Google Maps integrated mapplets, small gadgets that bring data from external sources and overlays it onto the map. For example if you want to find the gas prices near your area just click this Gas Prices by GasBuddy and it will integrate this Mapplet to your Google Account. When you click the Google Maps and click "My Maps" area, you can checkout the best prices and where the gas stations are located and overlay it onto the map. The feature was launched in May as a developer preview and it's now live on Google Maps.

Here are some Mapplets for Google Maps.

• Google Real Estate Search Search for real estate listings from across the web.
• Gas Prices by GasBuddy.com This Gadget allows you to enter a City, State and displays the most up to date regular gasoline prices available for that area on a map. Data is provided by GasBuddy.com.
• Wikimapia layer beta A layer from Wikimapia placed on Google Maps. WikiMapia is an online map allowing everyone to add information to any location on the globe.
• Flickr Photo Mapplet Show Flickr Photos in the current Area. You may also search for any term to filter the result.
• Random GeoFacts Display facts about a random region of the world
• ChicagoCrime.org Shows crimes that have occurred in Chicago. Based on ChicagoCrime.org by Adrian Holovaty.
• GeoRSS Reader Take a tour of the places in a GeoRSS feed.
• Search Hotels - BOOKING.COM Search Hotels
• Chicago Transit Map Displays Chicago Transit Authority train lines
• Mapplet Scratch Pad Load source code of a Mapplet by URL into a simple text editor, make changes, and preview the Mapplet on the fly.
• I want to see a movie now! Shows movies that are about to start in nearby theaters and your likelihood of getting there on time.
• Earthquake search Find earthquakes of given magnitude within a date range
• Famous Photos Photos from bbs.keyhole.com
• Search In-between Searches for businesses in-between two addresses
• Been There? Where have you been?
• Geotrends Geographic popularity of search terms from Google Trends
• Dig a hole through the Earth Find out where you would come out if you dug a hole straight through the center of the Earth
• Distance Measurement Tool Measure the distance of a path on the Earth
• Zürich Travel Time Visualization Using this isochronal visualization method you are able to determine the travel time from any starting station to all other places on the map. The color shows the time it takes you to reach a selected place in Zürich, Switzerland using the public transportation system.
• Developer Mapplet When this Mapplet is installed, a 'Reload' link will appear when you're viewing a Mapplet. Clicking on this link forces Google Maps to fetch the latest version of the source code for the Mapplet.
• Crop Circles From bbs.keyhole.com.

There are hundred more Mapplets, you can find the ones you like and add it to your account in Google. When you log in the next time, you will see all these tools in your "My Maps" area in Google Maps.

Other Google Map Topics:

• Change Routes Faster in Google Maps - Just Drag and Drop

• Rate Local Businesses in Google Maps

• Google Maps Now Have Transit Information

• Google Maps Street View Launches

• 3D Buildings in Google's Street Maps

• Directions Without Highways in Google Maps