Now that TomTom provides maps in zip format, you can install downloaded maps onto the TomTom GO series (300, 500 and 700) without a Windows machine. I've finally worked out how to do just that, and thought I'd post a how to...
Requirements:
Before starting, you need the following
- TomTom map in zip format
- cabextract utility (install from Fink or Linux package)
- Ability to mount TomTom GO device as a USB device
Create a temp directory and change to it, then extract the zip file:
$ mkdir tmp
$ cd tmp
$ unzip ../Western_Region.ALL.zip
Now find and extract the cab file that contains the actual map:
$ cd menu/map
$ mkdir extracted
$ cd extracted
$ cabextract ../Western_Region.cab
This will produce a number of files with odd names like WEST~YVA.011. Now you simply need to rename these files to their correct filenames. The correct names are listed in the ini file, located in the directory with the cab file(s). An example of this file follows.
$ cat ../Western_Region.ini
[CEAppManager]
Version = 1.0
Component = Map
; toolchain version 28829
[Map]
Description=Western_Region-Map
CabFiles =Western_Region.cab
[FileNames]
File000=setup.dat
File001=Western_Region.pna
File002=cname.dat
File003=cnode.dat
File004=faces.dat
File005=mapinfo.dat
File006=cline.dat
File007=Western_Region.mid
File008=tmccodes.dat
File009=traffic.dat
File010=poi.dat
File011=Western_Region-6d40c751.mac
File012=Western_Region.mpr
The extension of the shortened file is the numeric portion of the Filexxx string. The filename to the right of the = is the name that the shortened file should be renamed to. Simply rename each file as follows:
$ mv *.000 setup.dat
$ mv *.001 Western_Region.pna
$ ...
$ ...
$ mv *.011 Western_Region-6d40c751.mac
The final step is to copy the files to your TomTom. Just create a directory named after the map, using _ to separate the words, and add -map at the end:
$ mkdir US_Western_Region-map
Copy the files to this new directory, and you should then be able to select the map in the preferences section. This now means that you can install maps on your TomTom GO device without needing to pay the Microsoft tax.

