Traffic!
Whilst looking at some CSS examples here: http://www.smarttiles.click/help/customizing-css/custom-css-gallery-page-2/ I noticed that @DarcRanger had a link within his CSS comments to a Google traffic page , that got me thinking. I’m aiming to put a SmartTiles tablet by the front door and having traffic as part of the SmartTile panel really appeals. So, here’s the results of my tinkering:
First of all the only way to accomplish this I’m aware is to utilise an image and then link that image using the “Stop Motion Video Stream” within SmartTiles. I think @625alex and @tgauchat maybe working on the ability to embed a web page but until then here’s a solution that may be of interest to the community.
Unfortunately I’ve not found a way to do this with Google Maps as they don’t provide a static map (an image) and allow you to overlay traffic information. Microsoft Bing groan however, do. You have to use their API but it’s not difficult to set up.
Here’s one of my SmartTiles showing you how it looks.
Head here to setup yourself with a Bing Maps API key: https://www.bingmapsportal.com
Sign in (you’ll need a Microsoft Login)
Select My Account -> My Keys
Click to create a new key
Give it a name
Ignore the Application URL
Key type=Basic
I selected DEV/TEST
Copy your newly created key
Next head over here: http://staticmapmaker.com/bing/
Use this useful page to generate the URL you will supply to the stop motion video feed in your tile. The easiest way to do this is use Google Maps, centre your required map and then copy the co-ordinates from the Google Maps URL, then paste that info into the above site. Change the rest of the settings to your needs (don’t forget to select traffic). Once you’re happy copy the URL and use that as your stop motion video feed.
Further info:
Bing Maps is not free, but if you consume fewer than 125,000 transactions in a 12-month period you shouldn’t have an issue. Either way read the T’s and C’s:
http://www.mapslicensing.com
So, if you refreshed the map every 15 minutes that would be 96 times a day which is about 35,000 transaction per year, If my calculations are right that’s well within your free usage rights (I think).
If you have other stop motion cameras then it might be useful to understand if you can apply a different refresh rate to the traffic tile via custom CSS in order that it is refreshed less than your cameras thus avoiding excessive API calls.