MioMap 3.3 Skins for Mio C230

There are a lot of MioMap v3.2 skins out there, but there are not a lot of MioMap v3.3 skins. There is also no skin tested for C230 either at the time of this writing. With help from MoonBear at GpsPassion.com, I was able to modify a split screen skin for use in C230.

The reason that some of the MioMap v3.3 skins do not work with C230 is that there is no machine specific information regarding C230 in the configuration file. The configuration file is configpocket_pc.ini in the DATA.ZIP file. If you are not familiar with editing files inside DATA.ZIP , please check my post regarding DATA.ZIP tweaks. Add the following to the pocket_pc.ini file.

[MIOC230]
gps_port = 2

gps_baud = 4800

tmc_port = 1

tmc_baud = 38400

gx_width=240

gx_height=320

gx_format=160

gx_xpitch=2

gx_ypitch=640

gx_orientation=0

blight_min = 1

blight_max = 8

blight_reverse = 0

blight_smart = 4

blight_key_BatteryTimeoutBA = "BatteryTimeout"

blight_key_BatteryTimeoutAC = "ACTimeout"

blight_key_BacklightOnTapBA = "BacklightOnTap"

blight_key_BacklightOnTapAC = "ACBacklightOnTap"

blight_key_OnOffBA = "OnOff"

blight_key_OnOffAC = "ExtOnOff"

blight_setmode5 = 1

interface_show_timezoneslider=1

interface_reset_os_timezone=1

After modifying the pocket_pc.ini, I was able to use a skin which enables split screen. I would encourage anyone who is trying different skins for Mio C230 to do this. All the skins you see here have the required information for Mio C230 already. You don’t have to do the modification again. Please report back if you found other skins that work fro C230. I will also post updates of these skins, please check the bottom of each skin section for updates. [Update: One reader found out some problems with TTS using the skins. The reason for it might be because the skins were made for other devices originally. The config directory in DATA.ZIP contains information for other devices. It might be better to just copy the whole config directory from your original DATA.ZIP to the new skin’s DATA.ZIP’s config directory. ]

Olivercp Skin

I found this skin in this thread. There is no name for it, I’ll just use the name olivercp for now. Here is the description by olivercp.

Try this skin that works on Mio 3.3. I forgot where I got it but initially it had some bugs and some quirks which i did not like. In particular, when in map mode and when you have an active route, the zoom buttons were replaced by “route overview” and “route method”. I did not like losing the zoom buttons in map mode so I added the zoom buttons similar to the one used in quicksilver. Also, when it switches to night mode, it looks for some missing spr files and abends with a fatal error. I had added the missing files and so this bug is also fixed. I also added a “minimize button” in the main menu. And yes, this skin has the exit button. I also replaced the guidance.dat file in config folder with the older version used in mio 3.2 skin. I think this somewhat reduced the chattiness of mio (it doesn’t tell me to stay on the right (stays silent) when approaching an intersection when I am not making a turn at the intersection).

This skin has the “split screen” view. Just click on the current street you are on (lower bar in navigation mode) and split screen will be shown. The split screen has four tabs for the speedometer, POI’s, TMC, and route turn list. Click again on the current street to close the split screen. I also modified this skin so that when in navigation mode and you click the next-street, it re-plays the voice direction.

I also accidentally discovered, that if you use this skin in mio 3.2, it is the same as the smartblue skin!

olivercpmain.jpgolivercpspeed.jpg

olivercproute.jpg olivercppoi.jpg

In addition to the awesome split screen, there are also some added features in Map screen. See that there are two new icons: binocular and calculator. These two icons are only shown up when you have a route planned. Click on the binocular icon fits the route on the screen. Click on the calculator icon switch the route options on the fly with distance and time to destination shown. You can also do fast fly-over without modifying the SYS.TXT .

olivercpmap.jpg

You can download the modified skin for C230 here. There are two files inside the zip file: DATA.ZIP and PANNEAUX.TTF. Make a backup of your current DATA.ZIP file. Put these two downloaded files in My Flash DiskMioMapMioMap if you haven’t unlocked your C230. Put these two files in My Flash DiskMioMapMioMap2 if you have unlocked your C230.

Updated OliverCP skin with map to cockpit, cockpit to map buttons. Download here .

