[OZAPRS] Google Maps disabled on aprs.fi temporarily due to a TOS accident

[Rob - VK6LD]

>From http://blog.aprs.fiŠ

Thursday, April 2, 2015

          
        
Google Maps disabled on aprs.fi temporarily due to a TOS accident
<http://blog.aprs.fi/2015/04/google-maps-disabled-on-aprsfi.html>

I woke up today to find out that Google Maps are disabled on aprs.fi, and
the site is slightly crippled.

Google had noticed that aprs.fi has integrated support for OSM map tiles
 *and* Street View. I hadn't noticed that the combination of Street View
 on top of anything else than Google Maps is forbidden according to the
Maps API Terms Of Service document. Or I had just forgotten about it
when implementing OSM or Street View (there was probably a year or two
of time between the two, and probably another year or two since I
actually read the lengthy TOS).

Google had nicely sent me a few emails to warn about the unapproved
combination, first one already on 5th of March. I had moved away from
reading emails regularly in Gmail a long while back, but forgotten to
arrange for these emails from Google APIs to go to my primary email
address. Silly me. Since I didn't respond or do anything about the
situation, they disabled Maps API, which certainly got my attention.

Oh well. OSM support is disabled for now, and I notified Google that
aprs.fi is again compliant with the terms. Should be back soonish.

I might put OSM support back later, and remove Street View instead, as
OSM is probably more useful in practice at some areas (although
admittedly less visual and "cool"). Or maybe make some sort of
arrangement where Street View only works if you have Google Maps
selected instead of OSM. Have to check with the Google folks if that's
OK.

I'll post updates on Twitter (https://twitter.com/aprsfi) and Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/aprs.fi). Stay tuned.

My mistake entirely, although quite a human one. When did you last read
the full text of the license agreement of your new application or mobile
 phone? :)

73's

RobŠ
VK6LD





>From: Charles Leahy <binburra at me.com>
>To: "ozaprs at aprs.net.au" <ozaprs at aprs.net.au>
>Subject: Re: [OZAPRS] OZAPRS Digest, Vol 69, Issue 1
>Message-ID: <776E1E27-4681-4C4D-8CD5-DA46E5F8C109 at me.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Look like Google pulled the plug on APRS -FI
>
>Sent from my iPhone