Maps on Android

[sgiddings]

I have been developing an application using the Google Maps Javascript Api v3 for over a year now.
I am now faced with the need to produce an android device version.
So I started to look at the Maps Api in the Android SDK - it is almost empty.
- no directions service
- no region biasing for displays
- no geocoding

What is the "right" way of producing map applications for android devices which match the same powerful web based apps we are able to produce now - without simply hosting a mobile specialised web site ?

[Barry Hunter]

Can use the webservices directly via a HTTP interface
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/webservices/

(that caters for directions and geocoding. No idea what "region
biasing for displays" means)

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[sgiddings]

Thank you for your reply Barry,

However, how can I reproduce other aspects such as line, polyline and polygon drawing based on lat/lng coordonnates ?

Are there any full examples for creating real world mapping applications in the same manner as with the v3 javascript api ?

[Martin™]

You are not limited to Google's own MapView, there are third party
Android libraries too:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android

It seems that Google treat Android MapView updates as a very low
priority, see this thread:

https://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_frm/thread/faeeb399c5ed5b5f/76b4fb699986825c?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=google+maps#

Post #5 says:

"The Google Maps add-on has essentially been abandoned. It has not
received
an update of any sort in several years now. I would think that the
tiles
would be updated server-side, but apparently that is also not a
concern for
Google at this time. Not much you can do about this. "

I'm using OSMDroid: http://code.google.com/p/osmdroid/

It also lacks many features that the javascript API v3 has, but it's
source code is available and you can (in theory) create whatever
features you require.

It's PathOverlay class can be used to draw a Polyline or Polygon.

http://android.martinpearman.co.uk/osmdroid/documentation/native_android_library/index.html?org/osmdroid/views/overlay/PathOverlay.html

Use it's setPaint() method to set the Paint.Style:

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/graphics/Paint.Style.html

I don't know if the Google MapView has an equivalent to PathOverlay.

Martin.