Hello all!

Well, due to popular demand, problems with free (Rapidshare/Mediafire) file hosting, and to make things easier for users and myself, I have set up a NEW site - http://www.gpsunlock.net - that is dedicated to the development of WinCE based GPS Unlock software (including my GPS_Menu_Pez, YFAP30_Pez for YF GPS units and YOUR versions too!).

From now on, I will continue all development of this project at http://www.gpsunlock.net ...

A BIG thanks to all of you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Pez.




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Here is a "How To" guide for setting up your YF GPS with a new skin/menu system AND an additional menu program for launching multiple applications. This guide was originally on 'Page 2' of this thread, but I have moved it here to make it easier to find. My original question (post) in this thread is below this "How To" guide...


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IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION! Warning: Not all units have the same firmware! Apparently some units are now being shipped that have menus which look the same as the YF ones documented in this guide but have a different bootloader and menu launcher. See this thread http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/Forums.dx/Forum.29219~threadid.426638 for more info. If your unit does not have the \ResidentFlash2\YFAP30 folder do not attempt to use any of the alternative menus listed here as there is a risk you will "brick" your device and none of the registry fixes listed in the wiki or this thread will work. The registry reset:http://wiki.dealextreme.com/GPS%20info%20(sku.19609%20and%20similar).ashx#formatreg and firmware steps: http://wiki.dealextreme.com/GPS%20info%20(sku.19609%20and%20similar).ashx#Firmware in the wiki will not work either because the bootloader will not pick them up.

sku.29378 definitely doesn't have the same firmware although it does have a \ResidentFlash2 folder, see this thread http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/Forums.dx/Forum.29378~threadid.438794.

As always, keep an eye on the wiki for any updates!

http://bit.ly/DXGPS

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Ok, now that's out of the way, lets have some fun ;-)

If you want to configure your GPS as I have done, then follow this "how to" that I have put together for this and other similar YF GPS units:

Step 1)

When your new DX GPS unit arrives, it will probably have an old version of firmware on it. Before you continue onto the next steps you must update this firmware. Put the two files extracted from the RAR file below in the root of your SD card. Then, power off (not sleep) your GPS and turn it back on. A blue upgrade screen should appear. After upgrading, please remove the two upgrade files from the SD card. (This firmware update fixes some problems with the FM Transmitter.)

This new firmware file can be downloaded here: http://www.gpsunlock.net

If you loose your Bluetooth after this firmware upgrade then DO NOT panic - it will return in Step 3!

Step 2)

Now you can install my new "GPS Menu" program. This is the one that allows you to launch your multiple GPS programs (like TomTom and Ozi) / WindowsCE / Games / Apps etc...

All of the instructions are in the READ ME Text file included.

My GPS Menu 'Version 1.0' with a BLUE color 'theme' can be downloaded here: http://www.gpsunlock.net

NEW - Here is 'Version 2.0' of my GPS Menu: http://www.gpsunlock.net

Ver2.0 is basically the same as Ver1.0 but with the following changes:

-The color 'theme' has been changed to a "Black" theme.
-The main "Programs" screen now has 4 program icons instead of 3.
-The Windows CE icon has been moved to the "Tools" menu.

Here is a screenshot:



img src: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc282/pezcat19/GPS%20Menu/GPS_Menu_Pezver20.jpg


NOTE: There is a file called "SystemInformation32.exe" included in this "GPS Menu" that allows you to run it on a WinXP/Vista PC to see what it looks like first.... My GPS menu also includes some freeware Games / Tools / File Managers / Document Readers etc. to get you started.

Step 3)

Now it is time to replace the clunky (and ugly) standard menu/skin with a nice new one. If you lost your Bluetooth in Step 1, then this will fix that problem too.

Again, all of the instructions are in the READ ME Text file included.

