B Class DiagramTopA.2 Free   client serversideA.3 Proprietary & client-side

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German

A.3 Proprietary & client-side

Proprietary Web Mapping Application with 100% JavaScript

A.3.1 Google Maps

As of: May 15, 2007

1. General

Name Google Maps
URL
   Home http://maps.google.de
   Documentation API: http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/
FAQ: http://www.google.com/apis/maps/faq.html
   Download -
   Live Demo see Home
Current version 2.79 (API)
Last update April 18, 2007
License proprietary
Developed by Google, USA
Short Description GoogleMaps is a JavaScript API for the integration of dynamic maps into any website.
2. System
Architecture client-side
Programming language JavaScript
Prerequisites -
supported browser Firefox 0.8+, IE 6.0+, Safari 1.2.4+, Netscape 7.1+, Mozilla 1.4+, Opera 8.02+
Where applicable, integration with other software not specified
3. Community
Revision Administration -
Mailing Lists (URL) GoogleGroups:
http://groups.google.de/group/Google-Maps-DE (german)
http://groups.google.de/group/Google-Maps-API (english)
Developer ML
   Mails per month1-
   Total number of active developers2-
User ML
   Mails per month1-3
   Total number of active users2-3
Commercial support Google
4. Documentation
For installation/development/operation (suggestions, tutorials, URL) comprehensive API reference with many practical examples; URL under (1)
5. Usability
All analysis is based on demo http://maps.google.de
Usability - General Impression GUI intuitive, clear and attractive; outstanding pan/zoom properties; very smooth and easy navigation

Main map

almost all components/tools are placed on the map; map size adjusts dynamically to browser window
Overview map minimizeable; section can be moved with Drag&Drop or double click; automatic, animated centering of section after panning; adjusts to style of main map
Layer overview not a typical layer display; three viewing types (Map, Satellite, Hybrid) can be selected through a button
Legend -
Scale bar Bar integrated into map
Toolbar not a typical toolbar: Print, e-mail, URL to this page as well as extensive search function, search businesses, get directions; only with google account: store locations and enter personal, geographically-referenced comments (through My Maps); plain and very clearly structured
Zoom bar integrated into map; incl. zoom-reset button in pan navigation panel
Pan navigation panel above zoom bar
General zooming switch between pan and zoom mode not required; zoom with zoom bar or double-click; good zoom depth orientation
Zooming with double-click yes
Zooming with mousewheel yes (good visual effect)
Zooming with zoom box -
General panning unhindered smooth panning with Drag&Drop; background reloading results in map movement without any (!) time delay
Zooming/panning with keyboard yes
Tiling yes
6. Other Features
All analysis is based on the demo http://maps.google.de
Analysis function -
Ssearch function address search (Geocoding), find businesses
Help function very comprehensive
Print function opens as HTML pop-up; print dialog opens automatically; notes can be added in a special field; satellite maps not printable
7. Notes
proprietary AJAX solution
good API for integration of maps into own website (integration only with time-consuming key process); commercial use not permitted
started on February 8,2005
changelogs: http://mapki.com/wiki/Changelog
8. Screenshot
of analyzed demo


© June 1, 2007 | Emanuel Schütze | some rights reserved.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Germany.


B Class DiagramTopA.2 Free   client serversideA.3 Proprietary & client-sideContentsGerman