Well Google just became a monster. I have created a gazillion map links in posts on this forum using gmap4, and now they won't work anymore. In a nutshell, Google is changing their free allocation of 25,000 hits per day down to 1,000 hits.

Gmap4 has extended the utility of Google maps by giving me a way to create a gps track. In several situations, this has been extremely helpful, where I've downloaded the track onto a gps unit, and used it while out on a hike.

In a nutshell, Google has decreased the number of times it will allow another web site like Gmap4 to access their system...

From the GMap4 news (bottom corner of their map screen):
gmap4_might_go_away
(Read more on the above link.)
Quote:
June 27th update. Yesterday Google replied to my request for an additional allocation of free Google map API downloads by offering a credit of $1,000 per month for two months. This credit is for the purpose of supporting the Pawnee Fire map I produce. Unfortunately this credit is not nearly enough to cover the hits my fire map gets.

So far in June Gmap4 has been opened more than 717,000 times which means the Google map API has been downloaded that many times. 717,000 - 28,000 (free API downloads per month) = 689,000. The cost for that many downloads at $7/1000 is $4,823. Subtract $1,000 credit and we get $3,823. If Google's new pricing policy was already in effect, then I would owe Google about $4,000 for API downloads during June.

Thank you to everyone who indicated that they would be willing to pay to use Gmap4. However, I have a better idea. I plan to build a new online map using Leaflet which is a free open-source map API. Work starts today. Goal #1 is to build a *very* basic fire map. Hopefully I will have something ready to go 'live' by the morning of July 16. The new name will be GISsurfer.

I do not bear Google any ill will nor should you. Each and every business is entitled to set the price for the service they provide.

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Joseph Elfelt, Gmap4 developer
Redmond, WA