Google to Unite Mapping Mashups

jihadist writes "Hoping to make it even easier to turn its online maps into collages of local information, Google Inc. is introducing tools that will stitch together applications from a hodgepodge of Web sites."

Mapplets, Eh?

[ronadams]

From TFA:

Google is hoping to unite the information mishmash by encouraging mashup developers to package the creations into mini-applications called "mapplets" that will be posted under the "My Maps" section of Google's Web site.

It will be interesting to see what the TOS for mapplets will be, and how this might effect existing mashups. Already there are mashups used to generate profit for companies, and mashups that require paid access to use. Will Google attempt to swallow all mashups via centralization, and perhaps making it very difficult to create future mashups except through this forthcoming service? In other words, is Google trying to corner the mashup market?

Mapquest vs Google Maps

[bogaboga]

I used to be an avid Mapquest user till I discovered Google maps. The map application from Google is much better than that of Mapquest in my opinion and I find that Yahoo maps is always wrong when it comes to Canadian locations.

I still wonder why Mapquest is so much popular as compared to Google Maps.

Visual Schematic of Google Products / API

[bossvader]

If you want to see a visual / live schematic off all the Google Apps and API's take a look at this.

http://logiciels.zorgloob.com/graphe.php [zorgloob.com]

Now thats a mighty mashup!

Re:Mapquest vs Google Maps

[IndieKid]

I must admit I just had to look up MapQuest as I'd never heard of it. I live in the UK and over here services such as Streetmap [streetmap.co.uk] and Multimap [multimap.com] are probably the most popular 'legacy' services. I wouldn't be surprised if Google Maps was the most popular these days though.

I've been using the My Maps functionality of Google Maps quite a lot recently to keep private maps of where my friends live etc. - especially useful for those I don't visit very often as it works like a geo-tagged address book. I can certainly see myself slowly adding more mapplets to my standard google maps view as this feature evolves.

(Slightly off-topic, I absolutely love the Customise your route [google.com] functionality Google have recently added)

I would like to have more stuff in Google Maps API

[Anonymous Coward]

Right now using Google API I can't integrate routes direction services, but just static maps. I would like to be able to embed mapplets for my own project. But they are available only on Google Maps website.

Also for Google Maps there are Navteq maps, while if use Google API you have Tele Atlas that are less accurate.