I wrote a high performance gpsd for the KR1 router at evdoforums.com (search the kr1 support forum for GPSD).

It generates KML files, one every 5 minutes plus a live version that you can update every few seconds, a Google maps mashup, etc.

The GPLv3 Source is at:

http://homepage.mac.com/tz1/.Public/KR1Stuff/minigpsd.c

Though I think I have a few updates. Buried in the KML as XML comments is the J1850 datastream from my motorcycle including gear, RPM, etc. but you might not use that feature.

Anyway, it takes NMEA from /dev/ttyS1 and does all the decoding (integer math for speed). You might want to look at the source for ideas. I'm adapting it and my zmapper - I have it now automatically starting up the GPS, but I need to tweak QT for shutting down properly.

Unfortunately, it appears that Maemo Mapper uses raster (aka, bitmaps) maps, rather than vector maps. I am told that this means the maps take up more space, that you can't find routes unless you are connected to a server to compute them for you, and that the device will not automatically update the routes as you travel. So if all of that is correct (and please correct me if it is not), for me this makes Maemo Mapper no better than simply connecting to Google Maps in the web n810's browser.

Well, that's about all there is. Roadmap is under development, but it's a long way from being ready for use. At the present time, Maemo Mapper is all there is. Take it or leave it.

Um, no, that's not all there is. The Map program that comes with the n810 does not have any of those limitations, and is much easier to use than Maemo Mapper.

It does, however, cost money for the routing function.

Many of your points are true. Maemo Mapper does use raster maps, but you have the flexibility of building your map database as large or as small as you like (with tradeoffs between disk space and detail). And route generation does require internet connectivity, although Maemo Mapper does include auto-rerouting functionality (again, requiring internet connectivity).

But Maemo Mapper offers a few advantages over Google Maps in the browser: performance is better; screen real estate is more efficiently used; GPS devices are supported; and you don't have to be connected to the internet in order to view maps (only to download new ones).

All of those advantages are also present in the built-in map application ("Maps"), although routing costs money. The functional difference is that Maps uses vector data, while Maemo Mapper uses raster data. The other difference is that Maemo Mapper is free and open source.

Good street data is costly in general, which is why there are so few free routing alternatives. RoadMap uses U.S. Census information, so it is limited to the U.S. and lacks certain important information (like speed limits and road directions). OpenStreetMap is making good headway, however, and someday it may be complete enough to provide ubiquitous routing. Navteq and its ilk are the only complete solutions at the moment, and they are costly, which is why Maps's routing is not free.

Well, yes, there is the built-in Map app, but I had to assume you were discounting that or you wouldn't have asked about others. So technically, Maemo Mapper is all there is other than the Map app that comes with the N810 and charges for routing. MM is free and open-source. Take your pick.

I think it is unreasonable to expect people to have an internet connection while driving around town. I do have a phone that provides this through GPRS and bluetooth, but that data transfer costs money for every byte, and having the GPRS active drains the battery. GPRS is fine for quickly checking one's email (and I have been very grateful for having it in the past, while checking my email or looking up something on Google on my Palm). It is not really practical for driving around town.

So, saying that Maemo Mapper requires an internet connection for dynamic routing is, in my opinion, no different than saying it does not have dynamic routing.

Functional and open source beats functional and proprietary every time. Unfortunately, for my purposes, functional and proprietary beats non-functional and open source.

Thats my opinion. Others can and will differ.

I gotta stick up for my program here ;-)

1. Roadmap is capable of generating maps from u.s. census tiger data, or from shapefiles. Precompiled maps exist for much more than the U..S. and are available at http://roadmap.sourceforge.net/maps.
2. As for the vector maps containing speed or directional info-
True, but Roadmap uses the same gpx files that maemo-mapper uses, and can provide voice directions based upon them.
While it does not have on the fly routing (yet) It can search for an address without an internet connection. Also, roadmap supports kismet, gpsbabel, and gpsdrive friends servers through plug-ins, which opens some possibilities.
It can also export tracks and routes that can be loaded directly into maemo-mapper(and vice versa). So the same route can be opened with either program.

There's a lot that it won't do. But there's a lot that it can and does do.

One of the reasons I ported roadmap to maemo in the first place was gpx support, which allows for maemo-mapper, roadmap and gpsbabel to all manipulate the same files.

I love maemo-mapper. I use it all the time, especially to keep usgs topo maps of where i hike. Roadmap, i use driving around, or to browse a street map while not online. I use and will continue to use both programs for different things...

Cheers,
kernelpanic

Try ecoach! I was very pleased that the .gpx file it saves imports to bimactive, with times so it shows average speed and everything.