Send a location to your phone

Did you know that when you see a location on a map (typically one with an address), you can send that location's data to your cell phone?

This feature has been in place for years - mainly because I felt if there is a location highlighted on the map, it would be great if you could send it to yourself or others as a reminder to visit.

It sends a small file called a vCard - which is an electronic business card - that most mail systems know how to process and add to the address book. This feature easily works for email clients like Outlook and Lotus Notes.

If you've never heard of a vCard - pull up your address book in your favorite email client now. Create your own entry, and save it as a vCard. The next time you run out of those little paper business cards, send someone your vCard.

Then remember that Mapicurious can send locations via vCard.

Thanks,

Maps

What is Map Slice?

What if I wanted to see all of the waterfalls on Mapicurious?

Well, you would go to the Waterfalls Slice - by Mapicurious map. This map contains a snapshot of the waterfalls listed on various maps at Mapicurious.

When we have enough content to create an entire map of all of the interesting locations within a similar category, we create "Slice maps". These maps are created a few times a year, and hopefully you find them useful. If you have a suggestion for a Slice map drop us a line.

And that is what we've done with waterfalls.

Thanks,
Maps

You Too can embed YouTube on a Map

If you haven't seen the few maps with YouTube videos embedded, then here are a few links:

Real Housewives of Orange County
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Eastern Air Lines Sites
Kwik-E-Mart Locations

Now this feature is available to every Map Manager at Mapicurious.com. You need to find a video (It doesn't need to be your own, but it is always wise to ask permission), and copy the entry for URL from the YouTube site.

You'll get something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYALZWFfPO0

Take the video id (the combination of letters and numbers after ?v=) and paste it into the new YouTube Video ID field when you are editing your map.

You should see the video come up when the map reloads.

Enjoy this feature, and let me see some cool maps that integrate video!

Thanks,
Maps

Don't Leave Your Points on the Internet

Look at all of these maps on Mapicurious! While it is wonderful to have all of these points of interests plotted on maps sitting on Mapicurious.com, it would be pointless if they just stayed on the web.

Now anyone with a GPS that supports the file exchange format called GPX (or the previously supported Garmin GPS's) can download the points to your own GPS. Then you can follow in the footsteps of the Map Manager, and actually visit these points. Click the links for Go to Garmin or GPX to get the files for each map.

If you have trouble with either the Garmin feature or GPX formats, please let me know.

Thanks,
Maps

What is an Anchor City?

When you create a map on Mapicurious, you are asked to choose an Anchor City. What is the significance of an Anchor City?

An Anchor City is a major destination or a well-known central point that most travellers can relate to. Larger cities like Los Angeles, London, New York might have many smaller Anchor Cities to choose from. Selecting the Anchor City that is closest is best for other users to find your map.

By default a map will center on a random location, so the Anchor City might not be the center of your map. If you desire that focus on your Anchor City, try zooming out on the map.

If you would like to add a city as an Anchor City, contact me.

Thanks,

Maps

How easy can maps be to make?

That is a question I've tried to answer for years, and I'm not sure the map making process can be made any easier.

A Map Manager has to formulate an idea, gather the data, and present the data in the context of the map. Accuracy is most important, as I've "not been on a digitized route" many times on inaccurate maps.

The first step is to develop your content idea. Look to your hobbies, interests, and your travels for inspiration. If this is your first map create one about the area you live.

Otherwise pick a location, event, or theme to center your map around. Having a clearly focused map helps you organize and prioritize data. And now you need to collect your information.

Write a short description of the map topic. On Mapicurious you will want to use this as the Map Description. You might also think of keywords for your map, based on your description. This "tagging" helps other Mapicurious users find your map via search or via navigation links.

Happy mapping,

Maps

Embed a Map in Your Blog

Why not share your map on a blog? Sometimes just a link to the map is appropriate, but you may want to display your map as an embedded map. If you are logged in and on your map, just copy and paste the code in the box labeled Add it as iFrame:

You might need to adjust the height and width attributes of the iframe to get the look you desire.

If you need additional help, just contact me.

Thanks,

Maps