The example is pretty silly, but it works - using the LocationManager and GPS tracking, the little "guy" icon has just passed two Peets coffee shops, depicted by the Peets logo on the map.
The key to this functionality is the extension of the Overlay class, allowing us to draw on top of the map. I have subclassed Overlay to IconOverlay and MultiIconOverlay. One consideration I wondered out-loud about (annoying the cat) - why not have multiple layers, like Photoshop, rather than a single Overlay that all items must stuff into? It didn't really create any problems for this simple prototype, however it did seem that being able to turn a layer/overlay on or off, rather than redrawing the entire set might be more efficient to the developer. For example, an overlay with all Starbucks locations, and an overlay with all Peets locations, and then simply invalidate the map with the Overlay(s) turned on you would prefer.
Anyway...the screen shots await:
For the record, if you are not from Silicon Valley and you are reading this looking for Peets, there are no Peets near this part of Bayshore. Seriously, wrong place to be looking for coffee. It's just a demo, people.
I'd like to note that the little "guy" icon came from FastIcon.com. I had not heard a thing about FastIcon until I was desperate for a cool little icon to represent the user as they made their way around the map. It was going to be a car or a person, and for the love of god, there was no way I was drawing it. And, the Starbucks' logo walking around finding the Peets logo just seemed wrong on so many levels.
I stumbled upon FastIcon and their license terms, and most importantly, I really like the comic/hip/modern look to the design, at least for this project. It's meant to be fun, and the icons on the FastIcon site certainly convey that. So, check it out if you are looking for some good icons.
