New Google Maps for WebOS - native javascript API

[pietromx]

Originally Posted by michel_ng

Wow, on my Veer the only issue i dont like is the app smoothness. Hope it will be really faster with the next release

First of all I would like to thank you for this great app!!
Then, do you think you could ever consider the possibility to develop even google earth app for the touchpad?? (Something similar to the ipad one?)

[BenL]

Originally Posted by 72ka

Hi, bad news for you, although the last tiles are in cache, the whole API not (no legal way to cache it),

If it is not legal to cache Google's tiles, can you cache OSM tiles?

[72ka]

Originally Posted by BenL

If it is not legal to cache Google's tiles, can you cache OSM tiles?

Hi, this is just a one secret what I have in ToDo for 2013 Answer is YES, I can make a function for tiles storing to database... we share the same idea and now it is not a secret

Sent from ICOO D70GT tablet

[72ka]

Originally Posted by pietromx

First of all I would like to thank you for this great app!!
Then, do you think you could ever consider the possibility to develop even google earth app for the touchpad?? (Something similar to the ipad one?)

Your welcome. About google earth, is there some free sources and API? I think this couldn't be possible, google earth is closed source native app, uses openGL or directX on windows.

Anyway, yesterday i tested my new app wInNeR ported to Enyo 2, I'm falling in love to Enyo 2, because I bundled the framework with application, and it works on webOS 1.x, 2.x, 3.x, desktop Linux, desktop Windows and on my Android tablet as well. Included some webos compatibility libraries it handles screen orientation and backswipe too. More, I can use Mojo functions. Disadvantage is that Mojo is significantly faster on webOS phones than Enyo, mainly scroller performance. But the future is Enyo 2, I think it can run on new FirefoxOS or Ubuntu for phones as well.

Sent from ICOO D70GT tablet

[BenL]

Originally Posted by 72ka

Hi, this is just a one secret what I have in ToDo for 2013 Answer is YES, I can make a function for tiles storing to database... we share the same idea and now it is not a secret

Cool. I'll look forward to that.

A related idea that I thought of last night, is the option of installing a base set of tiles of the entire planet (perhaps 1cm = 500km?), so when you're on a long plane trip and no internet access you can see where you are. (I have no idea how much space that would take up).

[gizmo21]

Originally Posted by 72ka

Hi, this is just a one secret what I have in ToDo for 2013 Answer is YES, I can make a function for tiles storing to database... we share the same idea and now it is not a secret

Sent from ICOO D70GT tablet

Just for your info MapTool Pro adds an directory /media/internals/.MapTool/<OSM-Layer name>/<zoomlevel>/<tilenumberdir>/<tilenumber>.png

For me this dir has a size of 1.65GB and i'm not traveling that much.
So is that possible in a database?
Could it perhaps be possible to share one directory with both apps (i know not that easy for bug tracking at users)?

Btw. MapTool Pro has a build-in maptile downloader: Save maps for offline use with MapTool Pro | webOS Nation and there is an desktop jtiledownloader: L\'Haut-Parleur » WebOS: MapTool 0.9.6 on PreCentral, Wikay 1.0.1 in the AppCatalog, Match This! Pro in the AppCatalog

And some more info, what can happen downloading many files
http://forums.webosnation.com/webos-...ml#post3206263

[gizmo21]

Originally Posted by BenL

Cool. I'll look forward to that.

A related idea that I thought of last night, is the option of installing a base set of tiles of the entire planet (perhaps 1cm = 500km?), so when you're on a long plane trip and no internet access you can see where you are. (I have no idea how much space that would take up).

at OSM zoom size 5 (400-1000km cm) it will be about 20MB+. But in lower ones there are only 1-16 files.
Tirex/Overview - OpenStreetMap Wiki

[72ka]

Originally Posted by gizmo21

Just for your info MapTool Pro adds an directory /media/internals/.MapTool/<OSM-Layer name>/<zoomlevel>/<tilenumberdir>/<tilenumber>.png

Could it perhaps be possible to share one directory with both apps (i know not that easy for bug tracking at users)?

Wow... i really like this idea! It could be easy for me just to check if the tile is available on this path and load it from there, otherwise use the online tile.... why to have two big databases, right.
Sure only for devices with FileMgr service, but FileMgr is must have service for each webOS user.

[72ka]

Hi,

I tried to use MapTool Pro tiles cache as source in Google Maps... worked for the first try, very nice!

The issue what I have to resolve, is the "smart cache" ... I tried make check if the tile exist in cache or not, it works.. but the filemgr or ajax call is asynchronous and thats the problem. The Google tile url getter needs the respond synchronized.

Thus, at this time, I can only switch between online or offline tiles.... I have to found some solution how to do the "smart caching"

Smart caching means to get from offline first and the online if doesn´t exist and then save them for offline use.

[gizmo21]

So i assume Metaview (dev of MapTool Pro) has no issue with it, cause he only uses OSM and no google tile getter involved?
Else you could ask him for some support, even if he perhaps has some not so good feelings about your free and his paid app. But you could do some cross advertise as his app is still number one in OSM (different tile servers and downloader) and GPX track recording and track viewing field. [/ advertise off]

[ginpre]

Hi 72ka,

I am beta-testing zhepree's new version of neato. In case you do not know it, it is an app that allows you to send text/links from one device to another. e.g. from the webbrowser to the phone or touchpad (and the new version is even cross-platform, supporting android and IOS).

Apparently when the old/original version of Google Maps was present on the devices before it was replaced with Bing maps, there were URL triggers, that fired up the Google Maps app when a Google Maps URL was received. When I send such an URL to my Pre3 now, all that opens is the Google Maps page in the browser.

