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Google Maps APIs: An Overview

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CIOL Bureau
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HYDERABAD, INDIA: Google, the very name reminds us of Internet search engine and also Google Maps. These two features made Google a household name.

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Rarely do many of us bother about what goes behind these popular tools. However, the presentation by Rajdeep Dua, Developer Advocate of Google, familiarised many young developers with the sophisticated processes that help these tools run.

Presenting a session, 'Google Maps APIs: Overview', at the Google DevFest 2010 held in Hyderabad recently, Rajdeep presented the basics of Google APIs and how it was being upgraded. He introduced the developers to Geospatial Concepts, Fundamentals and Google Maps APIs – Version3.

“Google Maps uses WGS84 datum used by the GPS systems is valid till 2010. Google Maps APIs is a collection of software libraries and services hosted by Google, which enable development of applications to deliver information,” explains Rajdeep.

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Google is now coming out with the Version3 of Google Maps APIs, which they claim to be better, faster and easier to use than its earlier versions, such as Version2, which was on JavaScript API and had flash. However, they were static and had HTTP Geocoder.

Now Google is introducing Earth API, which is a part of Google Maps APIs Version3. It has Android Maps External library and also Apple iPhone MapKit framework.

The version2, which was based on JavaScript framework was introduce in 2005, has mashup concept of the world. Currently, the version has 150,000 active Maps JavaScript API sites. Google Maps APIs Version2 has a large and active developer community.

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On the other hand, Version3 which is still in the labs and is being developed from the scratch and was introduced in May 2009. This is yet to be made available in Premium version and is for desktop and mobile devices.

Most importantly Google Maps APIs Version3 is three times faster then version2 to load map on an iPhone.

Google Maps APIs Version 3 is built on MVC Architecture and has remove unneeded code, and started with static map. This version has already found many users amongst the developers’ community.

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