Google Maps at the Google Developer Day

Posted by Dion Almaer, Google Developer Programs

You may have noticed that we had some great announcements at Where 2.0 today.

The major news was:

• Street View: Now when you see a special blue street, you will be able to click on it to put a virtual representation of yourself on the map. Then you can look around and see what you would see if you were there. This is not only incredibly cool, but it is practical. Now, when I have to visit a new building, I can take a look at it, and even see if there is parking near by. It is great to have a visual cue for when you get there. Check it out in action


• Mapplets: Now, with Mapplets, you are able to combine mashups on one Map view, search for them, add them like you add gadgets on iGoogle, etc. As Thai Tran, the product manager, put it: "One day we were looking at two of the original Google Maps mashups, HousingMaps.com and ChicagoCrime.org, and we realized it would be even more useful if they could be combined because most people wouldn't want to live near high crime areas."

We have a sneak preview on some of the items that you will hear about from the Geo team thanks to an interview with Pamela Fox on the Google Developer Podcast.

Now you should be armed with Geo information before the event even starts! We look forward to hearing from the entire community!

Sneak peek at Google Developer Day

Posted by Dion Almaer, Google Developer Programs

Ed Burnette of ZDNet interviewed our own Bret Taylor, Group Product Manager for all of Google's developer products, on what people can expect from Google Developer Day.

The interview discusses a variety of points, such as:

What's on the agenda?

There are two high level categories we'll be focusing on: integration and reach.

Integration is how Google is exposing its infrastructure and scalable services. For example the Google Maps API and Google Data APIs. These are XML web services that let you use Google servers as a backend to your applications.

Reach means ways to empower developers to reach Google users. We have a whole lot of servers and lots of traffic. Developers want better ways to access that traffic. For example through the Google Gadgets API they can incorporate their products into the iGoogle personalized home page.

You can also hear Bret's opinions on:

• How we are making our APIs work together
• Versioning issues with APIs
• Why we give these APIs away for free
• Thoughts on new RIA technology
• How we are involved in standards bodies
• What we are hoping to get out of Google Developer Day
• And much more

This is just a taster. We are excited to go into more detail with the community in just over a week at the Google Developer Day event.We really hope that you have registered and will be joining us in one of the 10 locations around the world. If not, you can still participate via our live webcasts from San Jose and our Google Developer Day irc channel. We'll also have a YouTube channel with videos of Developer Day sessions from around the world.

Stay tuned!

T-2 weeks to Google Developer Day 2007

Posted by Andrew Bowers, Google Developer Programs

With Google Developer Day just two weeks away, session presentations are rolling in--and they look fantastic. In addition to talks on Google's APIs and developer tools, we'll have Python guru Alex Martelli discussing design patterns, uber-developer Jeff Dean sharing Google's learnings in software infrastructure to handle large amounts of information, and Google director of research Peter Norvig speaking on artificial intelligence.

One of our goals for Developer Day was to create a forum where developers and the Google product teams could actually meet face-to-face. To that end, we've arranged some "Fireside Chats." This is your chance to directly tell the teams what you want, as well as ask those tough technical questions. I've been promised that we can actually have a fire of some sort. I'm interested to see what form that will take, but don't worry - everything will be checked out by the fire marshall I'm sure.

Remember, we're now holding Google Developer Day at the San Jose Convention Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and coming back afterward for an evening on the Google campus.

Can't wait to see everyone on the 31st.