Hey,
NOTE: I have used a fw 2.01 Jailbroken device to write this tutorial so it may not work with other versions of fw.
This tutorial will allow you to make a cache of google maps and then use them when you do not have and wireless connection available or when you dont want to spend $$ on data charges…This is very useful and easy to use and i highly recommend it. It currently doesnt have the functionality to search streets and POIs so its just like a street directory that is in your pocket.
1. First of all you need to have a jailbroken iPhone or iPod and you should know how to SSH into your device.
2. Download the “OfflineMaps”, App from Cydia by using the Search Menu.
3a) I have pre-made Sydney’s Maps so if you dont want to spend the time re-making them you can download my copy links at the bottom of the post.
3b)If you wish to make maps for your own area download Global Map Download Tool (link below), extract it and then open “/GMDL/bin/debug/Global Map Download Tool.exe”
Note: This is sourced from
http://www.in7ane.com/
and is freeware.
NEW VERSION UPDATED 28th September 2008
http://rapidshare.com/files/150135912/gmdl0.5.09a.zip
IF THE FIRST DOESNT WORK TRY THE OLDER VERSION
http://rapidshare.com/files/143297377/gmdl0.5.07b.zip
Once downloaded and running the program navigate to the area that you want to cache and click on the ” Preview 1x”, button to see what it would look like.
In the Preview it doesnt matter if there is alot of surrounding area that you do not want on your map or if the area you want isnt centered in the preview you can fix all this in the next step.
After you are satisfied with your preview click on “Download The Map”, and make a new folder where you want to save the temp map files and select it, (A folder on desktop is the easiest).
It will now break the map u selected into tiles and you can uncheck the parts you do not want to make the map size smaller.
You should also uncheck the 1x and 2x Zoom boxes because as you can see in the size preview they will dramatically reduce the size and they are useless as you cannot see any extra detail.
Once you have done that click on the massive selection button on the top and let it download.
Once it has downloaded click in the ->iPhone Button and click on “Process”.
Once that has finished you have created your Cache File.
4a) In this step you can SSH into your device or use DiscAid, SSHing a Large map file takes along long time so i suggest you use DiscAid which is alot faster
Download and install DiscAid (Link Below), and then on the left hand side under “Media” folder, there is a “Maps”, folder. If there isnt one there click on the Media Folder which is the very first one on the left side and then click “Create Folder”, and then name it “Maps”.
Note: DiskAid is a Freeware, 100% free of charge.
http://rapidshare.com/files/137674846/DiskAid_1_5.exe
In this maps folder make a folder which is <4 letters long that corresponds to the map you have made. If you have Maps for London make a folder called “Lond” or if you have maps for New York name it “NY”. It just has to be short.
In that folder copy “com.apple.Maps.plist”, and “MapTiles.sqlitedb”.
5a) Now open the “OfflineMaps”, app on ya device and see if the maps show up on the list. If they do everything has worked great, otherwise trackback and see if you have made a mistake.
If your maps are there, select it and then press the “Link”, button and wait till it says “OK”, press the home key and the OfflineMaps icon should have the letters of the map u selected on it.
Now fire up maps and you should be able to browse freely. remember to turn off network access when you are browsing outside of the cached area.
NOTE: You still cant search using the cache files as that is still in development so hang tight.
IPHONE 3G USERS: If the MapsOffline Maps app crashes you can attempt to fix it by navigating to /var/stash/ and change the permissions of the folder python.2.5.????? and all files underneath it as CHMOD 775 or drwxr-xr-x ,????? is different for each iPhone/iPod.
I suggest that you SSH into the device using Filezilla or WinSCP as the DiscAid isnt capable of doing this.
I hope you guys understood what i wrote above, please ask questions if you dont know what i am talking about in any of the previous steps and i will answer your questions as best as i can…
Thanks and Enjoy
SYDNEY MAPS (Created using GMDL)( Coverage area
http://i37.tinypic.com/10omvy8.jpg
)
http://rapidshare.com/files/137669281/Syd.part1.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/137672491/Syd.part2.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/137674036/Syd.part3.rar
A Special thanks to “Nambrot”, the person who created this great iPhone app and the person who made the map caching program..
NamBrots site:
http://nambrot.com/index.php/home/33-mapsoffline/46-presenting-maps-offline