Tom Tom GO Personal Navigator Source Code Released

Fofer writes "TomTom, makers of personal navigation software for PDA's and cell phones, also have a standalone device called the TomTom GO. Early reviews are excellent, with its sleek design and unique 3-D interface. Unlike other standalone GPS units, this one runs on Linux. It uses an SD card (optionally prefilled with the entire U.S. map) and 11 voices to choose from. More available here for free (in OGG format, no less!). There is also Mac support provided by a 3rd party. The big news is that this week, TomTom finally released the kernel they used, source code, patches, etc. of the device under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This is one sweet looking device and I can't wait to get my hands on one and start tinkering. Hmm... Ogg/MP3 jukebox anyone?"

Comments

Nice slashvertisment.

[grazzy]

I'm glad to see OSDN puts some requirements on their slashvertisments now.

Related to linux: check.
References to other open source software: check.
Playing with phrases like "cant wait to get my hand on ..": check.
Posted by anonmyous user without email or homepage: check.

Re:so what exactly do we get???

[discord5]

lots of code for the kernel, modules, busybox etc. but what I want to know is, do we actually get the source code to the application itself?

Most likely not. You see, if they release the source for this program there is no incentive anymore to buy the device, and any geek with a compiler and a handheld will be able to run this without Tom Tom ever making a dollar.

I like open source software, and I am all for someone developing an open source GPS-program, but these people need to make money. The community should be happy with the fact that they actually sticked to the rules and released the patches to the software they used, unlike some companies.

We'll never get rid of closed source software, but if both open and closed source software can benefit from eachother (eg Linux & Tom Tom), I still find the product a lot cooler than some windows CE box.

Re:foreign o the US contingent

[pluggo]

I know, this may be foreign to the US contingent of the /. crowd, but where is the handheld version?

At least I pretty much never use GPS in a vehicle; even when I want to get to a specific address (not an easy feat in Japan), I would use maps to get to the general area, then get to the actual point (like a geocache or an address) on foot.

Just curious... why would using a GPS on foot have anything to do with being from the US or not?

I used to work at Circuit City... we sold in-car, handheld, CF (maybe SD too, I don't remember), and USB GPS devices. Many people use them to go hiking or in just the same manner as you described just above (especially the customers who navigate in Chicago).

Anyway, the article has pics of the device in someone's hand, makes several mentions of how small it is (one pic shows it next to a RIM Blackberry), and mentions the optional car mounting brackets.