Update: First set of iPad GeoApps Announced
Update: The Wired blog, having had some hands on time with the iPad today, calls the lack of GPS in the wi-fi version “a deal breaker.” Google Maps apparently is very cool on it, but it needs GPS.
—- original post 4/2/10——
The first announcement I saw was from Point Inside. The mall mapping solution popular on the iPhone will be on the iPad. “The new iPad version of the Point Inside application has a refined user interface to accommodate quicker browsing and selection of stores, services, promotions and events, as well as improved toggling between the map and list views. It has also maintained all the same features of its iPhone sibling, such as detailed information for each retailer and the “Where Did I Park?” feature. In addition, also like its sister app, a wireless connection is not required to use the application after the initial download of a map.”
More interesting perhaps is the Loopt’s Pulse for the iPad. It’s an app that tells you what’s going on around you, but per Sam Altman, Loopt CEO. “The capabilities of the device let us deliver this experience to users in a brand-new, photo-centric way.” Based on images from IntoMobile, that means “with lots of pictures.”
Content comes from Zagat; CitySearch; Microsoft’s Bing; TastingTable; Zvents; Metromix; SonicLiving among others. Pulse for phones never seemed to prompt a strong reaction; I’m not sure this new platform will help.
About.com rounds up the lack of navigation apps (mostly due to lack of GPS in this first release). The author expects to see them for the second iPad due later this month.
