October 3rd, 2005

Google Maps Idea

by Joshua Porter  |   14 Comments  |  shortlink: http://bokardo.com/p/233

I need a tool that allows me to remember places using Google maps. I envision a web-hosted service on which I can add “places”, by address, to an ever-increasing inventory. I wanted to be able to open up my “places” and see all the locations that I’ve marked. This would make travelling much easier. Right now, I’m entering and re-entering addresses into Google Maps and it’s really a pain.

Kind of like bookmarks for web pages, but bookmarks for places instead. Really simple. A lot like FoundCity but more personal and, of course, not just New York City.

If someone already has this, please let me know!

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Comments

1.  Alex Barnett 9:32pm, Mon 3rd, 2005

Try Googel Earth, the download version (not web but does what you’re looking for).

Also Virtual Earth has a ’scratchpad’ so you can bookmark places – you can email the url too.

2.  Michael Makalkin 1:00am, Tue 4th, 2005

I think it’s a nice idea. It should be an online community service. Probably with restrictions to protect privacy. But you could share your places with others. Add a photo service to this and you will have a completely new experience.

3.  Michael Makalkin 4:28am, Tue 4th, 2005

Just found out: Ning. Looks like it’s just what you described

4.  Jon 12:01pm, Tue 4th, 2005

Enter address in Google Maps.
Click “link to this page”.
Bookmark it. Or tag it with del.icio.us.

Why build a fancy web app when the browser works just fine already?

5.  Andrew 12:08pm, Tue 4th, 2005

No, you don’t need the whole of Ning. Try Map Builder.

6.  Josh 12:11pm, Tue 4th, 2005

Not what I want, Jon. Bookmarking single addresses in Google Maps isn’t good enough. I already do that, and it’s not enough.

I’m talking about multiple items on one map, ala housingmaps, but instead of real estate info from Craigslist I want it to show a list of places that I define.

We don’t consume one place at a time, we consume many. To/From directions are just one example. Another is what I’m doing for the Web 2.0 Conference right now. I’m trying to figure out where everything is…the Conference hotel, my hotel, restaurants, businesses, landmarks, etc. I want it all on one map!

7.  Josh 12:22pm, Tue 4th, 2005

Andrew…you nailed it. MapBuilder exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

I noticed it was built using Yahoo! Maps, not Google. Interesting.

8.  Andrew Bidochko 2:05pm, Tue 4th, 2005

Hello Guys!
http://mapbuilder.net/ was built using Google Maps, but it allows to show your custom map using Yahoo map service as well.

~ Andrew Bidochko. MapBuilder Developer.

9.  Josh 2:26pm, Tue 4th, 2005

Andrew, thanks for pointing out what is blazingly obvious. MapBuilder is built using Google, not Yahoo. I was on some interior page and saw the part about custom maps using Yahoo…and didn’t go back to the map to double-check. Oopsie.

10.  Jason Salas 5:57pm, Fri 7th, 2005

I wrote a little utility in ASP.NET 1.x (http://weblogs.asp.net/jasonsalas/archive/2005/09/26/425959.aspx) into which you plug street addresses, which are then entered into a database. If you try and access the pushpins in Google (Maps) Local for the first time, the map hits a web service that does the geocoding, marks the point for future reference, and updates the profile in the database. Subsequent accesses execute faster, already being in the DB.

It’s not a full-in service, but if you want to do a little dev work and can read C#, I’d be happy to sendd you the code.

11.  Joe Reger 1:55pm, Sun 9th, 2005

Hi Josh! I think you’ve found your solution already, but I thought I’d throw Reger.com’s hat in the ring. Reger.com’s blogging platform allows you to geo-tag each blog entry using a google maps mashup and/or gps coordinates. My map is here. It was great to meet you at the Web 2.0 conference… keep up the great work! Joe

12.  Jared 6:20pm, Mon 24th, 2005

Josh, Looks like you’ve already found a solution to your problem, but you might want to check out CommunityWalk as well :)

13.  Quoten 8:35am, Mon 15th, 2007

that Google Earth is really getting addictive, trying to zoom in on places and especially looking for clues when exactly the snapshot was taken…