3/3 Research API's Cont. Google Maps

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Start at 10.00 a.m.
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Just having a quick look of the interface of yahoo, Google and M$ just to see how they work at the user end.

Yahoo! Maps
Yahoo sucked, it only does America (well not NZ, and thats all that matters :P), was slow and I didn’t like their interface. Got no sense out of my searching, it didnt suggest anything it just gave me an error, and sometimes it didnt do anything at all... Once i got it working however it was much like Google Maps, just slower. Oh and it also had advertising >:(

Google Maps NZ
Google rocks! Easy to use, first time it worked just from typing in the two addresses. You can add multiple stop points! ZOMG. You can click and drag to change the route, 10 points.

Windows Live Maps
Microsoft live search isn’t as good at guessing the routes, but it gives you a list of suggested places you may be looking for which is fantastic. It’s fast and has “hybrid” view which is really cool. Google zooms right in with the aerial view, but windows live search does not, however this isn’t a feature I will need to implement.

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11.30 a.m.
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Google API
Having a quick look at the API, the resources so far look really good. At some stage i will implement a quick easy page and play around with the methods.

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Break 11.45-12.30 p.m. - Lunch & Project Meeting
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12.30 p.m.
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Carry on with the google API then move onto the M$ one. I am doing a Google Maps tutorial, which is really good ---> Click me! An hour or so later... after a cup of tea, i have created my very own google map! Woohoo... wasnt too hard, i havent added in any directions or paths yet. But check it out ---> Test (To view the code involved go to view>source). http://pages.google.com/ allows you to create and quickly publish files.

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Break 2.00-4.00 p.m.
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4.00 P.m.
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After doing a couple of tutorials (and some copying and pasting....) from Econym i have come up with this ---> Woot. Well just really figured out how it works.

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5.30 P.m.
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Tea time, OMG FOOOD.

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5.37 P.m.
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Mmmmm lettuce salad and chocolate, ooo mini easter eggs. OK time to figure out how to make routes. Wowowowoweeewa, a tad bit more complicated... perhaps for a rainy day when i have decided google, yahoo or M$. Heres a small example of the routing, a bit late in the evening to figure it out ---> Ouch. I also thought i better read the terms and conditions and find out what liscencing they have, and i found one part to be of interest:

"In addition, except where you have been specifically licensed by Google to do so, You may not use the Service with any products, systems, or applications installed or otherwise connected to or in communication with vehicles for or in connection with: (a) real time route guidance (including without limitation, turn-by-turn route guidance and other routing that is enabled through the use of a sensor); (b) any systems or functions for automatic or autonomous control of vehicle behavior; or (c) dispatch, fleet management or similar applications. "

Enterprize Info Here.

Oh my

"A: Pricing for Google Maps for Enterprise is based on the number of page views and geocode requests handled by the Google Maps for Enterprise API and starts at $10,000 per year. Please contact us for more information. "

*twitch*

Hrmmmm, thats nasty, FAQ. However, this is either for a certain number of transactions (not entirely sure how many yet)

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Conclusion!

Google FTW (For The Win :P), easy to use, LOTS of examples and tutorials out there, has all the functionality i need. Costs a bit of money to use for a proper application however, and this is something that may be a problem for most small businesses.

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Google Maps API Resources

Econym
mapki
bdcc
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Finish at 6.30 P.m. - Maybe 6ish hours? hmmm
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