Beef Up The MP3 Player (if you have one) on your nuvi

 

I was speaking to a friend of mine tonight about all the useful features of my new Garmin 360. He's a software designer and he's also the author of a popular media player. I was telling him I wanted to beef up the media player a little on my Nuvi.

My biggest complaint is not being able to choose the next song on the list from the map view without having to push the little music note, then select which song, then push "back" to return to the map. It seems a little excessive just to request the next song on the list be played.

Me personally, I'd like to see a "random song" button on the map to the side by the music note. Any other good ideas out there?

So, with his help, perhaps I could get him to make a program or plugin for it? I'm sure if it was a somewhat simple task or didn't take up too much of his time, he'd probably do it for free. However, before I approach him with that, I'd better already know weather or not it's a simple task. Unfortunately, I don't even know what the Operating System is on a Garmin Nuvi 3xx. What language would this need to be written in? Anyone got a brief understanding of the code required and if so would this be a difficult task?

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No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

Good

I Think you might have a good thought on the "upgrade" I wouldn't know how easy or how hard this would be, But I wonder if there would also be any problem with Garmin and any copy rights or soft ware infringements. Good luck I would be interested in the upgrade.

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><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><- 4-Garmin Nuvi 760>>>> Owner: Sunrise Mechanical A/C & Heating,, Peoria, Arizona

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Garmin's OS code is locked down. It's not public. And as far as I know, no one has created any programs that can be loaded onto the nuvi.

would be interested in this subject

And also problem with announcements causing mp3 play skipping.

This would require the units

This would require the units software to be reverse engineered and rewritten. While it is possible, it is not advisable. For one thing, you could perminetly damage your unit and I'll guarantee it will void your warrantee. Plus you may make changes that have enexpected consequenses. For example, if a part of the program tells the processor to jump to a certain memory location and run that code but you have changed the code there, bad juju. There is no way all aspects of the program can be revewed and tested, that is why devices and software have bugs, not every possibility can be tested any more.

IF your friend is a good hacker, feel free to try it but if you toast your unit, don't even think about going to garmin with it.

Playlist

Have you tried making a playlist of songs?

Daniel

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Garmin StreetPilot c580 & Nuvi 760 - Member 32160 - Traveling in Kansas

Dunno if

Your going to make any head way, and remember your TOS with Garmin. if you fiddle with (hack) thier OS and create a brick you will then have just that, a brick.

You might want to get yourself a friendlier GPSr unit that has an open architecture OS. There are several out there, then hack (modify) away.

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Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.

You might wanna

buy an iPod before you goof around with your GPS.

:[

phillyguy19020 wrote:

And also problem with announcements causing mp3 play skipping.

YES! I have the same problem! Instead of playing the announcement sound effect or even the default alert sound effect while music is playing, it automatically skips to the next song. I'm sort-of glad to see I'm not the only one who has had this problem. You found any fix or solution to this?

Also, to the person who suggests an iPod or using a playlist:

iPod idea: That's the last thing I need. Another gadget in my car which will have to be wired or connected to the speaker system...why do that when my gps is already an MP3 player as it is? I wouldn't want to use both devices at the same time AND drive. Plus, how can I play the GPS audio AND the iPod audio at the same time through the car speakers? Consolidation and simplicity are things I'm looking for here. Not to mention an iPod cost more than my GPS.

Playlist idea: Well, the Garmin doesn't exactly play a playlist but it does play albums or genres individually but I have an 8GB card in mine and it's full. I wouldn't want to have to sort all the music I want to listen to in the proper order just to play music. Besides, you never know what song I'll be in the mood for one minute after another. Imagine having to do that every time you put new music on it.

The biggest disadvantage to this GPS so far is this whole media player/audible alert thing. I want the GPS to tell me which way to go but I have to play the GPS's audio through the car speakers which sucks cause I can't play music unless I do it through the GPS. If I use the GPS's onboard speakers then I must play the music from my CD player/radio at a whisper so I can hear the GPS directions. One can not rock out in the car with Metallica playing at a whisper.

Oh well, I suppose it's good enough as it is. It was just an idea. Glad these comments have helped me know weather or not this is worth asking my friend about. Thanks you guys. Though if I run into any other solution, I'll rethread or repost here.

