Google Maps / Web 2.0 makes regular folks application developers
Here's one more reason why Web 2.0 is overhauling internet marketing. Regular folks can now develop applications like mapping mashups more easily than an experienced API developer.
Yesterday's article about how easy it is to use Google Maps to develop customized applications for real estate is a demonstration on how Web 2.0 is beginning to cut developers out of the loop in creating user-generated content. Before Google My Maps, Google had developers working with their Maps API to develop "Google Mapplets"; these mapplets are found in the Mapplets Directory.
I'm no developer, but I realize user-generated Google My Maps are pretty similar to those developer-generated Mapplets. I found evidence of a Maps API developer's displeasure with being cut out of the development process:
Yesterday Google ate some of their young by releasing MyMaps:
we’re announcing My Maps, a new feature that makes it quick and easy to create your own custom Google Maps just by pointing and clicking. You can add placemarks, draw lines and shapes, and embed text, photos and videos — all using a simple drag and drop interface. Your map automatically gets a public URL that you can share with your friends and family, or you can also publish your map for inclusion in Google Maps search results.At the same time they took a swing at their own maps API saying it wasn’t “easy.” In other words, they’re going directly to users and skipping developers.
Unfortunately, real estate professionals still can't build mapplets because it requires knowledge of API development. The main reason for developers to build Google mapplets for real estate: the Google Maps directory for real estate currently only has six mapplets listed.
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Technorati Tags: google maps, google mapplets, maps api, mashups, mapping, disintermediation, developers
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