HOWTO: Maps with Meizu

member · 05-01-2007

In the absence of image zoom ability, here's a way of using maps on the Meizu M6: split the image into a 5x4 grid (or 5xN actually):

* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
. . . . .

and place them by themselves in a folder. They will show up as a coherent grid in which you can scroll

and "zoom" by selecting individual images:

The map has to be close to 1600 pixels wide (1600 / 320 = 5 images), and any multiple of 240 pixels tall. You can resize and deform the map to fit these limits, before splitting.

If the map is much wider than 1600, you can first split the map into several 1600-pixel-wide columns and make folders for each of those (like Westside, Centre, Eastside).

* * * * * / * * * * * / * * * * *
* * * * * / * * * * * / * * * * *
* * * * * / * * * * * / * * * * *
* * * * * / * * * * * / * * * * *
* * * * * / * * * * * / * * * * *
. . . . ... . . . . . . . ... . . . .

To split there are many programs. I used The GIMP with this plugin: http://registry.gimp.org/plugin?id=3034 .

It's a bit of work, but I couldn't wait until they add image zoom ability in the firmware! And you only do it once. Helpful when going in a new city perhaps.

Please note that now Brendan Gillatt has created a PHP scrip that can be used online to produce Meizu-friendly maps from GoogleMaps views: http://brendangillatt.co.uk/?p=meizumapper

Hope this helps.

firestorm_4506 · 05-01-2007

great HOWTO, will try to do it with a london map.

but i have tomtom on a nokia n73 so

Austin · 05-01-2007

wow, thats very practical! great idea!

xx-c · 05-01-2007

Very ingenious, Member ! I will try it for my next travelling !

serleomar · 05-01-2007

member, that's awesome! Definitely creative. Now, one question: what is "The GIMP" and where do I get it? Is it free?

madman · 05-01-2007

I think that is very clever, If anyone else does this please upload your maps to build a library that others can share.

"Meizu Maps the World"

I give you Points for creativity

FirePower · 05-01-2007

Great idea, hopefully Meizu will introduce zooming to full size of photos in future firmware.

DChronos · 05-02-2007

Originally Posted by serleomar

member, that's awesome! Definitely creative. Now, one question: what is "The GIMP" and where do I get it? Is it free?

http://www.gimp.org/ It's a free "Photoshop replacement"... though not anywhere near as complex as photoshop, it provides most everything you'd probably ever need to use.

This is a great idea that can work not just for maps. Cool multimonitor effect! ^_^ (thinking of things like times Square that's actually built as a grid of monitors and not one big screen).

iversonjack · 05-02-2007

Very very nicely done Member! You definitely deserve credit for this ingenious work! Good job!

yamumma · 05-02-2007

Brilliant! I quite often checkout google maps and make prints of unknown places that I must travel to here in Perth. My street directory is so many years old that lots of the streets are wrong and I'm too lazy to update it now that we have google maps.

Normally I would print out the section of interest if the streets are a bit tricky, but now I can use this technique and save paper and ink. Brilliant, brilliant idea!

member · 05-02-2007

Thanks for the great feedback everyone! I have to say it isn't originally my idea! I realised this could be done when I stumbled over this site:

http://www.isubwaymaps.com/

They only have very few subway maps, and they are at too low a resolution (the ipod is 220x176).

By the way, if anyone needs a map of Galway, Ireland, let me know!

Job · 05-02-2007

very creative! nice job!

any chance you can make one for the whole of europe?

Nixelad · 05-03-2007

I have been putting off a GPS device until the price and packaging is right. I have no sense of direction so this if perfect since I don't go anywhere without my M6. Great work!

llcoolsave · 05-03-2007

thats a brilliant idea, how do you come up with this:P

audiofish · 05-03-2007

What an amazing idea! So amazing in fact that I've spent the last few hours coding a tool on my site to automate the process =]
Just follow the instructions - it saves the image from google maps and splits the images up for you automatically.
Give it a try and tell me what you think:

http://brendangillatt.co.uk/?p=meizumapper

If it all works out OK I will open source it =]

PoUëT · 05-03-2007

yes xx-c, use http://maps.google.com/ and it works really fine !!

Thank you audiofish !!!!

audiofish · 05-03-2007

Ah, sorry about that - should all go OK now =]

member · 05-04-2007

Originally Posted by audiofish

What an amazing idea! So amazing in fact that I've spent the last few hours coding a tool on my site to automate the process =]
Just follow the instructions - it saves the image from google maps and splits the images up for you automatically.
Give it a try and tell me what you think:

http://brendangillatt.co.uk/?p=meizumapper

If it all works out OK I will open source it =]

Audiofish, that's a brilliant program. It works like a charm!

I can't believe you were able to put that together so fast.

zervis · 05-04-2007

awsome! xD

Meizu91 · 05-04-2007

Nice, can anybody upload a map?
Thanks