15.5. Working with MapViews

The MapView encapsulates a lot of very complex mapping software and is available for you to use in your Android applications—for free. Here are some of the things you can do with a MapView, with only a little programming on your part:

• Show a street map of any area in the world, with up-to-date mapping information courtesy of Google.

• Change the map view to show:

  
  

  Street view

  Photographs taken at street level for many areas in North America.

  
  

  Satellite view

  An aerial, photographic view of the area.

  
  

  Traffic view

  Real-time traffic information superimposed on the map or satellite views.

• Move the map under program control.

• Plot your own graphics in overlays on top of the map.

• Respond to user touch events on the map.