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Google to Unite Mapping Mashups

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the can-you-see-me-now dept.

jihadist writes "Hoping to make it even easier to turn its online maps into collages of local information, Google Inc. is introducing tools that will stitch together applications from a hodgepodge of Web sites."

12 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Mapplets, Eh? by ronadams · · Score: 3, Interesting
    From TFA:

    Google is hoping to unite the information mishmash by encouraging mashup developers to package the creations into mini-applications called "mapplets" that will be posted under the "My Maps" section of Google's Web site. It will be interesting to see what the TOS for mapplets will be, and how this might effect existing mashups. Already there are mashups used to generate profit for companies, and mashups that require paid access to use. Will Google attempt to swallow all mashups via centralization, and perhaps making it very difficult to create future mashups except through this forthcoming service? In other words, is Google trying to corner the mashup market?
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  2. Mapplets not Apps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Now, users with Google log-ins will be able to pick from more than 100 mapplets to customize and save their own maps. Google expects the number of mapplets to increase as word about the service spreads. To encourage the phenomenon, Google's own engineers also contributed mapplets. It sounds like this is still going to be just mapplets, not applications like the summary says.

    I also think this explains why they've been adamant about everyone who uses Google Maps having to ping their servers--if you're using overlays of data or information, they want it as an option for users of these mashups.

    God, I hate these new terms but I suppose I'll be using them on a daily basis in the future like everyone else.
  3. Mapquest vs Google Maps by bogaboga · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I used to be an avid Mapquest user till I discovered Google maps. The map application from Google is much better than that of Mapquest in my opinion and I find that Yahoo maps is always wrong when it comes to Canadian locations.

    I still wonder why Mapquest is so much popular as compared to Google Maps.

    1. Re:Mapquest vs Google Maps by EMeta · · Score: 2, Informative

      In the states at least, Mapquest's directions engine is slightly better than Google Maps'. Usually they're identical, but when they differ, 95% of the time Mapquest is better. But it's so much less pretty, & doesn't integrate business or address search as well, so I still primarily use Google's, myself.

    2. Re:Mapquest vs Google Maps by IndieKid · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I must admit I just had to look up MapQuest as I'd never heard of it. I live in the UK and over here services such as Streetmap and Multimap are probably the most popular 'legacy' services. I wouldn't be surprised if Google Maps was the most popular these days though.

      I've been using the My Maps functionality of Google Maps quite a lot recently to keep private maps of where my friends live etc. - especially useful for those I don't visit very often as it works like a geo-tagged address book. I can certainly see myself slowly adding more mapplets to my standard google maps view as this feature evolves.

      (Slightly off-topic, I absolutely love the Customise your route functionality Google have recently added)

  4. Ironic by WegianWarrior · · Score: 3, Funny

    News on Google, reported by Yahoo...

    Irony, thy name is Internet.

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  5. From the Horse's Mouth by molo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here is the documentation on mapplets.

    -molo

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  6. And how exactly is this news? by jolyonr · · Score: 2, Informative

    This was announced at the Google Developer Day back in May, and has been pretty much public knowledge since then.

    Jolyon

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  7. Re:google-what, now? by trippeh · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When Redmond start doing hilariously tragic things involving satellite mapping and invasion of privacy, then sure, we'll talk about it. But for now, Google is funnier.

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    THUD~*
  8. Visual Schematic of Google Products / API by bossvader · · Score: 2, Interesting
    If you want to see a visual / live schematic off all the Google Apps and API's take a look at this.


    http://logiciels.zorgloob.com/graphe.php


    Now thats a mighty mashup!

  9. Google Mapplets, Unite! by wombert · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do they form the shape of a large robot and fight evil?

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  10. Re:Apartment hunting by corbettw · · Score: 2, Informative

    Someone already made this, it mashes up the data from Craigslist apartment listings with a map from Google Maps. Housing Maps. It's pretty cool, when I stumbled on it I had one of those why-didn't-I-think-of-that moments.

    Direct link to Houston listings.

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