Google Maps for Boingo -- And Any Page

evdo writes "Last Monday, Boingo agreed to send http://wifi-hotspot.wirelessinternetcoverage.com their entire wifi hotspot database. They came through. Since then, the wirelessinternetcoverage.com guys have been working 24/7 to get all the "thousand points of light" in their new Google Maps Hack. It's done. The beta bugs pointed out by Peter Rojas at Engadget are gone. Now, you can bird's eye WarDrive instead of ascii search for the nearest hotspot in a town where none of the streets are familiar." And stockmaster writes "At last week's Where 2.0 conference in San Francisco, Tim O'Reilly extended his theme that Google Map hacks like Chicago Crime and Craigslist Jobs (which are called "mash-ups") represent a new future where hackers "remix" web services to create new capabilities. This inspired me to create Greasemap, a GPL Firefox plugin that injects a Google map into any page. Notably, it was a 7 hour project which I started when Google released their new API, and demoed the next day on the stage of the conference."

Did anybody just see that?

[jZnat]

Did anybody watch as Google Earth showed a live demonstration of their servers exploding? It was Independence Day on the 13th!!

I guess they're not ready for wifi for the masses

[winkydink]

as the site is slashdotted.

RE: I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mas

[marcantonio]

Well here's the problem right here:

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework
Version:1.1.4322.2300; ASP.NET Version:1.1.4322.2300 ;)

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[Rei]

I can just imagine all sorts of other neat things you could do with Google Maps. For example, a "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego", with real maps, satellite imagery, and yellow-pages lookups.

"You arrange to meet with a contact in London. He says he'll meet you in the nearest Pizza place due west of Buckingham palace."

1) Search for "London"
2) Search for "Buckingham Palace". Go there.
3) Search for "Pizza"
4) Look due west; you find "Pizza on the Park". You meet your contact there...

One could combi

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[winkydink]

5) Save yourself a whole lot of silliness by telling your contact what hotel you're staying at and have him/her meet you in the lobby.

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[schon]

<voice class="muppet" type="gonzo">
Sure, if you want to do it the easy way!
</voice>

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[Anonymous Coward]

Gonzo, the only muppet with a whole category of porn named after it....

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[NoGuffCheck]

your forgetting Dr Strangepork..

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[winkydink]

Do they go to Conjunction Junction? If so, you should consider stopping there.

Re:I guess they're not ready for wifi for the mass

[cashman73]

We even got a reference to their slashdotting,... ;-)

"NOTE: Since Slashdot Crashed our Server :o) , we have reduced the queries from 500 to 100 MAX."

Max Headroom?

[British]

With all these hacks/innovations with google maps, I am reminded of all the neat things done with maps,etc in Max Headroom. Lookin' around in a building? let's just bring up a wireframe floorplan and walk through it.

Perhaps this tv show is now one step closer to reality.

Re:Max Headroom?

[Lumpy]

Perhaps this tv show is now one step closer to reality.

oh yay!

government mandated TV watching, blip-verts killing people, a really annoying latex looking AI in the computer networks annoying everyone.

No thanks. I dont WANT that tv show getting anywhere near my reality.

BTW, it was a movie before a TV show. the movie was much better than the show.

Re:Max Headroom?

[fdiskne1]

government mandated TV watching, blip-verts killing people, a really annoying latex looking AI in the computer networks annoying everyone.

No thanks. I dont WANT that tv show getting anywhere near my reality.


Yeah, but it also had Amanda Pays playing Theora Jones. I'd like Amanda a little closer to my reality.

Re:Max Headroom?

[singleantler]

And he was in a TV show before the movie, just in the UK and without all the heavy cyberpunk themes.

Obligatory Wikipedia link [wikipedia.org]

Ahh, those were the days... Channel 4 was really innovative and hadn't fallen in love with reality TV shows.

Gotta agree with you, good to watch, not good to live. Nooo thanks.

Re:Oblig. Simpsons

[decipher_saint]

Walk through the wall! I will remove it for you...

Look, do you want a happy Google or a vengeful Google? Make sure your wireframe indicates walls (for the mostly clueless).

Re:Max Headroom?

