OpenStreetMap
I've finally got the CartoType demo program for Windows Mobile 5 on-line: see www.cartotype.com for details. It's a 16MB download that contains the complete OSM map of the UK in compressed form.
It's not a polished app but shows that CartoType can render high-quality maps on demand on small devices.
Discussion
Comment from daveemtb on 14 April 2008 at 16:36
Sounds interesting. I'm on WM 2003 so can't test it, but am curious what the restrictions on the demo are here. Any idea of license/pricing yet? Will it be easy for people to update the stored map? Also, I may be getting a new phone soon, do you know if it runs on WM 6?
If the program could show your GPS position on the map, record GPS logs and labelled waypoints, and was freely available, it would be a great help to completing OSM coverage in the UK.
Comment from Graham Asher on 14 April 2008 at 16:55
Some answers to questions from daveemtb:
Q. I'm on WM 2003 so can't test it, but am curious what the restrictions on the demo are here. Any idea of license/pricing yet?
A. There are no restrictions on the compiled program. It's free (although the CartoType library source code is proprietary). You can use the demo and give it away freely, and that applies to the data, which is derived from OSM data so has the same license. I can produce a Pocket PC 2003 version (is that the same as WM 2003?) if I get the time and the same will apply to that.
Q. Will it be easy for people to update the stored map?
A. You can do that right now. There's a tool available on the CartoType web site that converts OSM data in XML format into CartoType's database format (called CTM1, which means CartoType Map data format 1). See the site for details.
Q. Also, I may be getting a new phone soon, do you know if it runs on WM 6?
A. If it doesn't I'll make it so. The demo program is quite a trivial app - just a wrapper round the CartoType library, hacked up using MFC 0 and I would be very surprised if it doesn't.
Q. If the program could show your GPS position on the map, record GPS logs and labelled waypoints, and was freely available, it would be a great help to completing OSM coverage in the UK.
A. Well, the old Pocket PC 2003 version shows your current position using a built-in GPS unit, and all I have to do is copy that functionality over and make sure it detects the proper GPS port. It's just a matter of finding the time. Recording GPS logs is also something it could quite easily do if I get the time to do it. That would obviously be a ver good thing to do. At lesat I've already covered the 'freely available' point :-)