We needed a reusable mapping component for TagSpot development, and we wanted it to be Open Source so that everyone can reuse it and improve it for the general interest. There was no such library available on the environment we’re working on so… we made it!
And here comes MobiMap. MobiMap is a library that offers a reusable and customizable mapping component for several mobile platforms. Today, we’re releasing the first release candidate for version 1.0 of the JavaME version. We’re still working on porting this library to Windows Mobile and iPhone environments, and we’ll release the final version of all three libraries at the same time. Until then, we need feedback from mobile developers and we need help to improve the library.
Finally, if you want to see what MobiMap can do on your phone, you can type the following URL on your phone: http://mobimap.epseelon.org/mobimap.jad. Or if you’re just too lazy to type this URL and you know how to use a QRCode, you can use the one on the right.
Be careful though, as MobiMap will download quite a bit of map data over your mobile connection so…
There’s been a lot of buzz lately around a new project called Enkin. What they’re doing basically is reinventing the way we can “consume” location-based services with an augmented reality concept. Just see for yourself:
That’s really amazing, I love it! Now as they say in their documentation, they’re currently focused on displaying the information, not creating it. And guess what: TagSpot is the perfect candidate as an information source to be consumed by such a user interface. And as far as we are concerned, we’re really focused on creating a community and sharing data. Guys, if ever you’re still looking for a partnership…
What do you guys think? Would you be interested in such a user experience on your mobile phone? And what about sunglasses with a screen that could overlay this information in real-time, ala Robocop?
That’s it, now it’s official: the iPhone 3G has a built-in GPS chipset, which means that TagSpot should be available on the iPhone very soon. The release date in Belgium is far less clear for the moment but hey, we can’t have everything.
By the way, a new geek has joined our team, especially to work on the iPhone client application for TagSpot. Fabien, welcome on board!
Last but not least, Eric, Fabien and I are all working on a new Open Source mapping component for mobile platforms that should be available and open sourced very soon. Stay tuned!
There’s been a very interesting phenomenon in the mobile world lately, a phenomenon that we’re following very closely in the context of TagSpot development: mobile platforms are converging.
A few years ago, most mobile phone manufacturers developed their own in-house mobile operating systems and the only way to expand the capabilities of those devices was to use semi-portable technologies such as Java.
That was until Nokia invested a lot of effort in the Symbian operating system that is now the platform for all of its high-end phones and smartphones and is even used by other manufacturers like Sony-Ericsson. Yet, I think it was more a way to reduce costs by reducing the software engineering cost for each phone release, at least until the iPhone came to existence
It’s not that the iPhone OS is more open or offers more possibilities for extensions, since Symbian already offers about the same level of extensibility. But the iPhone platform is so much sexier and so much more ergonomic that it forces all the actors on the market to rethink their platform strategy and focus on user experience. Because let’s face it: I’m the happy owner of a Nokia N95 8GB, the top-notch smartphone in Nokia’s line-up, and obviously they have some work to do before they can reach the same level of usability as the iPhone.
Yesterday, there was the Google I/O conference and a few demonstrations of a new mobile operating system and development platform being developed by a consortium led by Google (the Open Handset Alliance as they call it). This platform is called Android and it definitely has some amazing features.
There’s still no phone on the market based on this platform but there’s no doubt that manufacturers who don’t have an operating system that is usable enough to compete with iPhone’s will consider this option. As for Nokia, I suspect there up to something with Trolltech’s Qtopia.
So hopefully Java and custom mobile operating systems should soon be reserved to low-end devices and we should be able to offer innovative mobile services like TagSpot on really usable devices.
By the way, we are looking for iPhone and Android developers to help us develop TagSpot support for those platforms. So feel free to contact me or Eric if you are interested or if you know someone who could be.
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