The search engine giant has pepped up its local search options with several new features.

For starters, there is now a topographical view in Google Maps, along side the “map” and “satellite” views. The topographical view (called “Terrain” in English and “Gelände” in German) shows features such as mountains and valleys and other geographical features. As Chris Pennock and Keith Ito explain in the Google LatLong Blog, this newly introduced view is really useful for example, when one plans hikes or cycling tours. This is however only partially accurate – at least for the current Germany views, the resolution provided at present is not sufficiently high to be useful.

The new menu option has replaced the “Hybrid” button, though the Hybrid function is still available, by clicking the ‘”Satellite” button and checking the ‘show labels’ option.

“Wiki-Maps”
Another innovation introduced is to be found under the “My Maps” tab. For quite a while now, registered users have been able to compile their own maps here. New to this is the “Collaborate” option (visible under the list of your customized maps), which allows the user to invite people to collaborate on the maps in question. The ‘people’ can be either invited, or open to anyone.

Mobile Location without GPS
Another innovation – this time in the mobile version of Google Maps – introduces the function “My Location” (which is still at present in Beta-testing). This facilitates mobile phone users without built in GPS receivers to determine their position, thanks to the Google folks. In order to do this, the position of the mobile phone is determined by triangulation with available mobile-phone masts, providing a relatively accurate current position. “My Location” is not as accurate as GPS, but it has its advantages, as Mike Chu tells in the Google Mobile Blog. One can use it for instance within buildings [where GPS cannot see any satellites] and also requires less battery use. To see more about the specifics of this feature, check out this nicely made Video Clip.

From Skiing locations through jogging routes: the Internet online directory Go Yellow now lists information for sport enthusiasts.

This information is now available to the user, by accessing the “Karte” tab showing dynamic terrain/aerial view search function. For example, if one wishes to check out the current conditions at a specific winter-tourist location, one selects ‘winter/snow’ [Winter/Schnee] under ‘Points of Interest’ [Interessante Punkte].  GoYellow then reveals skiing locations in Germany by location icons. When one mouses over these icons, one sees further information such as the altitude of the cableway stations, and the snow levels. Actually the latter doesn’t seem to work as promised– snow information is not yet accessible for all regions shown.  A webcam view and other related links are also provided for each ski location.

If one prefers to rather cycle or jog, one can click on “Freizeittouren” [‘leisure touring’], which then displays various routes, both in Germany and in other European countries.  As GoYellow reports, they provide this service in cooperation with the route portal GPSies.com.

At the end of June this year, the Neighborhood Community TownKings officially opened its gates.  Its portal is in the process of being reworked.