When someone uses the Google Maps app on iOS to get directions, I would like to know in real time the destination of the user and the direction. The goal is not for him to use my app to navigate but for my app to suggest him places in real time along his route (and in advance).
Do you think this is feasible with the Google Maps API for iOS? If yes, how would you do it? And if no, do you have other ideas?
Thank you !
Nope. There is no way to monitor what other apps are doing in iOS.
This isn't possible in the way that you're framing the question, but it is possible to include Google Maps in your own application if you combine the Google Maps SDK for iOS, the Google Directions API (on the web), and either the Google Places API or the Yelp API.
Use the Google Directions API to get directions (a list of lat/lng points in JSON form), plot these points as Polyline using the Google Maps SDK for iOS, and use those points to search for nearby points of interest with the Google Places API or the Yelp API.
Does any one about powerful mapping API for iOS besides ArcGIS which has the capability to cache maps for offline viewing ? I have been searching but everywhere I go I find ArcGIS API for iOS. That API is definitely good but it doesnot provide the capability to cache map data into tiles for offline viewing.
Also does google map API support offline viewing?
Thanks
MapBox supports offline tile caching.
I have done routing in iOS apps before, but with iOS6 we are now displaying Apple maps - which causes a problem because we are using Google routing data and if we use Google data, we are supposed to be displaying it on a Google map.
I have been searching but as far as I can tell, Apple does not provide any routing data. The closest thing to an answer so far seems to be when Apple says Apps that consume direction information do so by sending an appropriate request to the Maps app, which then handles the task of displaying that information to the user. - which, to me, means that the Maps app would be opened to display the route, and taking the user out of our app.
Where can we get on-the-fly routing data that is acceptable to use on iOS6 apps using Apple's maps?
You could use MapQuest's Open Directions API. It is free and it does not seem to have any limit. They also have a licensed API with a free daily limit.
I believe you are only required to put their logo somewhere on your app.
Unfortunately MapKit does not provide routing data.
In iOS 6 and later, Map Kit offers support for providing map-based
directions to the user. Apps can be a provider of directions or they
can use the Maps app itself to provide directions. Apps that consume
direction information do so by sending an appropriate request to the
Maps app, which then handles the task of displaying that information
to the user. However, if you are implementing a navigation app of your
own, you can register your app as a routing app—that is, a provider of
directions. When the Maps app receives direction requests from the
user (or other apps), it can then forward those requests to your app
for display.
Source
So, your best bet here is to use external routing data, or the maps app. Since Google prohibits using their routing data without displaying on a Google map, you may want to check the bing API's (here). It is not immediately apparent that they require you to use bing maps with the bing routing data, but they do also provide a static map api as well (here).
Alternately, you may want to look at this project on github. It shows how to load google map tiles in a map view.
Best of luck.
Apple may provide routing information in the future, but for now it's only available in the Maps app.
One solution is to use Google tiles in your map view. The code for ClassicMap has a complete implementation of this, and is available with a liberal license. Use it as a stopgap until Apple provides routing information.
You are correct, the Google API terms of service state in 10.1.1 point g:
(g) No Use of Content without a Google Map. You must not use or display the Content without a corresponding Google map, unless you are
explicitly permitted to do so in the Maps APIs Documentation, or
through written permission from Google. In any event, you must not use
or display the Content on or in conjunction with a non-Google map. For
example, you must not use geocodes obtained through the Service in
conjunction with a non-Google map. As another example, you must not
display Street View imagery alongside a non-Google map, but you may
display Street View imagery without a corresponding Google map because
the Maps APIs Documentation explicitly permits you to do so.
The access to the Google APIs was until iOS 6 transparent and accessed via the MapKit framework by Apple, who handled all the licensing, fees etc for us the developers, we didn't need to worry about this.
Now that Apple are using their own mapping service, we don't have access to Google APIs via the MapKit framework, like you say, and routing isn't possible with MapKit in the way you want to use it.
So you must keep the communication with Google, but the problem is now you will be using Google data without a Google Map.
This is a problem, and if your app's popular, and Google realise, they may choose to make a problem with you.
There isn't a correct way around it for now, some apps are tiling Google maps onto Apple maps, but then you will need to register your app with Google for an API key I assume, which limits your number of requests and potentially you may have to pay Google for the API usage.
I am planning to develop a blackberry application which primarily uses map. Its an India centric application. After some googling I came to know there where no maps support for blackberry for India as of now.
I planned to use Google map API Static and Mobile Maps. As of now I'm loading the maps in browser field. Sometimes the google maps can't plot the direction for the given two co ordinates. I am not able to handle the response.
I like to know whether there are any other option to display maps in India. To show direction from one place to another place. I am getting necessary details from google Maps and Places API.
There are some countries which blackberry can't show in its maps. You can use google maps instead. If you want it then go to web browser of device and type: m.google.com/maps and download and install it.
Then search code for accessing them. I have done it myself
I want to use the MapViewController in an iOS app (to allow the user to find the adress of where he is currently at) and came across the "Google Maps Terms of Service for iPhone SDK", but I am a bit lost what some of this means in practice, i.e. what do I need to be aware of and what do I need to do when using a MapViewController. Specifically:
9.2 Reporting. You must implement those reporting mechanisms that Google
has set forth and may update from time
to time in these Terms and in the Maps
API Documentation. For example, as
specified in the Maps API
Documentation, you agree to provide
reports to Google if your Maps API
Implementation enables a device to
detect its own location through use of
a sensor (including but not limited to
GPS, cell triangulation, WiFi or
similar functionality) to display the
location of the device on a map or to
calculate a route.
Obviously I am enabling the device to detect its own location by showing the map with the current location marker. I got lost trying to find some details on what that "reporting" means and if and what kind of it I am supposed implement.
Thanks,
Timo
Taken from Google Maps API Terms of Service:
How does the Google Maps APIs key system work?
Google Maps API keys are only required when using the JavaScript Maps API v2 and the Maps API for Flash [emphasis added].
In order to obtain a Google Maps API key, you must sign in to your Google Account and agree to our Terms of Service. There is no limit to the number of keys you may obtain under a single account.
When you use MKMapView as part of the iPhone SDK, you are using it under Apple's license with Google for the map service. Therefore you do not need to separately agree to the Google Maps API Terms of Service or implement any functionality to meet this requirement.