I just wanted to take a second an sing the praises of a new Google feature: Google Maps. What’s so different about this mapping service verses MapQuest or Yahoo!Maps, the ability to move locations with a page click.

Start by typing in an address. “6646 W 81st; Los Angeles, CA” and you get a map, but if you click in the map area and drag, the map moves with your mouse and reveals other surrounding areas. You can zoom in, and then pan and scan. It’ a very nice feature that the other mapping services lack.

The screen size adjust to the size of your windows browser. If you have a large screen, you get a bigger map with more area (79th street to 105th street), a smaller screen will get you a smaller coverage area(79th street to 90th street).

Also, you can get directions to and from a location and it shows you a route (just like the other services) and driving directions. But unlike the other services this map is (currently) free of unnecessary hotel locations, fast food stops, and other mishmash that clutters up the screen

The Google Maps interface is clean and I have replaced it as my default mapping system.