Mini Map Sidebar is a Firefox extension that gives you a suite of in-built maps and mapping tools for your web browser. Create and save a sidebar map using the addresses or address links you find on web pages (highlight then drag and drop), or by manually adding locations. View traffic Info, drag and drop kml files, local search, Google, Yahoo and Live Local directions, view in google earth, tagzania, platial, geourl and many more. Address/Location points are stored locally for later use.

This extension comes with two mapping components, the main and most powerful one being a minimap sidebar. In this sidebar you can drag and drop addresses or locations you find on web pages and they will be automatically located, and added to your saved address list. The sidebar is launched from the toolbar icon (customise toolbar and drag in), a statusbar icon and the view sidebar menu. The extension also comes with a main browser Map Tab for viewing a larger map and this is accessed from the statusbar or by highlighting an address, and selecting 'Map Tab: Locate Address...' in the right click context menu.

Here are some key features of "Mini Map Sidebar":

· Map an Address: Drag and drop addresses or links (the view in google/yahoo type) to show on map, which is added to the address list (hold shift when you drag to just display a temporary marker). Manually add an address. Build up a list of locally stored addresses.
· Map a Coordinate: Manually add a coordinate which is added to the address list.
· geoDiscovery: The extension will automatically discover geoURL's and in-line geotags and populate the geoDiscovery list as you browse. Alerts you to the discovery via a status bar image.
· KML File: Drag and drop kml file links to show on map.
· The Crosshair and Lat/Lon box: Map has a centre cross hair which displays the latitude and longitude in the top right hand corner of the map.
· Navigation: Map, Satellite or Hybrid views. Pan and zoom.
· Address list: Build up a list of locally stored addresses and kml files.
· Directions: Get google / yahoo / microsoft directions to/from an address list entry and/or set a locally stored ‘Home Address’ to get directions to/from an address list entry.
· Tagzania.com: View tagzania.com/near and post address list entry to tagzania.
· Platial.com: View Platial Today Nearby entries based on an address list entry. View Platial Places based on an address list entry. Add an address list entry to Platial Places.
· Google Earth: View an address list entry in Google Earth.
· Loc.alize.us: View loc.alize.us flickr photos based on an address list entry.
· Googlesightseeing.com: Drag and drop googlesightseeing links to view the image of interest.
· Localize: Change Google geocoder source to help improve address results, as well as change the maps domain for directions.
· Miscellaneous: Toolbar launcher available.

Operator Users! I have written an Operator user script to compliment this extension. This is available from the minimap website http://firefox.spatialviews.com

If you like this extension please blog about it and/or rate it here on Mozilla.

KNOWN ISSUES: It is highly recommended you take a look at the known issues http://www.firefox.spatialviews.com/#known_issues

Requirements:

· Firefox 1.0 - 3.0

What's New in This Release:

· geohash support: decode links, encode from address list.
· ctrl+alt+m to open sidebar
· context menu for links now 'smarter', ie does not display open in Minimap if not a supported link
· Preference to alter Preview Panel default zoom
· Fixed bug that did not allow non-US Google MyMaps kml files to work