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Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 15th, 2018, 7:49 am
by adamschneider
RobFromRedland wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 7:16 am
adamschneider wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 10:09 pm
Joseph, I'm in the same boat with GPS Visualizer. Until/unless I can get up and running with Leaflet, one thing I'm going to do is let people supply their own Google Maps API Key. You might try something similar with Gmap4.
That was my thought as well. If there was a way to specify a user key in the calls, then it would continue to work.
The problem, of course, is that in order to get your own key, you now have to supply Google with a credit card number. Ordinary users will never trip the quota and get billed, but that's going to dissuade people for sure.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 15th, 2018, 8:27 am
by Joseph Elfelt
Also Google's revised terms of service say don't do stuff to try and get around the much lower allocation of free API downloads.
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms
3.2.4 Restrictions Against Misusing the Services.
(e) No Circumventing Fees. Customer will not circumvent the applicable Fees. For example, Customer will not create multiple billing accounts or Projects to avoid incurring Fees; prevent Google from accurately calculating Customer’s Service usage levels; abuse any free Service quotas; or offer access to the Services under a “time-sharing” or “service bureau” model.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 15th, 2018, 10:51 am
by RobFromRedland
Joseph Elfelt wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 8:27 am
Also Google's revised terms of service say don't do stuff to try and get around the much lower allocation of free API downloads.
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms
3.2.4 Restrictions Against Misusing the Services.
(e) No Circumventing Fees. Customer will not circumvent the applicable Fees. For example, Customer will not create multiple billing accounts or Projects to avoid incurring Fees; prevent Google from accurately calculating Customer’s Service usage levels; abuse any free Service quotas; or offer access to the Services under a “time-sharing” or “service bureau” model.
so much for "don't be evil".....
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 15th, 2018, 11:48 am
by adamschneider
Joseph Elfelt wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 8:27 am
Also Google's revised terms of service say don't do stuff to try and get around the much lower allocation of free API downloads.
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms
3.2.4 Restrictions Against Misusing the Services.
(e) No Circumventing Fees. Customer will not circumvent the applicable Fees. For example, Customer will not create multiple billing accounts or Projects to avoid incurring Fees; prevent Google from accurately calculating Customer’s Service usage levels; abuse any free Service quotas; or offer access to the Services under a “time-sharing” or “service bureau” model.
That sucks, but "service bureau model" is very subjective, and there's lots of room for interpretation. Given that GPS Visualizer's maps are mostly designed to be downloaded and used by the person who created them, I'm probably OK. But Gmap4 — and GPS Visualizer's similar "Atlas" feature — are potentially more problematic.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 15th, 2018, 2:41 pm
by aiwetir
Couldn't an API key just be stored under a logged in user name or session cookie if you don't want to have logins?
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 16th, 2018, 12:21 pm
by kepPNW
Joseph Elfelt wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 8:27 am
Also Google's revised terms of service say don't do stuff to try and get around the much lower allocation of free API downloads.
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms
3.2.4 Restrictions Against Misusing the Services.
(e) No Circumventing Fees. Customer will not circumvent the applicable Fees. For example, Customer will not create multiple billing accounts or Projects to avoid incurring Fees; prevent Google from accurately calculating Customer’s Service usage levels; abuse any free Service quotas; or offer access to the Services under a “time-sharing” or “service bureau” model.
If they're charging for hits on their servers, ... How about hosting the API code on your own server, rather than pointing to Google's? I've done that in the past, with deprecated code, when I couldn't update on their schedule. I suppose they wouldn't appreciate the spirit of easing their burden rather than padding their pocket, huh?
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 16th, 2018, 1:16 pm
by Bosterson
kepPNW wrote: ↑May 16th, 2018, 12:21 pm
If they're charging for hits on their servers, ... How about hosting the API code on your own server, rather than pointing to Google's? I've done that in the past, with deprecated code, when I couldn't update on their schedule. I suppose they wouldn't appreciate the spirit of easing their burden rather than padding their pocket, huh?
Google is made of money. I'm sure this is not about some kind of budget reconciliation, but rather about reducing 3rd party competition. Presumably there are larger entities than Gmap or Caltopo using the API that Google will now either milk for money or effectively shut down; smaller entities would then just be collateral damage.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 16th, 2018, 7:21 pm
by adamschneider
aiwetir wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 2:41 pm
Couldn't an API key just be stored under a logged in user name or session cookie if you don't want to have logins?
I plan to use cookies. My concern is that just GETTING a key will be a significant hurdle for many people.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 16th, 2018, 7:37 pm
by Joseph Elfelt
I have not looked at the kind of info Google requires to get a key. But since keys are intended for software developers I am guessing most people will be spooked by the questions and/or unable to answer. Plus there is the requirement to give Google your credit card # and agree to be charged if you exceed the free API download allocation.
Re: Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps
Posted: May 16th, 2018, 8:53 pm
by Guy
adamschneider wrote: ↑May 16th, 2018, 7:21 pm
aiwetir wrote: ↑May 15th, 2018, 2:41 pm
Couldn't an API key just be stored under a logged in user name or session cookie if you don't want to have logins?
I plan to use cookies. My concern is that just GETTING a key will be a significant hurdle for many people.
I have an old API key from the early days of using your GPS visualizer Adam, haven't done anything with it in years but so you that that would still be good if needed.