Check out the new POWERVR Insider SDK at NN4D

NN4D just recently launched out new Imagination Technologies zone on NN4D.com! You can find this new zone under the “Partner APIs & Services” heading in the Build section at NN4D.com. In this new zone, you will find the Imagination Technologies POWERVR Insider SDK, version 2.7

Imagination's POWERVR graphics IP consists of the industry's leading graphics accelerators supporting a broad range of applications in mobile, consumer and computing segments. You can read more about POWERVR Graphics at this link.

What is exciting for LBS application developers, is this latest version of the SDK includes a new tutorial showing developers how to take full advantage of Imagination's graphics acceleration technology using the standard OpenGL® ES2 application programming interface (API) to display map and advanced visual guidance data in graphics-rich mobile applications.

The SDK contains step-by-step tutorials on how to get started with Khronos OpenGL ES 2.x development, including texturing, lighting effects, use of shaders, alpha blending, etc as well as graphics demos, including a navigation demo and source code for implementations of different navigation rendering techniques.

The tutorial includes comprehensive sample code for utilizing most forms of available street mapping data in applications and a complementary white paper that explains efficient navigation rendering techniques and tools for how to compile the data.

Specifically, when you download the SDK, you will get:

• Navigation demo showing a 2.5D navigation environment which implements the navigation rendering optimization techniques described in SDK v2.7
• Navigation Rendering Techniques white paper
• Navigation data tools and source code added to SDK utilities

We also have a couple of YouTube videos that you can watch to find out more about Imagination Technologies.

SEE 2009: Interview with Tony King-Smith, VP of Marketing at Imagination Technologies



NAVTEQ Directions 2010: NN4D interview with Imagination Technologies about latest POWERVR SDK


What are you waiting for? Visit the Imagination Technologies zone today to download the SDK and start building!  Seriously, what else are you going to do over the winter break?

NAVTEQ and Trapster: What this deal means to you.

By now you may have heard some exciting news about NAVTEQ’s relationship with Trapster, a free mobile and web app that makes use of community-generated content. But, do you know how NAVTEQ actually first became aware of Trapster? That’s right... via the NN4D at the 2008 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge! Trapster was actually an Americas semi-finalist that year!! We are very excited for this major success story to come out of the LBS Challenge and it was great to be part of the process of connecting Trapster with NAVTEQ. Wins all around!

What does this all mean to you?

It means you need to get on the NN4D radar so we can start to promote your awesome LBS app or service! See, that is one of the main things we do here at NN4D that differentiates us from the rest. We work with you to help you succeed! We do this by helping you get introduced to the main industry players! (Including top NAVTEQ brass) This exposure is invaluable in enabling your company to succeed, so hurry up and introduce yourself to us!

How do you get on NN4D’s radar?

The easiest and quickest way to start to work with NN4D is to submit your app to our new App Warehouse. Does your web service or mobile app use NAVTEQ data? If so, then you can submit it to the NAVTEQ App Warehouse. Once it is in the App Warehouse it can be immediately browsed by decision makers and sales people at NAVTEQ (and other industry players) and business discussions can begin right away. This is a free service to all NN4D members. Bonus: If you act now, we have a nice incentive for you to submit you app before the end of the year.

In conclusion, yay for Trapster, yay for NAVTEQ and yay for you! Why yay for you? Because now you can see the benefits that being an NN4D member brings! Now that you know about the benefits, don’t delay, submit your app to the App Warehouse today! Don’t have an app yet, but still want to talk to us? We would love to hear from you so drop us a note and let us know what you are all about.

Check Out The New 3D Developer Toolkit from Visioglobe!

The future is here today if you know where to find it. Luckily for you, you know where to look!

What does the future of LBS apps look like? How about smooth flowing 3D navigation and mapping that uses high-quality 3D images?

Does this sound good to you?

Well now you can be one of the first to start developing 3D mapping applications by using the new VisioDevKit from VisioGlobe. Yes, NAVTEQ has entered a co-marketing agreement with Visioglobe, to allow NN4D the exclusive distribution rights to the VisioDevKit.

So what does that mean anyway?

It means that you, the NN4D member are the only ones that can get access to this brand-new, very cool SDK! The VisioDevKit allows you to use the super nifty 3D data that NAVTEQ has. By using the VisioDevKit it allows you to create an app that “effectively renders NAVTEQ 3D map data and location content using a real-time immersive, 3D geographical and urban visualization engine.” Neat!

Checking out the press release we see that “developers can control the 3D camera handling position and connect it to existing routing solutions and a compass to personalize their solution. Also, with the advanced image quality in the SDK (more than one million triangles per second) and fluidity (more than 20 images per second), developers can make the most of hardware-accelerated graphics on mobile devices. Additionally, the VisioDevKit allows developers to easily integrate additional content offerings into their app, such as routing, NAVTEQ’s LocationPoint™ advertising, traffic, or other services from NAVTEQ or other content providers.”

Translation: totally killer navigation experience for your users.

We should also mention that this initial VisioDevKit release is for the iPhone, but it will be available on the Linux, Symbian and Android platforms in 2011.

As you can see, the future is truly here today and waiting for you to download and try out. Still not convinced? Check out more of the details in the press release . Also, make sure to view our YouTube videos below to find out a bit more and to see the 3D navigation in action.

Sample data! Get your NAVTEQ sample data here!

The NAVTEQ Network for Developers provides sample NAVTEQ data to all our NN4D members.

Signs-As-Real

Not only that, but NN4D has recently upgraded and updated our Sample Data page. We now have 12 cities you can choose from! Cities such as Barcelona, SF Bay Area, Singapore, Seattle, Vancouver, New York City and more! Each city’s sample data contains a variety of NAVTEQ data formats (shapefiles, SIF+, etc) and a variety of NAVTEQ products. You can see a breakdown of what data files come in each city download at this link (reg required). Also, use the handy table on the Sample Data page to see what NAVTEQ products are in which sample download. Yes, we have examples of some of our coolest products for you to download. Products like Motorway Junction Objects, Sign-As-Real, and Enhanced 3D City Models to name just a few.

This NAVTEQ sample data is all free to you, if you are a member of NN4D. Ok, not all the sample data is free as you can only pick one of the cities, but you have 12 cities to choose from! Just make sure you choose the city you are most interested in and that has the products you want to check out. Now, go download that sample data and test out how you can use it in your GIS database or how to include it in your latest app.