Directions Photography Shack Guide
Directions Online Guides
By Louis Myrandle
Street maps were originally designed to help us see
where we were and how to get from location to location
with ease. On the map, we would see landmarks like bodies
of water, playgrounds, highways and bridges. Yet amateur
cartographers knew there was much more fun to be had
in the mapping community.
They could create maps of sightseeing destinations,
maps of the city's best pizza joints and "memory"
maps of sentimental photographs. Maps have become so
much more than just directions, as they are useful guides
to all the amenities, services, information, places
and experiences our world has to offer, locally and
abroad.
A More Portable Google Maps Online Experience
Google Maps "mashups" are by far the most
popular. This may be due to the release of Google's
customizable (and easy-to-use) "My Maps" feature
or it may be due to their relentless drive to position
themselves alongside cell phone application makers for
a more portable mapping experience.
Google's new "My Tracks" software for Android's
G1 has been getting a lot of attention recently. Cyclists,
hikers, joggers and walkers can record their routes
and share them with others to foster a sense of community
pride and fitness. "My Tracks records tracks of
outdoor activities using the phone's built-in GPS,"
explains product manager Dylan Casey.
Sharing Directions With Your Friends
He adds that users can get live statistics like moving
time, average speed, distance and an elevation profile.
The best part is that users can mark places and share
their directions with others, as well as archive their
training with Google Docs, Casey says.
Google Maps is not the only "mashup maker"
on the block, of course. A number of non-Google applications
have popped up to serve a wide variety of functions.
For instance, if you live on a fault line, then visit
www.lerdorf.com/php/ymap/yquakes.php,
as you may appreciate the "Real-Time Earthquake
Map."
Mapping Online
If you are looking for nearby bloggers, movie showtimes,
gas prices or driving directions, then you can see "Atlas"
(based on MSN's Virtual Earth platform).. One of the
most popular mapping sites is www.flickr.com/map,
where amateur photographers can share their pictures
and create maps of their favorite places, people and
things.
Readers have given rave reviews for www.gutenkarte.org,
where lit lovers can read full books (such as Jules
Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days") chapter
by chapter, while viewing a map of the locations discussed
in the book. If you prefer news to fiction, don't miss
the world and local news at
www.mappedup.com.
Random Day Out Generator
If you are looking for directions as well as an overall
sense of direction for the day, you might like www.randomdayout.co.uk,
a "random day out generator." Using MSN Virtual
Earth, Flickr, the Yellowpages and other sites, you
can gather lots of ideas on what to do just by typing
in your location and checking off a list of attractions
you might be interested in. You will soon have a map
of a perfect date to impress that special someone and
occupy your time!
About the Author:
Louis Myrandle has written a number of articles on digital
photography including Background
Photos, Upload
Your Picture, Freelance
Opportunities, Digital
Camera Photo, Stock
Photography, Wedding
Photography Tips, Wedding
Photography In, Wedding
Photography Package, Wedding
Photojournalism, Photography
School,
Photographer Wedding, Digital
Wedding Photography.
Keep a lookout as more articles from this author on
this website in the near future.
|
|
| Copyright
© 2007 - 2012 The Photography Shack, All Rights Reserved |
|
