In a Windows Blog post, the company discusses changes to the look of maps, creating consistency between web and UWP, and new features and improvements. Some of the changes, including visual improvements, were added after user requests. Among the new additions to Maps on Windows 10 is a new set of Map Styling APIs for the Map Control feature. These APIs allow users to customize the look of maps. Developers can render maps differently, while changing styling characteristics. This can be used to emphasize or layer specific aspects of a map. These customization tools will only be available in locations where Windows 10 Map Control supports vector rendering. Microsoft says this is all regions except for Japan, China, and South Korea. Map customization is an option for online and offline users. Microsoft highlights some of the custom layer examples available through Windows 10 Creators Update: “Spooky Map: The Spooky road map style is rendered by Windows 10 Map Control through changing the land color, the color for the neighborhood labels and the fill color for areas such as airports, cemeteries and education structures. Winter Map: The Winter road map style is rendered by Windows 10 Map Control through changing the land color, the color for neighborhood labels and the fill color for the areas such as cemeteries, education structures and military bases. Gray Map: The Gray road map style is rendered by Windows 10 Map Control through changing the land and water color, the color for all labels and the fill color for all areas and map elements such as roads, railways, runways, transportation network lines and structures.”
3D Scenes
The new features also include Road and Aerial maps that support 3D views and elevation data. Labels in the 3D maps are now laying down or standing up to enhance the visual quality of the map. Speaking of visual appeal, Microsoft says it is making maps cleaner and prettier. This enhancement will be made across web and UWP app versions of Windows 10 Maps.
