MSN Virtual Earth On-the-Go with Pocket Earth

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.viavirtualearth.com/vve/Gallery/Default.ashx' target='_blank'>http://www.viavirtualearth.com/vve/...ry/Default.ashx</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth1.jpg" /><br /><br />Since Microsoft's introduction of MSN Virtual Earth, the Virtual Earth API has become increasingly popular amongst developers, so it was only a matter of time before a Windows Mobile-based client would be developed. Wait no more, because <a href="http://www.viavirtualearth.com/">Via Virtual Earth</a> is hosting an application called Pocket Earth (written by Jason Fuller) - a fast and easy-to-use client for the Pocket PC designed to access the MSN Virtual Earth service. Screenshots of the application can be seen above and below. Pocket Earth is a free application and can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.viavirtualearth.com/vve/Downloads/PocketEarth.cab">here</a>. <!><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth2.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth3.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth4.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth5.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-PocketEarth6.jpg" />

[JMckie]

This program is amazing. Take a look at the screen shots below. The download CAB file is a mere 49kb! Using a wifi connection, screen refresh takes about 3-5 seconds. (I also tried connecting using my BT cellphone for dial-up networking. Time to download a screenful of maps was 15-30 seconds.)

AFAIK, it is brand new and just a proof of concept. Basic features like panning are missing.

My biggest complaint, given that the name is "Virtual Earth", is that the program is false advertising. For non U.S. locations, you have to enter the lat/lon. At higher zoom levels, non-U.S. maps return error messages.

I don't know how to attach images here but I have uploaded them here:
http://forum.bargainpda.com/showthread.php?t=9951[/img]

[mscdex]

c'mon, where is our Google Earth Mobile? :D

[ctmagnus]

I wonder if this is affiliated with this Pocket Earth (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&amp;jid=F76EF28B19749XCA2D37ECFF6B23D6AE&amp;platformId=2&amp;N=96806&amp;productId=44939&amp;R=44939). ;)

[Darius Wey]

I wonder if this is affiliated with this Pocket Earth (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&amp;jid=F76EF28B19749XCA2D37ECFF6B23D6AE&amp;platformId=2&amp;N=96806&amp;productId=44939&amp;R=44939). ;)

Not one bit. Blue Point Studio created the Pocket Earth you linked to. The one being discussed in this thread is totally different.

[indiekiduk]

AFAIK, it is brand new and just a proof of concept. Basic features like panning are missing.


you can pan with the d-pad

[Darius Wey]

AFAIK, it is brand new and just a proof of concept. Basic features like panning are missing.


you can pan with the d-pad

In addition, pressing the action button zooms the map in a notch.

[JMckie]

Thanks for the tips. I'm embarrassed that I didn't think to try the D-pad.

[Jason Lee]

Wow, very cool program! Looks like it will soon have GPS and find contact support. They are on the menu but greyed out.

[msprague]

Pretty slick. I can't really tell if it is doing pixel doubling or true vga, but it looks alright nonetheless.

[Xymus]

Very nice... I would have prefered if it was from Google maps since it has a better coverage of Montréal but I guess its api is a bit limited.

It will certainly be very useful, great work!

[Darius Wey]

Pretty slick. I can't really tell if it is doing pixel doubling or true vga, but it looks alright nonetheless.

I'm pretty sure it's under the influence of pixel doubling, but it's still very usable, in my opinion.

[Don't Panic!]

Anybody else get two icons in there programs folder after installing this? They both open the program to the same map. I used cabinstl to put it in safestore.

[fyiguy]

Anybody else get two icons in there programs folder after installing this? They both open the program to the same map. I used cabinstl to put it in safestore.

Bobby,

Try a soft reset some programs will create double shortcuts if you have low memory or a lot of processes running in the background. The reset should bring you back to one. :D

Also for those wanting Google Maps there is another solution if you have Java/J2ME running on your PPC or Smartphone called Mobile Gmaps more on it here (http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&amp;name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=2925&amp;mode=thread&amp;order=0&amp;thold=0).

:mrgreen:

[Don't Panic!]

Thanks Steve that did it! I just got a new device and haven't installed a task manager on it yet so I had tons of stuff still running.

I'm going to have to start coming to the user group meetings. When's the next one?

[Johnathan]

Disppointed! not as good as I thought! :(

[msprague]

Also for those wanting Google Maps there is another solution if you have Java/J2ME running on your PPC or Smartphone called Mobile Gmaps more on it here (http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&amp;name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=2925&amp;mode=thread&amp;order=0&amp;thold=0).