Here is the NEW menu/skin (I have edited various bits in this to make it fully compatible): http://www.gpsunlock.net

It looks like this:



img src: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc282/pezcat19/GPS%20Menu/YFAP30_pez.jpg



All of that might seem a little confusing at first, but take your time and read the "READ ME" text files that I have included. If you do that, you will be fine!



Here is a video of the skin in action (thanks to "TheHijacker"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCg52ghn12k

Here is the Wiki page for this and other similar YF GPS devices. This is the best resource of information for these GPS devices! (Big thanks to "tolerant2"):

http://bit.ly/DXGPS

Enjoy!

Pez




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MY ORIGINAL POST:

I have ordered one of these units and it should be turning up shortly. I have a question regarding the installation of MULTIPLE GPS programs using the standard skin/menu system that this unit comes with... All of the reading I have done here has not yet answered my questions.

So here are my 2 questions:

1) Can I install Multiple GPS applications onto the unit and have a separate icon in
the standard skin/menu for each of them (ie, an icon for TomTom, one for OziExplorer, one for Route66 etc...), OR will I have to point the skin/menu's NAV path to the appropriate GPS executable each time? i.e - does the standard skin/menu only support 1 GPS app in the skin/menu at a time, or many?

2) If the answer to the above question is that I WILL have to point the NAV path to the appropriate GPS executable each time, then will this work as an alternative?:

- Install and configure Enviro8's menu and point the NAV path of the standard skin/menu to it.

(See Enviro8's menu here: http://www.gpsunderground.com/forums/showthread.php?p=60629 )

- When you click the NAV option on the standard skin/menu, Enviro8's Menu would run. I could then choose the GPS application I want (or any other compatible CE program) from Enviro8's menu (still with the standard skin/menu running in the background). All of that is currently untested by me...

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The reason I ask is because I really wanted to install MioPocket2.0 on this device. However, after researching this I have decided that I will NOT install MioPocket due to some incompatibility issues, and the chance of MioPocket 'bricking' the device. If my idea of using Enviro8's menu WITH the standard skin/menu works then I will be happy...

Has anyone done this? Will my idea work or am I missing something?


Any help would be great!

Cheers,

Pez

___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET

I think I have sorted out the main compatibility problem with MioPocket now (see http://tr.im/dxgps) but either of the solutions you mentioned will work. Editing the Color7MoveShell menu is pretty painful so it would be a lot easier to just use Enviro8's menu as the NAV path.

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DX YF GPS wiki: http://tr.im/dxgps

Hi tolerant2.

Thanks for the reply! I will install Enviro8's menu as the Nav path and I will see how it goes. When I get bored with that, I will probably try MioPocket as described in your http://tr.im/dxgps wiki. ;-)

Some more quick questions:

1) Can I add a shortcut to launch WinCE from within Enviro8's menu (using my idea in my first post)? This would eliminate the need to do the YFGo2CE.bld trick every time??? If this method was to work, then the original skin/menu, Enviro8's menu AND WinCE would all be running at the same time I assume... Possible?

2) Does MioPocket support all features of the device, such as the FM Transmitter function? i.e. Is there any lost functionality when using MioPocket without the standard skin running in the background?

Cheers,

Pez

___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET

OK no problems! Thanks again for the info - I will keep an eye on your wiki for any MioPocket updates... It looks like Enviro8's menu will do everything I need at this stage!

Keep up the great work!

Pez

___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET

OK.

Here is a follow-up to let you all know the results of my above plan...

My unit arrived here in Australia yesterday (just 10 days after placing my order!). After doing a full backup of the device, I installed my heavily edited version of Enviro8's menu and pointed the NAV path to it. This all went very smoothly, and the menu runs great! When I click the GPS icon in the original skin/menu, my new menu opens and I am 1-click away form launching whatever program I want! (You will need to run the included 'Mortscript.exe' once to register some of the functions within the new Menu.)

