JQVMap.prototype.placePins = function(pins, pinMode){
  var map = this;

  if(!pinMode || (pinMode !== 'content' && pinMode !== 'id')) {
    pinMode = 'content';
  }

  if(pinMode === 'content') {//treat pin as content
    jQuery.each(pins, function(index, pin){
      if(jQuery('#' + map.getCountryId(index)).length === 0){
        return;
      }

      var pinIndex = map.getPinId(index);
      var $pin = jQuery('#' + pinIndex);
      if($pin.length > 0){
        $pin.remove();
      }
      map.container.append('<div id="' + pinIndex + '" for="' + index + '" class="jqvmap-pin" style="position:absolute">' + pin + '</div>');
    });
  } else { //treat pin as id of an html content
    jQuery.each(pins, function(index, pin){
      if(jQuery('#' + map.getCountryId(index)).length === 0){
        return;
      }
      var pinIndex = map.getPinId(index);
      var $pin = jQuery('#' + pinIndex);
      if($pin.length > 0){
        $pin.remove();
      }
      map.container.append('<div id="' + pinIndex + '" for="' + index + '" class="jqvmap-pin" style="position:absolute"></div>');
      $pin.append(jQuery('#' + pin));
    });
  }

  this.positionPins();
  if(!this.pinHandlers){
    this.pinHandlers = true;
    var positionFix = function(){
      map.positionPins();
    };
    this.container.bind('zoomIn', positionFix)
      .bind('zoomOut', positionFix)
      .bind('drag', positionFix);
  }
};