Following Pamela's links, it appears that Esa's HTTP method within the spreadsheet is using what Google calls its "Geocoding via HTTP," which is actually part of the Maps API geocoder.
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#Geocoding_Direct Interestingly, that documentation says this is part of the Maps API, and requires an API Key. I presume that the key is not actually being checked when we execute HTTP request locally for the same reason that the API Key is never checked when the Javiscript API is executed locally -- it is not intended for general use, and typically is used either for dev/debugging or just for populating server-side databases for eventual use in Google maps. (You can experiment by submitting such an HTTP request for a single address directly with output=xml or output=csv, without bothering with an API key, and will retrieve an appropriate result.) But legally, this technique clearly is covered by the terms of the API. Which, in addition the the terms I quoted above, imposes significant other restrictions -- most notably, the output is only supposed to be used to support a free public website. So there is no loophole, and still no free lunch. The spreadsheet method incorporating the HTTP form of the API, just as the Javascript form of the API, cannot legally be used for general geocoding purposes at all. Notably, Pamela is careful to remind us of that caveat. The ambiguities about when a cumulative volume of batch geocoding begin to violate Googles's terms remain unresolved. On Nov 2, 11:44 am, Esa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I found the blog > posthttp://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2007/09/enhanced-map-tiles-for-50-c... > > I honestly thought that was a new idea. Your page doesn't even get any > 620 responses! The XML request seems to be better for the purpose. > > Hope you enjoy ho chi minh city, > > Esa --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API" 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?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