Riks v1.0 Skin

Here is another skin that I modified to run on Mio C230. You can download the file here. Note that this file Riks1.zip is the DATA.ZIP. Please don’t unzip it. Just rename it to DATA.ZIP and copy it to the corresponding location(Make a backup of the original, of course.). What’s interesting about this skin is the cockpit mode is very similar to map mode. The information that used to occupy the left side of the cockpit view is now on the bottom. You have a wider view while in cockpit mode. There are also icons for you to switch between map mode and cockpit mode easily. To activate the split screen in cockpit mode, touch the top edge of the screen. There is a minimize button on the main screen. If you minimize MioMap, you need to use the explorer (FileMan CE) to run MioMap.exe in My Flash DiskMioMapMioMap2 to switch back to MioMap again. Clicking on the icon on desktop won’t get you back to MioMap. I wouldn’t recommend using the minimize button until I test it more.

rikshome.jpgriksmap.jpg

rikscockpit.jpgriksspeed.jpg

rikspoi.jpgriksdir.jpg

Updated riks1 without minimize button. Download here .

Quicksilver Reborn v1.3 Skin

I have heard of this skin for a long time and it seems very popular. It has a very clean interface. All the icons are professionally made. It DOES NOT support split screen unfortunately. You can download the file here. Note that this file Quicksilverreborn1.3.zip is the DATA.ZIP. Please don’t unzip it. Just rename it to DATA.ZIP and copy it to the corresponding location(Make a backup of the original, of course.). To enable the car icon, just click on the arrow in the cockpit view. BTW, the display icon on the main screen is to minimize MioMap. As in the Riks skin, don’t use it for now.

quicksilverhome.jpgquicksilver2.jpg

quicksilver3.jpgquicksilver4.jpg

quicksilver5.jpgquicksilver6.jpg

quicksilver7.jpg

Updated Quicksilver skin without minimize button. Download here .

Sznyt 2.3 Skin

Quicksilver13 has contributed some skins. The first one is called Sznyt 2.3. This is not your ordinary skin. I was overwhelmed at first. The learning curve is a bit steep. You definitely need to spend some time to figure out what each icon does.

spanel.jpgpoimap.jpg

scockpit.jpgsroute.jpg

spoimang.jpg

There is a compass screen which might be useful for geocaching.

s0006.jpgs0008.jpg

You can download the file here. Change the file name to DATA.zip . [Updated: 6/2/2008] A reader has reported the original link is broken. Please check this topic in the forum for the new download location.

https://kombitz.com/forum/index.php?topic=4.0

Registration required.

Nuovo (BreMa) Skin

The second skin contributed by Quicksilver13 is called Nuovo. It’s based upon the Riks skin. The original one doesn’t work with my C230. I copied over the original config directory and it’s working now.

nu-2.jpgnu-3.jpg

nu-7.jpgnu-8.jpg

nu-5.jpgnu-4.jpg

You can download the skin here.

Joedoum Skin

This is actually the first skin contributed by Quicksilver13. I totally forgot about it when I posted the changes yesterday. ๐Ÿ™‚

j0007.jpgj0010.jpg

j0012.jpgj0013.jpg

j0020.jpgj0023.jpg

j0032.jpgj0033.jpg

You can download the skin here.


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50 Comments

  1. Ron,

    You are welcome. That issue has been brought up before. I have looked at the files related to the problem. However, the speedcam file of OiverCP skin looks a lot different than the original one. I can try to find the French string and change it, but I don’t know if it would behave the same as the default skin does.

  2. hi,

    i have used quick silver skin with cd modification (1.4 or enhanced whatever you call it) as with v3.3.

    i think there is problem with this skin when you record track log. it shows red button for recording but when you touch it, it says some error and cant go to track log page where it should be as in original mio skin. i thinks this is problem of this skin or only i have this problem.

    can any one help how to solve this?

    thanks.

  3. hi,

    also i have one more question. as i use c220, it has 32mb RAM. so when i use oliverCp/qicksilver/riks skin then system becomes much sluggish and browsing becomes slow. sometimes system goes out of memory.

    any solution? i know its not related to software but if any one dont mind then i want to ask that any one have heard about upgrading or changing RAM to 64 MB in GPS unit? if possible then i wanna do it.

    thanks for help.

  4. Question regarding the olivercp skin.

    Has anyone found significant differences in GPS performance by changing the Protocol, Set Messages, Maximise Baud, Trickle Power, or Send Init settings? The baud can be set to 57600, instead of the default 4800, but it doesn’t seem to mattter.

