Back to Mapping, YAY!

Well now that phase 1 has been complete, it is time to start the second phase of the mapping application that I have been blogging about.  So to do so, we have upgraded.  Not only from the older mapquest 5.2 API to the new MapQuest 5.3 API but also to Flex 3 from Flex 2!!  So today, I took my new flex 3 mapping project, empty canvas, and just threw the map on the screen.  Now, I am not running the swiftest computer out there… although that is soon to change, but it does good at getting the job done.  The first thing I noticed was how much faster the load time was to put the map on the screen.  It improved enough that I noticed it before looking at the other version I have out there.  I have to say, this next thing I am impressed with, I noticed that the map moved much more fluidly than it did before.  Same machine, same setup, except now using Flex 3 and MQ 5.3.  I don’t get that long loading grey screen of wait any longer, and those loading blocks have dwindled to few at the edges.  Before, the whole screen flashed, now just a couple blocks!!  Way to go MAPQUEST!  This is exciting to me.  My users will be able to get things much faster now than before.  I will be exploring the next couple of days what I can do with the new setup.  Thanks MapQuest for the new upgrades in performance.  Even now, just the little I have seen with the map alone, I am excited.