C230’s Weblog

“Ameridan’s C230 Skin” 

There have been a lot of tweaks made available recently regarding the DATA.ZIP file, some of which are included in Amida’s latest unlock package.   I thought it would be nice to package these all up for those Unlocking their Mio C230 with my either my Version 3.3, Version 3.4, or Version 3.3 LITE script packages (or Amida’s 3.1 as well) and want all of the tweak improvements that have been hitting the blogs at a dizzy pace, but prefer not editing the various files within the DATA.ZIP compressed folder.   This skin is included in Version 3.5 released 2/1/2008.

The tweaks included in this download include:

• Exit Door button needed if you are unlocking your C230.
• Revised start screen identifying the source of the modified file.
• Export Track button allowing you to export the track log into a gpx file directly described here.
• Easy Route option described here.
• GPS Screen with the globe rotated such that North America is proudly shown and the GPS Power button needed for uninterupted general map viewing and Route preplanning without Auto Route Recalculation kicking in.

Just backup the DATA.ZIP currently in your MioMap2 folder and drop the downloaded file in its place DIRECTLY (don’t unzip it; just paste it into the MioMap2 folder).

Although I consider this just an enhanced Mio skin, it is in fact a new skin which I’ll dub the C230 Skin.  After all, every other skin starts out as the factory skin too, yet some of them have been enhanced so nicely, they no longer look anything like the original.

[UPGRADE released  2/9/2008 that allows you to do this now] 

No, I haven’t figured out how to do this yet, but I figured I’d start a blog item on the subject anyways in hopes that someone will help figure this out.   Many of us MioMap users in general (not just C230 users) would like to have the ability of deleting individual items in the “Find Location” History list, which is part of the SQLite 3.0 database file iGo.db, since right now it’s Clear All or nothing.

If this tool would have let me see the actual data in any of the tables, we’d probably be done, in that we could simply scrub the History entries we no longer cared about and then Save the file with those changes.  Unfortunately, the data appears to be ”blob”, so this is probably a dead-end.   The screenshot does give you an idea of what data is in the iGo.db file though.

The iGo program POIexplorer is able to work with the POI data in the file, so it may give a hacker a clue as to how to proceed.   Perhaps it is tied to the ADO.NET wrapper shown here?

I’ve done some additional experimentation with the SQLite Expert app and have had limited success.

First, I restored the database, ran SQlite Expert and discovered that there were seven records with ID labels of 2 thru 8. I then cleared the table, using the MIO program, and discovered an additional record. I assume this was record ID 1, I’ve no idea where it was stored or why MIO did not clear it. I then cleared this additional record and built a new table, the Id’s of the new records started at 1.

  

I was able to delete the last entry and reload the database correctly.

I then tried to delete a record from the middle of the table and the reloaded database actually had two additional records deleted.

With some additional time, this app might prove to be very useful.

---

When you open a table in the database you will notice that both the RecNo and ID fields start at 1 and increase by one for each succeeding record. The F1 field starts at 0 and then counts up.

If an intermediate record is deleted, the RecNo fields are automatically updated, but the ID and F1 fields have to be manually edited to maintain the correct numerical progression. If this is not done, the records out of progression are not displayed when the revised database is copied back into the MIO. The SQE app returned an error while I was deleting and revising multiple records, so I would recommend correcting several records at a time, I did three, and then saving the database before resuming.

Is the effort required to manually edit the counters worth it???

      Output the history entries
>———->   Select an unwanted record
|                        N = Save & Exit
|                        Y = Process that record per your strategy retaining
|                                the integrity of the database
|                                |   
<———————–<

[UPDATE 2/7/2008]  

I changed the title from Deleting Route History Individual Entries, which wasn’t really correct to Deleting Individual Location History Entries.

Bill has figured out the steps needed to accomplish this and they are listed in my comment dated 2/2, minus the SQL script which actually repairs the database after you’ve deleted the locations no longer wanted in the list. I was going to try to automate the entire process with Mortscript, but controlling the actions within a program running on a PC (not the controlled screen of your Mio unit) is proving to be a challenge, so instead I’ve written scripts for my Menu program to “Prep Location History file for SQL edit” (step 1) and “Save edited Location History file” (step 9). Steps 2 thru 8 will be done on your PC while your SD card is in a card reader or in your Mio C230 linked to your PC. I will create a file that you will download to your SD card that will hold the working file and will contain the SQL script.

I noticed that a freeware program NoniGPSPlot was installed by HaCo on a Mio C230 and he was able to get it functioning!   So, with help from Hannu, I’ve put together a download of the latest English revision (Ver 2.72d) that was released today that you install by simply extracting the folder to the root of your SD card.   This may be the straight-line navigation program we’ve been searching for!

