A new use for PPL!

[Mike Halliday]

Ok guys, I have found a new use for PPL.

Convert your tired old SATNAV into something that runs PPL software. :D

I was given a NAVMAN iCN 520 PNA!

This device runs WIN CE 4.2 .NET. I had to unlock it to stop it running the sat nav software (Using some software form the net) (Hence my previous CE 4.2 questions)

I have now been able to run my 3d Cube demo, my oldskool demo and my signature capture/read back application.

If you need a cheap Intel XA255 device then these are the things to get. A bit fiddly to set up and run PPL apps, but once it is unlocked you can run PPL compiled apps (pocket PC 2000/2002 format) and the SATNAV app (so functionality is not lost)

I will post camera shots when I have some just to prove it is PPL! :)

Awesome! hee hee :eek:

[Mike Halliday]

As promised, I have grabbed some camera action and taken snaps of my PPL apps running on the SATNAV device! :D

The Intel processor in these machines is quite quick > 200mhz i think so PPL apps run nicely.

As you can see from the snaps (From mobile phone cam), I now have another usable PDA device! :o

Original screen - showing the satnav software running
GAPI screen - showing gapi has been installed (lots of things are missing from the device like gapi and dlls etc)
3dCube - Thats one of my apps! hee hee
OldSkool demo - Thats another one of mine! :eek:
MainGui - This is the unlocked interface on the NAVMAN (Found from the net)

This 3 year old device no longer has map updates for it so would have been relegated to the waste recycling bin. I have now given it a new lease of life and made it into a usable device again.

I have TOMTOM to run on it in the future to make it even more functional.

If you have one of these devices and want to do the same thing, drop me a PM or an eMail and I will send you the instructions.

Regards

Mike.

[kornalius]

Amazing, all I can say!

[Mike Halliday]

Now that I have the NAVMAN unlocked I thought I would try a new touch interface for it.

Here is my first draft;

This is running on the PC for screen grab purposes, but I have it running on my SATNAV now, allowing me to use finger tip control for basic apps and SMARTST/TOMTOM satnav operation.

It uses a config.inf file so it can be customised for your applications, and the final version will allow for multiple pages of application icons to be displayed, with left and right page turning using your finger! :)

The only problem is that SMARTST does not have an exit option due to it supposed to be an embedded application.

Tom Tom on the otherhand is written for PPC so has an exit option.

Next step is to buy a 1GB memory card for it and load it with useful applications that can be used on the road (but not while driving :eek:)


Another issue I have found is that because there are very little applications on the stock device, the volume whilst in PDA mode is horrendously loud! RLFO. scared the poop out of me when I ran a sound demo in PPL! ha ha.

Technically, this interface can be used on any PDA running WM/CE although it is written for Wide/horizontal operation!

M.