The day word went out that OS 3.0 would finally include access to the google MapKit was the tipping point that finally got me to shell out the $99 to join the iPhone developer program. Unfortunately, at the time, documentation was sparse, and although the back end was in place, I couldn’t figure out how to display my annotations.
So I put my map-based projects on hold… until yesterday, that is, when I came across this easy-to-understand 3-part tutorial with sample code that very clearly shows how all the pieces are put together. A simple “Dude, where’s my car” app shows how to gets your current location, then allows you to place a marker at your current location.
Now, the original developers intent was simply to provide an example of how to use MapKit, so I’m not chiding them for lack of foresight in any way… but in its current state, it’s a bit too simplistic to be really useful as a parking app. But it could easily be tinkered with to provide additional functionality to make it useful:
- allow you to add markers at a location you define (in case you forgot to set where you parked when you were there)
- allow you to set a timer to let you know when your meter is about to run out (or in SF, when the two-hour period of time for people without permits has expired)
- store location info when you exit the app (’cause as is, you lose it when you answer a phone call, etc.)
- etc., etc.
Regardless, for whatever app you need a map, this project is a great start for learning how to get started with MapKit.
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