I use www.centrafuse.com as my frontend in my car and the current integration with Navigator leaves a lot to be desired.
Are there any APIs available today, or future plans to make it easier to integrate Navigator into front-ends for a more seamless experience?
JJ
Tomas,
We can go back and forward like this forever, but it's like explaining the concept of color to someone who's blind and you'll never understand.
The only way is for you to educate yourself on some of the issue CarPC users using Windows and a front-end are facing:
Download www.centrafuse.com (free trial) and run it in full screen. Swap to navigator and back using only single click of mouse. (to simulate a touchscreen in a car), no keyboard! Then try clicking on "Menu" in Navigator and see what happens. (Navigator disappears!). Now try and and find a way to switch back to Navigator to see where you're supposed to be driving.
Then, try using Destinator (included in Centrafuse trial) or adding the Sygic or Garmin plugins for Centrafuse and there's a world of difference in the user experience. They 'integrate' w/CF. Navigator does not.
FYI: Centrafuse controls my radio, temperature sensors, WiFi/3G, OBD, Phone via Bluetooth, Music/DVD collection etc etc. Navigator is built as if it's the only application running. Its not.
JJ
tomas,
This is what I use:
C:\Program Files\Navigator12\PC_Navigator\PC_Navigator.exe
--atlas='C:\ProgramData\Navigator\12.1\atlas_pcn_free.idc' --window_border=no --window_position=77,123,874,522 -tcpserver=any:4242
JJ
No, there's no distortion such and resolution is 1024 x 768?. Are you running CF in full screen and launching Navigator from a CF button?
And nothing "bad" happens when you press "menu" at the top? Very strange, on my CF, navigator usually goes to the background and CF gets the focus?
It also takes me 4-5 attempts to launch Navigator from the CF button? Works instantly on your copy?
JJ
Ah, well that's sortof the point of the thread, the integration of Navigator with a frontend like CF, which is why there are plugins for sygic, garmin, destinator and others.... :(
Launching Navigator directly defeats the purpose of the front-end... I'm suprised no-one at Mapfactor has come across frontends before, but suspect this is why navigator behaves so badly when used with one :(
No idea why you didn't manage to install CF given how many use it, suspect you're missing one or more pre-reqs like .NET 4.
JJ
Hi and good work!
No, CF in full scren (no keyboard in car and tiny screens)
Define Navigator as an external application in CF using the same parameters as above, and assign it a button in CF. Press the button, and navigator _might_ start on first attempt, sometimes it takes me 5 attempts.
Try pressing menu in navigator, most of the time Navigator will vanish, and CF will take over the screen, so please try multiple times. You then need to re-locate the navigator button and re-launch Navigator.
JJ
PS: To cheat, make the initial definition for the external application in CF and then exit CF. Then finalize the change in the file external.xml, and then launch CF. Then assign it a button.
That's just depressing :( Not sure if W7 is different from XP, but W7 is what I'm running, with free edition.
I see you've got False on startfullscreen. I assume you pressed the button to make Navigator go fullscreen and still no issues? (non-full screen is pretty poor user experience in 1024x768)
I have had 4 different builds, all with the same issues. Can't really expect you to fix anything you're not experiencing. :(
Guess I'll either need to swap to a different app, or live with the Navigator issues :(
JJ
Full screen: Yes. Button at top right corner With two arrows toggles between the two modes.
CF: Not sure what to tell them as I dont have access to your computer, the error messages, or the log files Their support forum is forums.centrafuse.com ?
JJ
Not sure why tomas can't reproduce the issue, but on the CF forums there are plenty of people with this issue. I can only asume tomas is doing (or knows) something we don't. Also, no idea why it would work with the free edition, but not paid. Very strange.
Assuming you can see the MapFactor logo etc and then it just "dies"?
If that's the issue, keep trying to launch it. It will/should launch by the 5th or 6th attempt.... :(
Also, see one of my posts on the CF forum on how to change the CF GUI for external apps. Optimizes the GUI layout for external apps in non-full screen (home button and radio text visible while using Navigator)
JJ
PS: The lack of integration with CF is causing me such grief I'm considering switching to Garmin Mobile PC with free OSM maps. Even if GMPC is no longer maintained or updated by Garmin, it can still handle new maps and IMG files.
1) There's a CF plugin to integrate Garmin Mobile PC with CF (Not tested it myself yet, but installig in a dev machine now for test purposes). http://www.tempgp.com/dynamic/?page=3. Mutes radio when navigation "speaks" + other features.
2) You can update your maps anytime you want using http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ (Copy the IMG file to c:\garminmobilePC) and GMPC will "see it". Or use commercial maps.
JJ
Would be great if you've got a foolproof way to embed Navigator into CF. If you can share the source and MapFactor updates their TCP commands. I'm happy to add features like mute CF audio when Navigator Speaks and other nice to haves. (if MapFactor adds the required interfaces to TCP)
JJ
PM Sent. I too would like a proper plugin for MapFactor, would allow for much better integration and functionality.
Btw, ths is my attempt at modifying the CF skin for Navigator: http://forums.centrafuse.com/showthread.php?11582-Embedding-applications-without-extra-buttons (Post #5). I'd be interested in seeing how yours looks.
Not tested the sygic plugin, I'll go hunting for a screenshot, unless you've got one?
Looking forward to test the exe.
JJ
I've taken a stab at creating a CF plugin to overcome the issues integrating MapFactor Navigator with CF. (Can't understand why Mapfactor can't replicate the issues "everyone" is facing)
Anyway, I may just have cracked it.
I can sucessfully launch Navigator without major issues and I can get back to CF as well launch other plugins, and then switch back to Navigator. Exit also appears to work without issues.
Btw, audio is untested.
Head over to the CF forums to see progress as I'll start new thread there as its a CF plugin.
JJ
Dear Mapfactor Developers,
Tested my plugin on a couple of other computers and it appears to work the way it was intended. However, for better integration, would it be possible to add more TCP commands to Navigator?
1) Navigator to send notice before audio starts, and when audio ends (navigation prompts like "turn left in 200m")
This allows my plugin to mute the radio/media player when navigation prompts are sent.
2) Option to tell Navigator to hide (remove) Exit and Minimize icons.
As Navigator is embedded into a "panel" in a different app, the Exit or Minimize actions makes the Panel go white and "unresponsive". The plugin sends the "$exit" command to shut down Navigator gracefully so its better Exit and Minimize are not there for user to press.
I'm sure I'll think for more commands to add, but adding these two would be a good start!
JJ
Edit: It looks like 1.7 Navigation Information can be used for audio notification? But no notification is sent when audio ends? So no way to turn on (unmute) radio again?
Hi mdx!
That's my current workaround. I modify the settings.xml and hope things go ok. Any suggestions on notification on audio end?
also, for hibernation. Is there a way to avoid the "Reconnect GPS" question at startup? I can't seem to find a way to disconnect Navigator from the GPS, hibernate, re-connect GPS?
Update: See Paul_S's video above for details on which prompt I'm refering too.
JJ
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