yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
OK, since you want more ideas, here is something with more radical changes in the UI.

-Menu screen. It's touch friendly and I think that it adds a better distribution of functions and screens (Files button, About screen). The "Main" button is pressed:

And now GCC changes to full screen and we have even more space here:

Start and Stop buttons can be the same. I mean, when GCC is "on", the only option is stop it. Save space, use the same button changing the graphic. The info box could have a small icon indicating the status (green play, red stop).

The same for GPS off/search/on.

Landscape version. I don't see any advantage (sincerely, I wouldn't use it), but if you like it, here it is:

Sorry for the bad quality of the graphics, since I haven't the original design I'm working with screen captures. Maybe you could ask expo7 if he wants to make these ideas with "full HD" quality. :D
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
New screens at full size:
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] gozzy:
I like it ...................(dont think you need landscape tho)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Added new version

Just uploaded new version (2.54):

- Bug fix when loading maps with non-US decimal seperator setting (e.g. if you have "," instead of "." for decimal separator).

- Added pause button.

- Added "feet" for altitude units and "min/km" for speed units. Limit seach time to 3 min.

- Added speed to GPX output.

AngelGR - many thanks for the design, looks very nice! I will start making the changes. The only problem is that I just added "Pause" button, as many wanted - so what shall we do about it? BTW - all images are in the zip file with the source code.

Also about landscape mode - I agree that for Diamond it is not useful, but I guess this might be needed for a phone with landscape screen, e.g. Touch Pro?

HappyFace - I added speed to GPX - could you please check that everytrail can read it?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Have an idea - keep "run/pause" + "stop" + "bklight off" buttons, but switch to main screen (with 5 menu buttons) as you click on any point on screen.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] aatreya:
Another idea is to use "Unattended Mode" on the device so that a screen-off button isn't necessary. Then you could just hit the power button to turn off the screen, like normal.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa908497.aspx
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
Your welcome, I'm happy to help. Thank you for this excellent app.

Yes, "pause" is a useful option. So now we must have run/pause in the same button. Give me a moment and I'll think what to do with "Stop". ;)

As aatreya say, you can omit the "screen off" button adding a new config option like "Turn off screen in 'n' minutes", and its space can be used for "stop". If we want to turn off the screen without wait we can press the power button.

Thanks, I'll use it from now.

But I suppose that Touch Pro users will use GPS Cycle computer like Diamond users. I mean, they can see exactly the same when the keyboard is closed. Anyway, I'll do landscape mode screens too, no problem. ;) Let's see if I can do something good.

By now I have a third version of main screen, and I'm "almost" happy with it. I think that I can't save more space (the numbers are big enough, and for me the info is clear), and I've added some new ideas and eye-candy (just ignore it if you don't like/can implement it):

- A clock showing the current hour. Made and working with Skinny Clock (http://www.rawos.com/sclock/).

- One icon indicating the state (run/stop... and now pause too), and another one indicating if the average speed is increasing or decreasing.

- A compass and GPS signal state (10 satellites, green/orange/red, it's obvious).

Main screen v3:

Full size:
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] krheinwald:
Tap and hold 'pause' for three seconds?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] azharsunny:
can we have a cab for this skin!!! i love it!!! gr8 work
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] krheinwald:
I need to look it up, but I think it should be 12 or 16 satelites.

Nice design, btw!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
Good idea, but then the users will need to read the manual, so a lot of them will have problems... :D

Sorry, they are graphical ideas, concepts that maybe Andy could add to GPS Cycle Computer, but nothing working yet. Give him time. :)

I've made even more changes today.

Yes, I draw the lines without think the number, maybe they're 16. No problem, I can add more lines quickly. ;)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] HappyFace:
I tested it on everytrail and the GPX file is read correctly. I do not see any difference on everytrail with this GPX file and the previous version. The speed graph is exactly the same.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Unfortunatelly I was not able to make this work - the timer which call GPS stops as soon as I press the power button, so nothing get logged. Has anyone has luck with this function?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
I added "speed" record to GPX, which gives the currently reported speed by GPS. I guess everytrial computes the speed itself, by using the coordinates and the timestamp for every point - so that is why there is not difference.

Well, it might be used in other application, I guess. Also good that the new record does not break anything:)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Was thinking about the new skin over weekend, and I think there is some benefit to have that button menu at the bottom, as it gives quick access to all functions from any page. Otherwise you need an extra click to bring the "menu" page up, then select the required function. E.g. to load file and look at map you need to go to the "menu" page, select "file", then load file, go back to "menu" page, then select "graph".

