Lokata product and service finder now also on Windows 8



    There was already a post on Habré about the Lokata.ru project - a Russian geolocation service designed to search and promote goods and services of local retailers. The Lokata website and mobile applications combine geolocation with a search engine, allowing customers to find the necessary goods in the nearest stores, as well as get the necessary information about the retailer - opening hours, address and phone. The idea to collect the catalogs of all the stores in one application fell to those people who, planning a shopping trip, want to save time and money.

    The company recently announced a Windows 8 app for desktops and tablets. Its launch took place almost simultaneously with the start of sales of the new OS from Microsoft - a logical step for the service, focused primarily on mobile device users.

    Despite the fact that Windows 8 is a new platform for the project team (before that, mobile applications for iOS and Android were created), the Lokata application was developed in record time. This is made possible by the simplicity of the C # language, a good set of training examples and excellent support from Microsoft and the community. In particular, this was the reason for choosing C #, although the same functionality could be implemented in C ++, JavaScript and HTML5, VB. We should also mention Visual Studio. In conjunction with Expression Blend, this is perhaps one of the best IDEs I've worked with. It is very convenient and easy to write code. However, there is a fly in the ointment associated with the novelty of the platform. For example, the unavailability of the Bing Maps SDK or incomplete documentation in some places.



    The design of Lokata fits into the design of Win8. The application is designed in the already popular style of the new OS and represents three workspaces - “Offers nearby”, “Nearest stores” and “Add to favorites”. The workspace grows with the addition of catalogs, offers from retailers and geo-tags.

    The Lokata application for Windows 8 almost completely repeats the functionality of the web version of the service, except that it uses the built-in GPS-module of the mobile device to determine the location of the user. You can always turn off automatic detection and enter the desired city and search area yourself. After that, the system will produce results, sorting them by the relevance of the proposals and the distance from you to the store.

    One of the key features of the Lokata application is the ability to view directories on a tablet or dextop screen. Today, the service database has more than five hundred current catalogs, brochures and flyers of various retailers. In order to “flip through” one of them, it is enough to enter the name of the product or brand in the search bar and the system will show all the directories in which it will meet the search word.



    Users also have the option of informing about new retailer offers. By clicking "Add to Favorites", you can subscribe to news about sales, current promotions and new catalogs of outlets or brands that interest you. Marked stores will appear in the application workspace.



    Lokata appdesigned to become a permanent assistant in the search and selection of goods and stores. The main users of the application are more likely to become owners of tablets with Win8, since the service is aimed at mobility, and many will like the opportunity to see the range and find out about the best deals in their favorite stores nearby sitting in a cafe, on a bench in a park or in public transport.

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