[suitepotato]

Why not? We already have talking heads on all the major news programs. We only need to make them electronic and be done with it. Max would at least be amusing, but I suspect we'd get at least twelve "what's the frequency Kenneth" lines a day.

Re:Max Headroom?

[FLEB]

At least we'd have a solid answer.

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?"
"Uhm. Ask Control, they're down the hall on the left."

When do we see ads?

[moz25]

I wonder when we're going to see ads appearing on google maps. Certainly, they have some business model to make that branch profitable? Would they allow a hack (enhancement) that included some form of paid services (as in: paid to be shown in the hack) or ads?

Re:When do we see ads?

[winkydink]

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't object to Adsense. Just a hunch.

They don't need them just yet

[gunpowda]

GMaps also functions as a taster for Google Earth Pro and Plus, both payware (although there is a free version [google.com].)

Re:They don't need them just yet

[gunpowda]

GEarth. Say it aloud...one word!

Re:When do we see ads?

[bedroll]

I'm just wondering, with all these "hacks" to Google Maps when they're going to unlock the hidden sex game in Southern California?

Re:When do we see ads?

[NaDrew]

I'm just wondering, with all these "hacks" to Google Maps when they're going to unlock the hidden sex game in Southern California?

It's not exactly hidden. Hint: Look in Chatsworth [cbsnews.com]. If I'd only known when I was growing up there...

Re:When do we see ads?

[gbulmash]

I wonder when we're going to see ads appearing on google maps.

That's definitely been one of my greater concerns with Google Maps. I also wonder how it conflicts if you're using AdSense on the same page, or if perhaps you're using another ad solution on the same page.

My primary problem with Google Maps, though, is that they do have a limit on how many maps you can serve in a specific time period before they cut you off. It's great if you have a low-traffic page, but if you get slashdotted or just st

Re:When do we see ads?

[dynamo]

It says right in the API docs that if you need more than 50,000 hits per day (an INCREDIBLY generous limit, imho), give them a call and they'll try to work something out. Why would you go with something else when they are already being so reasonable toward developers?

Re:When do we see ads?

[Matrix9180]

Actually, there is no limit. If your site sees a ton of pageviews, they ask that you check w/ them before adding Maps to your site, so they can make sure they have the capacity to support it... c'mon, it's a free service, the least you can do is ask 'em if htey can handle your 200k pageviews/day :P

"My primary problem with Google Maps, though, is that they do have a limit on how many maps you can serve in a specific time period before they cut you off. It's great if you have a low-traffic page, but if you g

Re:When do we see ads?

[FlameboyC11]

Google is a geek company, they understand the slashdot effect.

Re:When do we see ads?

[Eric Pierce]

Or better(?) yet how soon till all business have their logo (or other Marketing baloney) plastered on top of their buildings?

HttpException (0x80004005): Server Too Busy

[houst]

Mmmm... taste the Slashdot DOS attack goodness :) ---------------- Server Error in '/' Application. Server Too Busy Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code. Exception Details: System.Web.HttpException: Server Too Busy Source Error: An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin

Re:HttpException (0x80004005): Server Too Busy

[RobertLTux]

So how does one find out you have a slashdotting in progress?? Can you scan logs or what?? How many server admins have a script to trigger a pager message with SLASHDOT SLASHDOT SLASHDOT !! when this kind of thing happens? 40what? is Server on Fire

Another 'point of light'

[Anonymous Coward]

Is their incandescent server...

I propose...

[Otter]

...that people who say "mash-up" be locked in a room with people who say "boxen". And people like Tim O'Reilly who try to extend the term beyond mixing together a drum-n-bass loop and a Jon Stewart clip and pretending you're a real musician should be locked in a cell with people who complain about "hacker" being used inappropriately.

Re:I propose...

[mrscorpio]

Don't forget "virii"...*Sideshow Bob-esque shudder*

No! I don't like THEM!

[lullabud]

Oh please no. I use the term boxen, as it is a play on the word oxen, but mash-up sucks. Mash-up lacks any wit. It has no style. It reminds me of piles of pummeled starchy food. Even in the remix community I despiste the word mash-up. w00t, sure. b0xen, sure. reet, sure. Mash-up? Where on earth... Oh wait, I know. The mid-west. The south. (eg: "ah mashed'a inta' kay an' ah don' say nuthin' yit.") I'd hate to be locked in the same room as those mash-up freaks, and if it ever came to that... we

Re:No! I don't like THEM!

