Chapter 9. Location-Based Services

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER

  • How to display Google Maps in your Android application

  • How to display the zoom controls on the map

  • How to switch between the different map views

  • How to add markers to maps

  • How to get the address location touched on the map

  • How to perform geocoding and reverse geocoding

  • How to obtain geographical data using GPS, Cell-ID, and Wi-Fi triangulation

  • How to monitor for a location

We have all seen the explosive growth of mobile apps in recent years. One category of apps that is very popular is location-based services, commonly known as LBS. LBS apps track your location, and may offer additional services such as locating amenities nearby, as well as offering suggestions for route planning, and so on. Of course, one of the key ingredients in a LBS app is maps, which present a visual representation of your location.

In this chapter, you will learn how to make use of the Google Maps in your Android application, and how to manipulate it programmatically. In addition, you will learn how to obtain your geographical location using the LocationManager class available in the Android SDK.

DISPLAYING MAPS

Google Maps is one of the many applications bundled with the Android platform. In addition to simply using the Maps application, you can also embed it into your own applications and make it do some very cool things. This section describes how to use Google Maps in your Android applications and programmatically perform the following:

  • Change ...

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