best GPS software to DEVELOP for?

ErikB · 09-09-2005, 11:39 AM

i've searched and read and searched and read some more. I know this will be somewhat subjective but i'm trying to make my own frontend and i want to integrate some sort of GPS into it. After much reading I had thought Destinator was the best solution, but everything I read now says even if I get the SDK it will be expired.

So if you guys were starting today what solution would you go with and can you point me in the right direction for it?

I hope this isn't a question that has been asked alot i tried to search for it but nothing talkes of developing for it. thanks.

PURDooM · 09-09-2005, 12:07 PM

If you are making the frontend, just make the frontend and instead have other people make the GPS stuff for you. All you have to do is put a picturebox control somewhere in your program and embed an application into it (like iguidance or mapmonkey) by setting the applications parent hwnd to the hwnd of your picturebox, and from there everyone else has tons of ways to customize your GPS software.

ErikB · 09-09-2005, 12:19 PM

Mapmonkey was pretty much my original plan but the thread i was reading said it will be expired now. did i read wrong?

b8bboi · 09-09-2005, 12:29 PM

The only major GPS app with an SDK right now is just Destinator. As for the expiration issues, some people did get a version that expired despite paying full price for it. Some didn't. Plus, Destinator sucks (for the US anyway). Maps are old. Instructions are stupid. It's a memory hog. Right now, I'm just using iGuidance with the mods from Purdoom, leelo, etc. I'll wait till Destinator clean up their act before buying their new version.

edikp · 09-09-2005, 01:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by b8bboi

The only major GPS app with an SDK right now is just Destinator.

MapPoint from Microsoft also has SDK.

Zogg · 09-09-2005, 02:15 PM

You can also update the MapPoint data files with newer files from Streets & Trips 2005 to get the latest map data.

Z

edikp · 09-09-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Zogg

You can also update the MapPoint data files with newer files from Streets & Trips 2005 to get the latest map data.

Z

I've been wondering about this. How would I do the update? Just swap the files?

Zogg · 09-09-2005, 03:28 PM

Yeah, rename old Data folder, copy over S&T Data folder. You'll see that the file names are identical.

There was one file I had to copy from the old Data folder, USADemo.mdb. MP wanted the startup disc again the first time but worked fine after that.

Z