Wordpress Instamapper & Google Maps Plugin
By andy | August 17, 2008
Download Wordpress Instamapper & Google Maps v1.3 Plugin
Version 1.3 - 4 / October / 2008
Version 1.3 contains further features for debugging, this is again in response to a few people having issues while implementing the plugin / widget. This seems to be when API keys aren’t correct or when the InstaMapper data for your device isn’t shared.
There is now a control option, which allows users to browse through previous map location updates. A link back to this blog is also now included, this can be removed (in options) but would be very thankful if you leave the linkback active!
I welcome any bug reports, comments, or feature requests. Simply comment on this post!
Download Wordpress Instamapper & Google Maps v1.1 Plugin
Version 1.1 - 31 / September / 2008
Version 1.1 contains a “debug” feature, this is in response to a few people having issues while implementing the plugin / widget.
If you have had problems - please upload this new version and turn the debug setting on from within Design / Widgets. Once enabled if you require assistance, please comment this post or email me with your blog address and I will attempt to investigate.
Download Wordpress Instamapper & Google Maps v1.0 Plugin
After doing a lot of reading on Google Maps and other geo location services, I wanted to implement something on my blog. Unable to find a suitable plugin, I created a mashup of two services…
Instamapper - a service which you can send your current location to, using a mobile device (iPhone, Blackberry)
Google Maps - a service which allows you to show a map based on geo location data.
You will see a map on each page of this blog (bottom left). This map location is updated from my mobile device. This plugin gives you the following options…
- Map Size - Allows you to change both the width and height of the map to display
- Pin - This allows you to display your exact location with a pin
- Pin Colour - Change the colour of the pin
- Pin Letter - Change the letter of the pin
- Zoom Level - Change from street level to country level
Installation of the plugin is very simple, first you must have an API key for Instamapper.com and an API key for Google Maps. Once you have both API keys, you must complete the following…
- Upload `google_map_track.php` to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory.
- Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Update your settings from `Design` and `Widgets`
- That’s it!
Once installed you can place the map in your sidebar / footer, adjust the settings to suit your blog (map size, pin colour, letter).
Hopefully there will be some more updates coming soon! Please comment for feature requests / bugs / general comments.
Topics: Development, Mobile Devices
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Tags: Bug Reports, Control Option, Debugging, Exact Location, Feature Requests, google, Google Download, Google Maps, iphone, Location Data, Location Services, Location Updates, Maps Download, Mashup, Mobile Device, Pin Pin, Suitable Plugin, Which Allows Users, Widget, Widgets, wordpress
iPhone 3G Feature Review
By andy | July 26, 2008
After my post regarding making a decision to buy or not to buy the new iPhone 3G, I decided to BUY the new handset.
After playing with the iPhone 3G - my general verdict is VERY NICE handset which has some very nice features, however it also has some which are overlooked. Basic features being overlooked or not implemented is not great in any handset.
A basic feature review of the iPhone 3G are as follows:
- 3G Connectivity - Heavy battery consumption
- EDGE Connectivity - Slow
- GPS - Faulty? Apple have informed me there is a possible issue with this however it seems to be working for (some) other people
- Camera - 2 mega pixel (could be better)
- Menu / Navigation - perfect, nice interface, trust Apple
- Bluetooth - Lack of data over bluetooth support
- Text Messages - Nice interface, builds up conversation history
- Voice Mail - Nicely implemented to hold messages on the handset rather than with the service provider
- App Store - Great for developers and gives users a vast array of applications (highlighting new apps could be clearer)
- Sync’ing - Would be nice to synchronise over the air rather than cable (iTunes)
The iPhone 3G is a very nice to use handset, user interfaces are almost perfect, the weakness of the handset is the lack of feature support - however some of these may be resolved with firmware updates.
As for the actual device, the plastic back (changed from metal on the original iPhone) - I don’t feel this compromises the quality of the device and there is an alleged technical reason for this (gives better signal for GPS). All in all a good handset, nice to use, however a severe lack of features.
Asked if I am Glad I purchased one? Yes
Should you purchase one? Yes (do so at o2 in the UK, AT&T in the USA)
Topics: General, Mobile Devices
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Tags: iphone
iPhone Decision
By andy | July 6, 2008
As a happy and content n95 user, with the new iPhone (3G) available from o2 on Friday (11th July 2008) there is a part of me that thinks I should be getting one. If not just to road test the iPhone, let’s be honest - they do look pretty smart.
I have a few reservations about the iPhone, and having seen a few people rant about the features of the first generation handset fills me with worry. The n95 works great for me, there are a couple of things I’d like to see in the n95 but I feel (feature wise) the n95 outweighs the iPhone (1st generation).
As for the new 3G iPhone, I am unsure - bluetooth data transfer is a big one for me. Also I download a few podcasts each week, directly to my n95 while I am on the go (over the 3G network), then listen to them right away. My PC never gets involved with podcasts, that’s the way it is and that’s the way I like it. Hopefully the 2nd generation iPhone will allow downloads of podcasts while on the move. I wonder if the iPhone has a barcode reader / QR Code scanner?
This next week will see a decision made, stick with my trusty friend - Nokia n95. Or jump and fall in love (or hate) Apple’s iPhone!
I’ll keep you posted.
Topics: Mobile Devices
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Tags: iphone
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