[pete-classic]

Suicide Is Painless

I can take or leave it, if I please.

-Peter

Re:No! I don't like THEM!

[Carthag]

How is this insightful? Mash-up are real words that are used to designate something new (in this case mashing music into new shapes). All that leet speak bullshit is just immature elitism (lol w00t i speak a secret language omg).

Re:No! I don't like THEM!

[obsol33t]

Mash-up is worse because it is a buzzword. It is only used by "bloggers" who think that everything is "amazing."

Bonus points if you can use the phrase "Flickr photo set" in the same sentence.

Re:No! I don't like THEM!

[nuknuk]

suicide is only painless if it's a M.A.S.H. up.

Re:I propose...

[slavemowgli]

Why, what's wrong with hackers (real hackers, that is) using words like "boxen"? :)

Re:I propose...

[FLEB]

Because the word "boxes" exists, is adequate to the task, and is an already-recognized and accepted English word. "Boxen" adds nothing beyond the existing word, is not a generally accepted spelling, and, really, sounds kind of weak, like you're trying too hard.

MOD PARENT UP

[mildness]

Because the word "boxes" exists, is adequate to the task, and is an already-recognized and accepted English word. "Boxen" adds nothing beyond the existing word, is not a generally accepted spelling, and, really, sounds kind of weak, like you're trying too hard.

Stupid Kids, get off my cyber-lawn!

[superultra]

I totally agree! I also suggest that we lock up people who use the word "net" in lieu of Inter Network, or "www" instead of World Wide Web, or "email" instead of Electronic Mail.

Wireless WiFi Finding

[Gamzarme]

Yes!! Now I can find the nearest WiFi hotspot using my laptop while sitting at a Starbucks! Totally makes sense!

Re:Wireless WiFi Finding

[macklin01]

More like

Yes!! Now I can find the next / tomorrow's WiFi hotspot using my laptop while sitting at a Starbucks! Totally makes sense!

As in, I'm driving another 400 miles this afternoon and would like to find the next spot to check weather conditions, road closures, construction, etc., while I sip on coffee. Beats the heck out of Mobile/Shell/etc. -- Paul

Re:Wireless WiFi Finding

[strredwolf]

Revise that: YES!!! Now I can find the nearest free WiFi hotspot using my laptop while sitting at a Starbucks! Maybe the coffee's cheaper too!

Or find the next one!

[drewzhrodague]

`You can also see wireless coverage from wardriving data [wifimaps.com]. Interesting application, maybe we should start with Yahoo's maps instead?

With all these hacks and plugins

[eieken]

Soon we won't need all these websites, just one: Yagoogmailsourcedotazon.com

chicago real estate

[slamden]

you can also now view chicago real estate [prupref.com] listings in google earth [weblogsinc.com].

Re:chicago real estate

[Ann Elk]

Dupe [chicagocrime.org].

(Just kidding.)

Overtaking GPS software?

[theantipop]

I can't wait for Google maps to take over the same functionality common GPS software has in (reliably) highlighting restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and do it all by specific category (Italian restaraunts, or even 4-star Italian restaurants). As it is, it seems Google just searches their cache of websites for addresses in which to show when you do a "Local Search", though I could be wrong.

Re:Overtaking GPS software?

[winkydink]

Then all you'll need is a computer to carry around that runs on 3G or EVDO and you'll have completely succeeded in reinventing the portable GPS.

Re:Overtaking GPS software?

[Momoru]

I can't wait for Google maps to recognize points I can clearly see on the map itself? And give directions at least as good as map programs from 6 years ago?

Me: "Find 'reagan national airport,washington, dc'"
Google: "Here's everything else in a 10 mile radius of DC called something like that!!!"
Me: "But but...i see it right there on the map, clearly labeled...wtf!!"

Me: "Hmm...i guess finding an airport might be hard, ok find 'solomons island, md'"
Google: "Here's a bunch of doctors in oklahoma!!!!"

Me: "Fi

Google Maps is alright..

