Yahoo Maps API

January 14th, 2007

I decided I wanted to utilize one of the mapping APIs currently available online to map my upcoming trip to Europe. Being a fan of many of Google’s online tools such as Gmail and of course Google search, I first decided to try out the Google Maps API. It wasn’t hard to get the hang of it, but it wasn’t as simple as I think it could have been.

I would have stopped there and happily used Google maps, but I noticed something that would pose a problem for my use of the Google maps API, it lacks the ability to geocode UK addresses. In short, you cannot easily add a marker to any locations within the UK. I did a little research and apparently the Royal Mail and Ordnance Survey own the copyright on addressing in the UK, so Google doesn’t support addresses within the UK.

After being disappointed by Google, I decided to try out the Yahoo Maps API. I was very pleased with Yahoo’s API. First, it allowed geocoding of the UK which would have got me right there. Second, It had more features, or at least more of its features were easy to implement, like being able to select satellite, normal maps, or a hybrid of the two. And finally, It was much easier to use, and it’s tutorials were just more helpful.

Anyway, I have decided to use Yahoo Maps API, and here is my first implementation, a Map of my journey from San Francisco to Galway.

[View Map]

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