Earthware Blog

You may be aware that today Google Map Maker was released in the UK and already we have put this to use for the residents of Letchworth Garden City!

A few weeks ago I was trying to show a friend how to walk from the Letchworth Morrisons’ car park to David’s Books where we were meeting for a coffee. I had previously noticed that the walking directions didn’t use the crossings available, but went the long way around…

Today I have used Google Map Maker to edit the Broadway in Letchworth to add the footpath down the middle, and the road crossings, so the walking directions now show the shortest route (after they get accepted of course). My edits can be seen here: http://www.google.com/mapmaker?gw=66&uid=213554047047040465663

Take a look and get editing your local area!

Giles

On Friday we received the good news from Microsoft that thanks to the submission of our first Windows 8 app, Meet½Way, we at Earthware are now officially ’Windows 8 Elite’!

So, what is this ‘Meet½Way’?

Meet½Way began back in August as a result of our ‘Earthware Day’.

At Earthware we pride ourselves on being technically excellent. However, in order to maintain this we understand that experimentation with new and varied technologies is vital. We also believe that in order to be a successful organisation we need to work cohesively as a team. Makes sense right? But, as with many organisations, the day to day running of Earthware does not often mean that we work as a whole, but more often as smaller units.

The need for the above is what gave birth to the idea of the ‘Earthware Day’; a day where we work together on a project involving new technology, and nothing else! We make sure that our chosen project is one that all team members can get involved with, whether they are ‘technical’ or ‘operational’, and by the end of the day we’ve all learnt something new about the technology being used, and how we can best work together.

Our most recent Earthware Day was on the 22^nd August and we set ourselves the challenge of building a Windows 8 app in a day! The ‘technical’ team took charge of development, whilst the ‘operational’ team worked on aesthetically designing and marketing the app. And so, Meet½Way was born!

So, what does it do?

Meet½Way has been designed to make meeting friends and colleagues in mutually convenient places much easier. By entering your ‘start’ location as well as that of your friend’s, the app calculates a number of locations that are ½ way in driving time between these. You are able to select from a number of activities that you would like to do together, whether it be eating or going to a theme park, and the app populates a map with these options, as well as providing them in list format.

The app then allows you to share the details of your chosen location and meeting time with your friends as a calendar invite which slots straight into their calendar – so no confusion about ‘when’ or ‘where’ can arise!

How did we become ‘Windows 8 Elite’?

Although we did not manage to finish the app completely on the Earthware Day we made a really good start and have been tweaking it since. On Friday we submitted it to the Windows Store and as a result gladly accepted our invitation from Microsoft to join the Windows 8 Elite Programme.

What does this mean?

As a Windows 8 Elite member we get all sorts of exciting treats! These include invitations to various Windows 8 development events, promotion of our app through the Windows Store and magazine upon nomination, and the opportunity to represent our Windows 8 app at industry events.

When Windows 8 is launched on the 26^th October we’d love it if you could download Meet½Way and let us know what you think! If you like it, you could even rate it for us! And, if you do have any suggestions on how it could be improved we’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime we’re looking forward to developing more Windows 8 apps and are incredibly proud of our new ‘Windows 8 Elite’ title!

On Wednesday the Bing Maps SDKs for Windows Store apps were released. You can take a look at the announcement here, http://binged.it/Vv6kxi, but essentially what this means for us at Earthware is that we can now upgrade our first Windows 8 Bing Map app from the Beta control version, to the release one!

A Windows 8 Bing Map app you say…

Well, yes! A few weeks ago we decided to set ourselves a challenge – to see if we could build a Windows 8 app in a day. It turns out… that we couldn’t. Alas, we made a great start, and have today been putting the final touches to it.

So… What is it!

Our app is called Meet½Way and is designed to make finding convenient, interesting places to meet friends and family, at a location half way between you both, much easier.

Users enter their location as well as the one their friends will be leaving from, and select from a variety of activities and locations they would be interested in meeting at. The app then populates a map with possible meeting places that are half way between the two start locations – genius!

What Next?

As mentioned, until Wednesday our app still contained the Beta control version of the map. Now however the SDKs that have been released will allow our app to pass the Windows app Certification Kit (WACK) process. This means that once we have our new Basic Windows Store App Key, with a quick recompile our C# app will be good to go into the Windows Store!

We’re hoping to run the Windows app Certification Kit, which is included in the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8 early next week, and have Meet½Way in the Market Place as soon as possible, ready for the Windows 8 official launch on October 26^th 2012!

As soon as you get the chance, download Meet½Way and let us know what you think! And in the meantime we’ll sit tight until the arrival of more Windows 8 Bing Map apps in the Marketplace…

Last week was a very exciting time at Earthware… our Raspberry Pi arrived!

