What would be even more interesting is having some kind of Maps widget available in the toolkit.
Right now you can use a webview that points to a maps.google.com url (you do see this in some apps), but the experience isn't nearly as smooth as the native maps app.
The other option you have is generating a URL that opens the maps app. This works, but you can only specify one or two points of interest, and your app quits after you do this.
Having the maps thing as a widget would allow a lot of apps currently in the store to present a beter interface, and could also allow google to implement their Lattitude stuff without it being intrusive if you just want to do a quick maps search.
I agree. The location and map features on the iPhone is one of the most compelling developments in the mobile arena. Okay yeah, visual voicemail is cool, so are IM apps, but this is the one thing that other phones have simply been unable to do up until now without it being a giant PITA.
The iPhone App Store would be a better place if devs had access to the same map widget that Apple themselves use. I can think of a million ways this can be used.
Right now you can use a webview that points to a maps.google.com url (you do see this in some apps), but the experience isn't nearly as smooth as the native maps app.
The other option you have is generating a URL that opens the maps app. This works, but you can only specify one or two points of interest, and your app quits after you do this.
Having the maps thing as a widget would allow a lot of apps currently in the store to present a beter interface, and could also allow google to implement their Lattitude stuff without it being intrusive if you just want to do a quick maps search.