ArcGIS API For iPhone Public Beta Now Available

The much anticipated ArcGIS API for iPhone has now been made available for download as part of a public beta.

The ArcGIS API for iPhone enables you to build iPhone applications that utilize the powerful mapping, geocoding, geoprocessing, and custom capabilities provided by ArcGIS Server. The API consists of native Objective C libraries that can be used within the Xcode Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Other iPhone developer tools such as Interface Builder can also be used in your application development.

There were a number of demonstrations and sessions at the ESRI Developer Summit 2010 showcasing the ArcGIS API for iPhone and now you have the chance to try it for yourself.

The ArcGIS Mobile Team is excited to announce that the ArcGIS API for iPhone is now in public beta!

There are bundles of features in this first release with support for maps, graphics and tasks.

What can you do with the iPhone API?

Using the iPhone API you can:

• Display and use maps that blend dynamic and cached (tiled) map services from ArcGIS Online and/or your ArcGIS Server.
• Execute sophisticated geoprocessing tasks and display their results.
• Search and identify features and create useful reports of feature found.
• Collect locations by sketching on the map or using the GPS embedded in your device

What does the iPhone API include?

The ArcGIS iPhone API provides the following resources for you to use in your iPhone applications:

• Maps – The API supports display of both dynamic and cached (tiled) map services from ArcGIS Server. With the ArcGIS iPhone API, you can display maps in any projection.
• Graphics – You can enhance your iPhone applications by allowing users to draw graphics or by providing informational popup windows when the user taps on a graphics feature.
• Tasks – Common GIS tasks such as query, search and identify of features, finding addresses and places, geoprocessing and collection.

Full information along with concepts can be found here: http://help.arcgis.com/en/…

The ArcGIS API for iPhone can communicate against ArcGIS Server 9.3.1 as well as ArcGIS Server 10 services. Some screenshots of the ArcGIS API for iPhone in action consuming some of our local map services. I built these quick applications.

 

Consuming a cache of New Zealand which has been generated down to 1:2500. The cache is being served from an ArcGIS Server 10 map service.

Consuming a cache of New Zealand with data coming from Geographx

This is a great opportunity to test drive and have a play with this new API. The forums are the place to ask questions and interact with other users. You can find this here: http://forums.arcgis.com/…

Jeff has posted about this release here as well: http://blogs.esri.com/dev/…

Everything you need to get started can be found on the ArcGIS API for iPhone Resource Centre here: http://resources.arcgis.com/content/…