MapQuest Platform: Free Edition of Mapquest's developer APIs
Written by LBSzone
Sunday, 09 March 2008
We just recently heard from the Mapquest comm team about MapQuest's new
free, feature-rich and competitive developer offering - MapQuest
Platform: Free Edition - the offering was announced via the MapQuest
Dev blog (http://devblog.mapquest.com/).
This new offering of Mapquest's developer APIs (aka. "MapQuest
Platform: Free Edition) has taken nearly all the features of the
platform and made them freely available to developers.
Mapquest also comments how they've also been rebuilding their geospatial web services
platform. Starting with the 5.0 releases, the team has rebuilt much of
the platform from the ground up. Currently at version 5.2 and with 5.3
in beta (available at http://developer.mapquest.com/beta/), we wanted to showcase something competitive in regards to a truly robust free offering.
MapQuest Platform: Free Edition Features:
�Six APIs
- We're giving developers greater flexibility and
choice by enabling them to develop in a variety of programming
languages and environments, they can even mix and match: Java, C++,
.NET, JavaScript, AS3 (Adobe ActionScript: Flash, Flex, AIR), and our
newest API: FUJAX (Flash Under JavaScript and XML), which allows
developers to write in JavaScript, yet leverage the power of Flash.
�A Rich Mapping Interface for creating Rich Internet Applications with our JavaScript, AS3, or FUJAX APIs
- Aerial Imagery and Hybrid Views - Satellite imagery and aerial photography.
- Smart Rollovers - Rollover windows that adapt their
size and positioning on the map based on the content placed in the
window.
- Smooth Zoom - Animated transitions between zoom levels.
- Globe View - A map of the world presented as an interactive globe.
- "Flickable" Maps - Maps that continue to pan based on speed and friction settings.
- Advanced Shape Overlays - Build apps that allow users to create and interact with a variety of overlays on maps.
- Advanced Map Marker Features - With "declutter
mode," automatically move collided markers (POIs) to alternate
positions on the map with a customizable leader line pointing back to
their original location.
�Unlimited Maps - Worldwide: Standard or Tiled.
�Unlimited Geocoding - Multi-line and Single-line
Geocoding, Real-time Batch Geocoding, Reverse Geocoding, Postal Code
and Town Geocoding.
�Unlimited Routing - Point-to-Point, Multi-point or Optimized. �Simplified Data Management - MapQuest offers access to simple tools to upload and manage location information to help keep websites accurate and relevant.
Mobile Technology Feature - Top 10 Business Apps for Android - Android has become one of the most popular mobile operating systems
in the world due to advanced software, competitive manufacturers, and an
app market that is filled with exciting and useful applications. Read
on for this fine Top 10 List compiled by tech writer, Blake Sanders
The Really Big List of Mapping, Geo location Mobile developer resources, APIs and Tools - The Mobile Ecosystem... no question that mobile is huge and
the opportunity for developers, in particular, geo developers! There's
loads of developer resources on the web so to help the developer,
here's a listing of just some of the fine dev resources, blogs,
toolsets and more to consider when developing or porting your app to a
smartphone or Tablet.
ArcGIS.com Mashup Tutorial with Flickr and Foursquare data-
Here's a simple "how to" tutorial on working with the free ArcGIS.com
to easily import KML or RSS data from Flickr and foursquare into ArcGIS
to create your own custom map mashup. ArcGIS.com has some recent
updates including support for KML, be sure to check it out!
Most Users of Free Photo Apps Say Adding Cool Effects is Most Useful - Adding cool effects
to photos was rated as the most useful thing by more than halfof
consumers surveyed using free online photography services, according to
CatchFree a free
online service that helps people find the best free mobile and web applications
to perform useful tasks.
Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet Up Close - No Replacement for the iPad But Pretty Darned Sweet - As could be
expected, speculation and blogging is rampant with many stories and
pseudo "reviews" coming out, many of them touting the next "iPad
killer".
Mobile Developer Resource - MapQuest & The Mobile Worker - Facility management companies, surveyors, multi-level marketing,
insurance claims, pipeline companies, water utilities; all have field
workers who would benefit from mobile applications. Not only checking in
to work sites, but keeping a record of the work done
Flickr GPS Photo Tag Tip - Here's a tip for Flickr users who want to share their GPS information
with their photos. note, in order to do this you'll need to be
capturing photos using a GPS-enabled or GPS-aware camera (see you're
smartphone hardware settings to ensure that GPS or location sharing is
turned "ON)".
Mobile data usage in Canada to triple between 2010 and 2012 - Some interesting, yet not terribly surprising, numbers on mobile
usage coming out of Canada. According to a report summarized on
Techvibes, mobile usage is soaring, in particular, the smartphone
segment
Social Location Directory
Do you have a location-aware application, social location service or other location-sensitive service that you'd like to share with us? Please browse this growing directory of Social location Services and feel free to leave a link to your favorite service! See the Directory HERE
Suggested Reading
The Underground Guide To The iPhone:
The iPhone is – if I may say so – one of the greatest mobile
revolutions of the past decade. More and more, mobile phones seem to
materialize out of our wildest dreams. Because of the tight integration
of third-party applications, you can do nearly everything with your
device — be it gaming, working, fooling around, and of course phoning.
Good Mobile Messaging: Executives and professional field forces spend an increasing amount of time on the road tending to business.
Mobile Apps - Native or Web?:
You probably have a plan to build a mobile app, but you've struggled
with the basic question - Should I build it using open web standards
such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or should I build it as a native app
for the devices I want to target?
iBike Coach App- a new “Always On” feature always gathers data
Nike+ GPS App- for sports tracking, recording and sharing
Featured Events
Content & Apps for Automotive Europe 2012 (18-19 April, Germany)
will give you key insights on how in-vehicle connectivity is being
revolutionised as OEMs integrate dynamic content to stay relevant
throughout the vehicle life cycle.
Location Intelligence for Enterprise - Europe 2012, January 16-17, London Hear from Google, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tesco, Willis, Oracle,
ESRI, Microsoft, PBBI and many more as they debate the best strategies
for business models and integration.
Consumer Telematics Show 2012 (Jan 9, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, USA) is the most prestigious and
dynamic consumer telematics focused meeting for the automotive industry.
Held in Las Vegas on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES),
this year's senior-level speakers will include General Motors, Audi,
Toyota, Panasonic, Continental, Hughes Telematics, Gartner, KIA,
Mercedes-Benz and many more
Esri Dev Summit - The
Esri Developer Summit (DevSummit) brings together developers and GIS
professionals from all over the globe. March 26-29, 2012, Palm Springs,
CA
