Xtracked is 'Mashup of the Day' at ProgrammableWeb.com!

For those of you who haven't yet heard about ProgrammableWeb, let us bring you up to speed with a quick introduction.

"ProgrammableWeb gets you the latest on what's new and interesting with mashups, Web 2.0 APIs, and the Web as Platform. It's a directory, a news source, a reference guide, a community."

We are proud to announce that Xtracked has become one of the lucky few to shine in their hall of fame, being their 'Mashup of the Day' for November 12, 2010. Thank you ProgrammableWeb.com!

From Xtracked 2.0

Introducing Xtracked 2.0: Bigger, Better and more user-friendly than ever!

Since the Google Maps JavaScript API V2 has officially been deprecated, we decided to follow Google's example and completely rewrite all of our JavaScript code from scratch to support their new and improved Google Maps JavaScript API V3. Ofcourse we couldn't allow ourselves doing this without adding some cool new features along the way.

To start off with, we added the possibility to add personal notes to the dates you tracked your trips. We are planning on using this feature to allow you to not only select your tracks per date, but also by the description you gave them earlier.

Because Google's default markers and their InfoWindow simply didn't suffice for our cause, we had to come up with a solution of our own. Luckily the Google Maps API V3 supplied us with the tools we needed in the form of their MarkerImage and OverlayView classes. By implementing these, we are able to bring you the best mapping solution out there while staying faithfull to the Xtracked look and feel.

One feature we are all very keen about (and we know you have been waiting for) is Google Street View, allowing you to relive your trips through panoramic 360 degree views. Since we are a big fan of customizability, we leave it up to you whether to use Street View side-by-side with the map or as a standalone module.

Chart interaction has always been a very important aspect of the Xtracked website, but with the addition of Street View now more than ever. You will see that when hovering over the chart, not only is the map centered at your current location, but also does the Street View panorama reflect the actual view you had when passing that location (by setting its POV).

If you would want to find out more about a specific point, let's say it's address, the date and time you have been there or the speed at which you were travelling, than simply click the series in the chart and a popup with detailed information will appear on the map.

Zooming in is just as easy, just click, drag and release your mouse on a section of interest in the chart and the chart and map will automatically zoom in to the selected boundaries.

Last but not least, we even added the Google Maps 'More...' menu with a Xtracked twist, allowing you to overlay your map with the Traffic and Bicycle Layer and switch to Satellite, OpenStreetMap and CloudMade map tiles.

We could go on and on about how psyched we are about the Maps API V3 and our implementation of it, but we would rather have you take a look at it yourself and tell us what you think. Check out our live demo at Xtracked.com, view the slides below or just browse through our online album.

QR-code

First things first, what is a 'QR-code' actually? Well, according to the Xtracked Jargon Buster, a QR-code is a two-dimensional barcode which can be scanned by a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software. This QR-code, or 'Quick Response' code, can then be converted into a URL, which for example enables you to quickly download Xtracked Mobile without typing.

Check out this Wikipedia article to learn more about QR-codes, their standards, storage capacity and variants. Visit the Kaywa QR-code Generator to try it out for yourself, or just download their Reader to scan the Quick Response code below.

Xtracked flyer

What you gotta love about flyers is that they are inexpensive to produce and are regarded as a very effective form of direct marketing. To let people in the Netherlands know about Xtracked, we created this postcard size Dutch flyer. It's easy to hand out at sports events and due to it's size it's just as easy to take with you while participating. Roughly translated into English, the catch phrase on the front says something like 'Track your trips for free?'. When interested, people will flip to the back, where they can learn more about Xtracked and it's features. We've included both sides of the flyer below, even though they're in Dutch we're sure you'll get the picture.

Triathlon Beesd 2010

Xtracked proudly sponsored a local Dutch triathlon event in Beesd, called the 'Triathlon Beesd 2010', hosted on the 26th of June. As a 25th anniversary gift, we supplied them with their own live GPS tracking, enabling visitors to track contestants in real-time. The weather was great, the atmosphere fantastic and ofcourse Xtracked ran as expected. You can find more information about the Triathlon Beesd on their Dutch website, www.triathlonbeesd.nl. We hope to see you all next year!













From left to right: Henry Piek (Rumpt), Marcel Gierman (Zevenaar) and Martijn Keijsers (Arnhem), respectively second, first and third place holders on the 1/4 triathlon men (called the 'Kwart Triathlon' in Dutch).

Account verification

As you might know, the Xtracked service is currently in its Beta phase. The Beta phase is like a rehearsal for the launch, where we test everything out with a small audience before allowing the whole world to join.

During this Beta, you can enjoy all the features of our service for free, even the Premium ones! The only thing we ask in return, is that you help us to improve our service by reporting bugs and sending in suggestions via our contact form.

Applying for a Beta account is easy, simply sign up for free at https://www.xtracked.com/en/user/signup. Be sure to double check the email address you submit, because we will use this address to send you your account verification link.

If you do not see our verification email in your inbox, please check your Spam folder (sometimes called 'Junk' or 'Bulk'). Some providers mark unknown email as spam by default, so if you do happen to find our email in there, please make sure to mark it as 'Not Spam'. This will help future messages to get through.

If you no longer have the email, we can resend you the activation message. Just enter your email address and password at https://www.xtracked.com/ and hit the 'Log in' button. When the system sees that you have not yet verified your account, it will automatically send you your verification link via email.

Once you have verified your account, Xtracked will review your request for approval. As soon as a Beta slot opens up for you, we will contact you at the email address you submitted. As the Beta progresses we will be letting more and more people in, so don't be put off if you do not get your account approved immediately.

We hope to see you soon at Xtracked.com!

Xtracked logo HD

We gave our design guru a day off, instead of drinking cocktails in the sun he created this nifty little video starring the Xtracked logo. Talking about commitment!