Ask YC: Want to learn about GPS/Location Based Programming. Where to start?

Re:Ask YC: Want to learn about GPS/Location Based Programmin... by jmatt on Thursday June 12, 2008 @02:21PM (#216151)

Here are my delicious location links:

http://del.icio.us/jmatt.peterson/location

There are a lot of APIs if you are going from address, city, zip. All sorts of variations - free, commercial, metadata, super accurate, international, US only, shipping, etc.

There are fewer and they are less reliable if you have a latitude / longitude and want address, major intersection, city, etc.

Initially I'd code for phones that provide basic location information like lat/long/precision. Personally I've written code for the iphone and android. I'd avoid any of the older phones that don't provide some sort of API. Your initial users presumably will be techies with newer phones. If you have some initial success you can add support for older phones that don't have a friendly API.

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Re:Ask YC: Want to learn about GPS/Location Based Programmin... by shafqat on Thursday June 12, 2008 @02:28PM (#216156)

Thanks this is fantastic. Going from address is fairly straightforward as you say.

However, I am looking to use the GPS or tower triangulation built into newer phones. I'm assuming this is available through the ipHone and android APAs?

Is any of your code open-source by any chance? Just looking for some tips as to how to get started - even the basics.

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Re:Ask YC: Want to learn about GPS/Location Based Programmin... by jamess on Thursday June 12, 2008 @06:43PM (#216368)

There's plenty of code on the Nokia wiki, including a complete compass application: http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/GPS_Compass

(See also, the location category index http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Symbian_C%2B%2B_Locati... )

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