14 DAY TRIAL // Google's employees presented an interesting feature of Google Maps, codenamed Geocode, which allows users to type an address and find it quickly on the map. As far I can see, the function is also compatible with Google Earth version 4.1 beta, the latest release of the application that was quietly launched by the search giant. The feature is currently available only for 5 countries: Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland. For example, I typed "Rua de S. Joao da Praca, 94 Lisboa Portugal", a simple address from Portugal to see what happens. Both Google Earth and Google Maps redirected me to the desired address so I believe the function works really well.
"Geocoding in the API is now enabled for the countries of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. This is is great news for mashup developers - according to the GoogleLookup functions in my google spreadsheet, there are potentially 224,649,663 more users from those 5 nations that might now be able to locate theirselves on your map (That's a lot)," Pamela Fox, Maps API Team, sustained today.
Basically, the function is useful for developers because they are now able to create mash-ups from Google Maps, redirecting the users to a desired address. Recently, the parent company Google made a lot of improvements for its two famous products, Google Maps and Google Earth. For example, the web-based solution received detailed street imagery for 9 countries, offering high-resolution photos with streets, buildings and cities. Yesterday, the search giant quietly released a new version of the downloadable application Google Earth, providing some new features for its users. The most important update is surely represented by the interoperability with Google Maps, which helps clients view a certain location straight in the browser's window.