Google Maps and Google Earth: Best Tweaks of 2011

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Google Maps and Google Earth got several updates and enhancements this year, some practical, some socially responsible, and some just fun. For example, you can now use Street Views to check out the slopes at locations including Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, and Colorado's Breckenridge. On the socially responsible front, Google teams created tornado touchdown reports in Google Maps during the Midwest's April disasters. Go to our top story for a month-by-month look at the best of 2011. --Kim Saccio-Kent, Newsletter Editor Top Story Best of Google Maps and Google Earth 2011 Using these Google tools, you can now see the insides of large stores, views of the world's magnificent mountains, and a record of the devastation of Japan, among many other advancements. Top Tweets From @PCWPluggedIn Siri helps Santa in Apple's Christmas iPhone 4S ad: And Santa helps Apple sell iPhones--how heartwarming! Study: Three in five workers yell at their computers: The other two just sob uncontrollably. Netbook robot lets you be in two places at once: Of course, a chainsaw can accomplish the same thing. Follow us every day on Twitter: @PCWPluggedIn Spotlight on Geek Tech Solar Energy Reaches a New Efficiency Record Scientists produced a solar cell that achieves a higher rate of energy efficiency than any that came before it, but political issues could drive up costs. Browse this week's Geek Tech. Downloads of the Week 9 Great Holiday Downloads Feeling stressed? Worn out from all that holiday shopping and gift wrapping? Take a few minutes to play one of these Christmassy games. And don't limit your decorating to the tree--we have classy Windows 7 themes for your desktop. Fun & Games Google's 'Let it Snow' and Hanukkah Easter Eggs Celebrate Holidays The holiday-inspired tricks add to a long lineup of similar antics to amuse people using Google sites and products. They're Practically Giving It Away: Holiday Sale Holdup Even money-grubbing game shops are getting into the spirit of the season with these incredible bargains. To take full advantage of their generosity, read our guide to some of the greatest deals of the year. Places for Fun Stuff on PCWorld.com Fun and Games Downloads Shop for Video Games and Hardware PC World videos The Future of 3D Gaming Read the latest updates on the gaming revolution. Read more. Advertisement Lenovo ThinkPads & IdeaPads Click thru to shop the bestselling ThinkPads & IdeaPads! Most Popular Searches Android Tablet Windows 8 Samsung Buying guides Product Reviews Canon PowerShot S100 88 Pros Excellent image quality; 1080p and superslow-motion video modes; Full manual controls and RAW shooting; Superb feature set for any level of photographer Cons Sluggish RAW shooting and flash-recycling times; Short battery life, especially when GPS is used Read Complete Review » Top 10 Compact Point-and-Shoot Cameras » Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras With Manual Controls » Best In-Camera GPS Features » Point-and-Shoot Cameras With the Best Image Quality » Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras for Shooting Video » Canon PowerShot S100 88 Pros Excellent image quality; 1080p and superslow-motion video modes; Full manual controls and RAW shooting; Superb feature set for any level of photographer Cons Sluggish RAW shooting and flash-recycling times; Short battery life, especially when GPS is used Read Complete Review » Top 10 Compact Point-and-Shoot Cameras » Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras With Manual Controls » Best In-Camera GPS Features » Point-and-Shoot Cameras With the Best Image Quality » Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras for Shooting Video » Casio Exilim EX-H20G 81 Pros Excellent in-camera GPS and mapping; Ultra-wide-angle 24mm lens with 10X optical zoom; Phenomenal battery life; Green-screen-like Dynamic Photo feature; Very good image quality in well-lit situations; 360-degree Slide Panorama mode Cons No manual controls; Mediocre macro mode; Digital zoom only in video mode; No burst mode Read Complete Review » Point-and-Shoot Cameras With the Best Image Quality » Best In-Camera GPS Features » 100 Best Products of 2011 » Top 10 Pocket Megazooms » Get Big Savings When you Shop at PCWorld.com Shop online at PCWorld.com, where you can compare product information, read trusted reviews, and find the best prices on consumer electronics. HT-S7409 5.1 Home Theater System - 130 W RMS Price: $477.97 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review HT-SS380 1000 W 5.1 3D Home Theater System Price: $249.00 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review Browse more Home Theater, Best Prices on Projectors, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, Digital Video Recorders, Plasma & LCD TVs Top News on PCWorld.com GoDaddy Faces Boycott Threat From SOPA Opponents Internet domain registrar GoDaddy is facing a boycott threat after it figured in a list of supporters of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Share: Volkswagen's After-Hours Blackberry E-mail Ban is a Brilliant Idea Volkswagen is putting its Blackberry e-mail servers on pause after work hours, allowing employees to escape the 24-Hour work cycle. Sign me up. Share: Top Reviews on PCWorld.com Kiss Your Cable Bill Goodbye With These HDTV Antennas Forget rabbit ears: A new breed of stylish TV antennas deliver a great picture without dominating your living room. We tried five good options. Share: PCWorld's Favorite Downloads of 2011 At the end of another year, PCWorld reviewers name downloads and Web programs we liked so much we just kept on using them. Share: Ice Cream Sandwich: What Are the Hot New Android OS Changes? Android has undergone a huge transformation with the Ice Cream Sandwich update. Here are a few of the biggest changes. Share: Avast Launches Free Android Security Software With Special Features for Rooted Phones Avast Software has launched a free Android security product that combines antivirus, anti-theft and firewall components and provides special features for rooted... Share: Downloads: Editor's Collection PCWorld's Favorite Downloads of 2011All year long, we PCWorld reviewers immerse ourselves in desktop programs and Web software. After evaluating a program, often we uninstall itbut several of this year's finds earned places in our workflows and/or our hearts. These programs and services are the ones we reviewed for PCWorld Downloads and also kept using for our own productivity and enjoyment. Perhaps you started using them this year, too&and if not, well, a shiny new year is right around the corner. Browse DownloadsAntivirus & Security • Design & Multimedia • Utilities • Games • Chat, Email, & the Web • Sponsored Downloads Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder StandardDont let your digital photos just lie around; show them off in the best possible light with this charming program that allows you to make Hollywood-style photo slideshows. Watch your photos on TV, mobile devices, even your gaming console. (Compatibility: Windows NT/2000,Windows XP,Windows Vista) Use discount code BURN-SEWP-WON to get 30% off for PCWorld newsletters subscribers! Asee DVD Video to MP3 ConverterConvert any DVD media to MP3 format for playing on your computer, MP3 player or mobile device. Extract DVD audio as well as multiple other formats and convert to MP3 music. 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