--- original post 10/26/09 ----

News and non-news has trickled in about changes and potential enhancements to Google Maps since last Friday.

Let's start with actual news.

First, Michael Jones continues to share tidbits with us. This came on Friday.

In the continuing saga of "another shoe falls" (you may wonder how many shoes we have) we had an additional launch of import overnight. Go anywhere in Google Maps and zoom in close. You'll see built-in information about many millions of prominent local listings and each of these is active--just hover over and click to get the details and visit the source. Also note that they can all be edited directly by users.

We believe that this is a big step in the evolution of online mapping. Why? Because the map becomes more than graph paper for information as it begins to integrate that information directly. Consider the logical conclusion of this trend--you would be able to click anywhere on the Earth and learn all that is known about the place and the activities there.

Note that this makes the third or fourth version of Google Maps presented to users this week. This type of "continuous invisible change" is the future of software and service delivery. (It is the present for Google and many other vendors but some well known firms still lag behind the curve.)

It's unclear which listing appear and why (perhaps there's some magical Google algorithm) but in my neighborhood there are a few significant restaurants (the lines out the door Highland Cafe, for example) and a few historic sites (Samuel Gaut house). Sources included wikipedia, the restaurant itself and insiderpages.com.

Second, the Google LatLong blog detailed changes to Google Maps look and feel. "The changes affect both the 'Map' and 'Hybrid' styles, and include numerous refinements to color, density, typography, and road styling worldwide."

- via C|net

Finally, the non-news, aka speculation. A Forbes article suggest Google is moving to add navigation to its iPhone app. Elizabteh Woyke says Google's competitors think it's gearing up to develop "a mobile navigation application that it plans to give away for free." The title says it all: "Google's Navigation Bombshell." (Thanks to Gary at Resource Shelf for the tip.)

Evidence includes:

- chatter about it when mobile Google Maps app appeared
- chatter about it when Android use grew
- interest in it by users
- no comment from a Google spokesperson
- Google's recent move to using its own data in the U.S.
- Google Latitude
- such apps are making money (though thoughts are that a Google app would be free, with ads)