[added 1/19/2008]  Here is a link to the English User Manual.    Some users are having issues with being forced to enter the coords. and the map width manually, but this is in fact a ‘feature’ of the free version.  You get a pop-up that at least tells you what to enter (a great improvement over figuring it out by yourself!)  but it won’t be automatically entered unless you are a paying user.    There is a  lot more information here on both the program and on using your Mio for geocaching (Static Navigation options).   I found this factoid interesting, but it may have been regarding the Sirf StarII chip, not the new and improved Sirf StarIII chip we have in the C230: 

The first thing that I do when geocacheing is to turn off Static Navigation.  This is not directly related to Noni but helps it to work much better.  Because the SIRF chip in the Mio units is used for driving mainly, they impose some limits on it that basically decrease sensitivity at slow speeds.  Effectively, if you are moving less than about 5 mph or within a radius of about 20 feet, it won’t show much movement, or if it does, it will be erratic.  This is why sometimes when you use MioMap or NoniMap for geacaching it doesn’t seem to register small movements once you get slowed down near the cache. 

You can call NoniGPSPlot.exe directly, or if you want to get the keyboard icon out of the way, click on the program I wrote named   111NoniGPS.exe.  You can point a desktop icon to this file if, like myself, you think this program has potential and is worth playing with.   As I said, it is freeware, but some of the options appear to be enhanced once you input a code from the author in exchange for a donation.  You’ll need to hold your stylus on the display to get to options and set the GPS port to COM2 and 4800.  

 

You’ll find a lot of information, tutorials, screenshots, etc on the author’s website.   If you know French, there is even more material.   You should use that site for updates, as well, as I am only kicking off this program in hopes of obtaining feedback as it relates to the C230 and wishing that it would someday interface with the TeleAtlas maps already in our Mio.

[added 2/18/2008]  Download updated with 2 icons to choose from for your desktop.

[added 3/18/2008]  Here is the procedure I use to run SirfTech, if using the program to change the Static Navigation setting:

Set to COM2 @ 38400, Open, Go to the Sirf tab and hit the last option, Switch to NMEA protocol, OK, and then Exit.   Now when you start the program back up, you’ll see the data filling the screen.  Until you see the white screen fill up with data, you are not in communication with the GPS chop.

Click on the Sirf tab again, click on Static Navigation and uncheck Static Navigation, Set, OK and then Exit.

When done and you want to return the GPS chip back to the settings ideal for MioMap, Start up SirfTech, click on the Sirf tab again, click on Static Navigation and check Static Navigation , Set, OK, Switch to NMEA protocol, OK, and then Exit.

CD (Craig) started out wanting to modify one of his icons and ended up mastering the icon-design process.   For those running Version 3.4 of my Unlock package, he has created an entire ensemble of fantastic NEW icons (actually 2 sets), all packaged up in an Icons folder that can be installed by simply downloading, unzipping, and replacing your current Icons folder.   He has produced the icons in 2 flavors:

• Each icon labelled with an English title  (similar to the original  Version 3.4 “iPhone-look” icons).
  

     Download here

• OR, for those prefering to only see an icon without text, slightly larger icons that have no text labels.   This may be the preferred option for owners of the European C230 that are so well versed in other languages (in addition to English) or users that feel the icons fit the application so well, no explanation is necessary. 
    
  

  Download here

[added 1/19/2008]  NOTE:  For the DPMS icon to sit properly, change in main.ini or main_alt.ini (whichever one happens to have the iPhone data):

• ICONXPBUTTON
• x = 256
• y = 30  ààààààà change to 20
• Command = \My Flash Disk\Script\DPMS.exe
• SizeNormal = 64
• SizePushed = 64
• ScaleAlpha = 100
• IconNormal = \My Flash Disk\Script\dpms1.ico
• ScaleAlpha = 100
• IconPushed = \My Flash Disk\Script\dpms1.ico  

Bonus

if you act now and download within the next 24 hours…

Craig recognized that I have been using an icon featuring a TomTom device,    and went out of his way, even enlisting the aid of family members, to produce an appropriate icon to activate MioMap –  that now features an actual MioC230!   No matter which version of the Unlock you are using, you might want to do your C230 proud by replacing the  Nav.ico file in your Script folder with the Nav.ico file that is included as a bonus in either download, to rectify this injustice.

We all thank you Craig, for sharing your work with this BlogCommunity!

I just received a newsletter via email from Mio Technology Europe today, and look what the headline item is…

	Navigation TopTip: Plan and save a route in MioMap 2008
			Planning and saving your route in advance is one of the best ways to ensure a relaxed trip. MioMap 2008 on the C620, Mio Technology’s latest GPS navigation device, allows you to get this head start.

