14 DAY TRIAL // Skyhook Wireless announced at the O'Reilly Where 2.0 conference the release of Loki 2.0, a new version of the platform that delivers location-aware search services. Developed using Skyhook's Wi-Fi Positioning System location engine, Loki 2.0 adds new user controls, an updated look and feel, support for the Mac OS, a JavaScript API that allows web developers to add location-enabled services to their applications, as well as a mobile version.
"Over the last 12 months we have invested time and resources working with the geoweb community - users, content providers, Web 2.0 innovators, map mash-up gurus and mobile LBS developers - to develop a new platform for location-enabling all their existing content," said Ryan Sarver, head of product management at Skyhook Wireless. "Loki 2.0 gives them a new set of tools and capabilities that extend auto-location beyond just mobile phones to help make LBS mass adoption a reality."
One of the key capabilities of Loki 2.0 is a JavaScript API that allows any web developer to location-enable their applications by embedding a few lines of JavaScript into their HTML content. With the Loki API, any visitor who has granted permission to share their location with a Loki-enabled site can automatically get directions to the nearest store, mapped locations of nearby friends, access to pictures, movies and music about their immediate area or any other location-relevant content. The API, supporting documentation and API key are available at no cost to developers from the Loki website.
Released in April 2006, Loki is a browser toolbar that offers location-based Internet search, content navigation and location-sharing. Loki automatically detects a user's exact physical location, turning a Wi-Fi enabled laptop into a virtual GPS device. Through its pre-configured 'Channels', Loki allows users to plot their location on a Yahoo! map, email that location to a friend, find movies playing nearby via Fandango, chart directions with Google Maps, find a restaurant nearby using Zagat's, find a gas station with GasBuddy, search for local shops with Ask.com and get weather at Weather.com.
With Loki 2.0 users can now benefit from location-based contextual search on their mobile. The Loki Mobile application is initially available on Wi-Fi enabled Windows Mobile devices, with more supported platforms to be added soon. Users can download the application here.
