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Maps on Path to Mass Innovation

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the maps-rock dept.

Ryan MacCarthy writes "When Google and Yahoo! released their map APIs last week they unleashed a horde of hungry developers eager to integrate their data with the user-friendly maps. Brilliant hacks like Chicago Crime and Craigslist Real Estate are in the midst of switching over to the new API, while sites like MetroFreeFi use the new API to make it easier to find free wi-fi locations in US cities (San Francisco, for example). Imaginative developers, like Alan Taylor (Transparency concept), are digging deep into experimentation to dream up new uses for the maps. It's great to see the innovation when hacks turn to apps." I want to see Los Angeles maps of the action in James Ellroy's novels, and a national map of the worst, funniest tourist traps across the U.S.

12 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Google hoods... find up to date information of the street gangs in your neighborhood.

    1. Re:Coming soon to a neighborhood near you... by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually you can do better than that with the chicagocrime.org site -- check out the division into types of crime. So if you want to know where to buy crack or where to get a handjob without leaving your car this map will help you out.

    2. Re:Coming soon to a neighborhood near you... by SmokeSerpent · · Score: 4, Funny

      It could also help the peeping toms coordinate with the publicly indecent to save everyone involved a lot of trouble.

      --
      All kings is mostly rapscallions. -Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  2. In more humble words... by Dan+East · · Score: 3, Funny

    People are making use of Google's new free API to show the location of stuff on a map.

    Dan East

    --
    Better known as 318230.
    1. Re:In more humble words... by Tackhead · · Score: 2, Funny
      > People are making use of Google's new free API to show the location of stuff on a map.

      I don't care how well-documented the API happens to be, or whether it's a hack, it's an app, or it's a map. This is not Fark, you are not Admiral Ackbar, and we are not going here!

  3. Wow, that is cool by Blitzenn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, I am impressed. The Craig's list and crime stats are really nicely done.

    Speaking of Craig's List, this could be a disease spreader too. Think of being able to find that horny date close to you from the online personals. Little tags all over saying "Yea! I'm horny! come on over!". lol.

    News headlines, "STD's spread like wildfire with Google's new map API".

  4. It's been done. by susano_otter · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want to see. . . a national map of the worst, funniest tourist traps across the U.S.

    This will satisfy all your "worst, funniest tourist trap" needs.

    --

    Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

  5. Obligatory by daveschroeder · · Score: 3, Funny

    But I use Mapquest, you insensitive clod!

    Come on, a username of 'iclod', a post to slashdot about a game called 'iCLOD'...it had to be done!

  6. Map places by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Believe it or not, there's a map store downtown in the city where I live, but I could remember where it was.

    So I thought I would look it up with Google Maps, and sure enough, I found it!

    Thus rendering my need for the store irrelevant.

  7. map by SparafucileMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    i want a map of every gold mine in the world.

    it should also overlay with oil fields, poulation density, fresh water supply, and power lines.

    muwahahaa.

  8. Ding-Dong by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Funny

    How about maps of the addresses of patent holders? Like cancer clusters...

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  9. Henry Earl by DigitalCrackPipe · · Score: 2, Funny

    So now the firefox plugin tracking how many times Heny Earl has been arrested for public drunkenness can now be upgraded to a map showing all the locations? Sweet.