Google revealed three major changes that take place in the future Google Maps with the introduction of an offline mode for Android phones and tablets.

In offline mode, you can download maps on the device in areas you want to use when traveling abroad, or when you know the area you’re headed to will have patchy reception on 3G or 4G.

The maps in offline mode work as if they were still online, with a navigation system and management functions, and are even guided by the familiar blue dot representing your location using your GPS device connection.

The second major development is the launch of 3D cityscapes for Google Earth. Google will use planes to take aerial photographs of cities, which are then used to create the 3D cityscapes. If you’re using an Android device, within the next few weeks you will see the 3D version of major cities around the world.

The last development is the introduction of “places off the road” with Google Street View, thanks to a wearable camera called Trekker. Holding the Trekker Street View, a user can take pictures of national parks and other remote locations for viewing online.

Google Maps Expand to More European Countries

Google has expanded its Google Map Maker to eight European countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.

The addition of these countries pushes the Map Maker to over 190 countries and territories.

“We will continue to make Google Maps imagery available as widely as possible,” said Brian McClendon, vice president of engineering at Google Maps. “We want our services on all platforms.”

Google’s is under pressure after Apple decided to abandon its mapping service for the iPhone, and is looking to keep developer interest in its service. In fact, Open source platforms such as OpenStreetMap have continued to attract developers, creating some more challenges to Google.  AOL-owned MapQuest is also another competitor based on OpenStreetMap data, which provides mobile map and navigation to Android and iPhone users.

Best Google Street Views

But with rapid global growth, Google Street View in particular has caused more problems than not in a variety of countries wary of privacy issues.  However, the company’s street view presents some of the most panoramic and exquisite pictures of planet earth.

Here are some of the best Google street view selections:

Google Street View Antarctica

Street View Antarctica provides panoramic views of beautiful Antarctica in three dimensions, allowing users to travel virtually as if they were walking amongst the penguins. Images of Antarctica are pretty limited, for now, to pictures of penguins on the South Shetland Islands.

With the help of Polar Geospatial Center (PGC), Google’s updated nearly 1,000,000 square miles of images of the two poles. The view includes panoramas of an area called Half Moon Island, penguins and landscapes.

The Yutaka Sone Miniature Manhattan

Yutaka Sone’s Little Manhattan is a three foot tall, nine foot long, and two and a half ton relief map of the built city created out of marble.

David Zwirner, the artist, has created a near replica of Manhattan cityscape with icy-looking stone touch, giving the impression of ice age. The wood-and-foam model based on Google Earth and helicopter rides over Manhattan Island.

Google Earth Skydiving

If you are a pilot, there are several ways in which Google Earth can be used to improve flight planning both from the perspective of aviation and those planted firmly on the ground.

Does skydiving seem too expensive? Or just too risky? No problem, our Japanese friends have taken care of everything. With a laptop, projector, a pair of strings, Google Earth and a fan, we have everything we need to simulate the best parachute jumps.

Google Rail View

As part of a philanthropic agreement with UNESCO, Google has teamed up with Rhaetian Railway to provide Google Rail View.

Google’s rail view mapped and photographed everything between Amazonian foot paths and the infamous ruins of Pompeii. The street view is also extended to Switzerland’s mountain ranges and more logic-defying locations.

The Streetview Road Race

Two guys decided to go head-to-head in a trans-America race starting in San Francisco and ending in New York. How long did it take to cover these two cities – 90 hours. Before you jump to the conclusion that this was the real race and took 90 hours for completion, let me tell you the race was done via Google Street View and with 104,619 mouse clicks covering almost 3,000 miles.

Their route took them through the heart of the west and mid-west before the beeline to the Big Apple – Reno, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Lexington, Lincoln, Des Moines, Iowa City, Dekalb, Chicago, Toledo and finally New York.