Look familiar?  Here’s the tutorial…

With MioMap 2008, it is possible to plan a route in advance (this means independently of your current GPS position). You can then save the route to re-use later on.

1) From the main menu, select Route/Planning.

2) Enter waypoints to the route by clicking on: .
You can select a waypoint in the same way as you can select a destination in a simple route.

3) After adding all the waypoints, make sure the start of the route is at the top of the list and the destination at the end of the list.
To let MioMap optimize the route, click on .

4) Save the route by clicking on .

5) Check the route by clicking on .
To view a simulation of the route, .

6) To open a route you saved earlier, click on .

[UPDATED the title 2/4/2008 to reflect additional topic that fits in well here - Battery replacement/upgrade, since the disassembly procedure is the same and you might do both at the same time]

Headphone Jack

Doug Wilson has submitted a fantastic article he put together that details each step of his upgrade project - installing a headphone jack to his Mio C230.   It is also a great way for many of us to be able to just peek inside without getting the screwdriver out.

I was hoping WordPress would allow me to import his submission, but it only imports the text, so for now Weblog readers, the next best thing – if you have Acrobat Reader (or another pdf display program) just click here to read his article exactly as he put it together.    ( the article is also available in Word Doc format here )

Thank you for sharing this Doug!

Battery Upgrade 

Craig Dean (CD) has submitted a great article he and his father put together  detailing each step of his upgrade project - installing a C220 battery into his Mio C230, resulting in almost 50% more output capacity!!

If you have Acrobat Reader (or another pdf display program) just click here to read his article exactly as he put it together.    ( the article is also available in Word Doc format  here. ) 

I find it interesting that the label on Doug’s battery stated the output capacity as  720 mAh, another gentleman stated that his was labelled 800 mAh, and CD’s is 850 mAh.    This variation would account for why some people are VERY disappointed in the battery performance!  The spare batteries for my iPaq looks to be the same dimensions yet the label states the capacity as 1500 mAh at the same 3.7 volts (too bad it doesn’t have the same wire and connector attached).

Thank you for sharing this Craig!

[UPDATE]  Version 3.5  Released Feb 1, 2008  

   < New icons

^ See this post to upgrade the icons for this Unlock package 

   < Orig icons

This Version 3.4 update to my Mio C230 Unlock isn’t signficantly different from 3.3 other than:

1. An additional “iPhone-look” desktop screen (my background image and icons provided by Amida)
2. A “Screen Choices” menu to personalize your C230:

Please note that this is not an update for my Version 3.3 LITE, since there is no desktop screen in that version.

From either desktop screen, you’ll be able to access the  ”More Tools” screen or your chosen clock screen.   You might also choose a clock or desktop default screen and never access the others.   All served the way you like it!

Like Amida with his Version 3 release, my new version depends on replacing the BananaPC exit option with the data.zip modification to unhide the Exit Door button.

The largest advantage is the ability to pre-plan upcoming vacation trips, business trips, delivery routes, etc., save those routes, and activate them at your convenience.

Many blog readers are stating that this is their main reason for unlocking, not for the desktop access of other programs. 

I must say we all like Amida’s iPhone desktop look, and other than a varied arrangement of his icons, Rev 3.4 of my build is really centered around incorporation of that theme per the requests of blog readers and supporters.   I couldn’t help but notice today though that when Amida announced his ver 3.1 (I was actually quite surprised!) to incorporate Route Management which is the direction I wanted my Unlock to go in, that perhaps our builds aren’t diverging after all; rather they are converging (and getting better each time!) - I guess I helped in that convergence too.   

I’ve spent hours refining the C230 Route Management Menu and in-fact was still tweaking it today, and wish to note that additional menu selections exclusive to my build now include allowing easy and quick changes of SYS.TXT (the MioMap “ini” file) settings which also has the advantage of being able to change flyover and street settings as often as you wish (you can add your own as well if you find a setting that you toggle often), and Screen Choices, as explained below.

I’ve gone through a lot of coffee again on this release ( the best one yet! ) and if you are pleased with the results and haven’t already done so, kindly consider a small donation to my coffee fund.    My next projects:  1) Investigating how to delete individual items in the Route History list which is part of the SQLite 3.0 database file iGo.db, since right now it’s Clear All or nothing.   2) Investigating how to put a Restore CE Core package together, so that we can atleast run .cab files again or install programs via ActiveSync.

