Google APIs Client Library for .NET

Over the last year, Google launched a number of developer APIs, such as the Tasks API, the Books API, the Search API for Shopping, and the CustomSearch API. At Google I/O we announced a number of developer tools, such as the APIs Explorer and the APIs Console. Over that time, we have been actively developing a library to support the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Today we are announcing a major milestone by releasing the Beta version of the open source Google APIs Client Library for .NET. This includes service-specific libraries and samples for Google APIs, built on our new client library generation infrastructure. We’re now comfortable enough with the stability and features of the library that we want you to start building real production applications. Currently we support Microsoft .NET 3.5 and 4.0 and Mono 2.6.7 (and higher). In the future we hope to also support Windows Phone 7 and Microsoft Silverlight.

To demonstrate how easy to use the library can be, here is a snippet from the goo.gl sample to shorten a URL using the goo.gl service:

// Create an instance of the UrlShortener-service. var service = new UrlshortenerService();

// Make a "Shorten URL" request. string urlToShorten = "http://maps.google.com/";

Url response = service.Url.Insert(new Url { LongUrl = urlToShorten }).Fetch();

// Print the shortened url. string shortUrl = response.Id; Console.WriteLine(urlToShorten + " -> " + shortUrl);

New Bing Maps iOS SDK

Today, we’re excited to announce a new Bing Maps iOS SDK. This new SDK gives developers a set of Objective C classes to develop iPhone and iPad applications within Xcode, along with documentation and several sample projects to help them get started quickly. The iOS map control supports Bing’s road, aerial and hybrid aerial map styles, and includes the ability to add pushpins to the maps and access the user’s location via the GPS to locate the phone on the map.

In keeping with our focus on performance across the Bing Maps platform, we have separated the Bing Maps Controls from the Bing Maps services to lighten the load. This means you can use the Bing Maps iOS Control in conjunction with the Bing Maps REST Service (Geocoding and Routing) to build a fully featured mobile map application. Additionally, you can hit Bing search services to pull local listing information.

And as always, developers can integrate Bing Maps into consumer-facing mobile applications for free (you can read the fine print here).  We think you will find that the terms of use are less restrictive than what you find with the Apple Map Kit, with no sacrifice in functionality.
 


 
The launch of the iOS SDK goes a long way toward rounding out Bing’s toolset for mobile developers. In addition to the iOS SDK, developers can also use the Bing Maps SDK for Windows Phone and the community-driven SDK for Android development. Add to these our long list of tools and services for web development and it equals a mapping service with the scale and scope to support a wide range of mapping projects.

Sign up for a free Bing Maps Key, then download the .zip file to get the control and SDK, and you’re off and running!

Capture and Share Panoramas Anywhere You Go with the Photosynth App

What does a beautiful mountain pass, your favorite coffee shop, and your blossoming backyard garden all have in common? They’re all places you would love to capture and share, but a single photograph just won’t do.

Today, we’re introducing the official Photosynth app which lets you capture amazing panoramas of your favorite places to share with your friends and even the world with Bing Maps. Photosynth’s interactive panoramas allow you to look left, right, up and down, letting you capture and view more of the places you visit.

Here’s a look at our Photosynth app:

Using the latest computer vision technology, the Photosynth app makes capturing panoramas fun and engaging, while creating sharp, high-resolution results. With the app, you can process, view, and store your panoramas directly on your device. Then, share them in a variety of ways, including to Facebook as images or as interactive panoramas (hosted for free) on Photosynth.net.

Why are we at Bing so excited about this Photosynth app? Now, you can become part of the Bing Maps experience wherever you go. After capturing a great panorama of a museum you love or a beautiful garden, choose to publish to Bing Maps and it could be seen by the world. From the map, “dive in” and see your panorama next to that museum. Or, experience it seamlessly alongside the museum’s listing in Bing (if tagged with the location name).


With the Photosynth app you can:

  • See your panorama take shape with each picture you take
  • Get high-resolution results in all directions with advanced, on-device stitching
  • See most panoramas within seconds of taking your last picture
  • Zoom, pan, stretch, and view your panorama in landscape or portrait mode
  • Save and view your panoramas on your device and view them online at Photosynth.net

When you’re ready to share your panoramas, you can:

  • Upload to Facebook as images or interactive panoramas (hosted for free) on Photosynth.net
  • Publish your panoramas to Bing Maps for the opportunity to see your panoramas on the map (Using the Bing Maps Photosynth map app) or with Bing local business listings See images of your panoramas automatically saved to the device Camera Roll

The Photosynth app is available now for a variety of iOS devices, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 3Gs, iPod Touch Fourth Generation, and the iPad 2 running iOS 4.1 and later (the Photosynth app is coming next to a Windows Phone near you). You can download the app for free from the iTunes App Store today athttp://www.itunes.com/apps/photosynth