I then installed TomTom Navigator and OziExporerCE programs and I made shortcuts/icons in the Enviro8 Menu to point to the .exe files required. (I also added my WinCE icon and pointed it to /Windows/Explorer.exe).

The results are fantastic. It runs perfectly and I honestly could not be happier with the device. The Enviro8 Menu operates exactly the way I want and causes no issues at all. I have the full functionality of the original skin/menu, and the added tools and functionality that come with Enviro8's menu. Awesome!

The only negatives with this unit so far are that the Bluetooth phonecall audio is NOT sent over the FM transmitter (as reported by many others), but it does come out of the built in speaker. Hopefully this will be fixed with a new firmware update in the future (I hope)... The only other thing I can think of is that the screen is very bright, and at night, you will need to have the brightness set to the very minimum. Perhaps some more adjustment there would be nice? Battery time is not excellent, but it seems to be good enough so far.

You will need to know what you are doing if you plan to do as I have done. Things could go wrong if you do the wrong thing - so be careful!

Overall, I give this unit 5-stars. It is great!

Cheers,

Pez


___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET

tolerant,

another 10 points for keeping up the good work!

;-)



Pez,

two points for your nice 'review'

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I'm not part of DX Staff, only a forum moderator. My comments are my own
views and might not reflect the views of DX.
Got Questions for DX? Use CS Express: http://services.dealextreme.com/

One thing that you could do (haven't done it myself, but I'm pretty sure it's possible) is to just sacrifice one of the other applications and put another GPS software in.
For example, find what the flash player is called and then put the GPS .exe in its place renaming it to the flash player name. This should then call the GPS program instead.

^ That should work too.

For anyone who is interested, my GPS Menu can now be downloaded from the "How To" guide in the first post.

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From the "README" file:


I have created this menu by using Enviro8's menu as the starting point. It is setup and ready to work on all of the 480x272 resolution DX GPS units (made by YFGPS).

To use this menu, copy the "GPS Menu" folder to the root of your SD card. Point the "Choose Navigation Exe" path in the standard skin to \SDMMC\Gps Menu\Menu.exe.

Click "Navigation" to run it!

This menu includes a few handy applications, tools, document readers and a few games too. It is currently setup to launch TomTom, OziExplorerCE and WindowsCE. (TomTom and Ozi software are not included - you can edit the ".ini" files in the "Config" folder to change the icons to point to any program you wish.) You can add and remove icons as you wish. You can easily customise this menu to suit your needs!

You can test this menu under Windows XP or Vista too. Simply run the SystemInformation32.exe from the "GPS Menu" folder! This makes testing your changes super easy!

NOTE: There is an included file called "Mortscript.exe". Once you are running the menu you will need to run this file once to register some of the menu's features. You can run this either by using "Windows Explorer" in WindowsCE, or one of the included file managers in the menu.

Enjoy!

Pez.

___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET

hi pez
im really impressed with your work on the device, i have purchesed it after reading your review and waitin its arrival....
im going to use the menue you used but have no idea as to how to get (or download) an oziexplorer version so i would really apriciate your help with that
eli

Hi edoron.

I am glad you have found the info useful!

To get OziExplorerCE running, you need the "wince_core_runtime_arm" version. You can download it on the OziExplorerCE webpage, or by using this direct link:

http://www.oziexplorer3.com/ozice/downloads/v2a/wince_core_runtime_arm.zip

Simply copy the extracted files in the above zip file onto the SD card (Under a folder called "OziCE") then run the .exe file. It's that easy!

You can purchase a full licence for OziCE for only $40AUD on the website, which is worth every cent.


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If you want to configure your GPS as I have done, then follow my "How To" guide that I have put together for this and other similar YF GPS units - This "How To" guide is now located in the FIRST post, on Page 1.

Here is a direct link: http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/Forums.dx/Forum.23569~threadid.341954

Enjoy!

Pez


___________
New DXGPS Menu's and WinCE Software!

WWW.GPSUNLOCK.NET