Funny in July 2010 I was emailed this in response to people feeling that Google has stoped working on the Flash API and don't really care that much to help.
I can understand your concern. It is true that in first half of the year we focused our development on the v3 JS API in order to meet our goal of graduating that API at I/O, one year after it was introduced. However now that this goal has been met we are reverting to a normal distribution of our efforts, and expect to ship a maintenance release of the Maps API for Flash within the next week or two. We are also planning to bring Styled Maps to the Maps API for Flash in the near future, are considering a number of other features for the roadmap, and have efforts underway to increase awareness of the API amongst Flash/Flex developers. Note also that the Maps API for Flash has graduated from Code Labs, which means that should there come a time when we decide to back away from further development there would be a deprecation announcement, followed by a 3 year deprecation period during which the product would continue to be supported and maintained. However we have no plans to deprecate the Maps API for Flash at this time. In fact with the upcoming launch of Flash and AIR support on a number of mobile platforms, the rest of the year could be a fascinating time for this API. Many thanks, Thor Mitchell Product Manager Google Maps APIs Like your team said "In fact with the upcoming launch of Flash and AIR support on a number of mobile platforms, the rest of the year could be a fascinating time for this API.", you released it gave no support and failed to fix problems than ended support all in the next year. It was sure interesting. You have no increase in Flash Developers using the map API because Google employees don't help in the forums, like Pamela Fox did, and you refuse to add new features like street views for native flash maps. Flash is still a better solution than JavaScript but you have failed to add any enhancements for mobile development. I haven't even seen one response from a Google employee about it taking 10 seconds of load time or more for an Android app using Flash Google Maps. The ease of development for every platform including using class libraries for web, mobile and desktop apps and the OOP that Flash has plus the GPU enhancements Adobe is making and even the ones they have already made create a complete IDE and level of programming maturity that JavaScript will never have. I suppose I was wrong in assuming that Google would do the right thing but I guess the only true programmers friend in Microsoft. I can't waste my time anymore assuming that what I start learning will be useful 2 years from now. And I can't waste my clients money or time developing projects that can't be used a few years from now. It is funny how you support something 1 year ago and then despite defending the status you turn around and lie that you will be adding new features and improving the existing ones. If you stopped fixing Gmail and adding new features to your search would you be surprised to find out people aren't using it that much? If you had no true intentions on actually working on something you shouldn't have sent out an email acting like you were going to support something. Developers work on projects for years and get contracts based off your statements and you have now completely screwed many people who have given you their support. There is no way in good conscious I can continue to develop for my clients any Google Flash API projects that have already been started and will have to refund their money. I can't just say to them it will be good for about 3 years and then it will be worthless and you will have to start from scratch. Or tell them to hold one while I learn something new. It seems that Microsoft maps will be the best alternative to database driven maps like real estate web sites. On Fri, Sep 2, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Andres Ferrate <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi All, > > As you may have seen on our Google Geo Developers Blog, we've > announced the deprecation of the Google Maps API for Flash. You can > follow the link below to the post on our blog: > > > http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com/2011/09/maps-api-for-flash-deprecation.html > > Text from the post is included below as well. > > -Andres Ferrate, Google Geo Developer Relations > > ### > > Maps API for Flash deprecation announcement > > Friday, September 02, 2011 > > When we launched the Google Maps API for Flash in May 2008 we were > responding to strong demand from ActionScript developers for a way to > integrate Google Maps into their applications and exploit the > performance and cross-platform strengths of Flash. > > However use of the Maps API for Flash remains a small percentage of > overall Maps API traffic, with only a limited number of applications > taking advantage of features unique to the Maps API for Flash. In > addition, the performance and consistency of browser JavaScript > implementations has progressed, making the JavaScript Maps API an > increasingly suitable alternative. > > Consequently we have decided to deprecate the Maps API for Flash in > order to focus our attention on the JavaScript Maps API v3 going > forward. This means that although Maps API for Flash applications will > continue to function in accordance with the deprecation policy given > in the Maps API Terms of Service, no new features will be developed, > and only critical bugs, regressions, and security issues will be > fixed. We will continue to provide support to existing Google Maps API > Premier customers using the Maps API for Flash, but will wind down > Developer Relations involvement in the Maps API for Flash forum. > > We understand that this decision will be disappointing for Maps API > for Flash developers. We hope you will consider migrating your > applications to the Maps API v3, which offers many additional benefits > such as Street View, Fusion Tables integration, Places search, and > full support for mobile browsers. Our Developer Relations team and > many skilled members of the JavaScript Maps API community are > available to assist you in doing so on the Google Maps JavaScript API > v3 forum. > > Google remains supportive of Flash as a development platform for Rich > Internet Applications for Chrome, Android, and other devices. However > by consolidating our development on the Maps API v3 we can focus all > of our resources on delivering great new Maps API features for the > benefit of as many developers as possible. > > Posted by Thor Mitchell, Product Manager, Google Maps API > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Google Maps API For Flash" group. > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-api-for-flash?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API For Flash" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-api-for-flash?hl=en.
