Usage

From xGPS

In order to use xGPS as a "real" GPS you will need an iPhone 3g, or one of the External GPS Modules to add to your Ipod Touch.

To set up the device, see Configuration.

External GPS Modules Summary

• iGPS360 (recommended)
• G-Fi GPS with iGPSd Cable
• Hollux GPS with iGPSd Cable

Contents 1 Usage Video/Screen Shots 2 Explanation of Settings 2.1 Settings 2.2 General 2.3 Maps 2.4 GPS 2.5 Driving Directions 2.6 GPX Logging 2.7 User Interface 3 Comparison of night mode and normal mode

Usage Video/Screen Shots

To see screen shots of xGPS in action click here

Explanation of Settings

Settings

The settings menu can be accessed from the map screen of xGPS by tapping the wrench icon in the bottom left corner.

• GPS Enabled: Enables or disables use of the GPS module.
• GPS Tracking: Enables or disables showing your position on the map.
• Offline Mode: Prevents xGPS from using the data connection (Internet). Turn this on if you have a limited data plan and don't want to exceed your allowance, or if you are roaming and don't want to pay for roaming fees. This setting prevents xGPS from automatically downloading any missing map regions and forces it to use existing maps that are already downloaded. xGPS will also not complain about Internet access while in this mode.
• Map auto-rotation: This allows xGPS to automatically rotate the map to the direction you are traveling in (up is forwards). Any text on the map may appear upside-down as the maps are only 2D.
• GPX Logging:This allows xGPS to log you GPS tracks to a GPX (GPS eXchange Format) file. The GPX data can be retrieved using the XGPS Manager.

• General: General settings for the xGPS program
• Wireless Transfer: Enters "Wireless Transfer" mode which will allows you to retrieve Maps and GPX data by running the xGPS Manager on a computer attached to the same wireless network as the device.
  
• Maps: Contains settings for maps.
• GPS: Contains settings for the configuration of the GPS module.
• Driving Directions: Contains settings related to the turn by turn driving directions.
• GPX Logging: Contains setting releated to the logging of GPS data.
• User Interface: Contains settings to change how the xGPS interface looks.

General

• Prevent Sleep Mode: This prevents the device from going to into sleep mode and turning the screen off. This has the same effect as setting Auto-Lock to "Never" in the device's general settings but is specific to the xGPS application only.
  
• Use Miles Unit: When enabled, xGPS will use Miles and Miles Per Hour (MPH) for distance and speed units. If disabled then Meters and Kilometers Per Hour (KPH) will be used.
• Language: This setting allows you to change the language used for the driving directions, maps and place/city search results.
• About xGPS: Contains details about the xGPS software.
• Version: The version of xGPS you are currently running.

Maps

• Download maps This allows you to download map data ahead of time. This is useful for the ipod touch because of its lack of wireless coverage while traveling. Use one finger to locate the area of the map you want to download, zoom controls are provided in the top left corner. Once you have located the area, use two fingers to drag a selection box around it. Press the "Download" button to download the map data.
  
• Downloaded maps size: This is the amount of space taken up by all of the downloaded maps in megabytes (MB). This will grow as you browse part of the map that you haven't already downloaded or use the "Download maps" feature above.
• Delete downloaded maps: This lets you delete all downloaded map data, a confirmation dialog will popup asking for confirmation of this operation before any data is deleted from the device.
• Maps type: This allows you to change the type of maps used between "Google Maps" and "Google Maps Terrain".

GPS

• GPS to use: This allows you to chose the type of GPS module to use, the selections include xGPS Module, iPhone 3G GPS, iGPSD, iGPS360, G-Fi GPS and Fake GPS.
  
• GPS state: This indicate the current state of the GPS module, either "Connected" or "Disconnected".
  
• Reset GPS: This allows you to restart the GPS module. This is useful if the GPS module is giving the wrong position or it has stopped responding.
  
• GPS Information: This gives you GPS information which includes your Latitude and Longitude in degrees, your altitude in meters and your speed in mph or km/h. There is also an option to send all the information by email.
  

Please note that if you want to use xGPS along with GPSSerial, you have to select “iPhone 3G GPS” in xGPS, unless you have an iGPS360, in which case select "iGPS360"

Driving Directions

• Voice Instructions: This allows you to turn on and off spoken instructions for directions. Voice instructions are only availiable when the language is set to "English".
  
• Disable Beep: This allows you to disable the beep for directions.
  
• Volume: The volume of the voice instructions.
  
• Test Voice volume: This plays a sample voice direction and beep so you can test the volume.
  
• Save in Bookmarks: When enabled, all driving direction searches will be saved as bookmarks.
  
• Home Address: This is used when generating driving direction from your current location to your home address whenever the "Go Home" button is pressed.
  
• Delete all bookmarks: This allows you to delete all saved bookmarks, a confirmation dialog will popup asking for confirmation of this operation before any data is deleted from the device.
  
• Recompute itinerary: When enabled, the driving directions will automatically be recomputed when you start driving the wrong way.

GPX Logging

GPX logging record all of your movement inot a GPX formatted file. This file can be used on a computer to visualize the track. The file can be retrieved from the divce using the "Wireless Transfer" mode.

• Total log file size: This is the current size of the GPX log file, it grows over time as GPD data is logged to it.
  
• Number of log files: This is the total number of log files that have been written. A new log file is written [When?].
• Delete GPX Log File: This allows you to delete all of the GPX log files on the device, a confirmation dialog will popup asking for confirmation of this operation before any data is deleted from the device.

User Interface

• Show Speedometer: When enabled a speedometer is displayed on the map screen in the bottom left corner.
  
• Blue dot for position: When enabled the standard arrow on the map that is used to indicate your position is replaced with a blue dot, similar to the dot used in the default maps application on the iPhone 3G.
• Wrong Way hidden.
• Large font size: Increases the size of the fonts used on the Directions Text.
• Enable night mode: This enables night mode which changes the color scheme of the display to a much darker scheme and drops the screen brightness to its lowest. This is designed to help prevent disturbance in the dark from the devices bright screen.
• Enable timer (night mode only): This allows you to use a timer to control when night mode is automatically enabled.
• Start time (night mode timer only): This is the time at which night mode will be enabled automatically.
• Stop time (night mode time only): This is the time at which night mode will be automatically disabled.

Comparison of night mode and normal mode

Wanna see more pictures? Click here