Google has released a new feature for Google Maps that enables users to layer valuable third-party information directly on Google Maps with a single click and to save these customized maps to their personal library. These mini-applications, called Mapplets, make it possible for users to view and layer maps containing information such as real estate listings, jogging trails, events and photos.
Mapplets users who are planning a vacation can now view and layer maps of hotel availability, regional weather forecasts, gas prices and other useful information directly in Google Maps. Once they have created their custom map, they can create their own personalized itinerary by saving the results, adding their own notes, and putting it on a map to share with family and friends. Also, users looking for a new home can not only search real estate listings, but they can also layer their findings over transit maps and crime statistics to further refine their search.
These new tools can be found in the Google Maps Directory by clicking on the "Add content" link in the "My Maps" tab in Google Maps. Users may click on the "Add it to Maps" buttons within the directory to bookmark relevant content. Among the 100 mapplets currently featured in the Google Maps Directory are hotel pricing and availability from Orbitz and Booking.com, Live, local weather conditions and traffic cameras from WeatherBug, Worldwide webcams from Webcams.travel, Things to do and local events from Zvents and Gas prices from GasBuddy.com. Moreover, Google has developed its own mapplets such as Google Real Estate Search, which helps users find rentals and homes for sale in the US, recently uploaded YouTube videos from around the globe and photos from Panoramio.
This new functionality is available for Google Maps users in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. It is available in the following languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian and Chinese (TW).
Click here for more info on Mapplets.
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