Tool: Bing maps

[AmeliaBR]

This issue is for discussion of the reference tool "Bing Maps embeds and Bing Maps Control API".

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I included Bing maps in my initial list in the interest of fairness, as a counterpart against Google. It doesn't look like they have many unique features, but that's kind of the point: these are the standard, expected features of a web map widget.

I'd also thought that it used the same map tile servers as the native Windows Maps app, but I'm no longer certain that's the case. The feature data is probably shared, but the map tiles are different, and may be generated on the client for the app.

[AmeliaBR]

Update: Well, I'm not sure why the Bing maps website looks different, but the API examples use the same map styles as the app.

[prushforth]

Bing tiles have an interesting hash-based addressing scheme. If Microsoft joined the group it might be interesting to discuss that as a standard.

[nchan0154]

This one was a little bit strange. When I checked on mobile to check for touch support, I was unable to view any maps on mobile, embedded or on the Bing Maps website. I was wondering whether or not you all could reproduce this on mobile and tablet devices. I was unable to load bing maps on the 3 different mobile devices I had within my household, but I have not tested on any tablets. A search for this issue was inconclusive, some responders suggested it could be a regional thing? Either way, a second set of eyes in a different geographical location would be helpful.

4.3.1 Generate a default map for a given area

Fully supported.

4.3.2 Display a map using tile data from an author-specified web map service

No support.

4.3.3 Display map tiles defined in various common coordinate systems

No support.

4.3.4 Show pinpoint locations or custom markers on the map

No support. This is an outlier amongst embed tools, it will display a map for a particular region but not for a pinpoint location.

4.3.5 Draw polygons or polylines as stylable, interactive vector graphics (separate from the image tiles)

No support

4.3.6 Support hyperlinks from markers or vector features

No support, no support for markers

4.3.7 Display a basic map without JavaScript.

When embedding a map, you can choose between a static embed or a JavaScript embed. There is no image fallback for when JavaScript is disabled.

4.3.8 Zoom the map independently from the rest of the page

Bing maps also allows you to zoom with the plus and minus keys when the element is focused, in addition to supporting the standard behavior.

4.3.9 Pan the map display

Supported. Allows you to pan the display with the arrow keys when the map is focused, which is a step up from most other tools. Using the mouse to pan also works, but not sure about touch yet as I have yet to be able to access the embed maps on any touch devices.

4.3.10 Load additional map tiles when they pan into view

Fully supported.

4.3.11 Wrap/duplicate data tiles when panning around the globe

Fully supported.

4.3.12 Maintain reasonable scale of labels and lines when zooming

Like Google and OpenStreetMaps, the label fonts get very small and low contrast, but technically this is supported. We should rule them all similarly.

4.3.13 Dynamically load different resolution map tile on zoom

Supported.

4.3.14 Hide or show (and maybe dynamically load) vector features and labels on zoom

Fully supported.

4.3.15 Display map data attribution and links

Fully supported, attributed to Microsoft.

4.3.16 Apply custom styling to map markers and vector features

Not supported.

4.3.17 Apply custom styling to map controls

Not supported.

4.3.18 Toggle whether default controls are displayed

Not supported.

4.3.19 Select map view from latitude and longitude point

Supported, but no marker is placed at the point.

4.3.20 Select map view from street address or place name

Supported, but no marker is placed at this point.

4.3.21 Reproject map tile data into a new projection or globe view

Not supported.

4.3.22 Save the location or export to other application

Not supported, the map is only for display of a general area.

[AmeliaBR]

I was wondering whether or not you all could reproduce this on mobile and tablet devices. I was unable to load bing maps on the 3 different mobile devices

Well, on my Windows phone, the main Bing website redirects to the native mapping app. But I was able to open the API examples linked above. Standard touch gestures for pan & zoom are supported. Zoom includes pinch gesture to zoom in/out and double-tap to zoom in. No rotate gesture.