There is a JVM for my Pocket PC that will let me use that? Show me please!
X50v: 2003 SE

[Gerard]

It's available as a component of some versions Netfront, but only the licensed version I think.
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?searchfor=netfront

[fyiguy]

Thanks Steve that did it! I just got a new device and haven't installed a task manager on it yet so I had tons of stuff still running.

I'm going to have to start coming to the user group meetings. When's the next one?

Glad it worked out for you!!! :D

It would be great to see you again, they are as they always have been every 3rd Wed. of the Month at the Microsoft Offices in Waltham,MA.
:mrgreen:

[fyiguy]

Also for those wanting Google Maps there is another solution if you have Java/J2ME running on your PPC or Smartphone called Mobile Gmaps more on it here (http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&amp;name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=2925&amp;mode=thread&amp;order=0&amp;thold=0).


There is a JVM for my Pocket PC that will let me use that? Show me please!
X50v: 2003 SE

Some Pocket PCs and Pocket PC Phone Editions ship with a Java/J2ME2me client some software browsers like Netfront 3.2 (http://www.access.co.jp/english/) with Java include them as well. The Java VM is supplied with some versions and is based on JV-Lite2 CE Edition. Access just released their latest version of the JV-Lite2 Wireless Edition (http://www.access.co.jp/english/press/050808.html)

On most newer Pocket PCs and Smartphones there is a MIDlet Manager for running Java it also works great with Opera Mini!

For some free MIDP Applications(MIDP is a Java API for mobile information devices mostly mobile phones. Most of today's phone models have MIDP 1.0 or 2.0.) that work on the Pocket PC platform head here (http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/users/fittond/ppcjava.html).

Java apps are generally called "midlets" - with the file type of *.jad or *.jar. In my personal experience I found that the .jar files tend to work the best. Next copy the .JAR file,to somewhere on your device, then run it.

There are some great midlets here:

http://midlet.org/index2.jsp

Hope this helps!!
:mrgreen:

[encece]

I saw the two item menu at the bottom and thought I'd install on my Smartphone.

Installs and works great.

[karrun]

Can someone help me install the program? I download it into my Axim folder and sync, and when I click on the program (PocketEarth.cab) it unzips into 4 files, one with an .xml extension, and the other 3 with numerical extensions. Clicking on the _install.xml file launches notepad with xml coding but doesn't do anything else.
Kind of new at this, what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!
Karen

[encece]

copy the cab file onto your SD card using ActiveSync>Explore.
Navigate to it using your file explorer and click on it.

It should then install properly.

If you sync it over, as you did, you'll get a file conversion.

[Jason Lee]

if you read his post he says the xml files opens in notepad. he is double clicking on the cab file from his desktop pc not his pocket pc. syncing it over should work fine. however you need to pickup your pocket pc and use the file explorer built into it, not your desktop, to find and tap on the cab file you synced over. it must be instslled from the pocket pc not the desktop.

[Gerard]

if you read his post he says the xml files opens in notepad. he is double clicking on the cab file from his desktop pc not his pocket pc.

That's right... and if you read his post again, the answer acknowledged this:

copy the cab file onto your SD card using ActiveSync>Explore.
Navigate to it using your file explorer and click on it.

CAB files are self-extracting installers, or 'cabinet' packages/archives. They may contain 2 or 100 or more files, coordinated on unpacking in the PPC by the always-present 000 file, which is a relatively simple text file.

[encece]

YEAH! ;)

[Phillip Dyson]

Some Pocket PCs and Pocket PC Phone Editions ship with a Java/J2ME2me client some software browsers like Netfront 3.2 (http://www.access.co.jp/english/) with Java include them as well. The Java VM is supplied with some versions and is based on JV-Lite2 CE Edition. Access just released their latest version of the JV-Lite2 Wireless Edition (http://www.access.co.jp/english/press/050808.html)


Its too bad Access doesn't allow a seperate download for the JVM. Its also a little annoying that they've got a huge banner advertising 3.3 but its not really available for US.

[Phillip Dyson]

I've got PocketEarth and Mobile GMaps (via the CrEme vm) running on my phone.

Both seem decent apps. The latter uses google for maps and MSN Virtual Earth for the Satellite. The only complaints about this one is that its small. Obviously its specifically for small phones screens.

[MrChevy]

Virtual Earth ... is that supposed to be a joke? I looked at where I live and the picture of where I live is from 1993 ... that is 12 year old information... not very "Virtual" in my book. ... 6 months or a year old, but 12 years old... what a joke.

You would think MS could do better than using 12 year old information.