Route Management

Someday, there could well be built-in MioMap screens (I’m available, Mio) either in alternative skins or adopted by iGo or Mio in an update, to do these same functions using the logic strategy contained in my menus (with thanks to Xania for the initial work), but for now the menus seem like an excellent alternative, especially now that the Exit button functions so nicely.

[added 1/12/08]  With the Route Management menu, you can not only preplan your routes, but by

• Exiting
• Saving your route with a descriptive name  
• Restarting MioMap back up again with that route still in memory or loading that route into memory at a later time
• Using the Edit Route screen and reversing the order of your waypoints
• Exiting and Saving once again with a different name representing the  return trip
•  - Voila – you’ve got your return trip available in the menu without reinputing all of your waypoints.

[added 1/16/08]  Amida has posted a data.zip tweak at http://computerbits.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/miomap-33-datazip-tweaks/  that will unhide a GPS power button to temporarily turn off the GPS chip, so that when pre-planning routes not having anything to do with your present location, the Route recalculation will not mess you up your itinerary. 

[added 1/17/08]  I have added a page to my Weblog making available a modified data.zip file that includes all of the tweaks mentioned in this blog including:

• Exit Door button needed if you are unlocking your C230.
• Revised start screen identifying the source of the modified file.
• Export Track button allowing you to export the track log into a gpx file directly.
• Easy Route option described here.
• GPS Screen with the globe rotated such that North America is proudly shown and the GPS Power button needed for uninterupted general map viewing and Route preplanning without Auto Route Recalculation kicking in.

Starting with Version 3.3, the menu script creates automatic entries to the SYS.TXT file needed for this menu to function. You no longer need to run through the setup process.

Screen Choices

If you scroll down in the Route Management menu selections, you’ll see the option for Screen Choices that is brand new in Version 3.4

• Would you like to make any changes to the desktop or clock Screens?  This gives you a chance to get out without going through the other questions.
• Would you like a desktop screen to be the default screen?   No makes a clock screen the default instead.
• Would you like to swap clock screens?    Your preference – the green one or the orange one.
• Would you like to swap desktop screens?   Your preference – the green one or the “iPhone-look” one.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out my Mio-C230 StickiNotes in the right column where blog items and other tidbits readers provide will be easy to find.

Unlock Version NXT-R3.4

[BEFORE YOU FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES TO MODIFY YOUR MIO C230, KNOW THAT YOU MIGHT RENDER YOUR C230 UNUSABLE AND YOU MIGHT VOID YOUR WARRANTY. YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.]

Installation procedure

1. Turn on C230 and connect it to the computer using a 5-pin Mini-B USB 2.0 cable (not included in the package).
2. C230 will show up as a flash drive in My Computer as Mio Device. Mine is assigned as F drive. I’ll use F drive in the following steps. Substitute it with the actual drive letter of your system. If you have a SD card in the slot, it shows up as well – in my case as G drive.
3. Rename the folder F:\MioMap\MioMap to F:\MioMap\MioMap2.
4. In order not to get the message ”destination full”, you may need to free up some space on your flash disk. See Note3.
5. Download MioC230_NXT_R3_4.zip
6. USA MioC230 users -  download the modified MioC230 data.zip file with the Exit Door button restored.    Owners of the European C230, please review this page and Note 4, before Unlocking for information on using this Unlock on your units.   You can modify the file yourself – See Note 4.  
7. Extract the files from your Unlock download ONLY and find the two folders MioMap and Script
8. Copy MioMap to F:\MioMap\ and copy Script to F:\ as in the screenshot. Don’t speed through this step – it’s got to be done as described!
    
9. Copy the data.zip file AS IS (don’t unzip it) to the MioMap2 folder after copying the original file to your PC or to the Storage Card as a backup.
10. Disconnect Mio C230 and do a hard reset by sliding the switch on the rear of your C230 to OFF and back to ON again.
11. After calibrating the touch screen, the initial Unlock script will automatically run AUTOPATCHER (no menu selection necessary), soft reset and present you with a simple clock screen with two faint icons to proceed into either the main desktop screen or into the MioMap Route Management screen, that each become more visible when pressed.

Note 1: If you wish to undo the enhancements and return the Mio C230 back to factory condition:

1. Turn on C230 and connect it to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Rename the folder F:\MioMap\MioMap to F:\MioMap\MioMap3 (or delete) and rename the folder F:\MioMap\MioMap2 to F:\MioMap\MioMap
3. Copy back any map files you may have deleted or moved to your SD card and restore your data.zip file. The SYS.TXT file shouldn’t need to be restored.
4. Disconnect the cable and hard reset C230 using the switch on the back of the unit.

