• Added ability to get device XML for the current device
• Added a generic method for writing binary files (GPI specific methods/fields are deprecated and will be removed in 2.0)
• Fixed bug with writing user profiles to device in the Control Demo
• Fixed Javascript error when reading GPX in the Control Demo
• More complete documentation for display options
• Improved end of progress status when writing large binary files to device

More information and the distribution file for the Communicator Plugin API available here.

Maven generated Communicator Plugin API 1.4.2 docs.

• Added support for the Edge 705.
• Added ability to set and get required plugin version, and get latest plugin version for version compatibility.
  • Latest plugin version reported by the API is 2.3.1.0.
• Improved internationalization capabilities in DeviceDisplay.

As usual, you can access the latest release distribution and documentation from Garmin Communicator Plugin API.

Or you can access the 1.4.1 docs directly.

• Support Speed and Run Cadence for the Forerunner 50.
• Plugin now resolves relative URLs for file transfers.
• Added support for transferring waypoints, tracks, and routes to Garmin Mobile XT devices/application (Windows Mobile Devices, MX series, and Symbian Devices).
• Added support for file download onto SD Cards.

PC and Mac download links available here.

Mac Leopard users should also notice a drastic improvement in read transfer rate with this release.

An API release is coming up soon.

The plugin requires Movable Type version 4 or higher and Perl version 5.8.5 or higher (possibly lower).

A nice feature of the plugin is that it provides considerable control over how the feed is displayed. This includes being able to use MotionBased data values in the title, body, category, and tag attributes of an entry via substitution tags at the user’s whim and fancy. Here’s an example from the plugin page:

I travelled {totalDistance} miles with an elevation gain of {totalElevationGain} feet in {totalMovingDuration} minutes, which is a moving pace of {averageMovingPace}. View my <a href=”http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/{pk}”>GPS data</a>.

Many other substitution tags are available and are shown in the plugin’s configuration window.

Other options to customize the feed include: enable/disable comments, draft enable, and displaying the MotionBased dashboard graph image.

Find out more about the plugin, or download it here.

In regards to the Communicator Plugin, we’ve been working on full Mac support.  In other words, Leopard.  We’ve also been working on support for our new devices, like the Edge 705, which features turn-by-turn directions, color display, and power data (from ANT + Sport™-enabled third-party power meters).  We’re shooting for that release in mid-November.  We’ve also made Communicator Plugin API improvements that will be included in the next release.

More info to come…

Until then, Happy Halloween!  (Tracking trick-or-treat routes might be interesting…)

Changes made from version 2.2.0.1 Beta to 2.2.1.0:

• Added the capability to read and write courses, workouts and user profile to fitness devices such as the Edge 305 and Forerunner 305.
• Added the capability to plan trips by writing locations to SD cards without a GPS device present.
• Added the capability to allow a web site to read a directory of fitness activities or courses and then just retrieve details for individual activities.
• Added a property to allow web sites to retrieve fitness data in compressed format.
• Once a user has confirmed to the Garmin Communicator that they trust a particular web site directory, pages at or below that directory level are always trusted
• The Forerunner 50 is not yet supported on the Mac. (Support will be added in a future release when drivers become available.)
• RS232 serial devices are not supported on the Mac.

System Requirements:

• Intel-based or PowerPC G3 or later Mac
  OS 10.4 or later Firefox 2.0+ or Safari 2.0+

This version has not been well tested on Leopard yet. We will re-release the plugin with Leopard support.

Geocaching.com users should be happy to know that the Geocaching.com site now supports the Mac plugin after the recent release of the Communicator Plugin API.

Inquiries and/or reports should be made on our developer forum.

Download Communicator Plugin 2.2.1.0

Check out the new Communicator Plugin API

Communicator Plugin API 1.3 Documentation

New features in the plugin and the API:

• Added the capability to read and write courses, workouts and user profile to fitness devices such as the Edge 305 and Forerunner 305.
• Added the capability to plan trips by writing locations to SD cards without a GPS device present.
• Added the capability to allow a web site to read a directory of fitness activities or courses and then just retrieve details for individual activities.
• Added a property to allow web sites to retrieve fitness data in compressed format.
• Added the ability to retrieve data from the Forerunner 50.
• Fixed exception when plug-in was loaded into a browser embedded in an application.
• Once a user has confirmed to the Garmin Communicator that they trust a particular web site directory, pages at or below that directory level are always trusted.

This version of the API supports the Mac plugin. We’ve also updated the official Garmin Test Page to detect the Mac plugin.

A quick way to try out these features after installing the plugin is to use our Control Demo Page. More feature-specific demos will be added to Garmin Developer documenting how to integrate features into your own site.

We advise web developers to use our versioned API when linking to the code on developer.garmin.com to maintain consistent functionality throughout our new releases.

The Garmin Formats site is a sub-project of Garmin Developer and provides access to the official XML schemas as well as additional information on the formats and their use. Also provided for each format are instructions for those using Maven to integrate the formats into their projects with ease. Formats included on the site comprise of Garmin-created formats (i.e. TCX, AXM) as well as ones created outside of Garmin (i.e. GPX, KML ).

Currently, the following formats are available:

• AXM 1.0
• Device v1
• Device v2
• GPX 1.0
• GPX 1.1
• GPXX v2
• GPXX v3
• KML 2.1
• TCX v1
• TCX v2

A brief note on the version formatting. Garmin-created formats have the ‘v’ prefix and lack of decimal notation.

This site will continue to be a work in progress and be updated and added to as necessary.

In addition to their upload and download features, they’ve recently added a very useful and easy to use feature that allows you to modify imported tracks by manipulating the trackpoints on a map, and to draw out new tracks by placing trackpoints on the map.  Try it out now or keep reading to see how.

Here’s a track I drew of my usual Tiburon Bayside run:

Best of all, GPSies.com allows importing from and exporting to various track formats, including Garmin fitness formats (i.e. TCX and CRS). This allows you to write your customized track to your Garmin fitness device, or import and modify an existing track from your Garmin device and re-export it to one of the many other format types supported by the application.

To export your track and get it onto your Garmin device, select “Garmin Course TCX” or “Garmin Course CRS” from the Export file drop-down menu:

Then click on “Export to Garmin GPS” in the same panel. Don’t forget to name the track in the Settings panel before exporting.

Being able to modify existing tracks is incredibly useful for when you perhaps don’t finish your complete course when using your device (or accidentally turn off your device during the activity), or want to use an alternative path based on an existing track. GPSies.com allows you to do this by importing your recorded track from your device so that you can edit it on the map.

To import a track from your Garmin device, click on “Import from Garmin GPS” in the Import panel:

Then select the track you want to import after retrieving all data from the device:

After selecting, click on “>> Select track”, and your track will be editable on the GPSies page.

Try it out for yourself!

One such tool still in development there is Reading Tracks/Waypoints using Garmin Communicator. Here’s what it looks like so far:

Notice the Communicator interface located above the globe. Yep, that’s right, you can view tracks and waypoints from your Garmin GPS device on this cool 3D globe!

Simply click on “Get Data” after the plugin finds your device and all tracks and waypoints will be read from your device:

Then select the track or waypoint you want to see. Here are the results after some automated and some manual zooming:

Perhaps the coolest part about this is being able to view and navigate the globe in full screen. To enable Full Screen mode, click the icon in the top right corner of the navigation area.

Also in the navigation area is a vertical scrollbar for zooming, and a horizontal bar for tilting.

At this point I’m sure you’re eager to play with it so I’ll say no more.