How can I use the Google maps API in a Visual BASIC application?

I'm building a simple directions program in VB and would like to incorporate some of the features found in Google maps, but when I go to the Google maps API page (http://code.google.com/apis/maps/index.html) it only has code for using Google maps in web sites with JavaScript, Flash etc... Nothing for desktop apps. Any way to use these APIs for my pro开发者_JS百科gram? Thanks

Depending on what features you want, you may be able to use the Static Maps API (in a PictureBox) or the Geocoding API (using the WebClient class).

Since there's no VB API, you would have to embed an HTML page or Flash object in your program's GUI. Not being a VB programmer, I don't know much about how to do that.

If you're happy with fixed size maps then the Static Maps API might work for you:

Static Maps API V2 Developer Guide

Just use a simple download command to get this webpage https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=Youraddress