JavaScript Map API comparison

Look at comparison of performance and developer friendliness of JavaScript mapping APIs by Niall Kennedy here...

See also Mapstraction.com website (library that provides a common API for various javascript mapping APIs to enable switching from one to another) and demos.

Papervision3D Public Beta

Papervision is 3D engine released under the MIT Open Source litsense:

...It started as a simple way to transform MovieClips to achieve the 3D illusion. By changing their position, size, rotation and skew you could almost forgive the lack of perspective. But the latest version, fully optimised for Flash 8 Image API, uses triangle tesselation to distort textures. Now we can render complex objects in “real 3D”!


Read also Adobe's article" Mapping Flash video to 3D objects".

Nutimap beta

Now you can download and test Nutimap interactive mobile map application. It has Regio detailed maps and address data, MGMaps.com application.

It supports:
- Regio most detailed Estonian maps (up to house number level)
- Search for addresses and placenames in Estonia (also up to house numbers)

Other key features:
- Track your location using GPS (via Bluetooth)
- Save your favourite locations

To be done yet:
- Search objects (POI) around some place
- Route directions
- million other extension ideas...

Routing on the fly

Damn, Google! They've done it. One fancy idea from our roadmap we called 'routing on the fly' is implemented by Google and looks quite cool, see demo...

Our demo just to illustrate the idea is here...

Cooperation of Microsoft and Maporama

Microsoft’s Virtual Earth mapping platform featuring roadmaps, satellite and aerial imagery, plus bird’s eye and 3-D views will be available for Maporama Intl corporate customers. They will benefit from increasingly innovative and complete solutions to meet their business needs: geolocalization, business intelligence, geomarketing, and mobility. Read the press release...

XML socket demo

Demo-application with server pushing vector data into flash through XML socket:

Flex for ESRI?

Whereas we've combined Adobe Flash + AJAX technology and Minnesota server components to create rich internet applications (RIA's) many years for today, Esri has started partnership to develop their new generation platform also:

...Universal Mind Inc. today announced it will team with ESRI and Adobe to create a new generation of rich Internet applications that leverage ESRI’s enterprise GIS platform and Adobe® Flex™ software to make geographic analysis and access easy and ubiquitous. Read more (DM 22.06.2007)...


See also Google Maps travel and exploration mashup Geowalk with new UI made with Adobe Flex 3(See previous version of GeoWalk). More from Googlemapsmania

Route animation demo

Simple application for route animation demonstration purposes:

Is it allowed?

Many customers have asked, is it possible to use Google free API for applications like SeeMe launched lately. The answer is: NO, IT'S NOT ALLOWED! License says: "Except where you have been specifically licensed to do so by Google, you may not use Google Maps with any products, systems, or applications installed or otherwise connected to or in communication with vehicles, capable of vehicle navigation, positioning, dispatch, real time route guidance, fleet management or similar applications".

See also additional terms of Google API:
…Service may not be used: (a) for or with real time route guidance (including without limitation, turn-by-turn route guidance and other routing that is enabled through the use of a sensor), or (b) for, or in connection with, any systems or functions for automatic or autonomous control of vehicle behavior.

First application from our competitor in paper maps market

We have waited for years when the day comes our competitor in paper maps market starts to serve internet maps and build webmap applications. The day has come!

True, the first application is rather example of how a map application should not be built on 21th century. It's good illustration of architecture we tried to avoid starting development of MapCat SDK years ago (use together with LiveHTTPheaders sidebar). Still, it works somehow regardless some serious usability issues and probably next version will already be better. Potential competitor in Estonian market for some years and I hope it makes us stronger also :-) Worth to be blogged!