The same about the Windows toolbar - I have a nice task manager, so I can easily switch between different app (which I do often). Also it has the "close" button. In full screen mode we would not have all that.

So I have another idea:

- Let us keep the "normal" window (not full screen) and keep the bottom buttons as well.

- Maybe replace "About" tab with "File" and move access to "About" into "Options" - this gives dedicated page to "File" operations.

- Have 2 modes for the main screen, which are switchable as you tap on main screen: more detailed mode (with smaller font) and less detailed mode (with large font) - which shows e.g. time, distance and speed only. Smaller-font window will have the design you suggested (I like it very much!) - just in smaller font than you currently use, so all fits.

What do you think?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] HappyFace:
I also think that everytrail calculates the speed itself, I noticed a quicker operation of the file after I uploaded it to everytrail. This might indicate that it now uses the speed info in the GPX file.

The map did not show up in the former version, but with this new version you solved this problem with the international decimal separator. Thanx a lot!

I really like this program and hopefully it will only get better!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] aatreya:
Take a look at this:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=2745008

This should allow users to simply push the power button and keep the program running.

As a side benefit, this means that if you accidentally push the power button, it won't kill your GPS tracking, either, making it much more robust.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
I don't like the "permanent button menu" as is because there're options that we'll only use a few times (options, about) and they're always using screen space. So I've made three designs, I hope you like one of them.

But now you need to press "options", select file, press open, and go back to "graph". One solution is to open the file when we make click (or double click?) and automatically return to graph. Why do we need select if the only option is open?. And then, if we open a file, we'll always want to see the graph.

I agree, and it's easy to save a few pixels, so title bar restored. ;)

Option 1 - "Start menu" style.

Advantages: Well known, fixed position, you can see all the options, clean, big buttons.

Disadvantages: you need at least two clicks for do anything, you need to read and change the position of your finger.

Option 2 - "TouchFlo" style.

Advantages: Direct access (one click) to every screens, fast once you know it.

Disadvantages: Small buttons, maybe less intuitive.

Option 3 - "Hybrid" style.

Advantages: You don't need to read the options (just look at the screen and press again if you want another one), you don't need to change your finger to other position, clean look, big buttons.

Disadvantages: Sometimes you need one more click.

This is my favourite design. I prefer to do one click more sometimes if I have big buttons and a more clean UI.

Preferences? Comments?

About "special screens" with more detailed info, yes, I've some ideas. You can use the rectangular areas of the main screen as active zones. For example, press "Altitude" or "Speed" and show the graphic, press the GPS area and show a big compass and more detailed info, etc.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] krheinwald:
Option 1 for me.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Many thanks for so many excellent designs! ... Hard to choose, but I think I like Option 1 as well: It has larger buttons indeed (with 4 buttons in a row, buttons are a bit small), and we have more flexibility which buttons to put in the "start menu", as it is not so much space limited: - e.g. can include "open file" directly instead of "file menu" which bring a file menu, etc.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
Today I wouldn't had made the option 1. :D

Please, think twice. It's the same than a "menu screen" (one click always, and then options), but with less space. We will always be in the worst case, at least two clicks, never direct access. And we can easily make mistakes doing click with the fingers. Maybe Microsoft has influenced us too much, but a Diamond is not a desktop. :D

Having direct access in mind, the best is option 2, indeed. But if we add a small touch screen, I'm pretty sure that the best design is option 3.

Mental experiment: Let´s change between "Main screen", "Open file", "Graph screen" and return to main.

Using option 1:

-Click Menu button, look the menu options, choose Open File, change the finger position and press with care the button, because you can easily press another one.

-Select file.

-Press Menu, repeat the previous steps and select Graph.*

-Press Menu, and repeat the steps selecting Main Screen. Done.

Slow. More complicated than options 2 and 3.

Using Option 2:

-Click Menu button

-Click Files button and select file.

-Click Graph button.*

-Click Main button. Done.

Good, but the buttons are small and sometimes you need to look the options and change the position of your finger from left to right.

Using option 3:

-Click + click the left button. You don't need to look the options, you don't need to move the finger to another button.

-Click Files button and select file.

-Click + click. Graph screen.*

-Click + click. Main screen. Done

I think that this design can be even faster than option 2, because if you're not where you want, you just need to click again the same button.

* Unneeded if files are automatically loaded in Graph screen.

Andy, this is only my opinion. GPS Cycle Computer is YOUR app, and you're doing all the work, so the choice is yours, of course. But if you're going to change the UI, think it carefully before working on it. ;)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Indeed, I was thinking again about the Option 3 - and it has a lot of benefits. But I also like to have quick access to menu as in Option 1 - as we can put a lot of buttons there without having a separate menu page. So how about "Option 13" (because of the todays date and this is a mixture of 1 and 3 :D ):

Have 4 bottom buttons: menu on the left (as in option 1) and "next page" button on the right (as in Option 3).