[Sir Pallas]

..but hopefully they'll be able to add this kind of thing as a Google Earth layer.

Wow

[fizban]

So, using a publicly available 3rd party API is now called "remixing?" Cool.

Actually...

[Mz6]

The WiFi maps is still using the old hack method. You can tell by looking in the bottom left hand corner. In the Google Maps API you should see a color Google logo. In the old "hack"method, the logo does not appear. I should know, my page is still using the old hack method as there is no logo present. Take a look. http://www.stormreportmap.com [stormreportmap.com]

Coral!

[sH4RD]

It took about a day to load, but at least it did something! Try it Coralized [nyud.net].

Great for travelers

[lightyear4]

As a guy who's been out and about in most parts of the country, this will certainly prove to be an excellent resource! One might always poke around with kismet or netstumbler for an unfortunate, vulnerable network, but as we now know [slashdot.org] that's no longer very safe. Major kudos for the sort of cooperation that makes such a goldmine of information easily accessible.

Re:Great for travelers

[lightyear4]

hey i was serious!

Greasemap

[stockmaster]

Sorry the server is slashdotted already. For people who asked "what's the point", it was to add maps to the many pages which contain addresses and/or Lat+Long geocoded coordinates but which don't yet have maps.

Re:Greasemap

[Osty]

Sorry the server is slashdotted already. For people who asked "what's the point", it was to add maps to the many pages which contain addresses and/or Lat+Long geocoded coordinates but which don't yet have maps.

And you need a whole new extension for this? Sounds like something the Greasemonkey [mozdev.org] could do with relative ease and a little bit of javascript munging.

Re:Greasemap

[Leto-II]

That's exactly what Greasemap is. Javascript for Greasemonkey.

Re:Greasemap

[Osty]

That's exactly what Greasemap is. Javascript for Greasemonkey.

Then it's not, as the article summary states, "a GPL Firefox plugin". If the Greasemap link wasn't Slashdotted, maybe I could've found that out for myself.

Re:Greasemap

[Leto-II]

Then it's not, as the article summary states, "a GPL Firefox plugin". If the Greasemap link wasn't Slashdotted, maybe I could've found that out for myself.

tip for those who actually try to RTFA but can't when slashdotted:
next time try mirrordot [mirrordot.org], or coral cache:
Just add ".nyud.net:8090" to the end of the hostname for a coral link. Like this: http://www.vinq.com.nyud.net:8090/greasemap/ [nyud.net]

Re:Greasemap

[LetterJ]

I believe there's actually a tool to turn a Greasemonkey script *into* a full-blown plugin. I can't recall at the moment, but it seems to me that I remember reading that somewhere.

Great...

[Stankatz]

Great! Now, the next time I'm walking around with my laptop and I need to find a hotspot, I'll just bring up this page and... oh, wait... ;)

Anyone notice the tip on their site?

[I.M.O.G.]

"TIP: For Fastest Response, Drill Down to the Zip Level. The Bigger the Area you request, the slower the load times. NOTE: Since Slashdot Crashed our Server :o) , we have reduced the queries from 500 to 100 MAX."

Bug on the map page

[phoenix.bam!]

If you drill down to the zip code like the site suggests and your zip starts with a zero like 08901 the program displays 8901 and doesn't seem to work.

probably could

[Morinaga]

You could search for a Blockbuster address, zoom in on the map and Hollywood video could have a little symbol close by or visa versa. I guarantee if google maps got enough traffic they'd pay for that. Put in a directions query. Say San Diego to Irvine. Map displays route and sponsers like Shell Gas Stations, McDonalds and Starbucks show their little symbols you can click on to get more information. Or better yet they could list next to the query and you could click on them. After, they would show up on the map. I want to know where the Starbucks is by the time I hit La Jolla, boom there it is. Sponsor gets a hit, everyone makes money and I get wired enough to ride the shoulder past the horrid Orange County 405 onramp.

Re:probably could

[FlameboyC11]

That's what mapquest did...

Re:probably could

[DaoudaW]

And that's different from the way their local search works now how???

The only thing I can figure out is that I get to say I'm looking for Starbucks or McDonalds instead of it popping up when I don't want it.