I have recently started at Earthware as a ‘summer intern’, and so was thrilled to be given possession of the Pi for a day, and struggled to hide my excitement in front of the other, envious developers. I was set the challenge of making the Pi read our Twitter feed aloud to the office. I was asked to create a loop which would refresh every so often and read aloud the latest tweet. If a tweet had already been said, the Pi should ignore it, however if a new tweet was written it should read it aloud to the room, via our TV.

The Raspberry Pi uses the Python programming language to write code, and so as part of the learning process I had to learn how it worked compared with other languages that I am used to writing in. Luckily I found Python quick and easy learn, especially once I realised that it displayed similarities with other languages such as Java and JavaScript.

With the challenge set I quickly got stuck in and started looking into how we could make the Pi actually ‘speak’, and I soon discovered that Python has modules you can use to do different things. I used the ‘httplib’ module to gain access to the internet, and from there used the Twitter API that is made specifically for use in Python to access various Twitter feeds. In order to make the Pi ‘speak’ I found a ‘speaking’ module, and I used the ‘datetime’ module to write code which would highlight when new tweet had been written, triggering the Pi to read it.

After a few tweaks and edits I managed to get the Pi to read aloud tweets from whatever twitter user I wanted! I also enabled the ‘input’ feature which means that users are able to choose how long they want the Pi to wait before it refreshes.

I am pleased to report that I succeeded at my initial challenge of making our Raspberry Pi speak! Only one problem remains… the voice that reads the tweets is not exactly… gentle on the ears… I’m working on it!

Andy

Here at Earthware, we have recently been working on a number of projects showing quite complex and multi-faceted data sets using consumer APIs such as Google Maps and Bing Maps.  This has led us to explore lots of different ways of displaying more than one thing at a time on a map:  We have looked at pie charts, shading, doughnuts (or donuts to our trans-Atlantic cousins).  But, I keep returning to the view that;

1. Maps are never going to replace Excel – when you get more than two numerical parameters that you want to look at at the same time then it is almost certainly better to use a table or at least a different type of graphic.

2. A picture tells a thousand words – but if you try and show too much it becomes a bit more like a “Where’s Stig?” picture (great present book by the way) than a Rembrant.

3. Just because you’ve got the data in a database, it doesn’t mean you automatically put it on the map – so often we see websites and maps that are designed around the needs of the owner “I want to get as much of my stuff out there as I can!” and not the needs of the user “I want to see only the thing or things that most interest me in the quickest and easiest way that I will understand”.

Anyway, I recently read an article by Matthew Erikson who I think really made my points for me in a very detailed way and so I thought I would point you in the direction of his article.

Neil

With Microsoft Bing Maps’ latest Terms of Use which enable not for profit organisations to use Bing Maps free of charge, Earthware have been working with the Bing Team to develop a free mapping tool which enables not for profit organisations to create, customise and embed project or events maps into their website to display information about their projects/events in an interactive, visually engaging and location based format.

The tool allows the user to create as many maps as they wish, bulk upload events and project information and select exactly which projects or events to display on the map. The look and feel of the map can be customised to fit with the website it is to be embedded in as can the map size and map filters. Users can also add text information about the project/events, as well as upload photos (from their PC or Flickr) and videos (from YouTube or Vimeo) that are related to the project/event.

If you are interested in finding out more about the tool or what more information about using the tool please contact Earthware on info@earthware.co.uk or call 0845 642 9880.

We always say that displaying data on a map is one of the best ways to bring information to life, especially when the information has a geographical element. One obvious place where this is true is when looking at the pattern of earthquakes. The US Geological Survey publishes a list of recent earthquakes. However, a list doesn’t show the patterns or relationships in the same way that displaying this data on a map will.

Which is why, given recent events in Christchurch and Japan in particular, we have done just this – embedded USGS’s earthquake data in a Bing Map using Silverlight technology to create a mapped sequence of earthquakes between 7th and 11th March 2011 as recorded by USGS).

In the sequence you can clearly see the build up of earthquakes in the northern part of the Ring of Fire along the Aeultian Islands starting from the 7th of March 2011.

As well as watching the sequence of events from 7th to the 14th of March 2011, you can experience the last seven days earthquakes or just the last one:

Last seven days of earthquakes in mapped sequence

Last day of earthquakes in mapped sequence

For a more detailed view of the locations experiencing major earthquakes during this period watch our video of the sequence.

Introduction

Twitter is a great service that has given the average person in the street a way to share his opinions and criticism of just about anything with the world. Receiving accurate and well thought out criticism is one of the best ways for companies to improve their products and services, at Earthware we have learnt a lot over the years by listening to what others think about what we do and trying to improve in those areas.

