javascript - with - http chart apis google com chart

Google charts dynamic icons deprecated. Alternatives? (2)

https://developers.google.com/chart/image/docs/gallery/dynamic_icons

Im using this to create markers, e.g: http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chst=d_map_pin_letter&chld=%E2%80%A2|FF9900

or even

return new google.maps.MarkerImage("http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chst=d_map_pin_letter&chld=%E2%80%A2|" + hexColor,
            new google.maps.Size(21, 34),
            new google.maps.Point(0,0),
            new google.maps.Point(10, 34));

But the title says

Image Charts (Deprecated)

Does anyone know for how long it will be usable? Are there any alternatives?

Thanks

I know I might be late to the party, but here is something I just found which might be some sort of a replacement:

http://code.google.com/p/google-maps-icons/wiki/NumericIcons

which linked me to this site: https://mapicons.mapsmarker.com/

I guess it might be better to start caching the icons you are using from google to your own server (not sure what the license is and if its possible legally)

If you're using JavaScript (not KML) to populate your map, you can use http://code.google.com/p/google-maps-utility-library-v3/wiki/Libraries for some things, including these sorts of markers. It doesn't do everything that the deprecated API does, but it's certainly useful and valuable. It's maintained by a bunch of Google employees.