New GPS Apps, A New Front End & A V5 Update

We are just a few month away from the new car arriving now and with the passing of the new year I getting my new screen on order for it. I'm still trying to work out how the back end will look but one thing is for sure I'm going to need extra graphics this time. Why ? Well in the last month or so there have been fantastic developments in the CarPC scene.

First of all there is a new Frontend on the scene called FreeICE and its from our well known developer CDR ( Freedrive ) and its completly flashed based. So far only version 0.9 has been released but wow.... what an impact it made. Its hoped a new and massivly improved version 1.0 will be released soon how ever that depends on how much CDR plays with the Car he has just built :)

Secondly not just one, not two but three CarPC GPS apps suddnely hit the scene. The first been the old classic Destinator 7.... you still need the maps though. The second been IGo 8 which features 3D POIs how ever when asking the developers does not exist. Lastly ( and this is going down a storm ) is the brill Sygic Drive. I'm in the process of reviewing this how ever its got a free SDK ( which needs improvement but is usable ) and is basically an improvement on the Navigon NavigatoR 2 app. Proper 3D graphics, excellent verbal feed back and top maps make this imho the GPS for the CarPC community. Yes it needs some addtional features how ever the community is working on these and have even come up with solutions for things like speed cam support. Watch this space for my forth coming review.


Franson who produce GPSgate have took some of the improvements I suggested and installed them in to their latest client & tracker web site. I'll be reviewing this too shortly how ever I can say having used it for a couple of weeks the tracking is bob on and the features to allow users to view your tracks ( or prevent them for that matter ) are wide and vairied. With plugins for Google maps, web pages and more you have an unlimited way of interacting with live GPS data. One of the great side effects of GPSgate is that my Bluetooth connection is controled now meaning I have Internet when ever I need it where as previously I needed an application to moniter it for me. To mark this release Franson have given the members of Digital-car a discount code.... how ever you'll have to be quick if you want to buy a copy.

My final update is that I did make a start on a new skin. Yep - I came out of retirment ( until CDR showed me how to do it :) ). Called Mercury I have completed it and offered it to the Ranger GUI team. If they dont use it I'll probably release it publically on the basis credit is given back.