If you're anything like us, you've been using Google Maps for a little while now. Since launching their mapping service earlier in the summer, Google's simple, intuitive, and efficient means of finding your away around town (and beyond) has been giving MapQuest a run for their money as the web's preferred mapping website. Google keeps refining the website, recently adding a hybrid-view mode to their map service, allowing one to view road overlays on the satellite imagery.

Microsoft, not content to let Google reign as king of computer cartographers, has released a similar mapping tool called MSN Virtual Earth. Virtual Earth borrows/steals Google’s click-and-drag, tile-based interface, but actually does innovate a bit with scrollwheel support for easy zooming in and out. We really dig that, and hope Google follows suit. Google and Microsoft will now hopefully trade blows by one-upping each other with service improvements.

However, the real innovation comes from independent programmers creating services of their own with the Google Maps API, released publicly last month. Developers are now using the Google Maps interface and map data to power web applications that do far more than help you navigate the labyrinthine residential roads of Bethesda.

Gmaps Pedometer is designed primarily to help runners, joggers, and cyclists, but can really be used to track any user-specified route, and features a built in counter to tell you how many calories you’ve burned. For some reason the site annoyingly defaults to a view of Hoboken, so make sure to hit the "Click here if you don't live in Hoboken" link. If you do live in Hoboken, then, well you’re all set, and we’re flattered that you’re reading DCist from all the way up there.

Cheap Gas is fairly self explanatory, displaying the cheapest (and we use that term lightly) gas in the region. Both diesel and unleaded are available.

HotMaps is a bit of a gimmick, but it allows you to efficiently combine two forms of internet stalking by both seeing an individual’s picture and their location at once. In under a minute of clicking, this DCist was able to find himself a gal in his zip code who describes herself as "not funny" and "can cook a delicious bass." Cha-ching.

One of the more brilliant data mashups, HousingMaps provides Craiglist real estate listings. You can view houses and condos for sale, for rent, individual rooms, and sublets, all sortable by price range.

We’ve mentioned the MonkeyHomes.com metro map before, but it’s cool enough to justify a little redundancy. The site offers a map of DC metro station locations with links to more information at the WMATA site. We only wish there was a feature to zoom to a specific address so you could find which station was closest.

The WiFi Hotspot Map, like the Cheap Gas map, is fairly self explanatory, displaying commercial WiFi access points, along with EV-DO network congestion. The site seems to only display access points from two providers (Boingo and IP-Roamer) so spots like the new Dupont Circle public access point are sorely missed. Though not fully comprehensive, it still delivers what it advertises. We hope they’ll either add more networks down the road, or allow users to post public access points on their own.

Mobile GMaps is not a website, but a piece of Java software that allows you to access the original Google Maps service via mobile phone. Your phone must support J2ME 1.0, and unless you want a multi-billion dollar bill at the end of the month, an unlimited data usage plan is very highly recommended.

Oh munificent internets, you are far too good to us. These are only some of the hacks out so far, still very new and constantly being polished. More are certainly on the way, so please share any that you yourself use or have heard of.