and on to Oceanview, missing the Kommetjie Hill.  Then Chapman’s Peak and up Suikerbossie and along the coast to Greenpoint.

So, here are the files:
Google Earth .kmz file of the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour
and the Garmin GPS database file of the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour 
and while I was at it… I created a .kmz for The Bay Cycle Tour (usually ridden 2 weeks before The Argus)

If you don’t have Google Earth, then download it here [10MB]:  download

Using the .kmz files:
Once Google Earth is installed;
Download the .kmz files and then double click on the .kmz file – Google Earth will then open an you will see an overlay (pink line) of the route of the cycle race.
Repeat for the other .kmz file

If you’re not a cyclist then you can download the race day road closures here.


       

Update on 09 Mar 2010:
After posting this info on TheHubSA.com, BBJSportGuy mentioned that there’s a site that’s been doing this for ages now!  MapMyRide – lists routes for all sorts of rides all over the world!

Here's the link for The Argus: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/south-africa/cape-town/673535464 

OR click here to see an interactive route map of The Argus: 

Converting Google Earth Lat and Long to coordinates that you can enter into your GPS

Following on from my blog about converting Google Maps URL into Lat and Long to enter into your GPS, here’s some info on how to convert from Google Earth to GPS coordinates.
Open Google Earth program and navigate to the location that you are interested in (search or fly there).
Click ‘Add placemark’
Drag the placemark to the spot that you want the GPS coordinates for (you will notice that the “New Placemark” window will open)
Click “OK”
Right click on the newly created placemark
Select the “Save place as…”
Enter a filename to save the placemark to your computer (eg: filename.kmz)
Browse to the file on your computer (using Internet Explorer)
Rename the file to have a .zip extension (eg: filename.kmz.zip)
Double click the .zip file and it should open the zip file’s contents to show a file called doc.kml
Right click on doc.kml file and select “View”
The file should open and then search for <coordinates>"
The GPS coordinates should then be displayed that you can enter into your GPS
eg: <coordinates>31.07549643928536,-17.79160330480021,0</coordinates>
Lat: 17°47'29.77"S, Long: 31° 4'31.79"E

See here for a GPS Latitude and Longitude Converter

From http://www.csgnetwork.com/gpscoordconv.html:
If you are not familiar with latitude and longitude, here is a crash course in navigation. 
Lines of latitude and longitude are hypothetical lines on the surface of the Earth.
On the Earth, lines of latitude are circles of different size.
The longest (largest in diameter) is the equator, whose latitude is zero, while at the poles, at latitudes 90° north and 90° south (or -90°), the circles shrink to a point.
On the Earth, lines of constant longitude (meridians) extend from pole to pole, and cross the lines of latitude.
Every point on the surface of the Earth has coordinates where a given line of latitude and a give line of longitude intersect (cross).
To sum it up, latitude is measured from the equator, with positive values going north (0 to 90) and negative values going south (0 to -90).
Longitude is measured from the Prime Meridian (which is the longitude that runs through Greenwich, England), with positive values going east (0 to 180) and negative values going west (0 to -180).
So, for example, 65 degrees west longitude, 45 degrees north latitude is -65 degrees longitude, +45 degrees latitude. Now that the designations (and reasons for them) are perfectly clear, here is the set of formulae if you need to do this manually.

Degrees Minutes Seconds to Degrees Minutes.m (GPS)
Degrees = Degrees, Minutes.m = Minutes + (Seconds / 60)

Degrees Minutes.m to Decimal Degrees
.d = M.m / 60, Decimal Degrees = Degrees + .d

There are 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute; 3600 seconds in a degree. There are 360 degrees in a complete circle or sphere but in all longitude and latitude measurements, the total of the degrees is expressed as 2 halves of 180 degrees each.