  5. Well, these GPS settings questions on the Olivercp skin have become more critical. I did some experimenting with the settings and now the GPS will only sync at 57600 baud. The problem is it keeps dropping the signal every 20 seconds or so, for several seconds. It’s unuseable while driving as the signal stays off more than on. If I try any other baud rate it won’t sync at all. Using Auto resets it to 57600, and the resulting drop outs.

    I’ve tried setting it to the original 4800 baud and doing a power reset, but it won’t sync at all. All the other settings are set to the original defaults now, but no joy.

    Just for reference the settings are:

    Protocal: Auto

    Port: 2

    Baud: Only 57600 works now, 4800 was the original default

    Set Messages: On

    All other options: Off

    I’ve also tried setting Maximize Baud, Send Init, and Trickle Power, but no difference in the above described problem.

    Thanks for any suggestions.

  6. benblue,

    As something to try, download my just-released Quicksilver CarLocator skin and just install the optional Skin folder which will override the config folder for all of those skins originally produced for the C220. I don’t have any issues with the skins.

    One other thing to check is the [gps] section of SYS.TXT (you might be better off cleaning it out depending on what’s there)

    Amida’s got us all becoming experts and having fun with these skins (unless you don’t enjoy pulling your hair out ๐Ÿ™‚ )

  7. I really appreciate the quick response and helpful suggestions.

    I’m on the road and don’t have the tools with me to get under the hood, but will as soon as I get home this weekend.

    As a side note the Hertz rental has a Neverlost (Magellan) GPS, which I’m having to resort to. Gave it a spin this evening and I really don’t like the driving map and turn graphics compared to the Mio.

    I’ll post my results after trying your tips, and thanks again.

  8. Benblue,

    If you have problems with settings of one particular skin, you can try to load a different skin. After you load a different skin, the settings you did will be reset.

  9. Amida,

    Thanks, I’ll do that. I just left the house without the right USB cable, and all my hacking files are on my home PC as well. The skin switcher utility would have been useful now, but hadn’t upgraded to that yet.

    At least this is a warning to anyone with the olivercp skin that playing with those GPS settings can create problems.

  10. I’m hosed. I’ve restored all the way back to the original software and the GPS won’t sync at all. The blinking dot on the GPS screen is yellow instead of green. Something in the olivercp skin GPS options must have tweaked a bios or WinCE setting.

  11. Looks like I may have fixed it. Just in case anyone else runs into this, the Sirftech utility allows changing settings on the Sirf chips. Got it set back to 4800 and appears to be working fine now. My advice, don’t mess with those GPS settings in Olivercp. ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. I found another Split Skin for MioMap 3.3. I made a few minor modifications to it for the C230. This is based on a skin called Maijaco 33-4.

    [Link deleted. Please see comment #166 for correct link]

  13. hi, no reply from previous post, so writing again. sorry for that.

    i have used quick silver skin with cd modification (1.4 or enhanced whatever you call it) as with v3.3.

    i think there is problem with this skin when you record track log. it shows red button for recording but when you touch it, it says some error and cant go to track log page where it should be as in original mio skin. i thinks this is problem of this skin or only i have this problem.

    also i have one more question. as i use c220, it has 32mb RAM. so when i use oliverCp/qicksilver/riks skin then system becomes much sluggish and browsing becomes slow. sometimes system goes out of memory.

    any solution? i know its not related to software but if any one dont mind then i want to ask that any one have heard about upgrading or changing RAM to 64 MB in GPS unit? if possible then i wanna do it.

    can any one help how to solve this?

    thanks.

  14. All

    In Post 164 I gave credit to the wrong author of the Version 33-4 Skin. Joedoum is the Author. The link on post 164 is no longer active. Please use this updated link for downloads.

    http://www.lepicurien.biz/test/Joedoum33_4.zip

    @ amida168,

    Sorry for the inconvenience. Could you delete post 164 or make the necessary changes?

    Thanks

    Quicksilver13

  15. Hap,

    No one knows the answers to your questions, therefore there is no response. I’ll check the track log issue later today and see if the problem is inherent to the skin. Most people have C230, you might want to ask your questions regarding C220 here.

    http://www.mionav.com

  16. QuickSilver13,

    Thanks for your contribution. I modified the comment #164. I also found some new skins. I’ll update my post after I test them.

