[OSM-newbies] openmoko freerunner for both maps and recording tracks?

[Hervé S.]

Denver Gingerich <denver at ossguy.com> wrote:

> > I consider buying an Openmoko Freerunner device, in the idea that it
> > would provide both an usable "ordinary GPS" function (with OSM maps
> > preloaded)
> 
> What do you mean by this?  When most average people say "GPS", they mean a
> device that will give them spoken or displayed directions from point A to
> point B.  OSM is not at a point where you can use its data on a FreeRunner
> to do this.  However, if you just want OSM maps to see where you are, then
> the FreeRunner with tangoGPS will do that just fine.

That's what I need, no more


> > - is it a bad idea, should I buy another device instead (why? simpler?
> > easier? What are the most used devices here btw?)
> 
> It depends how comfortable you are with a Linux command line.  Pretty much
> all the configuration for a FreeRunner needs to be done through an SSH
> session to the FreeRunner from your computer (over USB).  Have you used
> the command line before?

Yes, but with a limited vocabulary, and rather for 10-line-sessions than
for pages... (all the more as I presume every USB-connect-how-to will be
for use with a PC, nor a mac...)


> In terms of GPS software, tangoGPS is quite awesome.  It will show OSM
> maps with your location and can track routes for uploading to OSM. I've
> done both.
> 
> > - should I start with an ordinary GPS (with recording capablity) and
> > leave the actual using of OSM maps for later (or just on the laptop)?
> 
> That would be simple, but you would miss out on being able to see where
> you are with OSM, which I've found to be a very invaluable feature.  Even
> when tracking it is useful to see where you are because it's easier to
> tell what needs mapping; if you're on a street that doesn't appear in OSM
> on your FreeRunner, then you're collecting useful data to input later :).

I understand this. That's why I'm here ;-)


> > BTW, I tried, but didn't find, a way to search the maillist existing
> > database: I opened a couple of months' archives in the web interface but
> > didn't really manage to scan the whole archive: did I miss something?
> 
> A query like the following in Google will search the archives for
> "freerunner":
> 
> site:http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/newbies/ freerunner

nice, I'm just trying... but all I see is my own question, and a single
other one :-D Ah! --I tried with the other "normal" list ('talk') and
found indeed a lot of things!


> On another note, I agree with Risto that you should not expect to use your
> FreeRunner as a normal phone.  The software is not stable enough yet to
> make the average person happy using it as a phone.

OK, the phone thing is rather minor for me. That wifi connection is
difficult is more sad, because it will be harder for TangoGPS to
download map tiles...

Thank you for all of this! I'l still reading the posts here and on
"talk", where various other GPS devices are advocated none of them being
perfect anyway...

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