Bing Maps gets a new SDK for Metro style apps in Windows 8

Microsoft has released a new SDK for Bing Maps designed to help developers integrate the mapping service into their Metro style apps for Windows 8. The SDK is a beta release, and includes a new Javascript control along with support for developers using C#, C++, and Visual Basic. It’ll provide features such as traffic overlays and hardware accelerated rendering, and should go some way to improving compatibility in a similar way to how Enyo works with Bing Maps on webOS. Microsoft has also updated its licensing terms, giving developers free and unlimited use of Bing Maps APIs until Windows 8 is released. The company hasn’t finalized plans for how this will work once Windows 8 becomes a commercial release, but is clearly trying to shore up as much support as possible for the Windows Store before launch.