Google Maps adds live traffic for US cities

Google Maps has today rolled out a new feature: Live Traffic Conditions.


The data is available by clicking the new "Traffic" toggle button to the left of "Map - Satellite - Hybrid":


..When you select this option traffic signals appear for cities which have live traffic available. Click the icons and a zoom option appears:

Color coded routes indicate traffic levels for that city.. Give it a try! :)

Google Maps Creation Tools Mega-Post - Part 11

Here again is another (the 11th) roundup of the latest Google Maps Creation (and Viewing) Tools and Resources. I've assemble these lists over the past few years to help you discover the countless sites created by people on the web to assist you with building your own Google Maps mashup or with diving deeper into the Google Maps API. Check out the bottom of this post to learn why this is a "Mega-Post"!

New tools to create your own map:

• TinyMap - Quick and easy Google Maps
• Add your own map markers on CommunityWalk - Automatically adds a legend icon, shadowing and IE printing functionality. (Example here)
• GeoMonkey - Build your own map and explore others.
• Mapdaze - Google Maps creation tool meant for embedding into blogs.

Google Maps Viewing Tools:

• Google Maps Directions Bookmarklet Generator - This is cool. Add your consistent starting point for directions you run. Gens code that, once saved can be used for quick Google Maps directions later.
• Widgetop Google Maps Widget - Works for Firefox or Safari. Check out the website to learn how Widgetop works.
• More Google Maps Creation Tools here..

A Google Maps navigator for Craigslist

Update: CraiglistMap no longer exists - the dead links have been removed from this post.

+=CraigslistMap.info



Wikipedia describes Craigslist as "..a centralized network of online urban communities, featuring free classified advertisements (with jobs, housing, personals, for sale/barter/wanted, services, community, gigs and resumes categories) and forums sorted by various topics." There is a Craigslist community for cities all across the US and around the world. A simple new Google Maps mashup helps you to navigate and learn more about these other Craigslist cities using a Google Maps interface. CraigslistMap.info lets you filter Craigslist communities:

• By date started
• By country
• By those outside the US

Each map pin will let you link off to that city's Craigslist community or Wikipedia article. It's not a particularly complex mashup but does act as a nice alternative geo-navigator to the text list formed in columns on the right side of the Craigslist homepage.

It's important to note that the Google Maps mashup craze was started by Paul Rademacher's Craigslist housing mashup, or hack: HousingMaps. HousingMaps started as the first Google Maps hack (before the API legitimized hacks). Paul now works at Google, and by the way.. so do I. :)

'Just Map It' with Nike's Google Maps Mashup

+ = Map It (Now called Nike+)



An announcement on the Nike.com message forums reveals a Google Maps Mashup created by the company for runners called Map It. Here is how it's described:
"Map It lets you draw, describe and share routes you run. You can find exactly where to run, wherever you go. And the best part—you can track your progress running the same route over time."

In response to a user question regarding availability outside the US a Nike spokesperson replied:
"In beta Map It is limited to US Nike+ runners but will be made available other regions as soon as we can, pending local Google Map availability of course!"

For more information about Map It, read through the announcement thread or this FAQ section.

Nike's entrant in the Google Maps run tracker joins many well established run finders and tools designed to help runners. A few of the most popular include the Google Maps Pedometer and Walk Jog Run.