Google Maps is pretty useful. For me, it has totally replaced MapQuest for all map related inquiries. The only other map application that matched it and in some cases surpassed it was Microsoft’s own efforts. Well here’s a pawn move in Google’s favor. Their new Street View feature enables mappers to view any location at street level from live pictures. You can move up and down a street and even rotate your view. Currently Street View is only available in NYC, Miami, Las Vegas, Denver and San Francisco. As awesome as Street View is, Google needs to take it a step further and integrate GPS. Com’on Google!

Google Maps has been updated to include traffic information for certain US cities. If you click on the “Traffic” button in the upper right hand side of the Maps interface you will be given traffic information if it is available where you are browsing. As the above screenshot shows, most major US cities are covered. Great if you live in a major US city, but not great if like me, you don’t.

Hit the jump to take a closer look at the feature.

[Via Google Maps]

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