Mapplets: Gadgets for Google Maps
What's a mapplet?
A mapplet is a Google Maps plug-in, a gadget for your map. On the My Maps tab of
maps.google.com you can add extra content and functionality, enhancing your view
of the map on your screen. That extra content is a mapplet.
So far I've created mapplet versions of my two most popular gadgets, as well as several other intersting ideas, and there are more to come.
Current Time Zones beta
Worldwide time zones, corrected for Daylight Savings (Summer) Time for the current date.
Map Magnifier
A tool to accompany maps.google.com which
shows a close-up view of part of the main map.
DaylightMap
See which areas of your map are currently in daylight, and which are in darkness. The night-side satellite view also includes city lights as seen from orbit.
Earth at Night
Global map of city lights - like DaylightMap without the daylight!
Grid Lines
Simple and useful: overlay a latitude/longitude grid on the map.
Clouds
A near-real-time view of global cloud cover. Zoom in to see the weather on your map from above!
The Other Side of the World
If you were to dig a hole directly through the Earth, this mapplet shows where you'd come out – so you know what to pack!
Satellite-Friendly Campground Directory
Campgrounds across North America with coverage for satellite TV and internet. Results contributed by users on-site with GPS.
Examples from Beginning Google Maps Mashups
My first book,
published November 2008, is a beginner's guide to
developing Google Maps applications – including mapplets! The following
examples were developed for the book, but they are fully-functional, useful mapplets,
ready for installation on maps.google.com.
Placeopedia
The latest Wikipedia entries with locations.
Nearest Place Name
Find the name of the place nearest to a click the map (via geonames.org).
Map Center Monitor
Continuously shows the current map center coordinates.
US State Capitals
The capitals (and capitols) of the 50 US states.
Breweries in Great Britain
The locations of all breweries and brewpubs in Great Britain.