NOTE: Owing to TomTom's withdrawal of SDK Support, POICapture IS NOT supported on devices running v7 firmware or later.

If your device came supplied with v7 (or later) or has been upgraded to v7(or later) then you SHOULD NOT install POICapture.

Article by Mike Barrett

One of the features that TomTom added in version 5 was a POI Warning system. This was a big driving factor in the adoption of the PocketGPSWorld.com "Safety Camera" database on the range of TomTom GOs.

Part of the problem of maintaining the database has always been the ease of capture of new camera data. Well thanks to Lutz that has all changed now. Lutz has created the PocketGPSWorld.com POICapture application specifically designed to record the location and details of Safety Cameras.

Overview

Over the last few years we have been compiling the PocketGPSWorld.com Safety Camera Database with help from our loyal users. this has worked well but involves spending a large amount of time ensuring that we have all the updates applied.

We receive updates in all sorts of formats from single co-ordinates to complete TomTom POI OV2 files. For some time now we have been working on perfecting the process of capturing, transferring, updating and distributing the latest database.

We are releasing the first part of the process now: POICapture for TomTom GO and PDAs. POICapture has been developed specifically to capture the location and also the attributes of cameras throughout the country.

POICapture has been designed and field tested to provide a simple and easy way to capture information about safety cameras and send them back to PocketGPSWorld.com. We have spent a lot of time tuning the useability of the interface to capture the safety cameras in the most efficient manner possible.

POICapture is provided to you FREE from PocketGPSWorld.com. If you would like an enhanced version of POICapture which can record POIs into other different POI files then we will shortly be publishing more details.

Which versions of TomTom can I use POI Capture with?

The following are known to work:

TomTom Navigator: 5.100 and up

TomTom GO/Rider: 5.202 and up (including 6.xxx)

A slighty deranged version is available for TomTom One.

Installation

There are 2 different downloads. One for TomTom GO/Rider/ONE users and one for TomTom Navigator for PDA users. Click on the image to the right to open the download instruction page for your hardware.

These pages describe how to install the application and configure it for your satnav system.

Capturing POIs

The examples shown display images from the POICapture add on for the TomTom GO. The screens are the same for both TomTom GO and TomTom Navigator for PDA, it is just the orientation that changes.

Once you have installed POICapture and the PocketGPSWorld custom TomTom.mnu, and you tap the screen to get the menu, you will see a page as to the right:

The new Capture POI button can be used to record the current position and to specify the type of safety camera, the speed limit of the road at the camera site and the active direction. The position is recorded when the Capture POI button is tapped and a valid GPS signal is available, otherwise, the message No valid GPS signal! is flashed at the top of the screen.

The captured POI is stored in the file PocketGPSCameras.ov2 in the active TomTom Navigator map folder.

Select camera type

If you have satellite fix and you tap the Capture POI icon you will get the following pages:

The two screens to the right allow you to select the type of camera site that you wish to report. Once you have selected one of the camera types, you will be given the next choice:

Note that we have included icons of the most common versions of the cameras. There are some cameras that will not look like these but will still be of the same type. A good example is the Gatso Cameras on the M25 Gantries. These are oblong not the traditional square style of camera.

After selecting the camera type the first of the Select speed screens appears and, once again, further options are available using the second screen.

If you are not certain of the speed then select the unknown speed icon. It is better to have no speed than an inaccurate one.

In certain areas, particularly on the M25, there are cameras that can be set to different speed limits at different times of the day. Select the variable speed icon for these cameras.

After selecting a speed limit the “Select camera direction:” screen will appear.

Select one of the green arrow buttons to save the camera site details. At any time the Cancel button can be used to return to the navigation screen

If the camera is on the opposite side of the road the position will obviously be inaccurate by the width of the road. If we know it is on the other side we can make manual adjustments to place it in the correct position

Special Note for version 5.420: In order to get this version to work we had to accept two compromises

1. The first startup of POICapture after you reboot your device (for example by removing the SD card) will take a little longer. Subsequent program launches are quicker.

2. When you see a message "Reloading map..." this means your camera has not been recorded. Please record the camera again.

Submitting Cameras

OK so you have installed and configured the POICapture add on. You have spotted and captured some cameras how do you get them included in the next release of the PocketGPSWorld.com database?

