OpenLayers

OpenLayers is a great open source mapping client. I've not worked with it directly, since I'm focused on building mapping RIA's using Flex and Flash. But I've seen some terrific sites built using OpenLayers. Cycling Switzerland is such an example. I really like the design. Only downside is if you uncheck a checkbox within a group eg. hiking, all routes reload as against turning off just this subset

Building RIA maps

It took a while but my article for Adobe on building RIA maps in Flex has been published.

Twitter and Contracting

I follow Jesse wardens blog. He is an ace Flash and Flex developer. Though not an RIA map developer, he has lots of useful tips and tricks on general RIA development. I particularly liked his most recent entry on contracting and twitter

HTML 5

I came across this discussion on James Fees blog about HTML 5. So is there a future for Flash and Silverlight? I'm inclined to think so. The great thing is more ways to develop RIA. Here is a link to the article.

FlakeFinder

I'm so behind on blog updates. Today is a multiple entry day. I've been working with Leif at Arkade Magazine; its a free snowboarding magazine distributed in the Western US:

http://www.arkademag.com

Leif wanted to add an interactive map to his site; one which shows ski resort locations and links in resort specific weather, webcams, video, trail maps, up to date snow conditions and depths. The site was launched in January see:

http://www.flakefinder.com

It's work in progress. But this is an open source mash up. It would be very cool done on an international scale ...