ATTENTION: This session requires advance signup to attend. For Online Schedule: Please utilize the RSVP link below the description to reserve your seat. For SXSW GO App: Use the RSVP 'Find a Timeslot' link. You must have a SXSW Interactive, Gold, or Platinum badge to attend, and, you must have an activated SXsocial account (social.sxsw.com) to reserve a seat. If you have any issues with signing up, please email support@sxsw.com. VERY IMPORTANT: Because of the limited space, we recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the published start time of this session. If you have not checked in at the room you RSVPed for at least five minutes prior to the session start time, you may lose your seat to an attendee in the waiting list line.

Prerequisites:
Must have prior development experience with Android and/or iOS

What to Bring:
Bring a laptop with Android Studio and/or Xcode installed.

Do you want to include a custom map in your next mobile app? Is there value in using open data for nearby search results? Can you deploy the same location-based features across all platforms, devices, and ecosystems?

Maps and location-based features are the foundation for many apps and provide a rich contextual experience that transforms based on your environment. With the advent of beacons and wearables location awareness is becoming increasingly vital. Open source location services and map frameworks can give you greater transparency, flexibility, compatibility, and control when building location-based apps.

This workshop will explore how to implement maps and other location-aware features on Android and iOS using open source tools. We will highlight why an ecosystem rich with open development, data, and processes is vital for geo-location to thrive in the mobile age.

Through interactive presentations and hands-on coding examples will answer the following questions:

1. How can maps and other location-aware features be used to transform user experience in mobile applications?

2. What open source tools are available for building location-based features on Android and iOS?

3. Why is open data important for location rich features like geocoding, search, and navigation?

4. How can open source location services and maps be used to improve privacy and security?

5. What are the opportunities and challenges of using open source and open data for geo-location on mobile devices?

The workshop will be broken down into 4 segments. Each segment will be approximately 1 hour in length and will begin with a presentation followed by hands-on coding exercises. There will be a break between each segment.

Hour #1 - Overview of location-aware apps
Break
Hour #2 - Maps
Break
Hour #3 - Geo-location, search, and navigation
Break
Hour #4 - Beacons and BLE