Using Styled Maps with the Static Maps API

Ugly Map

My first play with the new Styled Maps feature in the Static Maps API is this ugly map.

This map uses eight static maps with different styles applied to each map. I think you'll agree this is one ugly map.

We Fade to Grey

This one is a little more attractive (but no more useful).

Again the map contains eight static maps with different styles applied to each. This time the colour is gradually taken away in each map to end up with the last map tile being entirely grey-scale.

Flashing Map

In this one I've used the same map styles as in the previous example, only this time I've animated through the images to create a flashing map.

It's a strange effect that I can't really seeing having much practical application.

Zoom in Static Map

I've long admired the use of static maps on Flickr. On Flickr geo-tagged photos are accompanied with a small static map that when you mouseover zooms in on the location.

I've tried to create something similar with this example. If you roll over the map with your mouse the map will zoom in. To achieve this I've just used two static maps with the same map style. One map however has been set to a higher zoom. When you rollover the first map a bit of javascript replaces the zoomed out static map with the zoomed in static map.

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Styled Static Maps Launches

Google has released Styled Static Maps. This means that developers can now use Styled Maps not only with the Google Maps V3 API and the Maps API for Flash but with the Static Maps API as well. The Static Maps API is useful for those who want to display a map in a browser where Javascript or Flash isn’t supported or to create a lightweight thumbnail map.



The Static Maps API Wizard is a great tool for creating static maps. Currently it doesn't include options to create a styled map, so there could be a good opportunity here for a developer to create a Static Styled Map Wizard app.

Via: Google Geo Developers Blog

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Find an Apartment with Google Maps

MyApartmentMap

The apartment search engine MyApartmentMap officially launched yesterday.

MyApartmentMap was originally created in 2006 as a simple mashup of real estate and Google Maps to help its creator find an apartment in Boston. MyApartmentMap now provides detailed rental data for over 70,000 locations including states, cities, colleges, neighborhoods, military bases, and zip codes. Its database contains over 400,000 apartments from all 50 states.

Using MyApartmentMap users can search and view apartments with the help of Google Maps. It is possible to refine a search by location, price and number of bedrooms. Nearby grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and other points of interest can also be seen with the click of a button.

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Guess the Photo with Google Maps

Photo Location Game

In this Google Map game you have to guess where in the world a photograph was taken. Each photograph shows the view from someone's window and all you have to do is guess where the photo was taken.

A grid has been placed over the map and you have to click on the grid square which you think contains the location of the view. If you guess wrong the square will be shaded red. If you guess right the map will zoom in one level and you then need to guess again.

With each correct guess you narrow down your hunt and get closer to finding the exact location of the picture. However you only have 50 guesses in all to win the game. There are three different views to find.

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Google Map of London Coffee Houses

London Coffee Houses of the 17th & 18th Century

Inspired by the recent Atlas of the Rhode Island Book Trade I decided to create a map of the London Coffee Houses of the 17th & 18th centuries.

In their heyday there were over 2,000 coffee houses in London. Much has been written about the importance of the coffee house as providing a public sphere for discussion and debate that was largely free from class distinction. Many of modern day London's most important institutions were formed from meetings that first took place in the coffee houses of this time, including the Stock Exchange, Lloyds of London and the Royal Academy.

This Google Map shows the (often approximate) location of some of the most influential of the coffee houses of the 17th & 18th centuries. In creating the map I used Esa's Google Maps API v3 Sidebar with makeMarker() template. I used the Styled Maps function to make the map grey-scale and for the markers I used an image from google-maps-icons.

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Overheard in New York on Google Maps

Overplot

Here is an oldie that should brighten up your day. Overplot last featured on Google Maps Mania over four years ago but is as funny as ever.

Overplot maps funny conversations overheard in New York and posted to Overheard in New York. Each conversation posted has a fairly precise location attached so Overplot is able to display the conversations on a Google Map of New York.

If you are interested in how the map was created there is also a lengthy explanation at persistant.info.

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Create Your Own Google Maps

TargetMap

TargetMap is a powerful new creation tool to make your own Google Map mashups.

To create a map with TargetMap you can import data from an Excel file. Target Map can then automatically geocode your data as long as it includes zip / postal codes. It is also possible to use data from other public TargetMaps. Maps created with TargetMap can be shared online and embedded in blogs and websites.

All maps created with TargetMaps can be shared via the TargetMaps public library where all maps are available for viewing.

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