While playing around with Google Maps today, I noticed a few morsels of goodness that I never saw before.
At the top of the Google Maps window, there's a new Google Maps Labs link (just left of the Help link. There are some features (at time of writing - they change at Google's whim) that are quite useful. I present a few of them below. Each of these options have to be enabled to use them and they'll only stay enabled if you're signed into Google.
Drag 'n Zoom: Zooming in on a specific part of the map is now faster and easier than ever. Simply click the Drag 'n' Zoom button (it's below the zoom slider on the left), draw a box on the map, and presto zoomo!
Aerial Imagery: Add Aerial imagery to the map! Aerial imagery gives you rotatable, high-resolution overhead imagery presented in a new perspective. Currently imagery is only available in certain areas, but more is being added with time. Current selection is quite limited.
LatLng Tool tip: Displays a tool tip next to the mouse cursor showing the latitude and longitude directly underneath. This is very useful for those times when you need to navigate with your handy GPS device to a location that can only be represented as lat/long.
What's Around Here?: Adds a second search button that searches for "*", returning the top results in the current view. A great way to browse the map. Going to an area you've never been before? Need to know what's nearby? Drag 'n' Zoom, then What's Around Here and you'll be mere clicks away from discovering what points of interest await you at your destination.
Where in the World Game: Test your knowledge of world geography! Guess the name of the country from satellite imagery, and try to beat your top score!
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