Sonet Journal

Google Maps announced an update to its Mapping API revision 2.47 we followed as recommended and did the upgrade to GeoID Visitor Location

We’ve noticed that a lot of developers have upgraded from v1 to v2 of the API, which is great! We encourage everyone to do this.

There were a few problems initially and it appears it doesn’t like sites with no tables and instantly broke in IE where the little window jumped to the middle of the map.
After a few fixes were implemented it then broke in Opera 8. Back and forth we went until we had reached a happy medium and now working fine.
We took the opportunity to update the IP database as well and now the maps are working better than ever. A little window appears to the bottom right of the main Google map and you can drag inside it. Also when you zoom in on continent and a small blue transparent box appears in the window - visually it’s appealing but I am not sure what it does or how it would help.

Google have also updated its satellite imagery which we can’t notice the difference in GeoID as of yet - maybe its there but escaping me at this moment.
All in all I’m pleased with the new upgrade and now the work is cut out to integrate it into the weather system we are building.

On Friday Google announced it would rebrand back to the Google Maps from Google Local.

I think this is a good idea as no one really referred to it as Google Local and the maps always stuck within our minds even when using the local directions on the map we would refer to it as Google Maps UK.

Talking about Google Maps - for the Search and Go project we have been building a weather system that will give live up-to-the-minute feeds and data into the portal. There were a couple of issues we had to contend with and this was making it as accessible as possible. We have got quite close - not completely as the system has tools within it that won’t let it go to AAA but its getting there.
When it came to the weather mapping part we decided to use Google Maps for the weather system and feed the data as overlays onto it. This has proved harder than it sounds and there have been many issues but now it’s running smoothly and in the process of being debugged. We will have the Online Weather Reports up within the next 14 days or sooner.

Here is a little screenshot of things to come - unfortunately doesnt do it justice as it doesnt capture the full screen - it however gives an idea:

I have just been informed that bug ironing will be going on for the next few days and then it will be incorporated into the CMS.

Related Reading:
Google Maps API Revision