Favorite Maps

Over the time I’ve seen many maps created by MapBuilder. So I decided to share my favorite one (list will grow up).

Central Park Birding Locations
An interesting outdoor urban mashup showing the locations of various types of birds in Central Park. Info balloons show pictures of the birds as well as referencing the page numbers from the book titled: "Birds of Central Park".

Musashi University Cycling Club
Nice map create by Japanese guys. A lot of pictures. I do not understand Japanese but map has the following tags:Miyako Island 東北 Yaeyama Islands kyushu Kanto Tohoku

The Many Travels of Dan
Map integrated with AudioBlog.com.

Jerez de la Frontera
Hotels, monuments and more... I would like to note icon customisation on this map.
More favorites coming soon...

eHub Interviews MapBuilder

It took more than month to get my interview published on eHub. Finally it's live.
Hope you will enjoy reading it!
Emily! Thanks for the post and keep up the good work.


---------- About eHub ---------
eHub is ranked in the Technorati Top 1000 blogs, is a member of the Web 2.0 Workgroup, and was recently cited in Forbes.com, and has been listed in Daypop's Top 40, PubSub's Top 100, Digg.com's top links, and has been on del.icio.us popular with over 2100 bookmarks for over a month. eHub has also recently been mentioned by leading writers, bloggers, sites, and technologists including Seth Godin, Stowe Boyd in Corante, Metafilter, Waxy, Josh Porter, Barb Dybwad in the Social Software Weblog, Ed Sims, Mark Evans, Pete Cashmore, Planet Ajaxian, AJAX developer, and numerous others. Buzz about eHub: http://www.emilychang.com/go/ehub/about/


eHub Interviews is a project by Emily Chang and Max Kiesler of Ideacodes, a strategic web design consultancy in San Francisco,
California. We offer a full suite of services, including strategy, design, consulting, web applications development, blog tools, and
next generation web.

JavaScript Injection: Map Size

Recently JavaScript Injection method has been slightly updated to set map size dynamically using values specified on “Map Controls” page. It means that you can resize your map without any source code modification. Just update map size on “Map Controls” page!

JavaScript Injection Method

JavaScript injection method has been updated with recent “Direction” features and new info window structure. It’s necessary to upgrade your existing html code(use "JavaScript injection" methods from map Implementation page) to add directions feature to your map. Also do not forget to switch on direction feature on the "Map Controls" page.

Info Window Structure

Recently I've updated a css style for info window (popup window which appears once user clicks on the marker). That update was done to allow users change layout css styles of “direction” box. So right now info window has the following structure:

MapBuilderIW
	MapBuilderIWCaption
	MapBuilderIWContent
	MapBuilderIWFooter
		MapBuilderIWFooterZoom
		MapBuilderIWDirections

By default default window styles defined as the following:

#MapBuilderIW { width: 350px;}
#MapBuilderIWContent {height: 120px; overflow:auto;}
#MapBuilderIWCaption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; color: #369; border-bottom: 2px solid #369;}
#MapBuilderIWFooter {margin-top: 5px; font-size: 8pt; }
#MapBuilderIWFooterZoom {}
#MapBuilderIWDirections{ margin-bottom: 10px;}

In some cases users want to have small info window (with size of default google-map info window). To get it done it's necessary to remove all style references listed above from generated source code or just put the following:

#MapBuilderIW {width: 200px;}
#MapBuilderIWCaption {font-weight: bold;}

Shared Map Development. Community Around the Map.

Recently new feature has been added to MapBuilder.net. Users are able to sent request for join development for any existing map. It’s so called “Shared Map Development”. Each request must be approved by owner. This new feature will allow users to build community around particular map.

Who can use this feature?
Bloggers, people who build community maps, etc.

How it works? Just search for map you are interested in, view the map (you’ll see something like this) and request permission to join the map using form on the “Tools” panel. Map owner will grant requested or some other access level for you. You'll get email notification about once your request will be accepted.

Geocoding API

Recently I've changed Geocoding provider for address search on the main page. I began to use Yahoo! Geocoding API implemented in my Geo!Suggest application.
I like Geocoding results from Yahoo much better than results from Geocoder.us or Geocoder.ca.

Statistical Info

According to my statistic at least 40 mashups are created every day using http://www.mapbuilder.net service. People tag more than 200 locations per day.

Mapbuilder supports Yahoo! Maps AJAX API.

This really neat how easy is to add support of new API provider - Yahoo! Tonight I've added feature which allow MapBuilder users to build map using Yahoo! Maps AJAX API. That feature is available under "Map Implementation" menu .
Right now I see a huge benefit for MapBuilder users - they can change map providers by one click. MapBuilder will do the rest. Here's an example of Yahoo! AJAX map created by MapBuilder:
source code demo, map preview.
Happy mapping!

Mapbuilder.net makes Google mashups easy!

More and more real estate and property companies use MapBuilder.net to plot theirs listings. Here’s examples:
BECK Property Company, Inc.
Bob Taylor Properties, Inc.
WeBuy05.com

MapBuilder on programmableweb.com

I've noticed that link to MapBuilder.net was posted on the API Profile: Google Maps page in the "Related Links" section (scroll bottom to see it).
Details available here.

FAQ section

Finally FAQ section has been added to Mapbuilder.
I gave answers for some questions in that document. I'm trying to keep MapBuilder simple but I'm willing to answer more questions. If you have any do not hesitate to drop me email.

Yahoo! Maps, New APIs and MapBuilder.net

The Yahoo! Maps team rocks after releasing new version of Yahoo! Maps and adding new APIs! The new set of services is really what I need and what I expected to have for the MapBuilder.net and other mapping project development.

I did not check out yet but think that Yahoo! Geocoding API will beat all existing Geocoders.* or force them to create better service. But as far as most of Geocoders.* have been created without proven business model, it will be tough time for them to compete with Yahoo! Geocoding API.

I'm looking forward to play with new Yahoo!Map API features and implement something new and cool in the http://www.mapbuilder.net/ - service with mapping user interface which allows users to build custom maps without any knowledge of any existing map APIs.