Note 2: Remember, every time you disconnect the USB cable linked to your PC, you will need to do atleast a soft reset, although in most cases you really should do a hard reset. The time and date will need to be reset, unless you are going right into MioMap with Time Autosync enabled. This is why you might consider using a SD card in conjunction with a USB card reader for adding programs and storing media files once you’re happy with your unlocked Mio setup.

Note 3: In order not to get the message “destination full”, you’ll need to free up some space on your flash disk by moving at-least 12MB of map files to your SD card by creating a MioMap folder and within that folder a maps folder so that the path appears as G:\MioMap\maps. Choose a combination of map file(s) you’re not accessing every day (in case your SD card isn’t always inserted) from F:\MioMap\MioMap2\maps and move them to the maps folder on your SD card. MioMap will see them after a hard reset as if nothing happened. Or you could delete them (or copy to your PC) if you choose not to use a SD card at this time, since it’s easy to explore your MioMap DVD and copy them back to the original folder or a SD card later, if needed.

Note 4:   Instructions to Modify your DATA.ZIP file yourself (from Amida’s Hack #2)

And now the manual: Using your unlocked C230

Default Screens

Any one of these can become your default screen simply by making your choice in the Screen Choice Menu.

Screen Choices Menu

If you scroll down in the Route Management menu selections, you’ll see the option for Screen Choices that is brand new in Version 3.4

• The MioMap icon will take you directly to my new menu with options to either proceed into the MioMap program, Save / Delete / Rename / Load routes, View / Update MioMap settings in SYS.TXT, view a brief Help screen on Exiting MioMap,  quickly be able to turn off the taskbar before running MioMap and of course make your screen choices.
• The Next Screen arrow icon will take you to your choosen desktop screen.
• You can return to the Clock screens by clicking on the Clock icon.
• From the desktop screens, you can proceed to other screens you may have designed, or the More Tools screen, which is included only in my unlock package. 

Route Management

^ From either the clock screen or the desktop screen, click on the MioMap icon (the GPS unit in the upper left)

Prior to unlocking your Mio GPS, you would be unable to save multiple routes and the default route.dat file normally saved in \My Documents\MioMap folder would be erased during a hard reset, making the Route Management menu feature a substantial add-on to your Mio C230!

Normally you don’t need to save a route on your Mio, since you can just create a POI for the destination and regenerate the route dynamically when you want to go there. If you want to see where you actually drove along the way, you can record a track log. However, there could be times when you have created a more complex route with multiple waypoints, and you want to save it. This could be because:

• you’ve imported the route as a set of waypoints from an online route planning site, and you don’t want to lose the effort of setting it up on the Mio
• vacation pre-planning – you’ve set up a complex route for a vacation trip that doesn’t start from “home” and you want to load it into memory once you’ve arrived at the start point
• you want to share your route with another Mio user.

NOTE: When planning routes that start from a location different from your present location (Vacation pre-planning), the Off-Route Recalculation option has a habit of interfering. You have a couple of options here:

• The first leg of your trip can be from your present location to the intended starting point. Just keep setting your route up and when you’re finished, remove the first Waypoint (using the second button on the bottom of the Edit Route screen) which deletes that first segment of the Route. It seems that once you’re in the Edit Route screens /Fit to screen/ etc., that the GPS doesn’t recalculate from your present position. It’s when you are in Map or Cockpit where that happens. With the Route Management Menu, you just exit and Save your Route for future viewing or navigating.
• The bottom selection on the General Settings page is Off-Route Recalculation. Switch this from Automatic to Disabled. This doesn’t actually turn off the GPS receiver, but it keeps the C230 from messing up your Route planning. Just don’t forget to switch it back to Automatic when your done with your Route planning.

Sample pre-loaded route to view

^ click on “Load a Saved Route…” and select this sample file and it should copy itself as route.dat and open up in MioMap. To visualize this Route, select Cockpit > Menu > Routes icon (third in bottom row) > Info > Fit to screen. When you edit or delete route from within MioMap, you are impacting route.dat file, not the saved file you selected from the menu, so if you want to save changes you’ve made, you’ll have to do so after you exit MioMap and return to the Route Management menu.

Creating Routes

• We’ll make an example up > Go to History or Address and select a destination, Mio will create a route, click in the area of the 3 green rectangles, Select Fit to Screen to see route. Your route has already been autosaved as route.dat.
• Now we’re going to save it with another name so it doesn’t get erased > Menu, Home, Exit, go to Route Management Menu, select Save, select a Name and you’re done.
• If we go back into MioMap, it always resumes with the route.dat file (if it exists) so if you wan’t to work on a different saved route, you need to load it into memory using that option in the Route Management menu.
• If you create a new route in MioMap now, that route replaces route.dat with this new information, but since you’ve saved the former route with another name, you can just load that saved route in to replace route.dat again.

