Google Maps is a worthy competitor to more established map sites such as MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps. What sets Google Maps apart is its interactive zoomable and movable maps, and its capability to display satellite imagery and hybrid maps in addition to traditional maps. You also get a great search function you can use to find local businesses, as well as live traffic data for many major cities. I used to use MapQuest in years past, but I’ve long switched all my map-based activities to Google Maps; it’s that much better.

Google Maps also lets anybody access its map database to create a Google map “mashup”—that is, a specialized application that adds new data to a standard Google map. You learn how to create your own custom Google maps in Chapter 28, “Creating Google Map Mashups;” read ahead to learn more.