John Dowdell [05.04.06 04:59 PM]

Google and the others create interfaces to the actual map data generated by others, right? If so, then did ZoomIn achieve a business deal with a data provider before Google did, rather than actually create something before Google did? (I've seen regional deals like this in other areas of the past, and they're gnarly, not something I'd want to be involved in... more power to a startup if they could sign a particular data source before a larger group got around to that particular data service.)

  Ben [05.04.06 05:55 PM]

Hey John,

I'm the technical director at Projectx. We got the mapping data through our Australian partners and released it using our own api (that uses parts of the awesome ka-map mapping system)... So the credit for the data negotiation goes to our point man Angus-from-brisbane.

  John Dowdell [05.04.06 07:30 PM]

Good work, Angus! :)

(One thing that I think will be interesting to watch over the next 5-10 years will be such unique data providers... the mapping services, the phone directories, the local calendar providers, the bookreview conglomerators... Google's goal of centralizing all the world's data makes sense, but it's hard to see how the actual situation will evolve. Who owns the traffic-monitoring rights in Tokyo, New Delhi, Los Angeles? Things like this will become important questions, I think.)

  Campbell [05.05.06 04:08 AM]

Note the New Zealand version of Zoomin too :o)

  Harvey Appelbe [05.05.06 06:38 AM]

Unlike Microsoft, who recently bought up the large aerial photography providers, I'm not so sure Google and Yahoo want to centralise data.
Seems to me (with GeoRSS) that G, Y! and MSFT are looking to create sources of spatial reference data other than the mapping agencies (public and private).
Given the choice I think they'd rather map content were freely available to everyone - a commodity. They'd like to see agencies that hold spatial data (e.g. national parks) to publish it. Or better again, they'd like consumers to collaborate in the creation of spatial data (see OpenStreetMap.org).

  Robert Stainsby [05.05.06 06:07 PM]

I have written a free plug-in for the Mac OS X Address Book to work with ZoomIn. You can download the plug-in here.



The plug-in is a beta, and only works with Australian addresses for now. I hope to add New Zealand addresses soon.

  Adam Brown [05.06.06 10:02 AM]

Looks like someone wants to be bought by Google ;-)

  fred jones [05.08.06 04:33 PM]

Ask.com offers aerial imagery for some Australian locations.
http://tinyurl.com/kumvj

  Pat Allan [05.13.06 01:21 AM]

Nat, thanks for pointing this out. Ben, amazing work... it's great to have such a simple and elegant map interface for Australia. And the URLs - so clean, so smart - that's the thing that has me sold.

Robert, the plug-in is an added bonus - works quite well :)

  baby [02.27.08 02:30 AM]

Maybe they didn't want people to see their offices? A conspiracy theory!
Truth be told, I'm watching Google with a keen eye. Some people say they want to centralize data, some say they want to OWN all the information out there. I doubt that they will (realistically) be able to do that. But they certainly want to be a centralization of data of sorts – not that they can claim a monopoly, but more like they could just be the more popular choice. It would be dangerous (and, perhaps impossible) if someone could get the monopoly on information.

  baby [02.27.08 02:47 AM]

Maybe they didn't want people to see their offices? A conspiracy theory!
Truth be told, I'm watching Google with a keen eye. Some people say they want to centralize data, some say they want to OWN all the information out there. I doubt that they will (realistically) be able to do that. But they certainly want to be a centralization of data of sorts – not that they can claim a monopoly, but more like they could just be the more popular choice. It would be dangerous (and, perhaps impossible) if someone could get the monopoly on information.

  Online art paintings [04.28.08 03:44 AM]

What do you mean by Google Maps doesn’t cover Australia? I’m currently working on the mapping piece for some trade areas at Australia and most of the maps I submit to clients are Google Maps. Please explain.

  Xoobie online auctions [06.23.08 05:02 AM]

Its great to see Aussie companies creating waves and being at the leading edge.