Slashgeo Log In
3D Mapping With Poly9 Free Earth and Garmin Communicator
posted by reidcardwell
on Wednesday August 22, @09:26AM
Permalink
Trackback URI
Slashdotthis
Diggthis
Del.icio.us
from the alternatives-to-google dept.
Permalink
Trackback URI
Slashdotthis
Diggthis
Del.icio.us
from the alternatives-to-google dept.
Poly9 Free Earth is a cross-browser, cross-platform 3-D globe using Adobe Flash. I gave the site a quick run-through, and it looks like they're off to a good start in providing an alternative to the Google offerings. If you're used to the Google controls, you'll be familiar with the controls provided by Poly9. One really cool feature is ability to view in full-screen. The imagery is a little dated for my area, but it's better quality than I get with Google.
Of particular interest to me was the integration with the Garmin Communicator plugin, allowing you to import waypoints, routes and tracks from your Garmin device. I loaded up a weekend excursion to a nearby park and gave it a whirl. My tracks, routes and waypoints loaded up without a hitch. I had only one route, and found that I was unable to select for display in the map. Waypoints and Tracks gave me no trouble because I had several of each.
In all, not a bad start for Poly9. The addition of Communicator Plugin support is a great way to begin to differentiate themselves from Google.
Of particular interest to me was the integration with the Garmin Communicator plugin, allowing you to import waypoints, routes and tracks from your Garmin device. I loaded up a weekend excursion to a nearby park and gave it a whirl. My tracks, routes and waypoints loaded up without a hitch. I had only one route, and found that I was unable to select for display in the map. Waypoints and Tracks gave me no trouble because I had several of each.
In all, not a bad start for Poly9. The addition of Communicator Plugin support is a great way to begin to differentiate themselves from Google.
Related Stories
Poly9 FreeEarth: 3D Web Globe (no plugins + API) 4 comments
[+]
An anonymous voxel writes "Poly9 FreeEarth a 3D web globe that does not require any download, was introduced a few days ago.
It comes with a preliminary JavaScript API that will be expanded over time and promises to be a lightweight competitor to the existing 3D globes out there." From their current features: "#
Current features
* Cross-browser
* Cross-platform
* 200k download
* Pushpins
* Mouse control
* Limited zoom
* Limited tilt
* JavaScript API
* Embeddable videos"
Garmin Releases Communicator Plugin for Mac
[+]
Garmin has released a developer preview version of the Communicator Plugin for Mac Safari and Firefox users. The plugin supports such things as autodetection of devices connected to the computer; ability to read and write tracks, routes and waypoints; and geocoding of addresses to save to a device as waypoint data among other things.
Websites using an older version of the API will need to be updated before Mac users can utilize the plugin, but with it being a developer release, expect this to come later on sites using the current version of the API.
Websites using an older version of the API will need to be updated before Mac users can utilize the plugin, but with it being a developer release, expect this to come later on sites using the current version of the API.
Central Location for Supported Garmin XML Schemas
[+]
Garmin has made another good step toward assisting developers by providing a centralized location listing the various XML formats used in data transfer with Garmin devices.
"General introductions, FAQs, and schema documentation are provided for the various formats."
Formats include Garmin-specific formats (TCX, AXM) as well as formats created by others (GPX, KML).
"General introductions, FAQs, and schema documentation are provided for the various formats."
Formats include Garmin-specific formats (TCX, AXM) as well as formats created by others (GPX, KML).
Industry: Garmin Struggles Against PND Competition 1 comment
[+]
CNNMoney.com expresses a dismal view of Garmin's future. As I read through the article, I heard a voice yelling "Hey, I'm still here!", but no one was listening. As portable electronics get smaller and more, well, portable, single-purpose devices are losing relevance fast. A device that isn't always connected to the great information stream is a second-rate digital citizen these days. "Garmin's going to need more than Google Maps to keep from getting lost in this crowd.", the article says.
I say, Garmin should join Dash and put cell communication in their GPS's. That ought to keep 'em alive a little longer!
Creating Flash Maps and Tools
[+]
Two recent geoblog entries discuss making Flash maps, the first one from APB on UMapper, a tool to create your own Flash widget maps built on VE, GMaps or OpenStreetMap: "UMapper is a web-based map authoring application that makes it easy to create, manage, and distribute online maps. The application is built on proprietary UMap technology, which allows it to display geo-data and any layer on top of any map data provider (Microsoft Virtual Earth, Google, OpenStreetMap). Once created, maps can be distributed via flash widgets." Here's the gallery. The second entry is open source goodies for Flash Maps: KMLParser, MarkerManager, and Planetary MapTypes: "Sometimes there's functionality that's ridiculously useful for a niche group of developers, and completely unnecessary for others. That's the kind of functionality that's now available in our brand spanking new "Google Maps API for Flash Utility Library" open-source project, and is ready for developers to use, modify, and even improve."
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
3D Mapping With Poly9 Free Earth and Garmin Communicator
|
Log In/Create an Account
| Top
| 1 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
The Poly9 Guys Are great
(Score:1)( http://www.tomprinty.com/ )