Map Channels v4 Released

Map Channels v4



Google Maps Mania Keir Clarke created this London Video Map in about two minutes from a Google My Map. Essentially all I needed to do was post in the URL of my Google My Map to create a finished map.

Despite the ease of use of Map Channels there are also a large number of options available. You can define the initial map view, use your own marker images, add traffic and Panoramio layers, set the map language and adjust a number of other map settings.

Once a map is created you get a URL for your map or you can embed the map in your own website or blog.

Also available is Map Channel Events
http://events.mapchannels.com/

http://www.mapchannels.com/

Source/Cross Post:
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2011/04/create-google-map-in-seconds.html
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-going-on-with-google-maps.html

Google Geocoder Suggests (Esa's Experiments)

Google Geocoder Suggests (Esa's Experiments)

Google has had the 'suggest' option on the main site for a while, yet when you go to the maps you need to know your destination, now you can get help with a geocoder extended with a suggest.

Ahead of the game with Google Map API is Esa with his impressive well thought out experiments.


The example above typing in Bri... suggests 10 locations in Google's Geocoder that are located.
Very clean,very fast and extremely useful.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/ojalesa/boundsbox/geocode_basic_3.htm

Without a Search button - http://koti.mbnet.fi/ojalesa/boundsbox/geocode_basic.htm

*Geocoders are not perfect, they should never be trusted, they are as only good as the accuracy of the original data they were derived from.

Custom Map Types:

Custom map Types - here Google Maps with Traffic is synchronised with OpenStreetMap

• Image map type, like OpenStreetMap tiles in the example page
• Image overlay map type, like the Traffic tiles in the example page
• Non-image tile based map type

http://koti.mbnet.fi/ojalesa/v3/osm_dual.htm

Image Map Type behaves just like the standard map types. Image Overlay tiles are displayed on top of the Image Map Types.
The non-image map type makes it possible to create tile layers with SVG, canvas or any html elements.


The v3 Geocoder has extent (Bounding Box) optional, Esa makes this visual with his Bounding Box Page, can be useful narrowing search requests within a specific area.

http://esa.easypagez.com/v3boundsbox/

Sources:
http://koti.mbnet.fi/ojalesa/exam/index.html
(many other examples too)

http://nuppineulat.blogspot.com/ (Finnish)
http://apitricks.blogspot.com/ (English)

Many thanks to Esa for creating the examples and making them available to budding developers.

Google Fusion Tables [Fast Batch Geocoding]

Google Fusion Tables [Fast Batch Geocoding]

"A fast an effective way to batch geocode spreadsheet data."


Take some data, with no geographic information. Upload to the New Google Fusion Tables and Map it.

Some spot checking of data in location - as geocoding is not an exact science.


Simply import the data will then give you access to 'Map' the data.


Then the real magic of automatic batch geocoding on the fly - you can visually see the data being placed on the map.
All within a few seconds - then whole process takes less than 30 seconds [based on 606 cities] though only 1-200 markers are display at one time.

And to finish it off - it is easy to create a simple thematic map.

Suggestions, would be nice to be able to overlay the thematic map [based in flash] over the Google Map (or creating gpolygons).
Sharing with the option of embedding and link to would be convenient.
*Note currently in Google Labs things will change.

A nice tool with great potential has unique features and powerful visualization functions.

Summary
Google Chart meets Google Maps with Google Spreadsheets binding them.

Related
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2009/06/
google-fusion-tables-google-maps.html

Official Post
http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2009/06/google-fusion-tables.html

Cloudmade 'Fast Maps' with KML Overlay

Cloudmade 'Fast Maps' with KML Overlay

"Using the web maps lite API you can achieve lightening fast maps"

CloudMade's Web Maps Lite API lets you embed our maps in your website.
Using our JavaScript API you can:

• Take advantage of the most up-to-date source of map data on the web
• Benefit from the rich OpenStreetMap dataset, with features such as footpaths and cycle paths that are not found on other online maps
• Be free from restrictive licensing - use our maps for routing, real time tracking and as a basemap to derive new layers.

Now you can overlay your KML on these fast maps with very little programming or issues.


Fast Maps for Mobile and Web Mapping Applications - With KML Overlay
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/cloudmade_kml.html

Note: Web Maps Lite is available is now out of developer pre-Alpha

Google Maps API does not current have the superfast maps (Google Maps API v3 'in labs')
with the KML Overlay option, so this is currently Mapperz recommended route for fast mapping (with mobile applications) and overlaying your own data.

Source:
http://developers.cloudmade.com/projects/web-maps-lite/examples

Fast Property Search Map - Zoocasa [in Beta]

Fast Property Search Map - Zoocasa [in Beta]


Extremely fast and smooth mapping tool for searching property in Canada

"Zoocasa.com is a new, innovative way to search for homes in Canada. Combining listing information and mapping technology provided by Google Maps, Zoocasa.com allows users to personalize their search experience and discover community, demographic and lifestyle information to help them choose the right home."


Highlights - The interactive google map is linked to the interactive sidebar when a property icon is clicked on the map - the sidebar moves to show the user more information. Beyond the summary is an even more detailed on the specific property.

More going on behind the scenes
The map can display more than just property for sale - schools, book stores, department stores, post offices, bakeries, gas stations etc. to name a few - (the list goes on).

Searching can be done by specific location or number of rooms, highest/low price or even the number of days a property has been on sale for.

Though it is the smoothness and speed that impresses most - there is large amount of information that is getting processed behind the scenes, but the data on the map never seems to be overloaded - this is difficult to achieve but Zoocasa has done a fine effort. Well done.

Also look out for the Research Tool if not familiar to the area - very helpful
"average housing prices in a variety of ways .... neighbourhood specific information including demographic and lifestyle details"

There is also a fully documented FAQ (good to see in beta) for users benefit and highlights ways to get the more out of the site.
And to top it all if you do find a bug you can report it (this feature is missed on many sites!)

Mapperz

Travel Intelligence Maps

Travel Intelligence Maps

Nice Map Integration of the Mapsack

Features

• Hover on linked text (side panel) to highlight Point of Interest (poi's)
• Map display area is link with the photo rail at the bottom.
• Nice and clean interface
• Fast database retrieval of information (ajax?)
  

More Maps like these please!