I have just discovered Google Maps and the system and the quality of the graphics is awesome! I have yet to really understand the technology but apart from being a great mapping tool it also seems to be a development platform. People like John Udel and others are doing some incredible things like combining Google Maps with a GPS system, still photos, digital movies and a sound track to create a Walking Tour of Keene.
I think the application of this technology is going to be huge and as John says we are going to use it to "Annotate the planet".