Things are going fast, very fast in the geolocation world. Yesterday, Google added two features which are rather small, but the ramifications of this move are potentially much large.

The first change is for users of the Google toolbar. From now on, when they will open a map, it will auto-center on their location. As MG Siegler points out on Techcrunch:

1. Its recently launched Latitude location-based network is only useful if it can automatically update your location, or make it really easy to do.
And 2. there are other big things Google could do with location information — such as serve you location-based ads.

Location-aware enabled devices are starting to dominate the market, and Google is positioned front-row to capitalize on this opportunity.

Another small addition in the seed-stage world of Google’s social maps is the save and share driving directions feature. MyMaps map creators (any user with a Google account) can now easily draw a line along a road, add a note, and share a map.

We have here two very small additions, but which open up wide possibilities when it comes to make mapping easier to use. Smart enough to know my location, and providing tools which make it easier to plan my next location.

Google Maps are getting stickier by the minute!

2008 is closing down on us. Unlike what the eighties movies predicted for the future, we are still running cars on gas (even though Prius sales boomed this year), world poverty keeps being the hidden guilt of the rich minority, and we haven’t found an instant cure for a simple cold.

A lot happened on the Web though. The mobile Web is becoming mainstream at a faster pace than we can imagine, thanks in part to the iPhone 3G. The interesting aspect of the iPhone (and other smartphones like the g1) is its geolocation feature. The phone can detect your location and guide you around.

GPS is not a 2008 technology, but associated services related to this feature are opening up new opportunities. Loopt was the most advertised iPhone app heading towards this direction this year. I was personally more impressed by the g1’s zombie run game, even though the features are still pretty basic so far.

Of course, here at Click2map, we are interested to see how Google Maps evolves in this space:

(in 2008) Google Maps continued to increase the coverage for Street View, which is now available in the US, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. You can now get walking directions, car directions enhanced by StreetView, traffic estimations and explore places by looking at geo-tagged photos and videos.(via)

A few days ago, Google Maps launched a translation feature for all Google Maps reviews. The launch of the Google Map Maker also opened the option for anyone to contribute to the effort by bringing their own pieces to the puzzle.

There is a lot going on around geodata. By locating entities, and criss-crossing different positions, the web is making it possible to better connect individuals with other individuals, and with businesses. The question remains: Even though the technology is being developed, are people adopting it? Do people use maps more often? What is the trend for 2009?

Here are a few insights from the Google Search Insights site:

Of course, here at Click2map, we believe that those numbers are not innocuous. For example, we have seen the high demand for driving directions and have responded to it. Those curves are also showing how the pioneer Mapquest has lost its leadership to Google Maps. Finally, it shows how the technical term geoweb is gaining awareness and is pushing curious minds to search for it.

In 2008, we have seen a lot of geolocation features spreading onto widely-used Web applications such as social networks. In 2009, based on this article from the Boston Globe, I think we should expect to have more info delivered to us based on our location.

For a great review of mapping in 2008, read this article: Loci 2008: Matt Cutt’s Important Local Articles of 2008.

Happy New Year!

This week, we just released our new version of the service. The announcement was made public on Monday.

To illustrate a bit how it works, I have created a map of the places to go out in San Francisco, and made a short and punchy 1′30 video demo of how I created this map.

Grab this map:
<iframe id=”c2m_map_widget” src=”http://www.click2map.com/maps/xavierv/GoOutSF/widget” width=”700″ height=”400″ frameborder=”0″></iframe>

The first exciting new feature is to show/hide tool for groups of markers on a map. As you can see on my map, I can single out places “serving food” by hiding “bars open late night” and “clubs”. This tool can be very useful to show markers by price range, type of businesses, open hours, and so on.

In addition to this, the user can get driving directions right there on the map. How convenient to plan your night out!

Finally, I kept the sweetest fruit for dessert: Batch operation on multiple markers:

This new productivity tool lets you perform operations on multiple markers with unique ease. Bulk operations allow you to update the content of several markers in a single operation! You can thus change or delete their description, the links they contain, the keywords they hold and even their icon! It’s also possible to add tabs to each marker (text, photo or Html) or to remove existing ones. You can also move or duplicate markers across existing groups and maps and geocode them from their street address. The Platinum version also makes it possible to apply a template to several markers at the same time.

Those are great milestones that have been achieved here at Click2Map. However, we’re not done yet: A map widget is under stealth development. Click2Map already offers an embed code to insert your maps in any post, but we are working on making a super good looking one that will integrate new features, and that will look much better on any given Web page, ergonomically speaking.

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