14 DAY TRIAL // Along with the new Windows 8 Consumer Preview
, Microsoft opened the Windows Store application portal for the public, providing users with the possibility to get a taste of Metro apps, and enabling developers to better understand what these would involve.
Today, the company announced the availability of the new Bing Maps SDK for Metro style apps, destined to offer application builders the possibility to integrate mapping capabilities into their Windows Metro style software.
Developers who have already tried to come up with Metro apps that would take advantage of Bing Maps AJAX v7 control have encountered a series of issues that will be eliminated through the use of the new SDK. The tool comes with a JavaScript control specifically designed for this.
“This new control is based on our AJAX v7 control, and thus shares a very similar API, but it’s also been enhanced to work within the local app context,” Dan Polivy, senior program manager, Bing Maps, explains.
This is only a beta release, but it does include support for the same map types, pushpins, polylines/polygons, infoboxes, and tile layers as AJAX v7. Moreover, it comes with the Venue Maps module.
One thing that should be noted here is that the SDK does not come with support for directions, traffic, overlays, and other modules at the moment. However, devs will still be able to render data provided by the REST APIs.
Additionally, the SDK arrives with support for building apps in C#, C++, or Visual Basic. The new code offers support for any native or managed Metro style app. It will also enable devs to build their own UI in XAML.
“One of the unique features of this control is its client vector rendering capability and full hardware acceleration—our ‘road’ map style (as of this beta release, for the US only) is rendered completely on the client, providing for smaller network data downloads and improved rendering performance compared to tile-based modes,” Polivy explains.
“In addition to road, this beta release also provides support for our Aerial and Bird’s eye imagery, as well as a traffic overlay. Because we’ve designed it for use with XAML, you can also overlay and position any custom XAML element over the map to enable all sorts of rich visualizations.”
Microsoft also implemented a new licensing model for the pre-release versions of Windows 8, so that developers could benefit from increased flexibility in developing and testing metro apps.
“The new Terms of Use for Pre-Release Windows 8 Metro style apps allows free and unlimited use of Bing Maps controls and APIs within your Metro style apps for the duration of the Windows 8 pre-release period,” Dan Polivy explains.
To benefit from this, devs will have to use a “Metro style apps (BETA)” key, which can be obtained from www.bingmapsportal.com. The commercial release of Windows 8 will arrive with other terms of use and conditions.
Download Bing Maps SDK for Metro Style Apps