Well hopefully we have made this process as simple as possible. All you need to do is connect your GO to the USB cable, or dock your PDA and then complete the simple form on the Camera Submission Page:

The POI file wil be stored in the map directory on your device. For example:

For the GO Classic and GO300 this will be in the directory /Great_Britain-Map

For the GO 500 the POI file wil be in the /Great_Britain_Plus-Map directory

For the GO 700 the directoy /Western_Europe-Map will contain the captured cameras.

References

Mike Barrett

www.pocketGPSWorld.com

License and Conditions

PocketGPSWorld.com POICapture User Agreement

User Agreement, Terms of Use, Cautions and Disclaimers

Use of PocketGPSWorld.com POICapture ("we", "us", "PocketGPSWorld.com"") constitutes acceptance of the PocketGPSWorld.com User Agreement ("the agreement") and Terms of Use ("terms"). The user ("you") represent that you have read and understood these terms and agree to be bound by them. The use of the software is deemed to be an agreement of these conditions.

The PocketGPSWorld.com POICapture software can be distributed freely for non-commercial purposes worldwide.

Although this software is currently free for individual non-commercial use, it is not in the public domain and cannot be sold by any individuals or companies either online, e.g. commercial sites, personal sites or on portals such as eBay, or offline whether product packaged, on compilations or individually on CD, DVD or similar.

It cannot be sublicensed, distributed, integrated or reproduced in any form.

Copyright © for PocketGPSWorld.com POICapture, all rights reserved Worldwide. Text, graphics, brand, indicia, code and data contained within and related to POICapture are owned by and the copyright of PocketGPSWorld.com and are protected by UK, US, EU and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.

POICapture is not allowed to be reproduced or offered for download on any website or in any application in part or in full without the prior written authorisation of PocketGPSWorld.com. No permission will be granted to companies, organisations, websites or authors who sell or charge for our software without a current license from PocketGPSWorld.com.

POICapture is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages. This includes, without limitation and even if we are advised of the possibility thereof, any damages for loss of goodwill or any and all other commercial damages or losses including loss of profit, that result from the use of, or inability to use the software. The user agrees not to rely on any information obtained from the software and indemnifies us from mistakes, omissions, errors, interruptions, delays of service or performance, defects, harmful components, viruses and bugs, howsoever caused. It is the user's duty to execute anti-contamination or virus software and ensure that any information, if contaminated or infected, will not damage the user's information or system. The entire risk as to the use of the software is with the end user.

In order to use POICapture you must agree to be legally bound and to abide by the terms and to indemnify and hold PocketGPSWorld.com harmless from all alleged or actual damages, claims and expenses. This also includes, without limitation, legal costs and attorney's fees.

If a term, covenant, provision, or condition of this agreement becomes, or shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be against public policy or illegal, all remaining provisions of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect and unaffected, impaired or invalidated by this decision. The invalidated item shall be modified by the parties to the full extent possible to carry out all the intentions and directives stated in this agreement.

Any such contract will be interpreted, construed and enforced in all respects in accordance with the laws of England, and you and PocketGPSWorld.com irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. This agreement is governed by English law and all disputes will be handled solely in the United Kingdom. English Courts will have jurisdiction in respect of it. You consent to such venue and jurisdiction. PocketGPSWorld.com controls and operates POICapture from its offices in the United Kingdom and makes no representations or warranties that its content or use is legal in other locations.

To use this application you absolve PocketGPSWorld.com of any and all liability for any damage or injury however caused.

We give no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the software and we do not assume, and therefore disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions.

Whilst it is not our intention to do so, PocketGPSWorld.com reserve the right to change its policies and terms at any time. Any such changes will be notified. Future availability and updates are subject to change or withdrawal without notice.

Very important: Never record camera details where it is not safe to do so. Do not use POICapture whilst the vehicle is in motion - this would be extremely dangerous to yourself and others. POICapture must only be used by passengers or by drivers when stationery and not in charge of the vehicle. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in full control of your vehicle and driving safely at all times. The operator of a vehicle is responsible at all times for the safe and legal use of the vehicle.

Please note these terms are additional to terms relating to the PocketGPSWorld.com Safety Camera Database which must be read in conjunction http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/uksafetycameras.php