SubscribeHooray for Google Maps
Written by angus December 29th, 2006 . Tags: edushi, Google, Hong Kong, maps, mashups, Web 2.0.Now that Google has implemented a street level map for Hong Kong, people here can begin work on their cool little mashups.
Before this implementation, anyone who would like to use a Google Map-like map would have to go through the Hong Kong Government and pay them some ridiculous amount and change to use their maps, I have no exact figure, but I was told they charge by clicks and zooms also. One of the popular maps used locally is the Centamap, it’s quite handy and dead-on accurate (but the Government charges you an arm and a leg to use it and that’s no good if you are one of the few web innovators in HK). I don’t think you can build mashups with that particular map.
Still, in terms of online maps, I think Edushi has the coolest street level map around. I just love the Sim City feel to it.
Anyhow, I can now spend some quality time looking through the HK map and their map API.
Agree. It is quite interesting that we share similar view on the e-map development in h.k. In term of API / mashup, Google is certainly the top end provider. However, Centamap does provide a lot on localized searching. Alhtough all those information are available from the h.k. government, it seems that Google or ?? does / will not have much interest investing in hk e-map …
i have made a crossover on the information of centamap and google map for prototype of the possible to enable the search function of the google map for hong kong address. the link is listed below
http://map.rssconnect.net/
I hope that google would be provide similar service in the near future