Matt,
I am the author of
Gmap4, the program that visentin mentioned. Thanks for remembering about me visentin.
I started this thread:
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=696113Irrespective of whatever software or map engine is used, I think it is fantastic that more and more outdoor oriented sites are including maps with GPS data.
I noticed that you are using version 2 of the Google Maps API. Since you likely know that Google has deprecated version 2 and is now promoting version 3 of the Google Maps API, I'm curious why you decided to use v2.
<edit>One new feature available in v3 (and not v2) is the ability to print maps right from your browser. Anyone can try this. Below is a link to a world map. Click Menu ==> Search. Include something like a country/province/region/state name in your search. When you find what you are looking for, try telling your browser to print a map.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... 5&t=t1&z=2</edit>
I've been thinking about visentin's suggestion of adding an additional map view based on the country for which data is being displayed on the map. Now that is an intriguing idea. It is also an idea that I have not seen implemented anywhere. Looking at that idea with a 30,000 ft view, two things would be required.
1. The program would have to be able to find out the country in which the points in a data file (GPX, etc) reside.
2. The program would also need to define a custom map type for that country's maps (assuming some exist).
Google's geocoding service can easily do #1. Just extract the first coordinate from the data file, send it to Google, and Google sends back the name of the country.
For #2, turn to the savvy volunteers here. I can provide the javascript code for topographic maps covering the USA and Canada.
Just a thought....
Oh, and to see examples of trip reports with embedded 'live'
Gmap4 maps showing GPS data, you can search the "Trip Reports" for posts that include "Gmap4" on this site:
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/search.phpThese maps run in iframes. The site boss is allowing iframes just for Gmap4.
Finally, have you thought about allowing people to upload KML files so that they can include photo links on their map?