Skip to main content

Different map for a different browser!

            The title simply implies that detect the client's browser and then display the map accordingly! This is basically important when you are developing a map application for mobiles. Mobiles usually have a small screen and the maps that look brilliant on the desktops don't look the same on the mobile screens!

            Well, in my example, I am considering only two of the most popular browsers in use - Mozilla and IE. The application detects whether the client's browser is one of the two and then renders the map accordingly! If you are viewing the example in Mozilla, then you will see a 600 X 800px map, whereas if you are viewing it in IE, you will see a smaller 500 X 500px map! Here is the code...

<html>
<title>Basic Google Map Example - Detect browser and render map accordingly
</title>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false">
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var map;
function load()
{
    var useragent = navigator.userAgent;
    map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map_area"),
    {
        zoom: 6,
        mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP,
        center: new google.maps.LatLng(21.698265,79.035645)
    });
    if (useragent.indexOf('MSIE') != -1)
    {
        map_area.style.height = '500px';
        map_area.style.width = '500px';
    }
    else if (useragent.indexOf('Mozilla') != -1)
    {
        map_area.style.height = '600px';
        map_area.style.width = '800px';
    }
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="load()">
<div id="map_area">
</div>
</body>
</html>

             The key focus point in this code is "navigator.userAgent". This detects the type, version, etc. of the current browser being used! The output of the above code will appear as seen in the images below!

Output - Browser used IE

 Output - Browser used Mozilla

            Please try on other browsers as well. Please leave a comment about the results you observe. Hope you like the post. Please leave your feedback here!

Comments

Recommended for You

Playing with the markers and info window bubbles...

    In the last few posts, we have seen some marker examples and some information window examples. Now, lets do something interesting combining these two things. Just writing that "This is an info window" in the information bubble is not very interesting! And I know this...Have gone through the same phase!     So, today we will do something interesting! We will display the latitude- longitude co-ordinates of the point that the user clicks on the map! Doing this is not at all complex! Copy paste the following code and you will see for yourself a map coming to life!     The output of the above code looks as seen in the result section above! If you have any queries regarding the above code please comment on the blog post or feel free to contact me at my mail ID .

Fusion Table Layer...

    Today we will have a look at the "Fusion Table" Layer example. But before we start with the actual code, we will have a look at what Fusion Table is. Google Fusion Table is a free service for sharing and visualizing data online. It allows you to share data, merge data from multiple tables into interesting derived tables, and see the most up-to-date data from all sources. There is a lot of documentation about Google Fusion Table available on the web. You can visit their home page or the Google Research Blog to gather more information about Fusion Tables.     Let us have a look at the following code. The code is very short and simple to understand!     The few things to look out for in the above code are: The manner in which mapTypeId has been specified! In other Google Maps API v3 examples, we have seen that we specify mapTypeID as ROADMAP, SATELLITE, etc. i.e., all the letters are in uppercase and not in quotes! However, in this...

Google Map's Real-Time Traffic Layer...

    You can now check the traffic condition on the road before you leave for work, or a party or to your friend's place. Google's Traffic layer shows the traffic conditions in your area - LIVE!!! Live traffic data is available in major cities in the United States, France, Britain, Canada and Australia, with new cities and countries frequently added. The Google Maps API allows you to add real-time traffic information (where supported) to your maps using the TrafficLayer object. Traffic information is provided for the time at which the request is made. Consult this spreadsheet to determine traffic coverage support.     Let us now have a look at the Google Maps API - Trafiic Layer example. Copy the following code in a simple text file and save it as html. Click on this html file and it will open in your default browser. You will then see the traffic conditions in your area - LIVE...     The output of the above code looks as seen in the r...

Google Street View Image API

    Street View is one of most used feature of the Google Maps and why not? You can actually see any part of the world as if you are visiting the place at that very moment. And now with the Google Street View Image API, you don't even need to carry a camera with you to the places you visit. You can take-in all the scenic beauty without even bothering about clicking a single picture. You can come back from your vacation and get a few images using the Google Street View Image API and show those images to your friends and relatives. Create an album of high definition images and go ahead and share it on Facebook for your friends to have a look.     Using the Google Street View Image API is very simple and anybody can make use of it without any programming knowledge required. I will walk you through the entire process of effectively using the Google Street View Image API. So if you are set, let's go on an amazing ride across the globe with the Google Street Views. ...

Bihar dials mobile tech to track road-building

         Upwardly mobile Bihar is now set to become the first state in India to use the latest cell phones for centralised monitoring of road construction. In an earlier post we saw how the Bihar police were using the GIS technology to track down the criminals.          Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC), under the Road Construction Department (RCD), will deploy Android phones to help executive engineers keep an eye on road construction from district headquarters, while the RCD Secretary will do so from the Patna office.          Earlier, Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation had successfully used GPS-enabled phones to help mobile inspectors track engineers on duty. The latest mobile operation system supports all Google applications in 3G mobile phones.          Using the latest Android technology, ...