The world as frankps sees it!
Posts tagged Google Maps
Bing Maps and OpenStreetMap
0I have long been looking for an alternative to Google Maps, and I have found one: Bing Maps with OpenStreetMap. The OpenStreetMap support is added as layer for Bing Maps and the newest Bing Map App in the gallery. Lots of layers are available.
The solution is absolutely awesome, as Bing combines (mashup) OpenStreetMap and Flickr. On the screenshot you can see photos that I have published on Flickr from Mindszent and Mindszent on OpenStreetMap. I fast opened an OpenStreetMap account and added quite a few streets today.
I have also bought the iPad/iPhone application OffMaps, and it combines maps from OpenStreetMap with information from Wikipedia. So take that Google, one less service I use from you!
So why is OpenStreetMap getting so important? People, like you and me, gather location data across the globe from a variety of sources such as recordings from GPS devices, from free satellite imagery or simply from knowing an area very well, for example the area where they live. Maintaining maps cost a lot of money, so user input is very important to keep maps up to date. I for instance brought my geotracker on my trip to Rondane National Park in Norway, and would like to contribute the data to OpenStreetMap.
For more information, please visit the Bing Community blog.
Who wants Google Maps, after seeing this?
0I have just seen Blaise Aguera y Arcas is an architect at Microsoft Live Labs, architect of Seadragon and the co-creator of Photosynth, demoing augmented-reality functionality in Microsoft Live Maps. I have been using Microsoft’s map service more and more lately, as it works brilliantly here in Oslo. There are some important things that I miss, like being able to embed maps in to blog posts. I partically liked that Microsoft has been working together with the Flickr developers on some of the new functionality, and I hope that Flickr soon start using Live Maps instead of the now outdated Yahoo Maps on their service.
Here’s the TED talk, enjoy:
Microsoft’s Silverlight technology impresses me. It is used in their map service, so I hope that it will be available as plugin/extension for all major browsers soon.
iMapFlickr
0The map service is perhaps the weakest service on Flickr, and I have been looking for alternatives. This week I found one. iMapFlickr lets you easily create custom Google Maps from your geotagged Flickr Photos, and it, of course, let you embed the maps to your website or blog. You can even link the maps up on Facebook or Twitter. And best of all, it’s free!
iMapFlickr is a great mashup tool with customizable map settings (photo size, map height and pin style), and you can save your maps for later use as well. The tool is one of many Flickr tools that are available at Flickr App Garden.
I learned about possibility of Combining Map Flickr and Flickr on Digital allows for easy Online Mapping on Digital Photography School.