GDownloadUrl("address.xml", function(data) {
...
)}

Notice the bold area. “address.xml” is the file that contains all the xml data that has been collected and organized. I can pretty much download the file by entering in my address bar:  http://root url/address.xml. Voila, I have basically ripped off someone else’s data to be used as I see fit. Perhaps to create my own map!

I personally do not want to expose the location of my data file and allow others to download it.  To get around this issue, I have implemented a simple solution.

Rather than “address.xml”, I have created a new separate .php file. Let’s call it address.php. In that file, I check the referrer information to ensure that the request comes from the proper location. If it does, write the xml contents. If not, redirect them somewhere else.

<?php

    // prevent direct linking to xml files

 if($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] != '') {

          $xml_string = file_get_contents("xml_location/address.xml");

        echo $xml_string;  

 }else{    
     // redirect them somewhere if they try to direct link to this page
      header( 'Location: http://www.google.com' ) ;

 }

?>

For the Google map, replace xml file with php file

GDownloadUrl(“address.xml“, function(data) {  to:  GDownloadUrl(“address.php“, function(data) {

Simple as that. So if a curious viewer decides to enter “address.php” into there browser, they won’t get any data, just be redirected to some location you decide on.

There are also other ways to do this but IMO this is probably the simplilest and most effective.

Google has just released today its’ beta broswer Google Chrome. Some have already dubbed it the “Browser Killer”.  I’ve been an avid Firefox user since the beginning, making the early switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox and am very curious as to how Google’s attempt at the browser market will be.

So far very impressed. Very clean, simple and this thing is FAST.  Some cool features include:

• Very clean and minimalistic approach
• Quick search as part of address bar
• Unique home page that displays your most visited sites in mini screenshot layouts
• Incognito browsing, aka Porn View - Pages you view in this window won’t appear in your browser history and they won’t leave other traces, like cookies, on your computer
• Did I already mention it is FAST?

Missing:

• Minimal customization and advanced settings (at least that I can see right now)
• No add ons or extensions
• Something is a bit off with the scrolling

Overall, very impressed with Chrome in the little amount that I have used it. I still love my Firefox with it’s addons and customization but Chrome is giving me a run for the money as my go to browser. Even in it’s beta stage, it’s already a worthy competitor.  In typical Google fashion, how long will it stay in beta? 1 year or 5??

Note: I posted this via Google Chrome.