It looks as though Oracle are going to release a free database platform called Oracle Database 10g Express Edition.
Read about it here.
I've been following Google Maps with great interest for some time now. The potential I saw was in the API, and the myriad of great things that could be done with it.
I thought I'd start a list of sites that use the Google Maps API and combine it with their own or other people's data. Some excellent examples of Web 2.0.
- BlogFlux: A Web site statistics service that also uses Google Maps to plot visitors.
- Chicago Crime: This site has won awards, and it's easy to see why. It shows various crimes that have ocurred in Chicago on the maps. You can browse by Crime type, Street, Date, Beat, Zip code, Ward, Location, City Map. Try out the Route feature -- very cool!
- CTA: Chicago Transit Authority: There must be something about Chicago. This example is very cool. It overlays the CTA routes on the map. Clicking on a station allows you to query Google Local.
- Cytadia: Real Estate listings service that has uses Google Maps to plot search results.
- Foundcity: Allows users to tag places of interest on their own personal maps.
- geoSearch: Shows the position of a server on a map of the world.
- geoTraceRoute: Visually see the results of a trace route on a map of the world.
- gVisit: A service that plots visitors to your Web site on Google Maps.
- Housingmaps.com: Combines the free craigslist service listings with Google Maps.
- Just van den Broecke's experiments: Experimenting with various overlays, including NASA imagery.
- New Orleans Flood Map: Provides the estimated water depth of an area when you click on the map.
- NYSee: Shows NYC Live Traffic Cams and Yahoo Traffic news.
- Shoutwire: This Internet news site (community driven) is using Maps to show where posters are from. The markers allow you to go to their profile and/or Web site.
- Trulia: Real-estate search engine. Very nifty. It also shows properties sold near a property using Google Maps.
- Weatherbonk: Uses Google Maps to show weather for various cities around the world. Also plots web cams so you can see a real-time view of what is happening!
- Where's Tim: Funny usage of Google Maps. Shows the current location of Tim Hibbard.
I hope to keep this list growing with interesting new additions.