SYS.TXT Options

iGo calls the two flyover modes: Lifelike simulation mode which runs real-time (at speed-limit rate) and includes voice instructions – mainly used by retail stores with looping turned ON as DEMO mode, and for the user to become familiar with it’s routing functioning. Fast-flyover mode runs 10 times faster (10X the speed-limit rate) and voice instructions are not played in this mode, but I find that it is much more useful for reviewing a planned route.

^ your choice. Mio’s default is YES (demo mode).

^ the script reads your current SLOWSIM value (slow simulation – which is the inverse of fast flyover) entry in the file and allows you to keep the value (YES) or change it (NO). For fast flyover, slowsim=1 is changed to slowsim=0.

^ the script reads your current entry in the file and allows you to keep the value (YES) or change it (NO).

Main green Desktop Screen

You’ll note that the MioMap icon and the Media Player are larger than the rest. My reasoning for this is that they will probably be your favorites and you are likely to access these without a stylus. The other icons…

• MioTool – hitting the small “ab” box in the top left corner with your stylus will reveal a virtual keyboard for entering data. To turn the keyboard off again, just hit the icon again. Another method of engaging the keyboard is hitting the keyboard icon on the taskbar (2^nd from the right).
• MioMap – Starts my new menu with options to either proceed into the MioMap program, Save / Delete / Rename / Load routes, View / Update MioMap settings in SYS.TXT, view a brief Help screen on Exiting MioMap, and quickly be able to turn off the taskbar before running MioMap. Exit and Cancel both take you back to the desktop screen. You can either select your option and hit OK, or simply double-click your option.
• TCPMP Media Player – Core Pocket Media Player is loaded with features and options that aren’t realized until you click Options\Settings\Select Page and explore around. The current version in this build is TCPMP version 0.72RC1 with all of the available extra drivers and it will play many audio and video formats, as well as photo files and flash videos. By running the program once, you will associate all of the supported file types, so that you will then be able to click on a .wav file, as an example, in File Manager and play the file.

Shortcuts 2nd row-from-bottom across:

• Clock - returns to the (default) clock screen for that uncluttered look.
• Windows Explorer – my primary reason for using this shortcut is to fix file icon associations in File Manager and to resolve the Show Toolbar performance. It should be noted that the first time you select Windows Explorer, you are likely to get the Mio orange screen with a minimized taskbar at the bottom. You just need to use your stylus in the right corner of the hidden taskbar (the narrow gray stripe at the bottom edge – this is why it is important to carefully calibrate your screen with a stylus!) and choose Desktop (don’t click on MainShell). At this point, the taskbar and Windows Explorer will behave better, and the icon associations in File Explorer will work, and other programs that seem to be missing menus, like exit, folder selection, etc. will display their own taskbar (see the Freecell screenshot).
• Pocket Notepad – viewing txt files and for creating quick txt files with the virtual keyboard. Comes in handy for quick editing ini, mscr and other text files.
• Volume Control – graphic volume control display
• Pocket-G Freecell - so you can have a little fun. Stylus recommended though (not a pen).

  

• An empty spot for a shortcut of your own (plus room for another 8 shortcuts above this row and as many more pages full of icons as you wish) *
• GQ Photo Viewer – GQ is easier to use for viewing multiple photos than media player, and it has a zoom function
• Restart – soft reset button

Shortcuts 1st row-from-bottom across:

• MioUtility – quick access to adjust Backlight, Volume, Screen calibrate, Power, Date/Time and Language. This is the program that older units like the Mio C220 used to exit from MioMap into, but MioMap 3.3 has been written such that these choices are all available from within the program now and in fact the Volume Control appears to be non-functional. You’ll find that setting the date and time is much easier by clicking on the clock on the toolbar, unless you like the 24-hour format.

• Taskbar toggle - toggles the taskbar on and off in whatever state it is in (hidden or revealed)    The taskbar area of the green desktop screen is also programmed to trigger this function.
• FileManCE2 - Two-pane File Manager application alternative to Windows Explorer.
• LightsOn! - a freeware game program.
• More Tools Screen - <described below> an animated slide to another Desktop screen with additional tool programs that may not be used as frequently. This will serve as an example for you to come up with alternative screens if you install many other programs onto your Mio C230 and wish to group them onto their own screens.
• WR-Tooks ResInfo - Quick access to status info on battery, program memory, storage memory, Flash Disk useage, Storage Card useage, tasks and processes currently running, system information and settings. Most of this information is also available from Control Panel as well.



