[tlythgoe]

Ok...my Holy Grail is something that will give me maps and turn by turn directions using the internal GPS WITHOUT a data plan (mostly because I am cheap).

I have been using Trekbuddy, but while it is decent with the maps, it doesn't give you turn by turn, or even a route (just an arrow pointing directly at your destination).

Well, I think I may have found the answer - Live.com Mobile from Microsoft.

First, I went to the website at livesearchmobile.com/blackberry.htm

To download the app, I went to wls.live.com using my wifi connection.

When the application installs, it will tell you it can't connect to the internet because it is looking for your GPRS - no problem - just click through the messages - the app will still install.

Make sure that the app has all needed permissions.

When the install is finished, go to the Home Page, hit the menu button and select Options. Select Network Configuration, then check Use Only WiFi Interface. While you are there, select Configure GPS and turn your GPS on.

Voila. You should now be able to download directions and plot them on a maps.

My next step is to try this out around town. My theory is that if I pan along the route the app should cache all the data I need so when my wifi connection is broken, I will still have the map and directions offline.

I will post the results here as I test this out.

[Iare Tosevite]

Nice. I will try it out.

Does it store maps on my sd or on device memory?

[tlythgoe]

Ok. Completed my first experiment today with a trip around town.

While at the house, I connected my BB via WiFi and search for directions. Once the app retrieved the directions, I clicked on the starting point and it drew the directions on the map.

I scrolled along the route and the app loaded each map as I scrolled. I then returned to the starting point and scrolled the map again - this time there was no indication of data transferring - the maps were cached!

I disconnected from Wifi and headed out on the road - success! The GPS tracked me along the map and my route as advertised. The turn by turn directions appear at the bottom of the map, although they don't update automatically to the next waypoint - you have to do that manually with the space bar.

Some notes:

The only maps in the cache were the maps at the zoom level that I used to scroll the route. When I tried to zoom in, the lower zoom level map was not there.

A quick way to get the route in the cache rather than scrolling along it is to use the space bar. It will jump you to each waypoint in sequence. If you have a long stretch of road without a waypoint, however, you may not get the entire route - but you will at least get each turn on the route.

As far as I can tell, you should be able to cache multiple zoom levels using this same technique. I am going to try this out on a road trip this weekend. I plan to load the route, scroll along the entire thing at a macro level, then zoom in at the beginning and end to get detailed maps of the start point and destination. I'll post how it goes.

Last, if you exit the application, the maps stay in the cache, but the route goes away. You can't get the route back on the map without a WiFi connection.

[tlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Iare Tosevite

Nice. I will try it out.

Does it store maps on my sd or on device memory?

Not in the way that would be nice. You can't download a map database or set of maps and just keep it. However, when you connect via WiFi, plot your map, and scroll along your route, the maps are loaded from the map server into the cache on your device. At that point, you can disconnect from the WiFi and navigate along your route using GPS.

If you want a different map, different zoom level, and/or different route, you need to reconnect to the internet via WiFi. Bottom line, you need to scroll over everything you want to use while you are online to get it in the cache.

[anhquang300722]

lolz..i live in canada and it doesnt have map for CAN..lolz

[coolspot]

Originally Posted by anhquang300722

lolz..i live in canada and it doesnt have map for CAN..lolz

Windows Live Search works fine in Canada.