Google Maps Hack

I am a huge Google fan, and one of my favorite feature offered by Google is the Google Maps. It is still in beta stage but it already has huge impacts on the internet.

Because of Google Maps's XML nature, it is incredibly flexable. You can get the information from Google Maps and modify it in any way you want it. Many sites already started taking advantage of easily modifiable mapping information. Those type of sites are called Google Maps Hack because they "hacked" the Google Maps to get what they need.

Here is the list of all Google Maps Hacks that I know of so far:

• Geobloggers: Where Flickr meets Google Maps.


• Google-Yahoo Traffic-Weather Maps: Traffic and weather reports on the map.


• HousingMaps: Show houses/apts for sale or rent on the map.


• Movies Showtimes: Show movies showtimes on the map.


• Cheap Gas: Show where the cheapest gas are.


• 4ppl.com: Show where members of 4ppl are.


• gCensus: Show United States's Census information on the map


• Foundcity: Show your pictues and text messages on the map.

There was one more that I know of, but GMerge was taken down dues its illegal use of copyrighted satellite images. GMerge created wallpapers out of satellite images of any location you desire. It was a very good hack, but too bad it is short-lived.

If you already found more that are not on the list, please let us know by commenting here.

There is also a collection of GreaseMonkey scripts for Google Maps as well. (Scroll down to Google Maps)

Google Maps is just a baby, and yet it make profound impacts on the internet in terms of information sharing and usability. This is just a beginning for Google Maps, and I strongly believe it has a great future and will never cease to amaze us.