The problem with the two points above is that too often Twitter’s instant availability and it’s 140 character limit has made us all a bit lazy when sharing our opinions and criticism and made us tend to exaggerate or generalise our feedback.

The aim of this blog article is to explore this problem a little further, specifically relating to the opinions and criticism we see shared about two of the most popular mapping platforms Bing Maps and Google Maps.

Comparing apples & pears

Its often difficult to compare two things that arrive at very similar results but from different directions. As a simple example of this lets compare the following two cars:

Both of these are great sports cars and the result of talented engineers and designers but when comparing individual characteristics they are very different and it would be too easy to suggest one of them is much better than the other.

For example let’s compare the top speeds of both, without a doubt the Ferrari is by far the fastest almost 100% faster. However if we compare the emissions of both the Tesla Roadster, being electric, is by far the best performer (assuming you charge it from a zero emission source) and blows the Ferrari away.

If we say one car is better than the other, because one or more characteristic is better, does that mean the other car “sucks”? I think we can agree that’s not true, it’s just that one car or the other will suit the owner depending on what criteria they see as most important to them.

Bringing this back to the world of mapping hopefully you can see how untrue it is to say that one mapping platform “sucks” compared to another if you are only comparing one feature, for example road mapping styles.

Comparing building materials vs. the builder

So if it’s difficult to compare two products by only looking at one, or two, characteristics, or only those that apply to one person’s needs, how about comparing two products that set out to create the same result but one is clearly better? Again let’s compare two cars:

If someone offered you either of these cars for FREE I’d be surprised if anyone would take the Skoda. Skoda are not exactly know for creating the best build quality or the most stylish cars in the world (they are known for their value but we are talking about a free car). VW however are well known for their quality and reliability and have some stylish cars. Both these cars are created from the same raw materials in fact some models share the same engine and some of the same parts so why is the VW Golf a much more popular car, winning many more awards?

It’s a combination of factors potentially including the time spent building and designing the car, the quality of the tools used to build them and the talent of the engineering and design teams involved.

Brining this back to the world of mapping this means it’s often difficult for consumers to differentiate between how well a website has implemented and designed their mapping vs. how good the mapping platform they are using actually is.

Too often at Earthware we see users complaining about Google Maps or Bing Maps when actually it’s that the site they are using the maps on has either not spent enough time implementing their maps or their development team doesn’t have much experience creating mapping applications.

Taking a closer look at some common mapping criticisms

Here at Earthware we think both Google Maps and Bing Maps are great mapping platforms and we have used both of them in a variety of client’s mapping projects depending on which one fitted the client’s needs better at the time.

However both platforms are not identical, they have some features in common and some very different. Both platforms have areas in which they are better than the other for some, or all, of the specific client needs. Below are some of the more common criticisms we see and some insight into why these features may differ / ‘are perceived as better’ in one platform or the other.

• Bing maps road map/labels suck

  Recently Bing maps have released a new style for their road maps which have received some praise, and a lot of negativity. Why would Bing change their road map style to something that some people don’t like as much as their old style? Surely there is a reason or do they just not care?

  Digging a little deeper we can start to find the answer, and an angle that suggests Bing Maps may actually be on to something for that is actually better than Google for some uses. Bing actually spent a lot of time and money, and worked with some great talent at Stamen, to produce this new style, but they were aiming for a different goal than Google.

  Bing’s goal for the redesign was to help mapping developers, like Earthware, showcase their data on maps without the bright and colourful maps taking over the show. The new ‘muted’ colour scheme makes it easier for users to concentrate on pushpins and data shown on top of the map. The downside of this is that consumers who are trying to read the labels and roads on the map, without much or any extra data being shown, are now arguably finding it more difficult to read.

  So many peoples perception is that Bing Maps road style ‘sucks’ compared to Google’s. Hopefully you may now see that it does indeed ‘suck’… if you are using it in one particular situation.
  

• Bing/Google maps aerial imagery suck

  Another common complaint is that the aerial imagery available is much better in one platform than the other. The problem here is that it may indeed be worse on Google than Bing but is that just in the town/city/country you are interested in? Elsewhere in the world you will often find a different story.

  Also, you will often find it has a lot to do with when you are comparing them, Bing and Google release imagery at completely different times and have very different plans for when and where to take aerial imagery. You may find Google is better this month, but then Bing release more up to date imagery at the same location a month later.

  Again it’s perhaps easier now to understand why it’s not perhaps not a fair comparison of an entire mapping platform’s coverage if you are just focusing on where you want aerial imagery.
  

