Why all these different Map programs?
 

I need a map of the programs for viewing maps.

In the N800 there is pre-installed "Map" and ability to download some maps. I never needed that, but tested it out yesterday, just for fun. For me, the major shortcoming was that it did not show street names until the zoom was focused on a very small area. I couldn't find a fix for that. But after downloading the East and West USA, I checked some cities and the street layout are pretty much up-to-date. I just can't see the street names.

Then in the maemo garage I noticed a program "maemo-mapper" is at the top of the download list. "Is that the same Map program?" I wondered. Apparently not. And there is something in the N800 ApplicationManager called "mapdownloader" that gets "maptile" maps by longitude and latitude. But it does not say what program the maptile would be for.

<rant>Generally, I've found programs for N800 to be badly labeled and their descriptions are not informative. If maemo-mapper said "this is a free/open competitor against the Map program from the Wayfinder company that is provided in the N800" it would have helped me a bit more.

Speaking of vague descriptions, note flite is described as a hacked up version of flite! If the description said "this is a synthesizer that converts written text into audible speech" think how much happier people would be :) And then, if fbReader would use flite to read out loud, we could dance in the street with joy!</rant>

PJ

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

Well, you usually get what you pay for. Ranting about poor descriptions of free software seems just a tad juvenile to me, but maybe that's just me.

Maemo Mapper is much better than the built-in program, and you can get all sorts of maps, including satellite photos. Try different sources for the maps and see which you like the best. I like the VE street maps, myself. It's just not possible to fit all street names on large-scale maps, there just isn't room. You have to get to a scale which gives room for the street names. I think you'll find Google or VE maps do this better, though.

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

He's absolutely right though. It's not limited to maemo of course, I hate seeing things like "KSplungeBlatt - SplungeBlatt for KDE".

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

Dude - they have SplungeBlatt for KDE? I've been waiting for that for, like, forever!

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

We could use a really well-written description of all the programs.
When do you start?

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

Cryptic names and descriptions for software seems to just be part of the linux culture. Its not a problem if you get in the habit of reading the forums and learn about the packages from reading the threads. Or you can do a google search on the name of the package and site:internettablettalk.com

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

He just did, first post. Read it again, and add his descriptions to the packages. Thanks!

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

:D

I've been trying to compile GSplungeBlatt but I'm missing libneedlenardlenoo.so.0

No suggestions?

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

Well, that's description isn't accurate, since maemo mapper was available well before there was a map program bundled with the tablet, so maybe "maemo mapper is what the map application bundled with the tablet will be when it's grown up" ;)

Re: Why all these different Map programs?
 

Yeah, shut your mouth, this is free stuff, take it and like it. Your opinion to maybe make things better and easier and also instill some concise less geeky attitude, is not needed.

btw does anyone know if there is an update to hildergranommgeltigat.deb.so for os2008?

:)