Google Maps has two new features: Street View and Mapplets. Those innovations were announcer by Director of Google Earth and Maps at Where 2.0 Conference. With the Street View user of Google Maps will be able to view and navigate within 360 degree street level imagery of various cities in the US.

Currently, Street View is available for San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Miami, and Google announced that soon it will be expanded to other metropolitan areas.

With Street View users can virtually walk the streets of a city, check out a restaurant before arriving, and even zoom in on bus stops and street signs to make travel plans.

"With Street View users can virtually walk the streets of a city, check out a restaurant before arriving, and even zoom in on bus stops and street signs to make travel plans", said John Hanke, the director of Google Earth and Maps.

The other tool announced by Google, Mapplets, is created for developers and consumers alike. The  tool enables third party developers to create mini applications that can be displayed on Google Maps, much like Google Gadgets are displayed on iGoogle. These Mapplets contain a variety of information, from housing listings to crime data, and tools like distance measurement. Users can select from a wide range of Google and third party Mapplets to display on the Map, essentially creating their own "mashup of mashups" directly on the Google Maps site, while still enjoying the built-in functionality of Google Maps, such as local search and driving directions.

"One day we were looking at two of the original Google Maps mashups, HousingMaps.com and ChicagoCrime.org, and we realized it would be even more useful if they could be combined because most people wouldn't want to live near high crime areas." said Thai Tran, Google Maps product manager.

Microsoft also announced a new three-dimensional view of New York's most iconic locations, along with similar aerial views of cities in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.

"Microsoft Live Search Maps will today begin offering three-dimensional, photorealistic views of New York City buildings and landscapes," the company said, "with perspectives that few people -- apart from Superman -- have ever seen."