• Bing/Google birdseye/streetview is much better

  Users are often amazed by Bing’s birdseye imagery, or Google’s street view imagery and judge the other platform as ‘sucking’ because they either don’t have birdseye/streetview or don’t have the same coverage worldwide. 

  Both birds eye and streetview imagery are brilliant experiences and are useful in different circumstances. For example when searching for a new house streetview really gives you a clear indication of what the front of house looks like as well as the roads around the house. Birdseye however lets you see what the entire area looks like including the back garden and nearby parks. Both are useful if different ways and neither ‘suck’ compared to the other.

  The other common comparison we hear is the coverage Google have in streetview vs. the birdseye coverage Bing have. With Google having streetview over huge areas of Europe and North America it’s easy to think Bing’s Bird’s eye coverage of only major metropolitan areas in these countries is not as impressive an achievement. However consider the following as it might start to seem less of a valid comparison:

  1. Streetview can be taken on any day it doesn’t rain/snow, birdseye can only be taken on cloudless days
  2. Streetview is taken using any normal car, Birdseye is taken from a plane. Costs and laws applying to the use of these two is vastly different.
  3. Streeview required specialist cameras but they are nowhere near as expensive as the cameras and lenses required to take imagery from a plane.
  4. Capturing an entire city in streetview only captures the streets and the areas visible from the street, a small fraction of what birdseye captures with every square metre of the city.
  5. Streetview does not have to combine as many images, taken at different times, from different angles and heights. The sheer processing involved in producing quality aerial imagery let alone birdseye imagery is vast in comparision.
     

• TheWebsiteIUse.com’d new maps ‘suck’ because they have moved from Bing/Google to Google/Bing

  Lastly we often hear complaints from regular users of various websites when that website changes the mapping platform they use. Their complaints are usually a combination of the following factors:

  1. They were used to how the old mapping worked, no one likes change
  2. TheWebsiteIUse.com has not implemented all the features of the new mapping platform, or has implemented them in a worse way often because they try and replace like with like rather than creating a mapping experience that works best with the new platform.
  3. The new mapping platform doesn’t offer the same quality of imagery in their locations as the old platform. However it may now be vastly superior in other regions or the new platform brings ‘different’ types of imagery or data like birdseye or OS maps in the UK.

Enough preaching, what are we trying to say?

Maybe you found our blog today, or read it regularly, or someone sent this article to you after you expressed your opinion on a mapping platform. However you came to read this article, we hope it has inspired you to think a little more about giving a mapping opinion or criticism online. If you have just tweeted, emailed, blogged something maybe you would like to go and add more detail, or suggestions, to your comment and maybe even target it at someone who will gladly receive your feedback and have the power change things?

Why not share your new clearer opinion or criticism with the right people, so try the following twitter accounts in your tweet or tweet the website or product that you are using the maps on.

@bingmaps, @googlemaps, @mapquest, @openstreetmap, @ovimaps, @earthware

Now in our fourth year of partnership with GoLearnTo.com we are delighted that the website we have been involved in developing continues to go from strength to strength. In the last month GoLearnTo has added no less than four awards and nominations to their impressive array of successes including…

Tongue Twister…

The International Association of Language Centres has voted GoLearnTo.com agency of the month recognising them as a leading language travel agency. The IALC recognize the quality and teaching standards of GoLearnTo.com’s range of courses where you can learn Spanish in Spain or learn French in France and over 14 more languages worldwide.

Best holiday experience provider…

GoLearnTo.com have been nominated for a British Travel award in the category ‘Best Holiday Experience Provider’. It’s a great honour to be nominated for the 2^nd year running proving there’s no stopping the public’s appetite for learning new skills on holiday.

Best new agency…

Language schools from over 30 countries worldwide have voted for GoLearnTo.com in the best new agency category for Language Travel Magazine’s star awards. GoLearnTo.com has been specially recognized as a ‘star’ agency for their work to make language learning more fun and a holiday activity by combining languages with a unique range of fun activities such as cookery holidays in Italy, yoga holidays or even surfing, dancing, horse riding and much more.

And the website of the year goes to…

GoLearnTo hope to be in with a chance of winning the Good Web Guide’s Website of the Year Award after being nominated this year.

This proves once again how an aesthetically pleasing, functionally rich and easy to use website designed and developed by The Technology Studio with maps by Earthware can do for you.

We are also really excited to be working on a potentially groundbreaking project with GoLearnTo using Microsoft Silverlight and Bing Maps to offer a rich multimedia experience all within a map – watch this space!

Earthware’s Avimap demos (TheWorldCupMap and CountryBehindTheCup) are being noticed left right and centre with the latest review coming from C21 Media.net, the digital publishers who broadcast all things television business news and information related.  

Read their full article about CountryBehindTheCup here.