Would it be possible for you to include such URL triggers in you app? That would be awesome!

[72ka]

Originally Posted by ginpre

Hi 72ka,

I am beta-testing zhepree's new version of neato. In case you do not know it, it is an app that allows you to send text/links from one device to another. e.g. from the webbrowser to the phone or touchpad (and the new version is even cross-platform, supporting android and IOS).

Apparently when the old/original version of Google Maps was present on the devices before it was replaced with Bing maps, there were URL triggers, that fired up the Google Maps app when a Google Maps URL was received. When I send such an URL to my Pre3 now, all that opens is the Google Maps page in the browser.

Would it be possible for you to include such URL triggers in you app? That would be awesome!

Hi, sounds good. I already started this thing to do... but stopped it for other more important things. It was mentioned before some posts. Now the app can´t set the default URI handler, the system have to call it directly - like Just type do. But, can you reproduce for me the steps how can I test it?

[72ka]

Originally Posted by gizmo21

So i assume Metaview (dev of MapTool Pro) has no issue with it, cause he only uses OSM and no google tile getter involved?
Else you could ask him for some support, even if he perhaps has some not so good feelings about your free and his paid app. But you could do some cross advertise as his app is still number one in OSM (different tile servers and downloader) and GPX track recording and track viewing field. [/ advertise off]

Looks like maptool stores the tile availability to variable, then the state is immediatelly available... But this way is nod good for me, it will need to scan all the file structure on app start.

Second issue.. the MapTool use tiles with different style.. if my app use MapTool tiles and other default styled tiles, then the map looks horrible

Conclusion... the best way could be the own directory with tiles only for my app, with variable containing their availability.

OR just switch between online map and offline MapTool pro map...

But... I´m still trying to get managed this using more elegant way...

[72ka]

BINGO! I found the most elegant way how to do smart caching! If some thing can´t do from front... you can always to try it from back and this is the right way now

Instead of check if the tile is in cache and then make decision to load cached or online tile, what is impossible with async call, I just at first set hard path to all tiles from cache. If the tile is in cache, it shows and vice versa. Then I do the check if the tile is in cache and if not, the tile is downloaded on the background and at the same time, I change the same tile source path to online path and the tile is refreshed. All this can be asynchronous and works well. Only it tooks a bit longer to show uncached tiles, but cached tiles are loaded immediatelly and thats the point.

It was a hard work, because for direct acces to tile div, I had to rewrite all the OSM background (again) from ImageMapType to CustomMapType...

It is sooooo neat to have offline tiles... sadly that this can´t be done with Google tiles, but that´s the terms.

EDIT: just added the floppy disc icon for tiles, which are downloading for user information until the tile is saved

[jcmarcos]

Originally Posted by 72ka

BINGO! I found the most elegant way how to do smart caching!

Congratulations! By the way, yesterday I discovered you were also into music some time go. Also, that you, you consider yourself an "INTJ", which I didn't have an idea of what it was, but after some reading, I think I am too!

Cheers!

(what a great place this is!)

[72ka]

Originally Posted by jcmarcos

Congratulations! By the way, yesterday I discovered you were also into music some time go. Also, that you, you consider yourself an "INTJ", which I didn't have an idea of what it was, but after some reading, I think I am too!

Cheers!

(what a great place this is!)

Ha funny, it´s not me! My name is Jan Heřman, not Jan Hermann. Just similar names...
I hope that nobody can´t find any info about my person, because I´m always trying to protect my personality, it means, no social networks, no photos, no info about my relatives. I use internet as tool, not as book where I can save everything about me.

[jcmarcos]

Originally Posted by 72ka

it´s not me! My name is Jan Heřman, not Jan Hermann. Just similar names...

But same country! Indeed it's funny... Sure, I' was convinced it was you. How silly of me!

I´m always trying to protect my personality, it means, no social networks, no photos, no info about my relatives. I use internet as tool, not as book where I can save everything about me.

I fully agree. No social network at all for me, but not to protect myself, but because I consider them a waste of time. For example, this forum can be considered a social network... But here there is a concrete INTEREST in something, not just endless streams of party photos and greetings-a-go-go.

By the way, the other day I discovered that, actually, I'm on Facebook: There's a guy there whose name is exactly the same as mine. So now I can finally end discussion with my friends as why I'm not on Facebook: Because I'm already!

PUBS are the social network. For anything else, there's e-mail.

(by the way, if somebody finds this too personal and off topic, I can delete my last two posts)

[72ka]

OK, decided to add two toggle buttons. One for general enable of OSM smart caching, and second to use my own cache (in /media/internal/.cz.72ka.googlemaps) or use MappingTool cache. I think this is good enough for anybody...

[Grabber5.0]

Originally Posted by 72ka

OK, decided to add two toggle buttons. One for general enable of OSM smart caching, and second to use my own cache (in /media/internal/.cz.72ka.googlemaps) or use MappingTool cache. I think this is good enough for anybody...

Is the second toggle primarily for use if you also have MapTool installed and use it (and therefore may have cached tiles already in it)? The tiles would then be shared between the two apps? I confess I haven't been following the thread as very close recently, so I apologize if you already explained it.

[BenL]

Originally Posted by 72ka

OK, decided to add two toggle buttons. One for general enable of OSM smart caching, and second to use my own cache (in /media/internal/.cz.72ka.googlemaps) or use MappingTool cache. I think this is good enough for anybody...

I'm looking forward to trying the new version with caching.