4 ms·

Amazon Maps API

118 points by taylorbuley 14y ago

bstar77 14y ago
Can someone with developer access say how good the maps are? I don't see any way to use the maps without an invitation.
- xmodem 14y ago
  They're Nokia maps so presumably you could just look at http://here.net/ http://here.net/
- prayerslayer 14y ago
  I find Nokia-powered maps quite impressive, at least in Germany. Don't know about the quality in the US or Asia.
Codhisattva 14y ago
Amazon has licensed Nokia map tech and data. Not that interesting unless you are desperately trying to get away from Google.
- scherrymomin 14y ago
  You sure about that? http://gigaom.com/2012/07/02/exclusive-amazon-buys-3d-mapping-startup-upnext/ http://gigaom.com/2012/07/02/exclusive-amazon-buys-3d-mappin...
  - aaronpk 14y ago
    Yes, from the license agreement of the Amazon Maps API: "If you use the Program Materials we make available to enable the use of mapping-related features within Your Products, including any component of our Maps API, you accept and agree to be bound by NAVTEQ North America, LLC’s (“Nokia”) Developer Software Agreement for NLP and Third Party Supplier Terms, which applies to the portions of the Maps API provided by Nokia or its affiliates."
tnuc 14y ago
Why are Apple and Amazon both only allowing their maps to be usable on mobile devices? I am sure there are people who want get away from Google/Bing but without web I can't see them bothering.
- ge0rg 14y ago
  The Google Maps API for Android [1] can only be used on Google-certified devices, as it builds on a Google-provided system library. Therefore, none of the apps embedding Google Maps will work out-of-the-box, unless the device manufacturer violates Google's copyright - which Amazon certainly will not do. [1] https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/ https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/
  - btipling 14y ago
    This isn't related to the question that your parent comment asked. That comment was asking why the Amazon and Apple map products are mobile-only, with no website component. Not sure how a comment about embedding Google maps has anything to do with this.
- spoonmonkeyuk 14y ago
  For Apple at least, they have no motive to gain market share on web-based maps, for them mapping is a means to an end rather than a product line in its own right. Maps on mobile are an expected feature right now, and having their own solution meant more flexibility and control, and less dependence on Google.
- jonknee 14y ago
  Significantly cheaper licensing most likely.
- peatmoss 14y ago
  It may be a way for them to restrict the initial usage while they build up the service.
thejosh 14y ago
Page Not Found We're sorry, but we couldn't find the page you requested. You may want to go to the homepage or read our FAQs.
- Loic 14y ago
  Interesting, with Firefox, without incognito mode, the page is found but with Chromium in incognito mode, I also have a Page Not Found error. It looks like they are doing some kind of browser sniffing or requesting to be signed in without sending back the right error code if not signed in.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
rjzzleep 14y ago
well it's an android maps library. what's the particular interest? https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/maps/concepts.html https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/maps/concepts.html demo looks like a demo. basically it's because they're not part of the android group. do they have the google maps api libraries on the device? just curious i honestly don't know. I'd imagine there are licensing issues?
sadfaceunread 14y ago
So this is ONLY on Kindle devices? Do kindle targeted apps suffer from an inability to use google/bing?
- CaveTech 14y ago
  AFAIK Kindle apps have roughly the same abilities as Android itself, so using those APIs should be no problem. I don't really see why Amazon is limiting this to the Kindle platform.
- mborsuk 14y ago
  They do to a large degree yes. The Google maps add-on SDK for instance isn't available on devices that haven't been blessed by google (and received an official Vending.apk).
cek 14y ago
And so the fragmentation of mobile platforms accelerates along the services axis. [1] Amazon attempts to ease the pain by offering "interface parity" with the Google Maps API, but there are significant functional differences. We are going to see more and more examples of this where mobile platform vendors are going to try to get developers to use their firm's web services when running on their platform. Bummer for devs who are already struggling with trying to target multiple platforms. [1] http://www.lockergnome.com/mobile/2012/10/22/the-fragmentation-of-mobile-fragmentation/ http://www.lockergnome.com/mobile/2012/10/22/the-fragmentati...
- peatmoss 14y ago
  Starting small isn't necessarily bad. I can't blame Amazon for dipping a toe in the water and offering limited functionality to start after Apple's overreach. If Amazon invests in validated data sets and functionality, but keeps its AWS disposition of being the substrate, this all of a sudden becomes a very exciting new entrant into the maps wars. It'll take strategy, time, and resources for Amazon to be able to offer the validated datasets and functionality that people expect. If they go about it the right way, I could easily see them becoming the lurker map that comes to dominate.
  - cek 14y ago
    I was not making negative statement about Amazon. I was just pointing out that this trend is going to continue to make the mobile developer who's trying to target multiple platform's job harder.
cynwoody 14y ago
If memory serves, Amazon was the first to come out with street view, via their a9.com site, circa 2005. However, they canned it before coverage got behind a few major metropolitan areas. Then came Google Maps and a much cooler street view implementation.
killermonkeys 14y ago
Presumably, this is an attempt to put Amazon's App Store on par with the Android Market, but having to swap in different Maps APIs for different devices seems like a big disincentive. If this mild fragmentation continues, and I can't rely on Google's APIs existing for a given build target, I'd prefer to just ignore the smaller and/or less likely to be useful platforms like Kindle rather than try to stick to the common interface.
SeanDav 14y ago
Probably a good idea, until you find a really good use for it that everyone wants, in which case Amazon will kill your app and steal your idea. Sorry, just getting a bit cynical in my old age. Also a disclaimer; this warning is not aimed at/about Amazon in particular but to anyone making a business off an API to a popular web business.
alimoeeny 14y ago
Only for Kindle Apps, as far as I understand

Amazon Maps API

118 points by taylorbuley 14y ago

bstar77 14y ago

Can someone with developer access say how good the maps are? I don't see any way to use the maps without an invitation.

xmodem 14y ago
They're Nokia maps so presumably you could just look at http://here.net/ http://here.net/
prayerslayer 14y ago
I find Nokia-powered maps quite impressive, at least in Germany. Don't know about the quality in the US or Asia.