• My Calculator – a scientific calculator that is large enough to use without a stylus. To exit, click on the About tab, then on the X on the right side
• CapScrUtil – a screen capture utility. Remember to store the .bmp images to either Storage Card or My Flash Disk for easy access to the screenshots. (This utility was used to create all of the images in this blog page)

Main “iPhone-look” Desktop Screen

Program icons starting with the top row (small icons): 

• MioTool – hitting the small “ab” box in the top left corner with your stylus will reveal a virtual keyboard for entering data. To turn the keyboard off again, just hit the icon again. Another method of engaging the keyboard is hitting the keyboard icon on the taskbar (2^nd from the right).
• Move Any Window – the mouse icon, is used when you anticipate needing to move windows around (those that drag properly can just be slid over with your finger) or gaining access to the right mouse function by opening this program window beforehand.
• More Tools Screen - <described below> an animated slide to another Desktop screen with additional tool programs that may not be used as frequently. This will serve as an example for you to come up with alternative screens if you install many other programs onto your Mio C230 and wish to group them onto their own screens.
• Volume Control – graphic volume control display
• Taskbar toggle - toggles the taskbar on and off in whatever state it is in (hidden or revealed).

Program icons starting with the top row of large icons:

• MioMap – Starts my new menu with options to either proceed into the MioMap program, Save / Delete / Rename / Load routes, View / Update MioMap settings in SYS.TXT, view a brief Help screen on Exiting MioMap, and quickly be able to turn off the taskbar before running MioMap. Exit and Cancel both take you back to the desktop screen. You can either select your option and hit OK, or simply double-click your option.
• TCPMP Media Player – Core Pocket Media Player is loaded with features and options that aren’t realized until you click Options\Settings\Select Page and explore around. The current version in this build is TCPMP version 0.72RC1 with all of the available extra drivers and it will play many audio and video formats, as well as photo files and flash videos. By running the program once, you will associate all of the supported file types, so that you will then be able to click on a .wav file, as an example, in File Manager and play the file.

• GQ Photo Viewer – GQ is easier to use for viewing multiple photos than media player, and it has a zoom function
• FileManCE2 - Two-pane File Manager application alternative to Windows Explorer. 
• DPMS – puts your screen to sleep while everything else continues to run. This could save battery consumption while recording GPS track logs or playing an audio book, etc.   Apparently, if you leave the icon it’s present location anyways, it also seems to toggle the screen back on when you tap it with the screen dark.  This is a quirky program / icon sometimes, so if it behaves bad for, try relocating it.

Program icons starting with the 2nd row of large icons:

• Clock - returns to the clock screen that you choose to be the default, for that uncluttered look.
• My Calculator – a scientific calculator that is large enough to use without a stylus. To exit, click on the About tab, then on the X on the right side.
• Pocket Notepad – viewing txt files and for creating quick txt files with the virtual keyboard. Comes in handy for quick editing ini, mscr and other text files.
• Pocket-G Freecell - so you can have a little fun. Stylus recommended though (not a pen).

  
• LightsOn! - a freeware game program.   I haven’t figured out yet what actions move you towards your goal – the light hasn’t gone ON for me on this one yet.

Program icons starting with the 3rd row of large icons:

• Restart – soft reset button
• MioUtility – quick access to adjust Backlight, Volume, Screen calibrate, Power, Date/Time and Language. This is the program that older units like the Mio C220 used to exit from MioMap into, but MioMap 3.3 has been written such that these choices are all available from within the program now and in fact the Volume Control appears to be non-functional. You’ll find that setting the date and time is much easier by clicking on the clock on the toolbar, unless you like the 24-hour format.
• WR-Tooks ResInfo - Quick access to status info on battery, program memory, storage memory, Flash Disk useage, Storage Card useage, tasks and processes currently running, system information and settings. Most of this information is also available from Control Panel as well.

• CapScrUtil – a screen capture utility. Remember to store the .bmp images to either Storage Card or My Flash Disk for easy access to the screenshots. (This utility was used to create all of the images in this blog page)

  
•  Windows Explorer – my primary reason for using this shortcut is to fix file icon associations in File Manager and to resolve the Show Toolbar performance. It should be noted that the first time you select Windows Explorer, you are likely to get the Mio orange screen with a minimized taskbar at the bottom. You just need to use your stylus in the right corner of the hidden taskbar (the narrow gray stripe at the bottom edge – this is why it is important to carefully calibrate your screen with a stylus!) and choose Desktop (don’t click on MainShell). At this point, the taskbar and Windows Explorer will behave better, and the icon associations in File Explorer will work, and other programs that seem to be missing menus, like exit, folder selection, etc. will display their own taskbar (see the Freecell screenshot).