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No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

.

Your Garmin GPS unit will play M3U playlist files. It also has a shuffle mode which will work in any of the modes (playlist, album, artist, genre or play all).

Thanks for that info,

Thanks for that info, MM

However, I still have no idea what song I want to listen to tomorrow on my way to work. Nor will I know on my way home and every day there on. So, I still desire a "next" or "random" song button accessible from the map.

Though, I didn't know it played m3u files so I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

--
No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

WAV

Text wrote:

Instead of playing the announcement sound effect or even the default alert sound effect while music is playing, it automatically skips to the next song. You found any fix or solution to this?

Change the mp3 custom audio alert to a wav file and put Sox.exe in the folder with POI Loader. Lots of threads on this.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

That makes noo sense

Text wrote:

Thanks for that info, MM

However, I still have no idea what song I want to listen to tomorrow on my way to work. Nor will I know on my way home and every day there on. So, I still desire a "next" or "random" song button accessible from the map.

Though, I didn't know it played m3u files so I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

This makes no sense. You don't know which exact song you want to hear on the way to work or Home, but you want the player to play randomly selected tunes? how is that going to get you the song you are wanting to listen to.

The same can be said for any MP3 player/cd player/radio station/tape player/etc...

.

Text wrote:

Thanks for that info, MM

However, I still have no idea what song I want to listen to tomorrow on my way to work. Nor will I know on my way home and every day there on. So, I still desire a "next" or "random" song button accessible from the map.

Though, I didn't know it played m3u files so I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

I understand what you are saying.

And option might be to keep the MP3 player screen up instead of the map screen since you likely don't need the map screen up on your way to and from work.

What I do on rides (when I'm not using a playlist) is to just select "Play All" and have the shuffle turned on.

Also, note that with shuffle turned off, the songs will be played in alphabetical order which is its own (sort of) random shuffle.

I just don't see the point

Text wrote:

Thanks for that info, MM

However, I still have no idea what song I want to listen to tomorrow on my way to work. Nor will I know on my way home and every day there on. So, I still desire a "next" or "random" song button accessible from the map.

It takes only two taps to select the "next song" button or the "random" button. Doesn't seem to be worth a lot of reverse engineering to cut that down to one tap instead.

Text wrote:

Though, I didn't know it played m3u files so I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

I have multiple playlists on the Nuvi to suit my mood, as well as a couple playlists that have what my wife likes. While it's easier to create playlists with Media Player or any number of other utilities on the computer, you CAN create playlists directly on the Nuvi, too. There's browse by genre, artist and album. The selection interface is a single tap away from the map screen. You can't possibly want all those other options on the map screen, too.

"You can't possibly want all

"You can't possibly want all those other options on the map screen, too." No, I don't want all those other options. But options are options and should be left up to the discretion of the user.

"This makes no sense. You don't know which exact song you want to hear on the way to work or Home, but you want the player to play randomly selected tunes? how is that going to get you the song you are wanting to listen to."

Because having it choose a song for you is better control. Instead of laying out what I'm going to listen to tomorrow on the way to work in a playlist file, a "next song" or "random" button would be useful. This is very helpful considering I'm using such a large storage SD card that is full of only music. This extra feature, for me, would be more useful when driving in an area that you're not sure of and you don't want to navigate away from the map.

I keep having to cycle between Mp3 Player>Map>MP3 Player>Map>Mp3 Player>Map. Just seems after an entire day delivering packages, I will have pushed the music note button, then "next", then "back" about 300 times.

Just cause /YOU/ can't think of one good use for it, doesn't mean it's not a good idea. smile

--
No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

Maybe in the future.....

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

Garmin's OS code is locked down. It's not public. And as far as I know, no one has created any programs that can be loaded onto the nuvi.

There is hope. The 8xx, 9xx, and 5xxx appear to based on linux. Garmin source code is here:

http://developer.garmin.com/linux/

I wonder how long it will be before someone figures out how to back port this code the 7xx series?

Re

Nice $$$

--
No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

that's a pretty cool page

that's a pretty cool page with that code. I would love to learn more about that. I just wish it also included code for the 700 series, but somehow it doesn't seem to.