Converting Google maps URL to GPS coordinates (longitude and latitude) to enter into your GPS

Browsing Google Maps and finding your destination point results in a URL eg: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Doppio+Zero+-+Mandela+Rhodes+Place&sll=-33.923794,18.419631&sspn=0.007959,0.014291&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.923492,18.420017&spn=0.007514,0.014291&z=16

I found this hack here: Geoffrey Emery’s blog to display the latitude and longitude coordinates of the centre of the map displayed by Google Maps:
Looking up an address in Google Maps will centre the map on that address if it was found. 
When the location you want is in the centre of the map, copy and paste this code into the location bar of your browser and press enter:

    javascript:void(prompt('',gApplication.getMap().getCenter()));

A little window will pop up displaying the GPS coordinates :) :

But, that’s quite a javascript to remember… an easier method to remember would be to decode the URL that Google Maps gives when clicking on the “Link” button.

For example, searching in Google Maps for ‘Doppio Zero - Mandela Rhodes Place’ gives a hit and clicking on that result then the ‘Link’ link:


gives a URL of: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Doppio+Zero+-+Mandela+Rhodes+Place&sll=-33.923794,18.419631&sspn=0.007959,0.014291&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.923492,18.420017&spn=0.007514,0.014291&z=16

The Latitude and Longitude are embedded in the URL, just after the text ‘&sll’ which gives:
Latitude: –33.923794 {don’t forget the – sign}  and Longitude: 18.419631

Did you know that you can also enter the coordinates into the Google maps search bar
e.g.: S33.923794  E18.419631  or even just   -33.923794 18.419631

Enter this into your GPS eg: Nokia 6110 Navigator:  Latitude: –33.923794   Longitude: 18.419631

If you want to learn more about longitude and latitude, then here’s a link to some simply presented info by John Bell: Latitude and Longitude for sixth grade

Nokia 6110 Navigator: free Road Safety Data (eg: camera locations) for South Africa and the world

OK, you've now purchased that new cell phone with the built-in GPS and now you want to make it tell you when to slow down for those "road hazards".

Here's some information that I've reaped from all over the Internet and put it in one place.
I have tested the download and install process - but I'm yet to try it out on the road!
Your feedback will be appreciated.... good experiences and bad :)

POI = Points Of Interest (like camera speed trap info!!)

High level steps are as follows:
0) Register for the data files [once off step]

1) Get the latest data (download from web site) [short and long steps]

2) Convert data into .gpi format to Nokia format (lmx)

3) Download to phone and set up audio alerts

======================================================================
0) Register for the data files [once off step]

For the data files, you will need to register on this web site (you don't need a Garmin GPS) - if they ask (which they don't), then say you (will) own a Garmin GPS (soon) ;)
{BTW: You don't need to provide your, well, let's say, your "most checked email address"... the email they send back to you contains your username and password... which you know anyway!!!}
http://www.garmap.co.za/POILoader/register_email.asp

After entering your email address, they will want more of your personal info....

======================================================================
1"short") Get the latest data (download from web site)
http://www.gps-data-team.com/poi/
Select Country: South Africa
Select Category: Road Safety
Select: Speed Cameras
Click Download GPS POI: "Download" button [69Kb]
Select: LMX - Nokia Landmarks format {http://www.gps-data-team.com/poi/south_africa/safety/index.php?Speed_Cameras_za.lmx&sid=free_poi_files&format=lmx&file=Speed_Cameras_za}
{Note: .zip file links are not clickable if you haven't registered/logged in}
Save file as: c:\temp\Speed_Cameras_za.lmx

Note: if this step 1 is successful, then go to step 3 (ie: skip step 2 below)

======================================================================
NOTE: step 1"long" gets the data from a different place on the Internet... and must be converted: in step 2 below...
1"long") Get the latest data (download from web site)
You might need to login: http://www.garmap.co.za/POILoader/login_registered.asp
Then go to this page for the data files:
http://www.garmap.co.za/PoiLoader.asp#PoiData

Download the zip files {at the bottom of the screen} (updated weekly):
{Note: .zip file links are not clickable if you haven't registered/logged in}
Download_ReadMe_20080825.zip
This is the one with Camera info: ------->>>>>>Road_Safety_Data_20080825.zip
Toll_Plaza_Std_20080825.zip
TollOne_Voice_20080825.zip

======================================================================
2) Convert data into .gpi format to Nokia format (lmx)
NOTE: if you already have the .lmx file from step 1"short" above, then skip this step (ie: go to step 3)

Unzip the data zip files and place on your computer:
c:\temp\RS_GDB_20080825\
c:\temp\RS_GPX_20080825\

2a) Download the "POI loader" software and convert the downloaded .gpx files to a .gpi file

Download the software here [15.7MB]: http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/ click on the "Download the latest version" link
or directly from here: http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=999-99999-12

Install POILoaderforWindows to your Windows PC (ie: run the setup file).

