Google Maps being used to make handy new tools

Computer users add data to pinpoint housing, crime areas

[Bentler]

Google Maps make demographics come alive [seattlepi.nwsource.com]
Front page news.

I suggested Google maps in (I think) the "suggestions/improvements for 2004" thread here at webmasterworld--can't seem to find that discussion in the archives though.

[Bentler]

Anyone hear whether Google plans to issue an "official" API for Google maps?

[StuffOfInterest]

An API to directly use Google Maps would be very nice. I'm currently using MapQuest and MultiMap to generate maps for my site. All I do is call up a URL passing a longitude and latitude. This works, but it would be nice to build more detailed maps showing nearby locations rather than just the featured one.

Anyone noticed that Google Maps now has the UK listed in addition to the US? Looks funny with the British Isles hanging out off to the side of Maine.