Codhisattva 14y ago

Amazon has licensed Nokia map tech and data. Not that interesting unless you are desperately trying to get away from Google.

scherrymomin 14y ago
You sure about that? http://gigaom.com/2012/07/02/exclusive-amazon-buys-3d-mapping-startup-upnext/ http://gigaom.com/2012/07/02/exclusive-amazon-buys-3d-mappin...
- aaronpk 14y ago
  Yes, from the license agreement of the Amazon Maps API: "If you use the Program Materials we make available to enable the use of mapping-related features within Your Products, including any component of our Maps API, you accept and agree to be bound by NAVTEQ North America, LLC’s (“Nokia”) Developer Software Agreement for NLP and Third Party Supplier Terms, which applies to the portions of the Maps API provided by Nokia or its affiliates."

tnuc 14y ago

Why are Apple and Amazon both only allowing their maps to be usable on mobile devices? I am sure there are people who want get away from Google/Bing but without web I can't see them bothering.

ge0rg 14y ago
The Google Maps API for Android [1] can only be used on Google-certified devices, as it builds on a Google-provided system library. Therefore, none of the apps embedding Google Maps will work out-of-the-box, unless the device manufacturer violates Google's copyright - which Amazon certainly will not do. [1] https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/ https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/
- btipling 14y ago
  This isn't related to the question that your parent comment asked. That comment was asking why the Amazon and Apple map products are mobile-only, with no website component. Not sure how a comment about embedding Google maps has anything to do with this.
spoonmonkeyuk 14y ago
For Apple at least, they have no motive to gain market share on web-based maps, for them mapping is a means to an end rather than a product line in its own right. Maps on mobile are an expected feature right now, and having their own solution meant more flexibility and control, and less dependence on Google.
jonknee 14y ago
Significantly cheaper licensing most likely.
peatmoss 14y ago
It may be a way for them to restrict the initial usage while they build up the service.

thejosh 14y ago

Page Not Found We're sorry, but we couldn't find the page you requested. You may want to go to the homepage or read our FAQs.

Loic 14y ago
Interesting, with Firefox, without incognito mode, the page is found but with Chromium in incognito mode, I also have a Page Not Found error. It looks like they are doing some kind of browser sniffing or requesting to be signed in without sending back the right error code if not signed in.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

rjzzleep 14y ago

well it's an android maps library. what's the particular interest? https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/maps/concepts.html https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/maps/concepts.html demo looks like a demo. basically it's because they're not part of the android group. do they have the google maps api libraries on the device? just curious i honestly don't know. I'd imagine there are licensing issues?

sadfaceunread 14y ago

So this is ONLY on Kindle devices? Do kindle targeted apps suffer from an inability to use google/bing?

CaveTech 14y ago
AFAIK Kindle apps have roughly the same abilities as Android itself, so using those APIs should be no problem. I don't really see why Amazon is limiting this to the Kindle platform.
mborsuk 14y ago
They do to a large degree yes. The Google maps add-on SDK for instance isn't available on devices that haven't been blessed by google (and received an official Vending.apk).

cek 14y ago

And so the fragmentation of mobile platforms accelerates along the services axis. [1] Amazon attempts to ease the pain by offering "interface parity" with the Google Maps API, but there are significant functional differences. We are going to see more and more examples of this where mobile platform vendors are going to try to get developers to use their firm's web services when running on their platform. Bummer for devs who are already struggling with trying to target multiple platforms. [1] http://www.lockergnome.com/mobile/2012/10/22/the-fragmentation-of-mobile-fragmentation/ http://www.lockergnome.com/mobile/2012/10/22/the-fragmentati...

peatmoss 14y ago
Starting small isn't necessarily bad. I can't blame Amazon for dipping a toe in the water and offering limited functionality to start after Apple's overreach. If Amazon invests in validated data sets and functionality, but keeps its AWS disposition of being the substrate, this all of a sudden becomes a very exciting new entrant into the maps wars. It'll take strategy, time, and resources for Amazon to be able to offer the validated datasets and functionality that people expect. If they go about it the right way, I could easily see them becoming the lurker map that comes to dominate.
- cek 14y ago
  I was not making negative statement about Amazon. I was just pointing out that this trend is going to continue to make the mobile developer who's trying to target multiple platform's job harder.

cynwoody 14y ago

If memory serves, Amazon was the first to come out with street view, via their a9.com site, circa 2005. However, they canned it before coverage got behind a few major metropolitan areas. Then came Google Maps and a much cooler street view implementation.

killermonkeys 14y ago

Presumably, this is an attempt to put Amazon's App Store on par with the Android Market, but having to swap in different Maps APIs for different devices seems like a big disincentive. If this mild fragmentation continues, and I can't rely on Google's APIs existing for a given build target, I'd prefer to just ignore the smaller and/or less likely to be useful platforms like Kindle rather than try to stick to the common interface.

SeanDav 14y ago

Probably a good idea, until you find a really good use for it that everyone wants, in which case Amazon will kill your app and steal your idea. Sorry, just getting a bit cynical in my old age. Also a disclaimer; this warning is not aimed at/about Amazon in particular but to anyone making a business off an API to a popular web business.

alimoeeny 14y ago

Only for Kindle Apps, as far as I understand