  17. Quicksilver13 Says:

    February 24, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Hello

    I found a newer version of the Riks Split Skin for MioMap 3.3. I made a few minor modifications to it for the C230. This is based on the Riks skin Ver.4.6i.

    http://www.lepicurien.biz/test/riks_SS_Ver4.6.zip

    Hi

    You guys are incredible, great looking skin.

    One minor flaw- the speedometer, when my settings are in miles-feet, it reads correctly. but when settings are in kph-meters, if I am travelling at 62kph, it shows about 100, almost as if the speed value has been converted twice?

    Otherwise, overall the skin looks really useful

    Rgds

    Ron

  18. By any chance, did anyone look at the skin by Jerry [http://www.simplyphoto.com/MIO/index.html] ? Is it possible to port it to C230 ?

    Thanks.

  19. Hap,

    I tried recording track log using Quicksilver skin and it worked. I didn’t see the red recording button when recording but it did record the track. Therefore, it’s not the skin’s bug that you cannot record track logs.

  20. Nirapada,

    The skin is for widescreen Mio. Everything has to be re-done for C230. I found some more interesting skins, I’ll post the skins after I got my release 4 out.

  21. amida,

    thanks for checking. I can also record track log, thats not the problem. by just changing x,y , i can also see red button both in map and cockpit when recording is on.

    but when you touch red button, it does not lead to track log page and gives some FFui error. (as in original skin, when you touch red button, it goes to track log page). thats the only issue. otherwise recording track log is normal.

    thanks.

  22. Quicksilver, I think that site is down. I can’t seem to connect to get the later Riks skin.

    That being said, when I use the Riks skin here I only get one POI onscreen. is there some tweak I need to do?

  23. @ mr billy

    Yes the site was down for awhile, but its back online now. รฏยล 

    If I understand your question, You want more POI’s to show up on the split screen with the Riks Skin. I haven’t found this option on the Riks skins, it could have it but I have not found it. Both the OliverCP Skin and Joedoum33-4 Skin have this feature.

    Load either skin and from the main screen select the POI button. This takes you to the Find POI screen. On the upper right corner of this screen next to the Change reference button there is a button that looks like a gear. The Gear button takes you to the Manage POI screen, there you can select the POI’s that you want to hide or show by toggling the Hide / Show Button. Play around, once they are set the Riks Skin will display them also.

  24. I see. What I want is for the existing POI’s to work. If you look at Riks skin, there are 5 pois in the split screen. I have 1 and the other 4 are empty.

  25. I am wondering if it is my problem or problem in general. When I am trying to create a NEW POI, why is it not taking the exact address ?

    For example, when I am trying to create one at 4655 Great America PKWY, Santa Clara, CA 95054, It is setting the POI at :

    “60/?50 4653 Great America PKWY, Santa Clara,CA, 95002”

    I am using riks skin.

    Can someone give it a try and let me know if I am missing something.

    Thanks,

  26. @ nirapada

    I heard of this, can’t remember where or when. Something to do with the sys.txt file. You might compare your current sys.txt file with a older backup or the original one on the DVD.

  27. Nirapada,

    I noticed this even when I use default skin. MioMap insists on changing the house number based upon the map data.

  28. Nirapada, Riks seems to have some serious issues with POI on the SD card. When I have run Riks skin it will not acknowledge any of the POI files except for those stored in the mio itself.

    I tried using oliver but everything appears to be in French. The keyboard also changes to AZERTY. Is there a US formatted skin that will so the POIs in the cockpit?

  29. Hello to all. I had the same problem as benblue when I tried to put not oliver but quicksilver skin. Now the problem it seems that fixed thanx to SirfTec utility and benblue who found the solution!

  30. Billy,

    If you use my latest unlock package, you can first unlock your unit to run the Route and Skin management script. You can than hard reset your unit. The unlock is gone after hard reset, but the skin change remains.

  31. Murphyfields,

    Welcome to Mio C230 community! There are a lot of information here. Take your time to look around. I use this post for keeping all the info for Mio c230.

    link

    You can also find some good information from http://www.mionav.com and c230.wordpress.com . Now to answer your questions.

    >>Is the split-screen speedometer a built in feature, or custom designed. If custom designed, would it be possible to custom design a compass or direction finder for geocaching purposes?

    The split-screen speedometer is custom designed. It’s possible to custom design a compass, but I don’t know how.

    >>Where is the best place to start for creating or modifying skins?

    I have a post about my findings for modifying skins.

    link

    >>Is there a good tutorial for basics, like adding new programs and placing icons for it on a new page?