/. recognized

[Trippee]

From the website : NOTE: Since Slashdot Crashed our Server :o) , we have reduced the queries from 500 to 100 MAX.

How about a scale????

[KenBot_314]

Why haven't the good folks at google figured out that putting a scale on a map makes sense?????????????

Really, how hard can it be? the map has to have that information stored internally... let us see it!!!

I may be doing something wrong...

[radish]

But I'm sure there should be more than 3 hits in Manhatten. And as someone else already pointed out, a zipcode like mine (07030) which starts with a zero screws it up.

Re:I may be doing something wrong...

[Bassman59]

"And as someone else already pointed out, a zipcode like mine (07030) which starts with a zero screws it up."

Tell me why should Hoboken be special?

oh, yeah, I remember: Maxwell's!

Consolidation of map data

[joeytheslimeball]

With map plotting becoming easier and easier, I can foresee a consolidation of all these datasets into geo-supersites that mix and match everything concievable on a map. http://www.globalcoordinate.com/default.aspx?conte nt=atlas [globalcoordinate.com] has already started in that direction. If we all begin recording and storing GPS data of our lives then all new searches will becmes possible... "Show me all ramen shops with WIFI access within 300 feet of a location where Jane and I cross paths on Sunday afternoons"

Maps are too slow

[Snaller]

Make some for Google Earth instead.

Google Wifi Map of Portland Oregon

[tomwhore]

All Free Open Community Network Nodes..
All the Time

http://personaltelco.net/map/ [personaltelco.net]

Good Neighbors Share.

Well, it's about time... (OT)

[Embedded Geek]

I know Elfman has been busy with his movie projects, but I've been hoping since '95 they'd get back together. Halloween just hasn't been the same in SoCal without them [wikipedia.org]. I'll probably be the oldest geezer in the pit.

What? Wireless maps? Oh. Never mind.

Piggy Bank: Greasemonkey for web data

[ddkilzer]

Piggy Bank [mit.edu] promises to turn Firefox into a semantic web browser [betaversion.org] by providing a means to mine data from web sites and then use that data on other web sites. It's like Greasemonkey [mozdev.org] for data on the web.

Semantic Web is Too Hard

[Vagary]

If any of the blogophiles making this sort of thing had the attention span to grok the awesomeness that is the semantic web, they wouldn't be using RSS 2.0, would they?

SimCity is Here

[mathmathrevolution]

This technology will finally give our leaders those layered overhead maps with the live information they need and will revolutionize city planning.

Awesome!

[poot_rootbeer]

Now I'll always be able to find out where the nearest Danny Elfman band is!

Make Your Own Map Of Anything

[blazerw]

Frank Lloyd Wright
http://www.earthcomber.com/community/node/492 [earthcomber.com]

Northwestern University
http://www.earthcomber.com/community/node/125 [earthcomber.com]

LUGs
http://www.earthcomber.com/community/node/114 [earthcomber.com]

Then, take 'em with you.

Also from wardriving

[drewzhrodague]

Also you can see maps of Wi-Fi from wardriving data [wifimaps.com]

DIY Wifi maps

[Stavr0]

gpsbabel -i netstumbler -o kml -f wardrive.ns1 -F wardrive.kml <BR/>
or <br/>gpsbabel -i netstumbler -o google -f wardrive.ns1 -F wardrive.xml

It's right there in the Google Earth install directory...

A very rude word in a map URL

[Basehart]

Talking of maps, I was looking for a place in Washington this afternoon and noticed a VERY rude word in the URL.

http://www.mapblast.com/(fyfuckuzldzflgqx1qop0cbz) /map.aspx?L=USA&C=47.18924%2c-122.22320&A=7.16667& P=|47.18924%2c-122.22320|1|154th+Ave+Ct+E%2c+Sumne r%2c+WA+98390|L1| [mapblast.com]

You'll notice it actually says Fuck You (which is kind of appropriate seeing as MapBlast is owned my Microsoft).

Imagine the horror if the Pope or someone in the White House was to see this terrible terrible word in their address bar.

I wonder if anyone has seen others that are, gasp, worse??

Ah, the /. Effect!

[Master of Transhuman]

"NOTE: Since Slashdot Crashed our Server :o) , we have reduced the queries from 500 to 100 MAX."

