Google Maps is ready to create a mashup

"Google Maps is launching a new feature that enables people to create customized maps with content from multiple mashup Web sites.

Users can browse the 100 or so many maplets for content to add to their maps. There aren't necessarily a lot of maplets available right now, but I'm sure the list will grow. For instance, searching for "bike" there was only bike path maplets for Boulder and New York City. But residents of Tokyo and Santiago will benefit from having access to their subway maps available.

Google has distributed more than 50,000 Google Maps API keys, said Thai Tran, a product manager for Google Maps. Creators of existing Google mashup Web sites can modify their code slightly and add it to the Google maplet gallery so that it can be combined with other mashups on anyone's personal map, he said.

Google is really pushing the mapping envelope. In April, the company introduced a feature that lets people add their own text, photos and video to customized maps, in essence enabling anyone to create a mashup. A few weeks ago, the company unveiled a feature that lets people click and drag to change the Google Maps driving directions."
report Posted by Elinor Mills in cnet

Bill Gates loses 'World's richest' crown replaced by Carlos Slim

A Mexican telecoms tycoon has dethroned Bill Gates as the World's richest man.

According to forbes, Carlos Slim Helu ended Gates's 13-year reign thanks to a 26 per cent surge in the stock price of his company America Movil during the second quarter. Slim boosted his personal net worth to $67.8bn compared to last year’s $30bn.

Slim's fortune is equivalent to eight per cent of Mexico's gross domestic product, according to Común. For Gates to be worth eight per cent of the US economy, he'd have to increase his wealth by 17 times to $13tn.

Slim paved the way for overtaking Gates last year by expanding his stake in wireless operator America Movil after selling his holdings in MCI and Altria. This deal that netted more than $6bn and earned Slim the title Latin America's richest man.

In April this year Slim overtook the World's second richest person Warren Buffett, the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway and philanthropist who has dedicated himself to giving away most of his fortune through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ®