Google Maps API: a better zoom control

[Darren Dirt]

Google Maps API: a better zoom control

http://earthcode.com/blog/2006/07/gzoom.html

Not only is this a great improvement on the default "zoom" feature in Google Maps, but the fact that he includes a sample HTML page (hidden until you click the link to show it -- search for "Show the full document example") is also nice.

And WOW that's a clean view-source... it's that easy to have an embedded Google Maps on any webpage. Sweet.

[Lazybones]

I just noticed recently that you could zoom google maps with a scroll wheel now.. Most impressive.

[Darren Dirt]

Another "improvement" on Google's map API:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/28/blipstar-lets-you-offer-maps-easily/

I really like this feature:

Blipstar is an easy way to leverage the Google Maps API to offer a map of multiple locations for website visitors from a spreadsheet. It's a pretty straight up use of the API but it's notably inexpensive and customizable.

Developed by Worcester, UK GIS lover Paul Clarke, it's a solid little application and a good example of, as Clarke writes on his blog, the low barrier to entry made possible by APIs.

Excel, DBF, TXT and CSV formated files containing location names and addresses can be uploaded through the web interface, the display can be customized and a pop up map inserted with javascript. It's marketed as a store locator, but organizations wanting to highlight any types of locations could potentially use the service.

I can imagine door-to-door salesmen would enjoy this

[Darren Dirt]

"Overplot" = Google Maps + "Overheard in New York" http://persistent.info/archives/2006/06/26/overplot

PS: Yikes!