Map Inspecting
16 February 2008
I have long thought I’d like a Google Map section to geo-tag photographs to, in a similar manner as I’ve done in Flickr and Panoramio. I like the Flickr implementation, but the quality of mapping isn’t as good as Googles’. Well now it’s landed – let’s say in beta form.
From the map points there are commonly links to slideshows of photographs such as those presently run off Lightbox, or these on Flickr. Although Flickr seems to be the popular one, Picasa has the advantage of being viewable on the iPhone as well and is very suitable for this purpose.
The new page is built on the Google AJAX API loader, the tutorials seem to use the old code, but they’re not too bad to follow and the new is backward compatible, so mashing the two together was OK.
Having been through the Google Concepts and examples, I found the best way of learning and getting the page to work, was the long established method of unashamedly picking-over other site’s code. Having enabled the debug menu in Safari a while ago, I’ve actually found myself using the Javascript console, a whole new language to me.
One thing I have noticed in this though, is that the webkit Inspect Element sometimes messes-up the code – the View Source gets it right, as does Opera’s Console.
Hopefully as the new page grows I will learn how to implement the zoom zones to reveal more specific map points within groups (trips) as the magnification (and requirement) grows.
Whales Revenge
Comments
4 Responses to "Map Inspecting"
Looking good David; you’ve gotten further with the Maps API than I ever did. I didn’t even know there was a “terrain” option-is that new or have I had my head under a rock?
I originally wanted to place pins on the map linking to travel posts and albums much like you, but having to edit the XML by hand for each and every link was no sport. Guestimating the GPS coords was a pain too. I tried a couple of geotagging plugins for WordPress but was unsuccessful in getting their output linked to the Maps API, despite Craig sending me his WP integration code
What I’d really like to see is a Maps implementation where you drag-and-drop a new pin on the map and it pops up dialog containing fields for title, description, thumbnail (a “well” for drag-and-drop image), and a “more” URI (for linking to the blog post, gallery, etc.). Details entered, you confirm and your pin is created. Sure this is all possible with Ajax. Let me know when you’ve finished the coding, OK?
Hi Bruce, not sure how long the Terrain option has been here, but it’s coded with a “G” (as all the view options are) and not the newer AJAX “google.maps.” so I guess a while.
I know what you mean about faffing around with xml files, but that is the quicker(!) way than coding in the page javascript itself. Maybe this is something Automator can do, just a thought I had after writing RSS2GR.
I use Map Point or Mapki for getting the lat/lng points – and as I haven’t got a GPS, I wouldn’t know how to easily convert. I guess it means accurately plotting when you’re out and about on your travels.
One thing I am looking at (and it’s a Textpattern thing) is to use a “txp:” tag for automatically geo-tagging blog posts – interesting article here that I haven’t digested yet.
When I’m feeling brave I’ll try to implement it, along with the zoom zones!
You’ve inspired me to have another crack at it, using a Google Maps Mashup plugin for WordPress.
Excellent – nothing like a bit of cross-pollination! (I’ll have to get that Textpattern version going.)
I’m after a automated link/button from the article post to map page, that zooms in to a pre-set level on the map.
At present, I’m wrestling with the best method of presenting slideshows, not only from the map, but from blog posts. May have to get myself a copy of Aperture and make use of that .Mac account.
Adobe Lightroom has a neat SlideShow plugin – but it’s all Flash stuff.
Don’t know what camera you use, but I do know that Aperture takes the EXIF info from GPS equipped gear, to quote: