Google Maps Creation Tools - Part 16

Google Maps API:

Lots of cool new things to add to your Google Maps mashup, compliments of the Google Maps API team!

Add Google Maps Local Business Search to your Google Maps mashup

Want to add a new data source to your mashup? Google has added a way for you add Google Maps local business results to your API site. Link through to this post over the Google Maps API Blog for more details. This is a great way to add more value to your Google Maps mashup, especially if you're focused on things like tourism or sporting venues. This will work for countries that support local business search on Google Maps.

Add US traffic to your Google Maps mashup


DragZoomControl v1.0 = Easier zooming! - This is a great zoom control method.. go through to this post and try it out!

Geocoding now available in Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic

Google Mapplets

Back on May 31st I introduced you to "Mapplets". Mapplets are compact versions of a Google Maps mashup or tool that will can be available to users on the web right within Google Maps itself. At this stage Mapplets are only available for use by visiting this special preview URL:
http://maps.google.com/preview
..Eventually Google Maps will make these Mapplets widely available for use so millions of users will be able to choose from a gallery of Mapplets to add one or many to their Google Maps view. Don't want to be left out when Mapplets get switched on? Take a look at this fantastic post by Pamela Fox over on the Google Maps API Blog that will help you turn your mashup into a Google Mapplet:
Got a Maps Mashup? Make it a Mapplet!
To take a look at the Mapplets which have already been created - Check here..

Other Links:

• Developer Day Maps API + KML Recap - If you're a Google Maps API developer or interested in starting to create a Maps API site, Mapplet or Google My Map, be sure to take a look at this post on the Google Maps API Blog that will point you to all relevant talks that were held at the recent Google Developer Day from all world cities.
• How-To: Mapping Blogger using geo:lat and geo:long - Enables Blogger posts tagged with geo:lat and geo:long values to be tracked on a Google Map. See this example..
• How-To: Use KDE's DCOP communications to build applications that use Google Maps - A Google Maps hack that can be used on Linux
• Pamela Fox Talks About Google Maps - Google Blogoscoped (Jun.12/07)