Amazon cosies up to Nokia for Google Maps alternative
Amazon has unveiled a mapping API that offers an exit strategy from Google Maps for its developers. The new API is aimed at devs who want to incorporate mapping into apps on Amazon's pocket cash registers tablets such as the Kindle Fire, and uses Nokia's mapping services – Nokia Location Platform.
Although the ruthless retail giant wouldn't say what powers the Google Maps alternative, Nokia didn't need much persuasion to crow about a win. Nokia Location Platform is a wholesale offering based on the eye-watering €5.7bn ($8bn) acquisition of Navteq in 2007. Yahoo! maps uses Nokia's services, as does Bing Maps – although Bing draws in map data from lots of sources. Read more...
Job ad seeks ‘mediocre’ developers
Are you just scraping by coding in Ruby? Are you not prepared to pull infinite all-nighters? Are you less than amazingly fast?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above, worry not: Melbourne, Australia, company Flippa has advertised for “Mediocre Ruby Devs”.
The ad is not entirely serious, as Flippa does want good developers. But the company finds it hard to hire Ruby experts in the busy Melbourne market and decided honesty would be the best policy.
“Our problem is not having too many applicants,” says Flippa's General Manager Dave Slutzkin. “It's having too few.” That's why the company's job ad explains: Read more...