[Qt5-feedback] Qt5 & QtLocation

[John Layt]

Hi,

I want to raise the topic of QtLocation in Qt5.  Currently QtLocation is part 
of QtMobility but is equally useful on the desktop and is something of 
interest to KDE.  I'm wondering what the plans are with regards to properly 
supporting the desktop platforms in QtLocation?

There's a few areas that I think need to be addressed:

1) The QGeoCoordinates and QGeoAddress classes should be fundamental data 
types in QtCore rather than in QtLocation, so they can be used as data 
containers and in library api without needing an entire geolocation and 
mapping framework at compile or run time. (I also have some suggested api 
changes but that's for later).

2) QtLocation now has a GeoClue backend for MeeGo, but GeoClue runs on any 
Linux platform so the backend should be enabled for them all.

3) Are there any plans for OSX and Windows backends using their native api, or 
a fallback implementation for versions without a native api?

4) Are there any plans for an OpenStretMap plugin and if not would one be 
accepted?  The Ovi Maps plugin is unusable for many people due to the terms of 
use.  There are a couple of external projects to provide an OSM plugin but it 
would be far better if a single implementation was shipped in QtLocation.  I 
think plugins for other providers like Google or Yahoo belong more in a Qt 
Addon.

5) Parts of the QtLocation api QLandmark are designed around the structure of 
Ovi services and may not work so well with other service providers, are there 
any plans to make these more generic or standards compliant?

Obviously all these things could be contributed by the community, either 
directly or as Qt Addons, but as it's a module actively maintained by Qt 
knowing what Nokia's plans are would be useful before making any effort.  

Which also raises the question of how strategic direction for Nokia maintained 
modules like QtLocation will be decided and communicated, especially when 
Nokia's interests may not agree with the wider communities interests, but I 
guess that's a topic for QCS?

Cheers!

John.