Google Inc mapping service available to developers
Portsmouth Herald National Business News: Today's Tech Bits: " Google Inc. is throwing the doors open on the technology used to power the search engines mapping service, allowing developers to create Web sites and software applications that merge Googles mapping information with data elsewhere.The decision comes as a growing number of programmers are hacking into Googles mapping technology to graphically illustrate vital information that might otherwise be ignored or not perceived as clearly. Until Wednesday, these hackers were officially violating Googles service agreement.
Web sites built by these hackers include Chicagocrime.org, which overlays Chicago Police Department crime statistics on a Google map. The site enables house-hunters to pinpoint specific crimes in any of the citys districts.
Housingmaps.com melds the technologies of Craigslist and Google to spot available housing in 29 U.S. cities. At Dynamite.co.uk/local, commuters in the United Kingdom can see countrys traffic conditions.
All the maps feature pushpin symbols that reveal text information when a user clicks on one.
Google is offering the technology free to any Web site that uses it to make applications that are distributed free of charge.
Yahoo also plans to make similar information available about its mapping service, though details have yet to be announced.
-The Associated Press"
posted by Jen @ 10:14 AM
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