Posts Tagged ‘map creation’

MAPme: bringing better Google Maps Widgets to you

September 3rd, 2008

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MAPme is a map authoring services based on the Google Maps API that allows for a better collaboration in a map and lets you add multimedia to them in a easier way. they also lets you export that map as a Flash Widget so you can put it in your blog, myspace or wherever flash can be placed.

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This is not a new idea. it is something that uMapper does and it does it with 3 services. in the case of uMapper their best implementation is the Virtual Earth one. uMapper is more focused on the actual mapping and map pointing tools along the social factor for the maps. MAPme is more focused in replicating the Google Maps service  while making more easy of use to the adding of multimedia along some MAPme only tools and of course enabling a social factor to the maps.

The MAPme  pages in the site are quite messy compared to uMapper and so are the way the maps are shown. the widgets are quite basic in terms of look and functionality compared to uMapper but should prove to be a delight for Google Maps uses because it truly makes the experience portable and because they are easier to use around that the official solutions.

One thing to note is that in the MAPme map pages the only option to share the widgets is via embed code quick sharing in 3 different sizes. there is not a High Spread Sharing module you can use and the same is true for the widget. this is of course a serious disappointment to me and it does not makes sense. but the service is new so it should be able to evolve and adapt if all goes well. MAPme does represent the perfect option for those using Google Maps but not for anyone beyond that service. at least not yet.

MAPme

via TC

uMapper: Easy to create and Easy to Embed Map Widgets

August 6th, 2008

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There are a lot of way to embed maps in blogs and map widgets are offered in different capacities from the top Map providers. but none of those options are as easy as uMapper. you can create a map in less than 3 minutes and you can choose your preferred map provider from Virtual Earth, Google maps and OpenStreenMaps.

(embedded above) This is a sample uMapper Widget that shows the Long Way Down that was the latest motorbike adventure with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. They  travel down through Europe, and then Africa – from Tunisia to South Africa.

You don`t need to create a uMapper account  to create a map and be able to save the KML info so you can recreate the map elsewhere. but you need an account for the map to be saved and so you get a umapper page for your map. in the umapper page there is a high spread sharing module by Gigya that offers you quick link installs for MySpace, Friendster, Facebook, Orkut, Blogger, LiveJournal, Wordpress and iGoogle plus the generic embed code for the widget. that can be put everywhere manually.

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The uMapper Maps are created in a Flex powered Map editor where you can quickly create your map adding pointers, lines and frames into it. other advantage is that you can set the map as a map wiki so anyone can edit it. there are other map mashups that allow this but none with the ease that umapper offers. once you end creating your map, it will be converted to simple flash so you can place it anywhere. the widget itself can offer the embed code to anyone that sees it in order to make it easy to share. it would be good if they could put a high spread sharing module  within the map widget too in order  to make it even easier for anyone to share the map widget around. even without it, umapper offers the best embeddable maps i have seen so far. totally recommended for those looking to embed maps in their blogs or social network profiles.

uMapper

via Mashable