Pay to Have Your Logo on Google Maps

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Google have today announced that companies can pay to place their logo on Google Maps. Only they didn't quite announce it like that.

The Official Google Australia Blog claims that the move is designed to help you navigate Google Maps,

"These easily recognisable logos more closely depict online what the offline world looks like, so next time you're trying to find your way on the map you can navigate more easily using these icons as landmarks."

However, the main purpose of these logos is obviously not to be a navigational aide. If the aim was to improve navigation then businesses wouldn't need to cough up some cash to have their logos appear on Google Maps.

I have no problems with Google using Google Maps as an interactive billboard. Certainly a lot of businesses will benefit by having the locations of their outlets be more easily seen on Google Maps (conversely businesses that can't afford to advertise on Google Maps may suffer).

Just don't try to claim the move is designed to be a navigational aide.


I'd be interested to hear what regular users of Google Maps think of this move. Please give your feedback via the comments below.

Via: Official Google Australia Blog

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Google Maps in Google Labs

Google Labs Option on Google Maps

Google have added an option to add a number of Google Labs experiments to Google Maps. The new options include the ability to rotate maps in Google Maps, view the new aerial (oblique) view imagery, play a geography game and more.

To add the new options just click on the 'New' link that should appear at the top of the page (if you are viewing Google Maps whilst logged into a Google Account). Alternatively if you click on the link at the top of this post it should automatically open up the Google Labs options in Google Maps.

Here are the Google Labs experiments that you can now add to Google Maps:

Drag 'n' Zoom
Zooming in on a specific part of the map is now fast and easy. Simply click the Drag 'n' Zoom button, draw a box on the map, and zoom! You're there!

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 we're adding more all the time.

Back to Beta
Gmail isn't the only one that can enjoy a BETA tag.

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!

Rotatable Maps
Tired of North always being up? Add rotatable map types and give East, West and South a fair go.

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.

LatLng Tooltip
Displays a tooltip next to the mouse cursor showing the latlng directly underneath it.

LatLng Marker
Adds an option to the context menu that lets you drop a mini marker showing the latlng of the position that the cursor was pointing at when the context menu was evoked.

Smart Zoom
Ever zoom in too far and get the message "We don't have imagery at this zoom level"? Ensure you don't see it again, with Smart Zoom, which will check in advance what imagery exists, and ensure you can't zoom in beyond it.

Via: Blogoscoped

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Most Popular Google Maps Searches 2009

Google Zeitgeist have revealed the fastest rising search terms on Google Maps in 2009.

In number one spot is Mount Everest. In amongst the geographical searches are searches for burger restaurants and doughnuts.

Google Maps - Fastest Rising

1. Mount Everest
2. Laguna Seca
3. In-n-Out
4. Grand Canyon
5. Eiffel Tower
6. White House
7. Great Wolf Lodge
8. Wild Animal Safari
9. Voodoo Doughnuts
10. Path Station

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