In the "menu" we can have "Open file" which open a file (NOT to go to File menu), so to open a file you need click "menu" and click "file". The same on graph page (as there is the same menu) - to open file click " "menu" and "file".

BTW, the right button can be only "Main" or "Graph" - as these are the most common screens. The options can be accesseble from "menu" only.

What do you think?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
It works :):):) - thank you very much!!! The registry setting change did the trick - before I spent ages trying to make it work - the WIndows help does not say anything about it... So now we can get rid off the BkLightOff button and switch off using the power button...
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] krheinwald:
Great, this is what I was looking for!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] lexluthor:
That does sound very good. I saw in that linked thread that you can change the reg key only while your program is running, so that's great.

Just one thing though is you might want to read the value first and make sure when your program gets reset, it goes back to the value it was. That way, if someone has done a hack to use that reg setting all the time, you won't be removing that.

Great work. I really enough this program and will so more when the better weather comes along.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] gozzy:
Option 3 for me

but not really too bothered as when I'm running (like tonight) i dont even want to look at it, only need the options at start and finish.

I kow its a longshot ............but can you include a voice mile marker or is that too much (like Nike +)

As I said I dont look at it as its in my arm holder and listening to music on a 4+ mile run, would be a nice feature if it gave a vocal mileage
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Put this in (v2.55) - many thanks for your help! And I do save the existing registry value - so than I restore it back. Have a try...
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] martinmunk:
Compiling error :)

Hey... Just messed around a bit with the source and it seems to be missing some files: AndyZap.pfx, GccGPS.dll og GccGPS.rc2.

Dunno if it is just me that missed out on something ;)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
"AndyZap.pfx" - is a key to "sign" the code - you can just create your own (this is in the project options) - or just delete the "code signing" options completely, then you do not need a key. GccGPS.dll - you need to compile this one first (there is a separate project for it). All 3 projects shall be seen from the the solution file - i.e. GccGPS.dll + Gcc Cycle exe itself + CAB installer.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
OK, let's see if we can do something clever, trying to keep all the advantages and a minimum number of clicks. The target for me is to maintain only 3 fixed buttons (you'd understand why I don't like 4 if you could see my hands :D) but having direct access to all the main options when possible. After a few hours thinking about it, I get this.

-Option 4

When we open GCC, its status is stopped (obvious ;)). The only active options are "Run" or change screen. So by now we can use the right button for open files directly.

If we go to "Files" and select one, the "Open" button automatically send us to "Map" (I've renamed "Graph" in the picture because in the future there will be speed and altitude graphs, so it seems a good idea).

If we select "Run" we can't open files, so the layout changes to "Pause" and "Stop".

When we select "Stop", it could open the "Files" screen. Why? Because it give us the option of delete the file if it's unuseful.

The left button does "next" between the 3 main screens, but in "Menu" we have all, so we can go to any screen with one click (return to "Map", open a file...).

I know that you want only 2 main screens, but I think that 3 is the minimum without an excesive number of submenus/secondary screens (more clicks for reach them), specially thinking on future options (like speed and altitude graphics).
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
Option 4 - Full size:

http://i41.tinypic.com/2a9tgfp.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2qvgr52.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2u4ndlf.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/i5ar87.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2n9jo6o.jpg
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] mvmv:
Same for me..... voice marker will be a real plus (distance every xx time, where you can set xx value)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Option 4 looks very good - you are really good at UI design :cool: - many thanks! I will get on with the changes then .... might take a bit of time / iterations, as this looks like major re-design.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
I will have a look. I guess the easiest way would be to have a few MP3s with pre-recorded numbers "0".."9" + "." (user can record it and store in a given folder) - then just play them to "read a distance". (I hope WinMobile shall have a function for that). Maybe there is a better way, anyone has experience with that?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] gozzy:
Bloody Hell Andy this is going to turn out to be a killer app mate

Keep up the good work..................you too Angel :cool:
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
Thank you, I'm glad that you like this version. ;) But if I were good at UI design, one version would have been enough. :D

I'm happy with it too, it seems a solid and coherent UI. Take your time for the new version.

Here you have the cleaned original resources instead of .jpg's:

http://rapidshare.com/files/183382338/GCC-UIOption4.zip.html

I'm with "Options" now, and the decision is to do touch friendly things, or make a compact design, all in one screen. Maybe I'll have some ideas for show tomorrow.