Run the "POI loader" software:
Save points of interest files to: Save options: Select: "Custom folder"
Next
Enter folder to save your POI file: c:\temp\
Next
Point to where data files can be found: c:\temp\RS_GPX_20080825\Camera_Hazards_20080825
Express
Next
"Congratulations: you have successfully installed nnnn POIs to your computer.
Finish

2b) Convert the .gpi file to a Nokia understandable .lmx file:
Go to http://garmin.gps-data-team.com/poi_manager.php
Enter the location of the .gpi file: c:\temp\Poi.gpi
Click on the "Edit POIs online" button
Click on the "LMX" button and save the file to your computer c:\temp\poi.xml

======================================================================
3a) Download the LMX file to the Nokia 6110 Navigator phone and set up audio alerts:
From here: http://www.gps-data-team.com/pda-gps-navigation/topic/1435.html

1. Download Nokia GPS LMX files (see step 1"short" above) or convert POI files with the online POI Editor (see step 2 above)

2. Save LMX file to your memory card (e.g. Data). Use USB "Data Transfer"
{remember to unplug the phone from your PC}

3. On your phone go to Settings >> Data manager >> File manager >> Data and click on the poi.xml file.
The Nokia Landmark editor will open and display a list of landmarks.

4. Options->Save all landmarks

5. Assign appropriate category to your POIs:
Goto Applications >> Landmarks >> Categories >> Uncategorised >> Options > Mark/Unmark >> Mark All

6. Return to Options and select Add To Category say "Speed Cameras"

3b) Setup audio alerts on the cell phone:
Download audio alerts:
From: http://www.gps-data-team.com/pda-gps-navigation/topic/1435.html

"Traffic camera ahead" - download: http://tomtom.gps-data-team.com/voices/Traffic_camera_ahead.wav
"Speed camera ahead" - download: http://tomtom.gps-data-team.com/voices/Speed_camera_ahead.wav
'Red light camera ahead" - download: http://tomtom.gps-data-team.com/voices/Red_light_camera_ahead.wav

How to set Nokia audio alerts:
1. Click on the download link with right mouse button, save to your HDD and copy audio file to your Nokia.

2. On your Nokia, startup the GPS navigator: goto Options->Settings >> Alarm >> Landmarks >> Speed Cameras (or whatever you called the category)

3. Change alarm settings - Visual alarm, Warning sound and distance

4. Press Save and exit


For reference:
This is the main page to get all the software and data files you will need:
http://www.garmap.co.za/default.asp
{Note: .zip file links are not clickable if you haven't registered/logged in}

Note: Steps 1"short" and 1"long' get different data files - the accuracy of the data might be different as well.

Remember, your feedback will be appreciated.... good experiences and bad :)

Use your phone's internal GPS module externally on a laptop using existing, more sophisticated GIS applications, and FlipSilent....

Use your phone's internal GPS module externally on a laptop using existing, more sophisticated GIS applications. I think this would interest all my buddies with the cool Navigator cell phones! Free for personal, non-commercial use.

Symarctic ExtGPS is mainly targeted for Nokia N95, E90, 6110 Navigator handsets.

Download from here:

http://www.symarctic.com/beta/static.php?page=extgps_download

{From: 25 best applications for your Nokia N95: http://n95-download.xhost.ro/?p=4}

Another one that I thought was worth a try:

Flip Silent for N95:
A small download which makes you use your N95 phone in a more natural way:
When you are in a meeting, and a call is coming in, you can flip over your phone to make it go into the silent profile and hang up the phone call or mute the ringer - without touching anything on the phone, just flip it over, your phone will go into silence!

http://symbianblog.com/index.php/flipsilent/