Learn about Mapstraction—the API that abstracts mapping services—and how it can be used by your business or day-to-day geohacking. Are you worried that Google might put adverts on their maps? Noticed that Microsoft Virtual Earth has better aerial imagery? Don’t get locked in!

Mapstraction floats on top of niine APIs: Microsoft VE, Google, Yahoo!, MultiMap, Poly9 FreeEarth, Map24, MapQuest, and OpenStreetMap. Each one has different features and qualities of aerial and mapping data, and your use may depend on area of interest (who has the best aerial imagery in Bangalore?) or features (can I plot GeoRSS?).

With Mapstraction you can make these decisions on the fly and not get locked into one specific API. We’ll tour adding simple maps, pins, and geocoding. Plotting GeoRSS and switching APIs on the fly. Some JavaScript knowledge is preferable but not an absolute necessity.