Using GmmGeocoder for challenge submission ?

[Ram]

Hi, my app will need geocoding functionality and ....so I looked at
geocoding support in Android today.

I was able to get the mock GeoCoder functionality working. However,
the default geodb data is very limited.
I'm not sure if it is a good idea for me to require judges to adb-push
a new geodb file with additional data.

I was also able to get the undocumented GmmGeocoder working (I
discovered this class from old posts on the android-dev group).

Since judges will use M5-rc14 to test apps written with M5-
rc14 ..........and since the GmmGeocoder is supported in M5-rc14, I'm
assuming that it is OK for challenge-submissions to use the
GmmGeocoder class.
However, I'm not sure whether google.com/glm/mmap server
functionality (which GmmGeocoder relies on) will continue to work for
the next one month

Can Dan (so someone else from google) please confirm that it is OK
for challenge entries to use the GmmGeocoder class. (comments from non-
google devs also welcome)

Thanks Ram

[Dan U.]

I think they are going to say it's not supported, but that doesn't
necessarily mean it won't work. I think the glm server is probably
used for more than just Android, so I wouldn't expect it to go away,
but I could be wrong.

[Ram]

I hope Dan M or someone else from Google comments on this.

Btw Dan (U), are you using the mock geodb or are you using
GmmGeocoder.
If it is the latter, do you mind saying whether you're using
GmmGeocoder primarily to (a)provide real functionality or (b) to make
it easier for judges to run the app without using adb-push etc.

> > Thanks Ram- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Dan U.]

I am using GmmGeocoder. Really, I guess for both reasons you have
listed. I wanted the ability to search for addresses and move the map
to those locations. I perhaps could have written a geodb with a lot
more points in it, but like you said, it's easier if the judges don't
have to use adb push.

[Dan Morrill]

Dan is quite correct.  We will not be requiring source code to be submitted and we won't be monitoring what the applications are doing, so we won't know if you are using internal or undocumented APIs.  There are no prohibitions in the rules against this.

However, Dan is also correct in that you should be very cautious using undocumented APIs, since they are likely to change or even be removed in future builds of the SDK.

- Dan

[Ram]

Hi Dan, that doesn't answer my question.
I know that there is no prohibition on using undocumented apis and I
also know undocumented apis can be removed from future SDK builds.
Possible removal of the api in future builds won't impact me. As
mentioned above, I'm only concerned about M5-rc14 and this build does
support GmmGeocoder though it is undocumented.

However, GmmGeocoder uses google.com/glm/mmap server functionality and
I don't know whether it is safe to count on the server functionality
continuing to work over the next one month.

Dan U mentioned that he expects the server functionality to continue
working ....and that is what I also think.
However, it is possible that Google could turn off the server
functionality or deny requests from Android simulators. If the server
functionality doesn't work, GmmGeocoder will stop working in M5-rc14.
So it will be nice to get official confirmation on whether the
google.com/glm/mmap server functionality (as required by GmmGeocoder)
will continue to work.

Thanks Ram

[gunaaa]

i dont know how to latitude and longitude by sending request as
location to google.com/glm/mmap server.... If anyone succeeds, please
reply...


Thanks
Guna

[Ram]

I'm not sure if I understand the question, but if you're asking about
how to send a location to the google/com/glm/mmap
server ...............you can use the GmmGeocoder class to do that.

The code will look something like this
GmmGeocoder geoCoder = new GmmGeocoder(Locale.getDefault());
Address[] addresses = geoCoder2.query(business,
GmmGeocoder.QUERY_TYPE_BUSINESS, lat, long, latspan, longspan);
-----------
Btw can you please use the Android developers group for these
questions.

Thanks Ram

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[gunaaa]

But i think Gmmgeocoder is a mock class... But i am not sure.... Is
any other server which will return latitude and longitude when we
request with server name....
Also post the correct code for sending request with location name....

[Dan U.]

GmmGeocoder is not a mock. It will return correct lat/long if you send
an address (I guess you mean address when you say location name).

Here's example code:

GmmGeocoder geocoder = new GmmGeocoder(Locale.getDefault());
Address[] addresses = geocoder.query(addressString,
GmmGeocoder.QUERY_TYPE_LOCATION, 0, 0, 180, 360);

Oh, and as a disclaimer, this is not supported and may go away in
future sdk releases, so don't complain to me or Google if it does.