GPS10 (with Axim) vs iQue

[JMckie]

I wrote about my impressions here (http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56966). I love to learn of some solutions for some of the shortcomings I noted in there.

[AnswerDude]

Look and search for OZVga in this forum, it's a free utility that will make applications including maps run in full vga mode.

You can press and hold on the power button to toggle backlight.

There are many free 3rd party task managers and laucher that reduce the dependency on stylus.

[JMckie]

I already have OzVGA and I think it is great as long as the program supports it. I find it very useful when using Terminal services to connect to my desktop PC using XP remote desktop. I find the small fonts and controls make true VGA mode unusable when running navigation software.

I've tried out a number of shareware and freeware launchers and settled on the combination of SPB PocketPlus and MagicButton. Unfortunately they don't help at all once you have launched and are inside the application.

Regarding the backlight, I wanted the ability to change the backlight level while driving in the car, something that you can do on the iQue using hard buttons exclusively.

[Bokkie]

Joseph,

I've stressed it before elsewhere but if you start developing PPC apps, you will find www.opennetcf.org absolutely crucial and indispensible. The current version is 1.2 and there are GPS sources available for download, which will supposedly make it into version 1.3 when it gets released.

When it comes to databases you might want to wait for VistaDB to be ported to PPC, around June/July I was told. VistaDB is a superb, zero administration database that packs a serious amount of database functionality into a very fast engine. We use the desktop version at the office and if the PPC version is anything like that, it gets a whole lot better. Whether it can sync is another question, something that I believe Access and SQL Server CE fully integrate?

[AKlopper]

WiFiFoFum uses the OpenNETCF DLLs, which leads me to believe that it may be using the GPS code as well. If that is the case, then there may be issues with it as WiFiFoFum seems to lag considerably behind the actual GPS position, although it does seem to follow the correct track (COM port reads backing up, maybe?).

Just a thought.

I'll test the GPS stuff on the M5 when I get back to my desktop PC in South Africa (currently in the US with my laptop, and rather short of hard drive space).

[AnswerDude]

There's a freeware macro called MortRunner
http://www.sto-helit.de/freeware/pocketpc/mortrunner-en.pl
that let you create kind of batch file that include programs running/activating, kerstrokes and click, there's this backlight example from aximsite;
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=75701

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by AKlopper
WiFiFoFum uses the OpenNETCF DLLs, which leads me to believe that it may be using the GPS code as well. If that is the case, then there may be issues with it as WiFiFoFum seems to lag considerably behind the actual GPS position, although it does seem to follow the correct track (COM port reads backing up, maybe?).

Just a thought.

I'll test the GPS stuff on the M5 when I get back to my desktop PC in South Africa (currently in the US with my laptop, and rather short of hard drive space).

AK, the GPS code is going through a lot of changes at the moment and it is very different to the source that some people may have taken when version 1.2 was pinned on the notice board. I believe it is changing a lot to include NMEA 0183 and more 'intelligent' port detection. Of course, what gets into version 1.3 is not known but it has become more important over the past two to three months.

You say SA, eh? Where are you based? We came over from Jo'burg in 1997.

[AKlopper]

You say SA, eh? Where are you based?

I live in Johannesburg, but I am currently trying to arrange an internal company transfer to Boston, USA, where I have been for the past 2 months.

[AnswerDude]

I bumped this thread up because JMckie has just updated his extensive posts about his impression of Axim x50V in Dell forum
http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56636
It should be very helpful for PALM users considering PPC.