Runningmap
One of my pet projects for the past few years is a site called RUNNINGMAP.COM. On this site you can call up a map of an area, click along a path and the distance will be calculated. Maps were jpegs that were loaded in at run-time and there only a handful of cities were available. The site had a small and loyal following.
This site was launched well before the release of the awesome Google Maps site. Google then released an API to enable people to create their own “mashups.” The API is html centric and does not lend itself to my Flash-based runningmap application. Inspired by the Flash Earth experiement, I began my own google map hacking attempts.
A couple weeks ago the City of Calgary threatened me with legal action if I did not stop using their map. Around the same time I discovered Yahoo Maps (thanks to Grant Skinner) which has a very strong Flash API. The result is a complete rewrite and relaunch of RUNNINGMAP.COM.
This application represents what I think the web should be more like. It is very simple, easy to use, and gets out of the way of the user so they can do what they need to do and get on with things.
