first published week of: 09/22/2014
Static Maps API: developers.google.com/maps/documentation/staticmaps Embedding the full Google Maps framework into your website puts a lot of unnecessary strain onto your visitor’s computers, as loading the classes can take some time on slower PCs or tablets. Maps generated via the Static Maps API are delivered as bitmap tiles; the URLs can be embedded into the src parameter of an tag. The API is surprisingly flexible – you can modify the colors used by the renderer, can add points of interest or change the type of map requested. continued…