Abstract: In a computing device, images being displayed in connection with a digital map are unobtrusively updated. To this end, a digital map of a first geographic area and first images related to the first geographic area are displayed. A selection of a second geographic area is received. In response to the selection of the second geographic area, a digital map of the second geographic area and second images related to the second geographic area are displayed. One of the first images is temporarily, for a perceivable amount of time, displayed with the digital map of the second geographic area, where the displayed image is unrelated to the second geographic area.

Abstract: A user interface for a map display application used on a computing device includes a strip of photographic images corresponding to objects located within a geographic location represented by a map displayed on a screen. More specifically, the strip of photographic images is responsive to the viewing experience of the user.

Abstract: Provided is a process for personalizing an interactive map that includes the following: receiving a user request to view an interactive map; determining a map extent responsive to the request; obtaining a profile of the user; personalizing, with a computer, an interactive map based on the profile; and presenting the personalized map to the user. Personalizing includes determining whether to depict geographic features within the map extent in the personalized map based on the profile, and formatting a depiction of the features to have, for each respective feature, a prominence determined based on the profile.

Abstract: An off-screen content indication system receives an identification of a geographic term, generates an off-screen content indicator that indicates a location of an off-screen entity associated with the identified geographic term, places the off-screen content indicator outside a viewport that currently displays a portion of a map to a user, and temporarily moves or shifts the viewport toward the general direction of the location of the off-screen entity to reveal the generated off-screen content indicator.

Abstract: A user interface for rotating imagery among a plurality of canonical views of a geographic area of interest is disclosed. The interface includes at least one rotation control icon for rotating the imagery among a plurality of canonical views of the geographic area, and a direction indicating portion that indicates a compass direction associated with the canonical view presented on the display device. In particular implementations, the interface can be configured to come into view over the imagery whenever a user navigates to a particular view of the imagery where a plurality of canonical views is available. The motion of the navigation control interface appearing into the imagery is intended to draw attention to the control interface to inform the user that additional canonical views are available.