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Jeff Chandler

gMaps – Cool WPMU Theme

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Browsing across the web last night, I came across a very cool iteration of WordPress MU. The site was http://klews.net/maps/ and functioned as if the entire install was one giant map. As I’ve since learned, that is essentially what it is.

So exactly who is WP Premium?

We are a growing group of independent designers and developers who are totally addicted to WordPress MU (Multi-User) and spend all our time creating new themes and plug-ins specifically tailored to the needs of other developers, web-masters or anyone that likes good themes. At present, we are still setting things up and to be honest, if you are reading this, it would be somewhat surprising, for at present, we have not told anyone about us, because we first want to finish beta testing the two themes we are presently developing.

Well, it seems to me that the cat is out of the bag. The site I linked to above showing off an interesting use of maps is actually a WordPress MU theme called gMaps. This theme contains a slew of features such as:

    Automatically Re-Sized Full-Screen Google Maps
    Individually Assigned Map Types (Map, Satellite and Hybrid)
    Ability to Assign Different Types for Each Post & Page
    Individually Assigned Zoom Levels for Each Post & Page
    Geo-Tagged Content with Integrated geoRSS Functionality

gmap1

This theme is not free but their is an interesting catch behind how you can purchase this theme. According to WP Premium, an unlimited developers license is $99.00 with 25% of that cost going back to Klews.net. So while Klews hired WP Premium to develop this theme, Klews has talked them into a discounted price while receiving kick backs. I wonder if this is something that will eventually find its way into premium WordPress themes. Someone develops a custom theme and then resells that theme while giving kickbacks to the person who ordered the custom development.

At any rate, gMaps looks like a cool step forward in innovation in terms of using WordPress MU for more than simply providing multiple blogs. What do you guys and gals think?

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6 responses to “gMaps – Cool WPMU Theme”

  2. Why not do this as a regular WP premium theme?

    As far as I can see, your theme’s unique feature is that posts are attached to specific locations on the map. I understand that your original client runs a blog network based upon WPMU, but this functionality has no inherently MU-specific requirements.

    By requiring WPMU, you are massively cutting down your potential market. Far more people are willing to install regular WP than WPMU, why insist on WPMU when your customers might not want or need to run a blog network?

    A quick rewrite for WP compatibility would result in far more sales.

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  3. Donnacha – we’re totally with you…

    Will certainly create a standard WP version too, but to be honest, we are still putting the finishing touches onto this one for WPMU, and are continuing to beta-test it for different regions and so forth…

    We were not really planning on telling anyone about ourselves or our themes until we were all set up and ready to rock…

    A series of events led us to this point, where Jeff let the cat out of the bag, and only hope we do not disappoint in getting things finished off, especially as some of us have day time jobs…

    Nonetheless, it’s an absolute honor to finally chat with you – assuming you are the same donnacha that made this all possible for us…? This being the continued development of MU.

    (if you’re not that same donnacha, it’s still an honor, it’s just not an absolute one) … :-)

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  4. I’m afraid I’m an entirely different Donnacha – we’re both Irish and our names are almost the same but the WPMU lead spells his incorrectly: “Donncha” :)

    It’s a confusion that has come up a few times and I do my best to correct it but, still, I always feel a little bit guilty. I’ve talked to Donncha about it and he thinks it’s funny.

    Anyway, I’m quite involved in the WordPress community and this problem is bound to crop up again, so, just for the recored, the best way to distinguish me from Automattic Donncha, apart from the different spelling of our names, is that I always post as “donnacha | WordSkill” (WordSkill.com will be my main blog once it launches).

    Also, to further minimize confusion, I made my gravatar as unique as possible, using a ridiculous photo of me dancing on a mountain after a country wedding. That should make it pretty easy to tell us apart, unless Donncha starts dancing on mountains too – and he won’t, he’s too busy playing video games.

    Back on topic, I’m delighted that you’ll be releasing a WP version and don’t stress too much about the premature spotlight, just use it as a good reason to focus and finish your project at a sensible pace, taking the time to do it right and, more importantly, to enjoy it – as long as your don’t do a StayPress and clearly lose interest in your project, your audience will still be waiting for you in a few months.

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  5. Thanks for the education Donnacha – will keep our eyes open for dancing mountains, or is it dancing loonies on mountains, I forget…? :p

    Your support and kind words ring warmly at heart, thanks for taking the time and effort to write them…

    We have recently added some roadmaps to our (un-publicly-published forums), and the one specifically for WPMU gMaps can be found here:
    http://wpmupremium.com/forum/wpmu-gmaps-1/wpmu-gmaps-v1/

    May the force be with you…

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