This article was previously published on GeoChalkboard, and has been reproduced here with permission. GeoChalkboard is published by Geospatial Training Services who provide a range of geospatial web courses.

Today we are beginning a new series of posts on the ArcGIS Server API for Flex. The ArcGIS API for Flex allows the creation of Rich Internet applications on top of ArcGIS Server, and is based on the free Adobe Flex framework. The Flex framework is a client-side technology that is rendered by Flash Player 9 and above, or by Adobe AIR.

The term Rich Internet Applications or RIAs has become synonymous with Web 2.0 applications. But what are Rich Internet Applications? RIAs provide desktop functionality in a web application. They are engaging, interactive, and expressive applications with easy to use interfaces. RIA provide increased productivity to end users. There is no waiting for full-page reloading after user actions. Instead, RIAs provide instant feedback to the user and are responsive to their actions. In GIS terms, RIA applications provide the ability to create attractive visualizations of geographic analysis, and the ability to interact with the data.

On Friday, Microsoft announced that SQL Azure (Azure's relational database service) now supports geography and geometry types, plus spatial query support. These are the same geospatial extensions that were introduced with SQL Server 2008. This is a major piece of news for those who are wishing to build their own geospatial web applications from Microsoft's Azure cloud services. Not only do these new features include simple queries, but also more sophisticated operations such as union, intersection, and convex hull calculations.

The announcement can be found here,  and Johannes Kebeck has posted a how-to blog post about the new extensions and using them with Bing Maps.

Earlier today, Bing Maps released a number of updates and changes.  In addition to the existing JavaScript and Silverlight controls, and the SOAP web service, Bing Maps now includes a RESTful interface. This new interface supports maps, aerial images, geocoding (including batch), and routing. Responses can use XML or JSON.Further initial details and web links can be found on Chris Pendleton's blog, here.

The JavaScript ('AJAX') control has also been updated. The new v6.3 control supports two functionality levels. "Full functionality" should be used if you require the more complex functions supported by Bing Maps. The "core functionality" version is streamlined for those who only need the basics. This is reminiscent of the "cut down OpenLayers" builds which I have described before. Why should your users download a huge JavaScript file when you only need a tiny part of it? Also, new geocoding and search methods have been added to make these functions easier to use; and pushpins are now draggable. "Draggability" is controlled with a new propery on the VEShape pushpin object.

There are also changes at the end-user level. Bing Maps Apps now have a new rating scheme, so users can rate individual apps. Bing Maps Apps are user map mashups which are hosted by Microsoft, and also have a new SDK available. Photosynth Panoramas are also now supported. The new Map Overlays feature is the first consumer-level appearance of Microsoft Research's Microsoft Map Cruncher application. I have written about this quite a bit in the past - I have found it invaluable to provide usable data in our Costa Rica maps. The released overlays include maps for a number of urban parks and mall directories.

Other end-user changes include reverse address lookup (who is at this building?) for business addresses, and full screen maps.