Location-based service provider Useful Networks has released a new software development kit for iPhone and iPod Touch application developers to simplify LBS app development.
Dubbed mapNinja, the SDK allows developers to add a touch-enabled map viewer into their native iPhone apps with only three lines of code. “Developers and iPhone users deserve a map interaction worthy of an incredible platform like the iPhone. The mapNinja SDK finally makes it easy for developers to take advantage of the remarkable potential for both location-centric apps on the iPhone, as well as adding location and maps as a convenient feature in those instances when location is not necessarily the core focus of the app,” Useful Networks chief executive officer Brian Levin said in a statement.
mapNinja supports touch panning and zooming, multiple map types (satellite, road, hybrid), vector and image overlays, customizable background loading tiles, continuous re-centering in auto-tracking mode and developer documentation. The SDK pulls map data from four different providers including Microsoft Virtual Earth, CloudMade and Useful Networks.
Nothing comes for free these days though. mapNinja has to be licensed royalty-free, or alternatively, available for free with ad support.
