Google map Icon Creator, Applications and the Future

Posted on October 23, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized | | Written by Gary Reid

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If you’ve ever done any development work that includes Google maps and you’re not a genius with Photoshop then this should certainly help - Terra IMS’ Mapicon Factory.

It has a great UI and has a free option, it’s great for creating unique icons for your Google maps.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at the kitchen table, when Elliott and I haven’t been coding we’ve been discussing the future and more to the point our plans for Roomstr. The conversations have been the usual mix of frank debate and down right excitement about what the project has become.

Yesterday we came to our decision over the application and the future.

The outcome was that we are not going to release Roomstr as a downloadable application, we will be initially launching it as a UK property search site. We know it has huge potential to disrupt the UK property market as some of the user generated map based features will bring a whole new set of benefits to house hunters.

To achieve this will mean some big changes to our own organisation, we’ll have to grow and focus, this will mean divesting some of our current projects and so Folkstr will be put up for sale.

We will also be looking at building the team, to add the necessary new skills and once the site has gained enough traction probably look at finding the right equity partner.

Roomstr’s unique use of maps, video, sms, mobile and user content has huge potential, it’s going to take a lot of phone calls and shoe leather to get Estate Agents on board but we’re ready for that.

We’ll be launching in beta very shortly and it will take us on a whole new journey.

Comments

8 Responses to “Google map Icon Creator, Applications and the Future”

Cosmin Ghiurau on October 23rd, 2007 12:02 pm

I have been an avid Folkstr user for my micro blog website http://www.microblogr.com … It is sad to see that it will be transitioned in a sale, but I understand you need to do so based on this exciting new venture.

So if I understand correctly, will Roomstr be along the lines of Zillow.com in the ability to find properties based on maps?
Gary Reid on October 23rd, 2007 12:46 pm

Hi Cosmin, yeah it was a hard decision for us to make, it’s taken us 3 weeks but it’s one we have to make. One thing we want to do is make sure it gets the right people involved to carry on the work.

Roomstr will be similar to Zillow with added user generated geo-coded video through web and mobile and a few other neat features.
Karl on October 24th, 2007 7:44 am

Hi Gary,
Will i say it’s sad that u selling folkstr and i have been waiting with great expectation for the roomstr because i have been looking for a web 2.0 real estate script and decide to settle down for yours because of your good record on folkstr and job board. Anyway i have a questions though:

* Are you still going to release the SMS Plugin for folstr before you sell it off?
* How far have you gone with your SMS Gateway service. are you abandoning that or when are we hoping to see and start using the service?
* when will it be too late for me to place order for my copy of folkstr because i have been waiting the SMS Plugin.

your reply will be highly appreciated
karl
Peter on October 25th, 2007 9:30 am

Hi,
i donÂ´t know, but i feel i lil bit strange. I remeber when folkstr was released and that more features will follow soon.
There was an event, groups, beers and flowers, sms plugin that should be released soon - but none of them was ever released. So i decided to buy the script, because the development looks fantastic.
But instead they released some simple plugins, that everyone of us could do, like new members, random photo and so on….just pull out data from different tables.
DonÂ´t get me wrong. i like folkstr really, but it feels like it was part of an strategy to sell more copies of folkstr… and then the decoded version…too.

Just my 2 cents, from a customer who feels more and more…
Gary Reid on October 26th, 2007 5:50 am

@Peter, I understand where you are coming from but the MP3 plugin was more than just a rework of data.

The SMS plugin is a long way towards being finished and I’m sure the new owners will get that released pretty quickly.
exclamationmark on November 2nd, 2007 1:58 am

Why don’t you make folkstr as open source, and more people can come up with neat plugins faster.

Also, we have the new owner yet for folkstr? Or just not yet? How about the jobboard 2.0 of your, is it for sale too?

Thanks…
Ian on November 3rd, 2007 1:03 pm

Thats a great idea - Don’t sell it! Make it a free open source project. Then the community can contribute. Just pick someone to moderate the project and a website. Then your hand are off of it. Great things can be contributed!
Gary Reid on November 3rd, 2007 1:10 pm

When Tesco goes open source and lets us shop for free we may just do that, but we have to pay the bills and eat