|
|
|||||
Poly9 Free Earth
Poly9 has released a new free 3D globe called Free Earth. It uses Flash, but requires no other download and cross-browser. That spinning blue marble is really sweet looking.
Using their Javascript API you can add placemarks (as you can see below with the tarsier marking the O'Reilly offices), video, and control the globe's movement.
Poly9 is a group of hackers in Quebec City. They have created a lot of great mapping and telephony projects over the years including ASCII Maps, NORAD Tracks Santa, and JabPhone (IM to phone via Jabber).
Free Earth is getting their data from PlaceBase's geodata marketplace Pushpin. Pushpin has data from Claritas, ESRI, Navteq and the US Census. PlaceBase has also been working with smaller sites (such as DeadCellZones) to showcase their custom tile work. PlaceBase is a small startup based in Los Angeles. The liberal APIs of Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, and Microsoft have whet the appetites of websites for maps. As sites start to rely on the geo aspect of their business more they are going to want their own style of maps and not give branding to one of the larger mapping companies. Startups like Placebase, Poly9, and deCarta are gearing themselves up to take advantage of this coming trend by offering custom maps, geo applications, and data marketplaces. Both Poly9 and deCarta will be at the Where 2.0 conference in San Jose at the end of the month. Some of the startups in our Launchpad are also going after this business trend.
|
|||||
© 2012, O'Reilly Media, Inc. (707) 827-7019(800) 889-8969 All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on oreilly.com are the property of their respective owners. |
|||||
Comments: 4
Kevin Curry [10 May 2007 09:30 PM]
Interesting. The capability is clumsy and lacking. But, Blue Marble in the browser is a differentiator. Your argument that sites wanting maps will opt for location services vice co-branding with a big map provider is most intriguing.
Adam [11 May 2007 01:06 AM]
I like the idea of a new project in this area - especially the free use for non-commercial purposes. Obviously it will only win if the quality of the maps meets up to it's big competitors
michael holloway [11 May 2007 10:36 AM]
Yesterday I left a message entitled 'hi-jacked', at O'Reilly's webmaster email address about this page.
Today, by being extremely patient, I was able to get to this point (two clicks, two scrolls) in 10 minutes. Perhaps my computer is to slow or small to handle the above application?
Yesterday, I thought I was being attacked by a Trogen, but no evidence of that is apparent.
Does any of this make sense to you? :-(
Thanks in advance of your response.
Sara Silver [25 September 2007 06:16 PM]
Wow, this is so cool. I think I can see where I live.