It doesn't work

[matth]

Hrmm.. doesn't work for me... first Williamsport, PA is missing even though they have Trout Run, PA ?!?! Further when I select a city/state/zipcode and select what I want to see it just sits there and does zilch.. not too impressive.

looks terrible in safari

[fdisk3hs]

this page is unusable shit. When I make a page it's ugly, but at least you can figure out that the links are the blue words. Crap. How do I know my latitude and longitude? Great.
I think I'll make a tool that makes you put your exact weight in micrograms in, or some other thing that nobody knows or gives a fuck about.
Okay, so I had some tallboys. And then some scotch. Sue me.

Re:Illegal Purposes

[temojen]

Depends on Jurisdiction. In Canada it's a criminal act; in other places it's probably a civil tort.

(Std disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer. If you need legal advice, get a lawyer.)

Re:Illegal Purposes

[xMilkmanDanx]

AFAIK (as IANAL) wardriving is not illegal if you don't connect or use the AP's internet connection. Just seeing that it is there is not illegal and I'm not sure how it could be.

Re:Illegal Purposes

[FLEB]

Against idiots?

Re:Illegal Purposes

[Trevin]

Who said anything about free internet or illegal? Boingo Wireless [boingo.com] is a paid subscription service.

Not just legal it's for PAID wireless net locns

[WillAffleckUW]

Who said anything about free internet or illegal? Boingo Wireless [boingo.com] is a paid subscription service.

Which is why the website only has links for paid wireless net locations.

Of course, if you live in the civilized world, like here in the U Dist in Seattle, you get free WiFi everywhere, including nearby UW, by the end of this year.

At my house in Fremont, Center of the Universe, conveniently surrounded by Seattle, my WiFi laptop can find two free and one paid wireless network.

And, contrary to my

You are kidding? Right?

[WindBourne]

While the Window boxes have all but crashed, Google is running Linux and a lot of them. If ALL of the /.ers got together and tried to take down google, if would probably only make a bump on their monitor.

Re:What is the point of Greasemap?

[stockmaster]

As I mentioned below, it's a Greasemonkey script which scans any web page for both addresses and geocode metatags in the GeoURL syntax, and if found, it injects a Google Map showing any/all such locations into the top of the page. You can choose whether it should show the map by default, or just a small bar indicating that addresses were found. My point in making it was to illustrate that the API can be used to add functionality to any site, not just to a particular site.

I find it useful on sites like whitepages.com, real estate sites, company location "about us" sites, and a bunch of other surprising places. It just makes the whole web more "mappy".

By the way, the site is back up, so if you got stuck before please try again now at www.vinq.com/greasemap [vinq.com]. It's running on a single Xserve; we'll see how it creaks under the strain.

Re:What is the point of Greasemap?

[uhlume]

As a point of curiosity, how did you get around the necessity of registering a unique API key for each page the script is invoked from?

Re:What is the point of Greasemap?

[stockmaster]

The map injected into the page is an iframe which loads from my server at www.vinq.com; the iframe contains the Google Map. This is needed both due to the Google Maps API key restriction, and to let me locally geocode the addresses on my Vinq server.

By the way, we're looking for a few good LAMP programmers in the San Francisco Bay area (near San Jose), with a strong emphasis on Perl, to help us build more great sites like www.dataplace.org and www.knowledgeplex.org for Fannie Mae Foundation and other hug

Re:What is the point of Greasemap?

[Stonan]

I've installed it, tried Google News articles, my local online whitepages and a few travel sites: nothing

No frame, no map, not even a script error. Any ideas?

100th Monkey Syndrome??? - Google Hack Vs. API

[evdo]

yeah... funny thing about that hack part... when we started the project.. we all had this wierd hunch that some amorphous multicolored shadow was looming over our shoulders... and guess what.. just when we started beta testing.. the MULTICOLORED GOOGLE released the API!!! hmmm... odd.. dont sociologists have some name for this kinda phenom? when 1000 people run to the patent office for the same idea at the same time? 100th monkey or something right? Robert kim, EVDO [evdo-coverage.com] Consultant. And CoBuilder of http://wifi- [wirelessin...verage.com]