New Geo APIs - 2/14/12

Read all the way to the end - there's a bonus!

nowCOAST LayerInfo API: nowCOAST is a GIS-based online mapping tool that provides access to real-time coastal environmental observations and NOAA forecasts for any region in the coastal United States. nowCOAST's LayerInfo API provides access to additional useful information on mapping layers, including Legends, Timestamps, Icons, and Layer Descriptions. The API uses HTTP calls and responses are formatted in XML, HTML and TXT.

Aviresto API: Aviresto is a guide to restaurants in France. The site lets users read and submit customer reviews. Searches can be conducted by city or by location on a map. An API is available that allows users to conduct these searches programmatically and pull the results into their own application or web site. Public documentation of the API is not available; developers should contact the provider for access.

NAVTEQ LocationPoint Advertising API: NAVTEQ is a provider for digital maps and map content used in navigation and location-based services. The NAVTEQ Network for Developers (NN4D) program provides developers with a variety of API's for mapping, road traffic data, and advertising.

The NAVTEQ LocationPoint Advertising (LPA) service is an in-application mobile advertising service that provides location-based, targeted advertising to users of location aware applications and mobile websites. This API will gather location data and identify users, and then request relevant adds to return to the device. The LPA web service also exposes functions for handling the end-user experience after they have interacted with a LPA-powered add; for example, providing the user with maps and routes to physical stores related to an add they clicked through.

NAVTEQ Map Reporter API: NAVTEQ is a provider for digital maps and map content used in navigation and location-based services. The NAVTEQ Network for Developers (NN4D) program provides developers with a variety of API's for mapping, road traffic data, and advertising.

NAVTEQ's Map Reporter allows individuals to suggest updates or corrections to NAVTEQ maps. Users can give feedback about addresses, roads or road features, points of interest, or traffic restrictions. Attachments, such as images or supporting evidence, can also be added to the submission. In addition to submitting feedback on existing map elements, users can suggest new map content such as other points of interest or cartography details. The Map Reporter web service is composed of two primary parts: a submission service that allows users to provide their feedback to NAVTEQ, and a query service for searching map reports for the status and details of previously submitted requests.

- Programmable Web

Bonus: StreetFight offers Comparing the Pros and Cons of 5 Top Location APIs which looks at contenders to fill in for recently closed SimpleGeo. Warning: written by an intern.

Nokia Maps Suite Beta Debuts and other LBS News

Under the name of Nokia Maps Suite we have, in fact, packaged a series of tools that will help you experience adventures everyday: Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive and Nokia Public Transport are just the beginning. You are going to love all the apps included in the newest release of Nokia Maps Suite. Just point your browser to Nokia Beta Labs to download it now.

My sense is this a two fold effort: first to continue to rebrand mapping from NAVTEQ to Nokia Maps and second to collect what seem to be dozens of LBS apps into a single suite.

- Nokia Conversations Blog

[Waze is] introducing a hands-free way to activate and file reports with the iOS version of the software.

Waze, impatiently waiting for Apple to open up its Siri APIs to developers, has taken the unusual approach of using the iPhone's proximity sensor to activate a voice-controlled interface in its application. A simple wave of the hand will initiate voice-control, allowing drivers to quickly navigate, report traffic, and alert others to road hazards. The app uses Apple's native Siri speech recognition for addresses and local search queries, and will also disable text input while the car is in motion. Unlike Apple's Siri voice control, there's no reason a driver needs to touch the screen or push a button to interact with Waze.

- The Verge

Foursquare last week announced something new: a way to search for venues "where you are not." This is something Yelp and Google do not yet have.

- Co Design

Nokia Shuts Down NAVTEQ Network for Developers

Update 1/25/12:

No word yet from request to NN4D on status request for comment.

Last Tweet from NN4D twitter account: 1/9/12

Website still up

Last post to forum 1/20/12

--- original post 1/24/12 ----

A NAVTEQer, writing at Google+ (publicly):

Well, it seems that "The Powers That Be" (Read: Nokia Location & Commerce division) decided to pull the plug on our group, the NAVTEQ Network for Developers and we were all given 2 weeks notice to shut the whole developer network down. The whole team was let go as of last Friday, from our executive VP all the way down to ...

Nokia Announces Map Creator; Its Version of Google’s Map Maker

We’ve just launched Nokia Map Creator, a fun tool on maps.nokia.com that literally lets YOU map out your local neighbourhood! You can also use Map Creator to make small edits and additions to existing maps. The tool is super simple to use. The best thing about it is that your work will be visible to all maps.nokia.com users—immediately! Your Map Creator content will also be shared via regular map-data updates for Nokia Maps on mobile and web, after NAVTEQ validation checks.

Our initial focus with Map Creator is to get more information on previously unmapped countries including: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada. But the list of countries will continue growing over the coming months. In those parts of the world, your work will complement and help speed up the continuous work of our dedicated Nokia Maps team.

- Nokai Maps Blog via Google+

Yahoo Maps Now Powered by Nokia

Nokia-powered Yahoo Maps (NokiHoo) have just gone live in the US and Canada: maps.yahoo.com; espanol.maps.yahoo.com; ca.maps.yahoo.com andqc.maps.yahoo.com.

That's the word from Greg Sterling writing at Search Engine Land. He poked around (thanks!) and says the new offering is not impressive, but more is on the way.

I will note that this is the second piece of news this week (the first being Google's plan to actually implement caps on its Maps API) that are "news," but that really impact very few people.

- Search Engine Land