    I briefly talked about it in my latest unlock. Please see Note #2.

    link

    >>Any good html viewers available?

    There is a ubook reader in my latest unlock. You can give it a try.

    >>Thank you for all of this great work!!

    You are welcome!

  32. Wow, had my c230 just over a week and I am definitely on information overload. Killed and revived it at least 4 times so far. Now I am beginning to wonder just how much is possible with this thing.

    Is the split-screen speedometer a built in feature, or custom designed. If custom designed, would it be possible to custom design a compass or direction finder for geocaching purposes?

    Where is the best place to start for creating or modifying skins?

    Is there a good tutorial for basics, like adding new programs and placing icons for it on a new page?

    Any good html viewers available?

    Thank you for all of this great work!!

  33. Hello People, i ran into a problem today with my mioC220s I installed the QuickSilver CarLocator 1[1].46 and when i start the mio… the GPS is off when i click detect it finds a signal and everything works Perfect..but every time i start the mio gps is allways of.. is there any fix for that? Thanks!!

  34. Rempel50,

    The skin you downloaded is for C230. You can try to unzip the DATA.ZIP and replace the config directory with the correct one from your own DATA.ZIP.

  35. Thanks amida168 For the reply..I tryed that and everything else I could think of.. But Nothing seemed to do the trick so i had to wipe it out and start over with a diff. unlock pakage..Then it was all good again.. The strangest thing is that everything else i download for C230 works on my C220s. ๐Ÿ™‚ To bad I couldnt get GPS Off Problem fixed on that car locator cause i Loved it.

  36. Hello,

    would need help. If I use with my c230 MioMap 3.3 Sept version the directions arrow is present, but if I use the same data.zip with december version no directions arrow appears. Do you have any suggestion why this happens?

  37. Rempel50,

    I don’t recall you asking about the CarLocator issue on my blog, but it had already been answered. You won’t experience that issue if used along with my MioMap Menu 1.46, because I force these settings to SYS.TXT to help Quicksilver and some other skins find the GPS chip. Other skins that expect the 4800 baud rate seem to be hard coded that way and don’t depend on the SYS.TXT setting to guide them.

    # The next two lines update SYS.TXT to help some skins quickly find GPS port ~ by Ameridan

    IniWrite (SYSFILE, “gps”, “port”, “2” )

    IniWrite (SYSFILE, “gps”, “speed”, “38400” )

    You can just manually edit/add to the [GPS] section of SYS.TXT:

    port=2

    speed=38400

    Let me know in my CarLocator blog how this works out.

  38. That reminds me. Is there an autoexecutable I can stick on the mio C230 like there is on the 230?

  39. Alto,try this:

    download http://www.mediafire.com/?tnxjmnxnemc and Place

    the zipped file into the “\My Flash Disk\MioMap\MioMap2\SKIN\” folder and keep the Data.zip in the “\My Flash Disk\MioMap\MioMap2\” folder. or if your C230 is unlocled use “\My Flash Disk\MioMap\MioMap\SKIN\” folder and keep the Data.zip in the “\My Flash Disk\MioMap\MioMap\”

  40. C230,

    I am sorry about posting in here, but I was on your site and I am new to posts and blogs and there is so many diff areas to click on I had no idea so i did not see that info..Anyway I found the sys text file this Morning and changed it and all is well now Thank You very much. ๐Ÿ™‚

  41. Something that I’ve noticed is that my GPS always reads 5 hours off unless I change the time by hand. Is there a way to tell the mio what timezone I am in or something like that? It’s kind of annoying.

  42. Ameridan,

    Thanks for the clarification. I saw you specified the gps port and speed in SYS.TXT and didn’t know if it’s useful. Now I know that at least it’s useful for C220. BTW, have you thought about separating the changed files from DATA.ZIP, so that we can use the SKIN directory trick?

  43. Amida,

    Yes, I have, but the problem is that whatever is in the SKIN folder overides whatever is in your SKINS folder, so if you use a skin changer as I do, it isn’t the way to go. Back in the day when we were looking to add an Exit door to the factory skin, it would have been IDEAL as no one would have had to edit their data.zip file.

    Unless you are going to stick with one skin, I think each data.zip should stand on it’s own and the skin trick should be used for customization (icons that you want to overide for all skins, etc.), as I do in my example.

    If you have a UI file in the SKIN folder and it refers to bmp files that aren’t in the specified location of the data.zip file you are using – FFUI ERROR!

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