Google Maps used to be all about local search, driving directions and satellite map viewing but in recent months all of that has changed with the new My Maps tab. Behind that tab lies a world of map making and Google Maps viewing fun just waiting to be had. I'm getting pretty hooked on content that I'm adding to My Maps to make looking around my community and entire country more interesting. Mapplets are compact Google Maps mashups that you can view right from within Google Maps. Since I'm a webcam junkie, I've added a webcams mapplet. To stay current on weather conditions I've added David Schorr's weather mapplet and one of the most interesting is the Panoramio photo mapplet that displays an instant photo montage as I zoom in to different places around the world. Adding this content is pretty easy. Just log in with your Google account, click the My Maps tab, then the "Add Content" link. Browse for Mapplets that look interesting, add them to Google Maps and have some fun! For some visual step by step instructions on how to customize Google Maps, check out this YouTube video..
More Mapplets to have some fun with:
Mix up a mega photo-video mashup of your own:
- Flickr & Panoramio geotagged photos
- Recently Uploaded YouTube Videos
- Picasa Web Albums Photos
- Geograph British Isles
Tools:
- Sea Level Rise Visualization
- Long Distance Measure
- Area Calculator
- Elevation Contours
- Path Profiler (very cool)
- USGS Real-time Earthquakes
- USGS Recent Volcano Activity
- UK Nestoria Property Search
- Washington DC Metro Map - (Blog post)
- Western Australia Petrol Prices
- World Hang Gliding (Blog post)
If you're a Google Maps mashup creator get started with Mapplets here..
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