Geo at Google I/O 2010

Thanks from the Geo API team for a making Google I/O a great event yet again! We really look at I/O as being for developers by developers, so each year our API engineering team makes the pilgrimage from Sydney, Australia to personally present the new APIs and features they’ve spent most of their time working on. These features and new APIs are, in most cases, requested by the Maps API community so it’s a real thrill for us to deliver on these requests in person.

For those that were unable to make it, we’ve got you covered! The following is a summary of the key Geo API announcements that were made, along with a link to each session page that (as of today) now includes full videos and presentation materials. To bookmark all Geo sessions, use this YouTube playlist. Refill the coffee and get comfy!

• Stepping up: Porting v2 JavaScript Maps API applications to v3 - We got right to it with this lead off session by Dan Lee who steps you through the ease of converting your Version 2 Maps API implementation to V3. In this session we also officially graduated V3 from Code Labs to make it our default Maps API version!


• Where you at? Connecting your users with the places around them - This session saw the official launch of the Latitude API and the preview of our forthcoming Places API Web Service. Places API launch partner Booyah even took the stage to demonstrate how they are implementing this new API into their geo-social gaming app.


• Moving beyond markers: Advanced Maps API customization - Prepare to be entertained as Jez Fletcher and Dave Day introduce you to our brand new Styled Maps feature which lets you customize the look and feel of the base Google map tiles!


• Fireside chat introduces Directions Web Service - The fireside chat format is a great chance to engage directly with geo developers and discuss the issues that are most important to them. We thought this was a great setting to deliver on our #1 most requested feature according to our request tracker: The new Directions Web Service!


• Mapping in 3D: Tips and tricks for Google Earth API and KML - Our resident KML and Earth API experts Josh Livni and Mano Marks took the stage in this talk to go deep on ways to integrate large datasets efficiently. They also announced several new features for the API including a very popular Google Earth feature: Historical Imagery! Take a look at these new features in the Earth API Developer Channel.


• Map once, map anywhere: Developing geospatial applications for both desktop and mobile - The days of maintaining several geospatial applications for several mobile and desktop platforms are gone! Mano Marks explains how to standardize with one implementation for both mobile and desktop, using the Maps API v3.


• Unleash your map data: Cloud computing for geospatial applications - Tom Manshreck takes you on a full tour of the Maps Data API to explain how this Geo API can be used to store and search against your geospatial data in the cloud (efficiently).


• The SketchUp 3D API: Working with 3D geospatial data - In this session Matt Lowrie shows you how to extend one of the most popular 3d modelling applications in the world using the SketchUp 3D API.


• How Maps API v3 came to be: Tips, tricks, and lessons learned in developing a cross platform desktop and mobile API - The Maps API v3 was a theme of our Geo track at I/O this year. We ended the event the same way we opened it, by giving developers a chance to learn from our experience in creating a fast, efficient Maps API v3 built for speed and mobile use cases.

As our new and existing Maps APIs continue to evolve we would love to stay connected with you. Be sure to join our Google Group, check out the Geo Developers Blog or follow @GoogleMapsAPI on Twitter!

By Mike Pegg, Google Geo API Team