Those features are already available for a long time in the free software map clients (e.g. OpenLayers) using free map data (e.g. OpenStreetMap).
With OpenLayers, you can even customize the behavior of your map, because it is designed as a JS library rather than a proprietary web API. Also, the clean separation of presentation (map client) and data source (any map server speaking WMS/WFS/whatever) enables you to combine any map data from any sources. Thus, handy overlays are possible without relying on the mercy and the pre-defined possibilities of Google.
The biggest problem I have with OpenStreetMap is that it is ugly by default. I suppose you could make it perfect but you have to put a lot of work in. Google’s sensible defaults with sensible options get you up and running a lot quicker.
OpenLayers also provides editing capabilities. This is used for example in the OpenStreetMap project.
Note that his requires writing support (WFS-T or similar) on server side. However, the typical map servers such as GeoServer and Deegree all do support WFS-T.
Yes OpenLayers is the leading OS project for web maps, in my opinion. PostGIS/PostgreSQL DB backend is also used often to offer writing/modification, besides WFS-T. But to draw/digitize the spatial data, it could be more practical to use a desktop software, instead of a web app.
Yes, i'm referring to their map service (the original article was in reference to google's map service). It looks that unlike google maps you can't use this commercially without paying for a service plan.
This is awesome. Example 7 is going to be particularly useful for something I'm working on. Thanks for the post; I was actually looking at how to do this on my own, and now I don't have to. :)
Love the part with discouraged colouring - they actually remind me of the trippy part of 2001: A Space Odyssey where Dave goes through the monolith. How long until someone makes a completely crazy Maps mashup using exactly those colours?
This is an interesting change to the GMaps infrastructure. In the past, all map tiles were pre-rendered, but now it looks like they are being generated dynamically. Anyone got any inside info as to what lead to that change?
With OpenLayers, you can even customize the behavior of your map, because it is designed as a JS library rather than a proprietary web API. Also, the clean separation of presentation (map client) and data source (any map server speaking WMS/WFS/whatever) enables you to combine any map data from any sources. Thus, handy overlays are possible without relying on the mercy and the pre-defined possibilities of Google.