µTrack
µTrack can be used to track mobile devices in a passive, non-intruisive way.
It can be used to publish the location of a Windows Mobile powered device to a widget that can be included in numerous websites including you're own. If a widget is not possible or more flexibility is required, µTrack can also be configured to publish directly to any website or webservice. The only requirement for this is that HTTP GET request can be used.
The different items of information that can be published are:
- Longitude / Latitude
- DeviceID
- Date and time
When run, the application only shows a notifyicon and stays dormant until another application uses the GPS Intermediate driver. When the GPS device gets a fix on the position, µTrack will publish this information to the URL specified in the configuration window.
µTrack features:
- A lightweight Windows Mobile client whose sole purpose is to monitor and publish GPS coordinates.
- A easy to embed widget that can be used on numerous websites.
- Out of the box a device can be registered and identified by a custom unique name.
- A non-intrusive notify-icon to indicate GPS monitoring is active.
- Both support for Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6 powered devices.
- Auto start monitoring on device reset.
- Configurable disabled when roaming.
- GPS Intermediate Driver support.
- Google Gears GeoLocation support.
- Presentation of the current location on a map.
- For advanced configurations four different parameters can be used in the GET request: Longitude, Latitude, Date/Time and the deviceID.
- Advanced configurations can be tested by an easy to use option which opens the configured URL in the default browser.
Remarks:
To get Google Gears GeoLocation (positioning without GPS hardware) working, please download and install Google Gears for Windows Mobile 5 devices.
Because of its easy concept and two-way-usage, µTrack can be used in all kind of situations and
applications.
One usage is to embed the µTrack widget in the website of you're preference.
Just copy the widget code above and replace ACCOUNTNAME with the name configured in the device.
Check out this page for more information regarding the widget server side of µTrack.
Configuration of a custom target website is also easy. Just configure the application to publish to a custom URL and instruct the
webserver to process the GET request accordingly:
http://www.exampleserver.com/mywebsite/publish_device_location.aspx?long=@LONG&lat=@LAT&time=@TIME&id=@ID
One example is to embed the widget on the website of you're preference. Another example (which is used on this website) is to publish the location of a device to a website. There the information is used to show a Google Maps map as the background of all the pages. The theme of de site is therefore dependent on the location of its owner.
µTrack version 1.1.2 can be downloaded here and is free for any personal use. When µTrack is used in a commercial application, please donate....
Version history:
µTrack v1.1.2 (3-10-2008)
- Fixed bug regarding ID replacement in URL.
- Added a new Map tabpage that shows the location.
- Redesigned the internal threading mechanism.
- Optimised showing of the settings Form.
- Fixed bug that disallowed application termination.
µTrack v1.1.1 (25-09-2008)
- Fixed bug in usage of the backspace key when entering the accountname.
- Fixed bug in Google Gears usage setting. This allows usage of Google Gears.
- The Enabled when roaming option now also takes Google Gears into account.
µTrack v1.1.0 (20-09-2008)
- Changed threading mechanism to use Timer.
- Added server side Widget.
- Redesigned device application internals.
µTrack v1.0.8 (11-09-2008)
- Bug in Interval mechanism fixed (far less CPU usage).
- Re-added program to start menu.
µTrack v1.0.7 (10-09-2008)
- Bug in Interval setting fixed.
µTrack v1.0.6 (9-9-2008)
- Bugfixes.
- Redesigned the interval mechanism.
µTrack v1.0.5 (8-9-2008)
- Corrected setup folder.
- Redesigned internal architecture.
- Bugfixes.
- Enable when roaming option.
- Google Gears GeoLocation usage.
µTrack v1.0.4 (7-9-2008)
- Fixed ObjectDisposedException.
- Restyled settings screen.
- Added interval configuration option.
µTrack v1.0.3 (5-9-2008)
- Fixed errors.
- Added the option to test the URL publication.
µTrack v1.0.2 (4-9-2008)
- Fixed errors.
µTrack v1.0.1 (2-9-2008).
- Fixed errors.
µTrack v1.0.0 (1-9-2008)
- First release.
Next release (v1.1.1) changes:
- Fixed registration bug.
- Fixed backspace bug in the device registration window.
- Rearanged the settings in the registry to use the HKLM\Software branch.
Testing
µTrack can be tested using by configuring the following URL in the application:http://www.petervrenken.nl/utrack/locate_people.aspx?long=@LONG&lat=@LAT&time=@TIME&id=@ID
When the application publishes the information is stored anonymous on this server. To see if it works, the current location can be seen on this page.
