“‘We knew that our GPS games would be focused on areas with the largest density of iPhone users in order to capture the greatest possible market,’ reports James Kane, creative producer at Bulpadok, which developed a location-based iPhone game called The Hidden Park,” Mollman reports. “The family-oriented game superimposes cartoonish characters over a city park. You can’t see the characters in real life, but if you look at the park through your iPhone screen, you’ll find them hanging out in particular spots.”
Mollman reports, “It’s one of many augmented reality games and apps for cities. The game, like a lot of new city-centric mobile apps, takes advantage of the iPhone’s A-GPS and other location-oriented features, like a built-in compass… For instance an upcoming app called Worksnug will allow users to see reviews of Net cafes they’re pointing their iPhone screen at, describing the kind of wi-fi access, noise levels, and coffee quality they’d find inside.”
“City governments are getting in on the action, too, encouraging new apps and services by opening data and application program interfaces (APIs) for developers. New Yorkers can get government tweets on their phones that update them on, for instance, holiday parking regulations,” Mollman reports. “Citizens Connect is an iPhone app designed to let Bostonians snap pics of neighborhood nuisances and email them to the government. Residents can report things like potholes, trash violations and broken street lamps.”
Mollman reports, “Big cities’ tech advantages extend beyond apps. They’re also more likely to host cutting-edge business lounges, Net cafes, connectivity, and other services.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward W.” for the heads up.]