No AIR Support for Google Maps Flash API

May 15th, 2008 by ryanstewart

Well this sucks. I was really excited about the Google Maps Flash API and sat down today to do some work with it inside of AIR. I ran into this security error which prompted a response on the thread linked above:

Error #3207: Application-sandbox content cannot access this feature.
at flash.system::Security$/allowDomain()
at com.google.maps::ClientBootstrap/allowLibraryDomain()
at com.google.maps::ClientBootstrap/loadUrl()
at com.google.maps::ClientBootstrap/internalLoadBootstrap()
at flash.utils::Timer/_timerDispatch()
at flash.utils::Timer/tick()

Well it turns out that using the Google Maps Flash API inside of an AIR application is actually against the terms of service. So even if you can hack around it (which you should be able to) you’re breaking the ToS by doing so. If you’re interested in using the Google Maps API inside of AIR, I encourage you to file a feature request (see below). Make the world a better place. ;)

Update: Charles has an issue created, starring this is a good way to show support.

Posted in Rich Internet Applications

11 Responses

  1. Charlie Szymanski

    Ryan,

    It looks like this will be the default issue for requesting AIR support:

    http://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=322&colspec=ID%20Type%20Status%20Priority%20Introduced%20Fixed%20Summary&start=200

    If everyone that wants AIR support can star that issue, it may help them move it through faster.

    CS

  2. Charlie Szymanski

    Ryan,

    It looks like this will be the default issue for requesting AIR support.

    If everyone that wants AIR support can star that issue, it may help them move it through faster.

    CS

  3. Brandon Ellis

    seems like more and more the big guys are saying, “Build more! Build more! Build what we want. Not what you want.”

  4. beussery

    If enough folks submit requests there is no telling what might happen! I’d get the community in on this issue….

  5. Matt Giger

    Can’t you just use the HtmlLoader class to view a website with a google map on it. If your application is an actual web browser, you aren’t violating it are you? Mind you, that isn’t the Flash API, but what if you visit a website built in flex? Really the lines are so blurry with an embedded web browser.

    Shameless plug: Take a look at EarthBrowser to see a great AIR app.

  6. James Whittaker

    I’m 100% behind this, I was excited yesterday when the news broke but now as in the cold light of day things are not that clear for us AIR developers.

    I have offered up my support and I have posted the details up on the news section of freshAIRapps to gain more support.

  7. Matt

    How utterly short-sighted. Yahoo! Maps it is then.

  8. Fabianv

    I’m totally dissapointed.. bad Google! bad bad!

  9. Matthew Keefe

    I was happy to see Google Maps in Flash, but this new wrinkle is just upsetting. I wonder if this has anything to do with Google Apps? Hopefully they will change it soon.

  10. FlexLive.net » Flex Developer Update - May 20, 2008

    [...] released a Flex API for Google Maps. The licensing terms leaves AIR in the cold. Never the less, it breaks new ground in terms of building distributed components in [...]

  11. Flex/Air - Google Maps API non compatible avec Adobe Air - Adobe Flex Tutorial - Tutoriaux Flex Builder, MXML, ActionScript, AS3

    [...] le billet du blog de Ryan Stewart (Adobe),  il semble que l’on ne puisse pas utiliser l’API Google Maps Flash dans une [...]

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About Ryan Stewart – Rich Internet Application Mountaineer

A blog by a Platform Evangelist at Adobe covering Adobe's RIA platform. Includes posts about Adobe Flex, Adobe AIR, ColdFusion, LiveCycle, Thermo, and everything in between.