More Tools

• ScreenRotate – gives you the ability to rotate the screen counterclockwise 90° with each tap
• DPMS – puts your screen to sleep while everything else continues to run. This could save battery consumption while recording GPS track logs or playing an audio book, etc.
• Volume Control – graphic volume control display
• Taskbar toggle - toggles the taskbar on and off in whatever state it is in (hidden or revealed)
• Move Any Window – the mouse icon, is used when you anticipate needing to move windows around (those that drag properly can just be slid over with your finger) or gaining access to the right mouse function by opening this program window beforehand
• RegEditor – TRE Registry Editor ver 0.82 Only use this to view entries though until you are confident that you are not going to end up with a C230 “brick” (Not really since a hard reset wipes out all of your changes)
• ITaskMgr - Another tool to allow you to view CPU usage, as well as view and manage processes and tasks that are currently running
• Restart – soft reset button

Taskbar

The registry tweaks introduced with version 3.1 should help tame the taskbar performance. The default setting for “Always on Top” has been deactivated. Try to remember to toggle the taskbar OFF prior to using MioMap though. Want the day and date? Press and hold the clock on the screen. Want to minimize the taskbar? Start/Settings/Taskbar Properties/OK.

Adding your own programs and icons

Add any additional programs (.exe files, not .cab files) you’re interested in to the script folder, try them (try them means not only do they seem to work, but that they don’t cause any issues with the other programs, especially after a hard reset), and if you decide to keep them and want a desktop shortcut to them, add your own icon (.ico file) to the script folder and add the data to main.ini, also in the script folder.

* Any “empty” icon(s) on the desktop screen are in fact not empty, but the icons are “dimmed” to zero (actually 1). Otherwise the go.ico would show with no program associated with it and people would complain about the error message and ask why the icon doesn’t work. I doubt that you’ll find this documented anywhere else on the web – but just change the ScaleAlpha parameter to 100, and wala, the icon will shine thru at full “brightness”. That is how I “dimmed” the two icons on the default clock desktop screen – I set the ScaleAlpha to 25. You could dim those icons to 1 if you wanted to hide them completely, but they would still function.

ICONXPBUTTON
X = 121
Y = 175
Command = \My Flash Disk\Script\(your program.exe)
SizeNormal = 32
SizePushed = 32
ScaleAlpha = 1 (change to 100)
IconNormal = \My Flash Disk\Script\(your icon file name).ico
ScaleAlpha = 100
IconPushed = \My Flash Disk\Script\go.ico

Registry tweaks that are included

• The 2007 changes for DST work correctly now for the EST time zone*
• The default time zone is GMT-5 (EST)*
• Key clicks and screen tap sounds are enabled
• Volume level in Windows CE, which is independent of the volume settings within MioMap, is cranked up
• File Manager font is Tahoma 7, which works much better on the 3.5″ screen
• The default folder for GQ Viewer media is \Storage Card
• The default ALWAYS ON TOP behavior for the taskbar is disabled, although the setting seems to sneak back in once in awhile
• The automatic tutorial during startup of the Calculator is disabled

ENJOY!!

[UPDATE]  Version 3.4  Released Jan. 4, 2008 

They say you can’t please everyone, but I think my next Rev (3.4)  will be close to doing so.     I was thinking, how am I going to have 2 different desktops and then it hit me – I’ll let the user choose their desktop and screen preferences via menu selection and toggle main.ini with main_alt.ini for the desktop screen and toggle clock.ini with clock_alt.ini for the clock screen.   So today I wrote another subroutine to automatically make the necessary file changes depending on your selections.  The new addition to my Route Management menu is “Screen Choices” leading you into 4 questions.

• Would you like to make any changes to the desktop or clock Screens?  This gives you a chance to get out without going through the other questions.
• Would you like a desktop screen to be the default screen?   No makes a clock screen the default instead.
• Would you like to swap clock screens?    Your preference – the green one or the orange one.
• Would you like to swap desktop screens?   Your preference – the green one or the “iPhone-look” one.

From either desktop screen, you’ll be able to click on an icon to access the  ”More Tools” screen or another icon to access the chosen clock screen.   You might also choose a clock or desktop default screen and never access the others.

Also, per Robb1’s recommendation, you won’t have to acknowledge the route menu messages by hitting OK.  They’ll show for 5 seconds and continue to the next step.

There have been quite a few questions asking whether the C230 is TMC capable and  I’ve been answering that, yes, I thought so.   I see Mio Europe is selling the TMC receiver specifically for the Mio C230 now, but note that they are only for Italy and France.   Atleast the question has been officially answered.   What I’m not clear on is whether the TMC button has to be unhiddden, or if it does so automatically once the signal is detected.