14 DAY TRIAL // Google is in full PR mode with its Maps service recently. Getting kicked out of iOS was a blow, but it may have been a greater one for Apple. Still, Google has to remind everyone why it thinks it's the best while it works on its own native iOS map.
This is how MoreThanAMap.com came about. Or if not, the timing sure helps. The site is Google's new showcase of the Maps API.
Ever since Google decided to start charging heavy users for API access, there's been some backlash against the Maps API. Big players such as Foursquare switched to alternatives such as the open source OpenStreetMap.
More recently, Apple ditched the native Google Maps app and built its own, though that had nothing to do with the API terms. Still, Google wants to ensure everyone that its Maps service and the API are, well, "more than just a map."
"Today 800,000 active websites and apps are using the Google Maps API to create interesting and useful experiences for you," Google explained.
"To demonstrate the capabilities and features of the Google Maps API, today we’re launching a new website called morethanamap.com. This site showcases the unique features of the Google Maps API and how developers are using it," it said.
"Through morethanamap.com you’ll learn how developers can embed popular Google Maps features like Street View, public transit directions, location data, and advanced data visualization capabilities into their website or app," it added.
The site showcases the many ways the Maps API could be put to good use, from serving a basic map, to more advanced options and features.
The site is aimed at developers, but there's little to no technical data on the site itself. If you want documentation you'll have to head over to the main Google Maps API site.