Best regards.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] expo7:
Hey your ideas are realy good.

if andy use the new concept and you need help ;) or something let me know

cheers the "old" designer :D
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
expo7, nice to see you. :)

I'm only doing "concepts" and showing ideas using your design, so you are the designer, not me.

Andy is going to use "option 4", we'll need your help, indeed. It seems that a few new icons will be needed, and maybe a redesign of some others... Since I'm physical education teacher, not graphic designer, I think that it's better if you do that work. :D

I'll send you my email by PM, we're in contact.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] megosu:
Hi,

I'm really looking forward to see the new changes, it seems so easy and thumb friendly :)

Right now, I'm stuck with KML file on Google Maps (mobile).

When I open a KML file, Google Maps pop up but I can't see my path.

On the PC, it's working well with Google Earth.

Any ideas ?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] gozzy:
If you want to keep a log of your trips try sports tracker http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/?sid=85c7f4ea00781b10bb1656661fcf4182

it saves all your tracks and will display on a map
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
Try to create KML file with GoogleEarth (e.g. just place a single placemark and save into KML file) - to see if Google likes its own. Also try to install a latest GoogleMaps (but uninstall old version first, and delete entries in the registry for kml and .kml (with "." upfront)) - maybe this would help.

KML is just a text file (format is expained on Google web site) - so you can edit it yourself and see which one it does/does not like.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] PeterCa:
Hello all you there,

Compliments for this program, I’m using it on my Diamond and it works fine. Also looking forward to the changes in the menus.

I still have one suggestion.

Until now I use ODGPS for recording tracks and to follow a pre-recorded track on the bycicle (running it on my old HTC Wizard and with the use of an external GPS you can easily follow a pre-recorded track).

I miss the last possibility (following a track) in CycleComputer and I think that it could easily added:

1. Possibility to load pre-recorded GPX-tracks.

2. Possibility to keep that track in view while recording (in another color b.e.) a new one or only giving the GPS-position in relation to the track.

I’m sure you’re doing a very good job already, this would make it perfect for me.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AndyZap:
This looks like a good idea. But I prefer do not write code to load any existing GPX file, as this is not an easy task - as different devices use different tags/entires, etc.

I have a suggestion how you can follow existing tracks: you simply need to create a map (e.g. JPEG image) with an existing track drawn on it - then you can just follow that track. An easy way would be to use GoogleEarth - just load a GPX file into it (it does support GPX files, as well as KML). Then save this map as an image (see instruction how to create maps in the readme.html for GPS Cycle Computer). You can also select the track color and line width in Options, so you current track differs from the one drawn on the map.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] aatreya:
Andy,

Here are two suggestions, now that the program runs fine in the background and with the screen off :)

- It would be great if the device would turn itself off automatically when no buttons are pushed, just like it does when the program isn't running.

- It would be ideal if the program would prevent itself from being closed automatically by the phone's memory management system. Currently, the program is in danger of being closed by WinMo if there's a lot of applications running. I'm not sure how to prevent this, but I know there is a way since Windows Media Player and ActiveSync are never closed automatically... is this something you've thought about?

Finally, I just want to say that I really appreciate the lightweight nature of this program. Many people have put forth some pretty awesome ideas for new features, but I wanted to emphasize that keeping the program small and snappy should be a priority as well.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] AngelGR:
I don't want to request new options by now (I have a few big requests in mind), because I think that we must let Andy do the changes step by step, and a new UI is a big change actually.

But I must admit that "follow saved tracks" was one of them. Andy's solution is clever, we can use Google Earth at the PC side, save an image with the track and then load it on the PDA. But this has some problems if we want to use it for sports, as the trackpoints have a time associated and we can't know it. Imagine the advantages of a saved file with the New York marathon for use it as reference the next year. Or to do a "virtual competition" with one friend.

Anyway, is there a need to use .gpx instead of .gcc? I suppose this could be done with the native format, without conversions.

On the other hand, I've made some small changes to the main screen and this could be the definitive version if you don't want to change anything (the "info" and "GPS" zones had too much text and info that can be moved, and a few convenient icons). I think all is already implemented except the clock (it's a capture of a custom made one for skinny clock) and the GPS signal graphic and compass. You don't need to do the same, of course. I hope to talk with expo7 this weekend and make some new icons for the options.

You'll notice that I've changed the background to pure black. The contrast is better, and a lot of pixels off during 2 or 3 hours maybe can save some battery (I use GCC without turn off the screen).

Full size:

http://i40.tinypic.com/2jf9lj.jpg

I agree, but it's true that some options deserves the increase of size, and other ones don't represent this kind of problem.