The Google Maps API squad relaxing on their 2 yr sabbatical
I was taken dorsum yesteryear the reaction to my post on The Slow Death of the Google Maps API. That ane post got xx times every bit many hits every bit the minute virtually pop post on Google concluding week.
I wasn't surprised that the post was pop inwards some quarters. After all, at that topographic point is a pathological hatred of Google Maps inwards the military machine fly of the opened upwards mapping community. However I was surprised yesteryear the consummate lack of disagreement alongside the post inwards the post's comments or inwards the discussions that followed on Twitter in addition to Google+.
I was expecting many inwards the mapping community to defend the Google Maps API. After all it is soundless hugely pop in addition to is soundless a vivid mapping API. With no ane defending the Google Maps API against my assault I gauge I'll possess got to create in addition to then myself.
First off the headline of the post 'The Slow Death of the Google Maps API' was obvious click-bait, an endeavor to lure inwards readers alongside a sensationalist post title. The Google Maps API soundless remains pop alongside many map developers in addition to is apparently soundless real much alive.
Secondly, the primary thrust of my declaration was that the Google Maps API squad has been completely inactive over the concluding 2 years. This is demonstrably untrue. Over the concluding few years Google has been busy developing the splendid Google Maps SDK for iOS in addition to the Google Maps API v2 for Android.
It seems to me that Google run across mobile platforms every bit the hereafter of the spider web in addition to the Google Maps API squad hence seem to move focusing their efforts inwards supporting mobile devices. It exactly in addition to then happens that this is an expanse that I'm non especially interested inwards -but I hold off Google know their trouble concern far meliorate that I do.
Thirdly, despite the huge strides made yesteryear MapBox in addition to LeafletJS, Google Maps soundless has some built inwards advantages over some of its newer competitors. Google's extensive Street View coverage offers map developers unique access to street degree images inwards an e'er growing pose out of countries some the world.
Google's satellite imagery also provides map imagery that is less developed inwards its newer competitors. However MapBox are making huge strides frontward inwards providing aerial imagery in addition to I'm certain that they volition give-up the ghost along to improve inwards this area.
Google also apparently excels inwards search. The Google Places API provides map developers alongside unrivaled access to trouble concern locations in addition to points of involvement some the world. OpenStreetMaps Map Features render developers alongside access to like kinds of information withal the Google Places API provides the virtually like shooting fish in a barrel means for developers to exactly plug-in a powerful search engine for businesses in addition to points of involvement into their maps.
My belief is that where MapBox in addition to LeafletJS are overtaking the Google Maps API is inwards the expanse of command over map blueprint in addition to presentation. Mobile devices aside, I mean value that the big increment expanse inwards online mapping inwards the adjacent few years volition move inwards Map Storytelling. I promise that the form of mapped narrative, demonstrated in addition to then wonderfully inwards The Guardian's In Flight – Interactive Map concluding week, volition give-up the ghost to a greater extent than commonplace on the internet.
Maps are non bad tools inwards the visualization of information in addition to I believe that developers volition starting fourth dimension incorporating these information visualizations to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than into powerful mapped narratives. Not exactly using maps to explore information but using the information in addition to mapping APIs to tell the stories behind that data.
For these form of mapped narratives developers volition desire increasing command over the blueprint of the underlying map features of a maps API. The Google Styled Maps characteristic is expert but both MapBox in addition to LeafletJS render far greater command over the blueprint features of the displayed map layers. This is ane expanse where I believe Google needs to halt resting on its laurels.
There is ane other possible argue why the Google Maps API squad seem to possess got been in addition to then inactive. I've had my suspicions for a piece that the lack of novel features inwards the maps API may move because Google are busy working on the Google Maps API v4 (an API that ties inwards to a greater extent than tightly alongside the aspect in addition to experience of the novel aspect Google Maps). If that is truthful nosotros powerfulness good possess got to hold off for this year's Google I/O earlier nosotros listen of whatever novel developments inwards the Google Maps API.
