The Frankensteins of the web

Mashups are applications that combine content from more than one source to create cool and original web services.

Mapping service Google Earth is totally open for third party developers to alter and enhance with new apps. As a result, there has been a massive number of mashups combining Earth with programs like Flash and Java.

I’ve been trawling the Web for some of the best Google Earth mashups. Tomorrow I’ll feature some other mashups that have caught my eye.

http://www.isoma.net/games/goggles.html
Goggles combines with Google Earth to allow you to fly around your chosen city – including London. It's an alternative way to explore Google Earth and you can even shoot at things if you want.

http://www.mindpicnic.com/maps-quiz/
This mashup is a quiz designed to test your geographical knowledge. A section of a map is shown and you have to decide where on the world it is. See if you can best my high score of 104 miles.

http://services.google.com/earth/green/gg_interior_sf.html?3 
Summer of Green mashes video with Google Earth to create an alternative online tour guide. Clicking on different locations provides you with a short video describing places of interest. Unfortunately it currently only covers 5 US cities.

http://www.soundseeker.org/ 
Sound seeker is a bizarre project mashing up QuickTime with Google Earth to share the sounds of New York with the world. The sound recordings include everything from bustling streets to peaceful parks and show the contrasting factors that make up NYC.

http://www.xplanet.net/ 
Another Flash-based mashup used to publicise the latest X-men film. Design your own super-hero or super-villain and indicate their location on the Google Earth map. There are currently thousands of "mutants" worldwide.