Mapstraction is a javascript library that hides differences between mapping APIs. It provides a common set of JavaScipt functions that lets you switch seamlessly between Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft’s javascript mapping APIs.

The Mapping Revolution: How Google Earth Is Changing Science explains how biologists, epidemiologists and disaster control experts are discovering Google Earth as a powerful tool in their work. In the CMS that we provide to our clients, each record can have GIS data stored along with it. We’ve recently started transforming this GIS data to Google Earth’s KML format and our clients are loving the way it allows them to visualize their data geographically.

Map hacking/creation has become a very easy task that anyone with a little bit of JavaScript and HTML knowledge can do. If you’re looking for a good place to start XML.com has a great introductory tutorial on Hacking Maps with the Google Maps API.

Vectored Flash Overlays for Google Maps (VGMap) is a new library that extends the GMap API and allows designers and developers to overlay data on top of Google Maps in a richer way than is possible using their standard system. The vector graphics are handled by Flash and there is also a facility for introducing animation onto your map.

Geo-Names provides free geo-data such as geographical names and postal codes. The database contains over 6 million entries for geographical names and the whereof 2.2 million cities and villages worldwide. The service can be accessed through an webservice API or you can download and use their data to host on your own database server.

The GeoRSS Google Maps API Extention is a simple way to  create  a Google Map using the GeoRSS extension to the RSS standard.  The API extension is simply a small JavaScript library and is very easy to implement.

Not to be outdone by Steve Jobs’ series of awesome Apple/Mac announcements this morning, Google announced that Google Earth for Mac is now available for the Macintosh platform.

The most recent short book release by Pragmatic Programmers is titled - Google Maps and Ajax. It outlines and explains how to hookup Google Maps, Geo Coding and AJAX to create a simple mashup.

Looking to include geo mapping capabilities to your PHP applications? Phoogle Maps is a complete mapping class for Google Maps that allows you to place maps on your page with about 5 lines of code!