Windows 10: Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release

Brink · Aug 1, 2018

Introducing the Bing Maps Autosuggest API, the newest addition to the Bing Maps REST services. The Autosuggest API is used to return a ranked list of suggested entities based on a user's partial query. The service can return three possible entity types: Addresses (including roads), points of interest, and businesses (currently available in the US only with new markets coming soon).

A maximum of ten (10) autosuggested entities can be returned per request, and the returned entities can be delimited by country and culture. The response can be specified for either JSON or XML format.

The Autosuggest API is designed to help developers populate online query forms such as delivery addresses as well as map search bars. Check out this e-commerce online ordering form to see an example of how the Autosuggest API can be used in JavaScript to populate a list of suggested addresses. Another great example of an Autosuggest API usecase is LinkedIn’s “Your Commute” feature. Moreover, autosuggested entities can easily be displayed using the Bing Maps V8 SDK. For an example using JavaScript, the Bing Maps V8 SDK, and Bootstrap, see the Autosuggest API Browser.

Check out Bing Maps Autosuggest API and let us know what you think. You can connect with the team at the Bing Maps Forums to share feedback and let us know what you would like to see next.

- Bing Maps Team
Click to expand...

Source: Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release | Maps Blog

:)

Brink · Aug 1, 2018

Announcing Enhanced Security for Bing Maps API Keys

The Bing Maps Developer portal shipped a new feature allowing you to restrict access on your Bing Maps API keys to a set of domains that you specify. With this feature customers can define a strict set of Referrer values or IP address ranges that the key will be validated against. Requests originating from your allow list will process normally, while requests from outside of your list will return an access denied response.

Adding domain Security to your API key is completely optional and keys left as-is will continue to function as they do today. The allow list for a key is independent from all of your other keys, enabling you to have distinct rules for each of your keys.

Currently we only support exact referrer name matching, meaning if your browser or header request sends https://www.contoso.com/, please have your referrer name as: https://www.contoso.com/ in the whitelisting definition. We will support short urls in a future release.

Note: Wildcards are not supported when specifying your IP addresses. However you CAN specify an IP range.

To set your Allow list, follow these simple steps:

Sign into the developer portal with your Microsoft Account

Select the My Account → My Keys menu choice to show a list of all of your keys

Click the ‘Enable Security’ link for the key you wish to set restrictions on

For a referrer rule, specify a Rule name and Referrer, then hit the green ‘plus’ button to add it

For an IP Range Rule, click to the IP range tab, then enter a rule name and your desired starting and ending IP address

You can continue to add as many rules as needed for each key

Press the close button when you are finished.

That’s it! Note that it can take up to 30 minutes for these changes to take effect.

If you have questions or feedback for the team, please reach out to our Bing Maps Enterprise Support team at L: bmesupp@microsoft.com.

- Bing Maps Team
Click to expand...

Source: Announcing Enhanced Security for Bing Maps API Keys | Maps Blog

Brink · Aug 1, 2018

Bing Maps Distance Matrix API Launches Today

At Microsoft Ignite we announced the Bing Maps Distance Matrix API solution, a service that provides travel time and distances for a set of origins and destinations. Today, we are happy to announce that it is now available!

Looking to develop a solution for a Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) or Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP)? The Bing Maps Distance Matrix API service assists in calculating travel time and distances in many-to-many scenarios with an optional travel-time histogram. The Distance Matrix API can help answer questions as varied as where a commercial bakery should open their next location to optimize daily deliveries or helping a school district select the optimal pick up locations for their fleet of school buses.

How it works

The Bing Maps Distance Matrix API calculates the distances and times based on the routes calculated by the Bing Maps Route API. Times are based on predictive traffic information, depending on the start time specified in the request, and distance matrices are calculated using different modes of transportation, such as driving, walking and public transit routes. This API can also generate an optional histogram of travel times over a period of time with a set interval that takes into consideration the predicted traffic at those times.

Below is a screenshot from our travelling salesman demo, including the travel-time histogram:

Distance matrixes are used in several different types of applications. Some common applications include:

Sorting search results by their actual travel distance or time.

Determining arrival times based on travel times.

Calculating the difference in commute times between locations. For example: We are looking to move to a new office, what is the impact on commute times for our staff?

Calculating a route with traffic data

Using the Bing Maps Distance Matrix API, you can calculate a route using traffic data to determine a distance matrix based on travel time or distance for many scenarios, such as store locators, job search sites, location scoring, and more.

In the first image below, location one is clearly closer than location two visually on a map; however, in calculating time and distance, the second location is actually a shorter distance away and takes less driving time than location one.

Get started

To learn more about developing your distance matrix solution, using the Bing Maps REST Service, view the API documentation. This documentation includes various scenarios in setting up your solution, how each option works, supported methods, how a request is calculated, and more. Coverage for Bing Maps Distance Matrix API is available in most places where Bing Maps supports routing. For details on coverage, please refer to the documentation.

Additionally, take a look at this project on GitHub, as it makes it easy to use the Distance Matrix API in .NET and also includes examples on how to use the Bing Maps Distance Matrix API.

For more information on the Bing Maps Distance Matrix API, how to get licensed, and frequently asked questions, visit our website.

We are always working to improve upon our APIs and look forward to seeing how people use the API and getting your feedback. Connect with us on the Bing Maps Forum to share your thoughts and let us know what you would like to see in future versions.

- Bing Maps team
Click to expand...

Source: Bing Maps Distance Matrix API Launches Today | Maps Blog

Brink · Aug 1, 2018

Bing Maps V8 Web Control SDK October 2017 Update

Bird’s Eye map type now in dropdown

Bird’s eye imagery has been available in the Bing Maps V8 Web Control since May, but it could only be displayed programmatically. Now Bird’s eye is available in the map type dropdown just like all of the other map types. This option will be disabled (appear faded) when the map is centered over a location that does not have Bird’s eye imagery.

Limit Autosuggest suggestions to a single country

The Autosuggest manager now lets you specify a country to limit suggestions to using the new countryCode option. This takes in ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country region codes. See Autosuggest options for more details.

Enable CORs on tile layers

This new map option enables CORs (Cross Resource Sharing) on the base map tiles, as well as on all tile layers. This allows accessing the pixel data of the map canvas without any browser security issues. Check out this demo that uses this and the map canvas to generate a static image of the map. See map options for more details.

Customize the Drawing toolbar

You can now limit which toolbar options appear in the drawing toolbar. Try it now

GeoXmlLayer Events

The GeoXmlLayer class now supports all of the same events as the Layer class. If you are not familiar with the GeoXmlLayer, it was released as part of the GeoXml module in July and makes it easy to import and export common spatial file formats such as KML, KMZ, GeoRSS, GML (via GeoRSS) and GPX. Try it now | Documentation

Access Direction Pushpins

Access the pushpins of all waypoints rendered by the directions manager using the new getAllPushpins() function. Customize their look and feel or add events to them. See the DirectionsManager class for more details.

Upgrade your old Bing Maps apps to V8

Bing Maps versions 6.3 and 7 are both retired and are no longer supported. Be sure to upgrade your app to Bing Maps V8 Web Control and take advantage of all the great new features. Here are some useful resources:

Bing Maps V7 to V8 Migration Guide

Bing Maps V6.3 to V8 Migration Guide

Bing Maps V6.3 to V8 Shim

In Summary

A complete list of the new features added in this release can be found on the What’s New page in the documentation on MSDN. We have many other features and functionalities on the roadmap for the Bing Maps V8 Web Control, so watch our blog for more exciting updates and announcements. If you have any questions or feedback about the Bing Maps V8 Web Control, please let us know on the Bing Maps forums or visit the Bing Maps website to learn more about our Bing Maps V8 Web Control features.

- Bing Maps Team
Click to expand...

Source: Bing Maps V8 Web Control SDK October 2017 Update | Maps Blog

Windows 10: Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release

Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release

Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release

Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release

Bing Maps Autosuggest API GA Release - Similar Threads - Bing Maps Autosuggest

Bing maps

New Enhancements to Bing Maps Routing and Logistics APIs

Bing Maps Released New Bird's Eye Imagery

Bing Maps Multi-Itinerary Optimization API Launches Today

Bing Maps Local Insights API Now Available

Enhanced Security Update for Bing Maps API Keys

Bing Maps Location Recognition API Now Generally Available

Announcing Enhanced Security for Bing Maps API Keys

Bing Maps Distance Matrix API Launches Today