Google Maps API - More Than A Map

Re:Google Maps API - More Than A Map by untog on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:23PM (#4608871)

Cynicism aside, this is very true. I've used a done of different mapping libraries, and the actual map display part is Google's weakest part- leaflet.js and ModestMaps are much faster, particularly on mobile devices.

But on the flip side, I've never found a provider capable of geocoding as well as Google- especially with response times that allow you to make a typeahead address searcher. Google's Styled Map Tiles are still ahead of anyone else's offerings.

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Re:Google Maps API - More Than A Map by bad_user on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:26PM (#4608890)

Even when you have a concrete latitude/longitude point, Google returns street addresses a lot more often than alternatives, such as Bing. And you're right about the response time, in comparison Bing is extremely slow.

Unfortunately after getting passed the free tier, it gets kind of expensive.

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Re:Google Maps API - More Than A Map by epoxyhockey on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:49PM (#4609012)

I have been happily using Yahoo's geocoding service, with google coded as a backup service. My application doesn't require speed, so I don't know how it stacks up against google in that regard. I have run into a couple of cases where yahoo's street data was not as fresh as google's.

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Re:Google Maps API - More Than A Map by randomaccount5 on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @11:15PM (#4610741)

Not worldwide (Australia only) and not as permissive with input format, but geocoderweb.veda.com.au is very fast.

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