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Since its inception, Google has become the mover and shaker of the Internet, bringing wonderful, utilitarian goodies in the form of web applications and cloud services. After debuting Gmail in 2004, Google then followed suit with projects like its interactive, totally customizable Google Calendar, maps that accurately portray real life from a satellite overhead, and a video streaming site that has indeed become larger than anyone could have conceived.
And yet, Google keeps offering us more. The company is constantly working towards concocting and producing new features that make these services things that we can't live without. Fortunately, the programmers and evil geniuses that make up Google Labs are constantly introducing experimental add-ons that tweak our favorite web based services in a delightful manner. We decided to try out these nifty opt-ins for our faithful readers and cherry-pick the ones that we think will eventually become permanent fixtures.
Before you get started, we should let you know that some of these features may not be available after awhile, or have disappeared entirely since we wrote this piece. Google Labs experimental add-ons are just that: an experiment. As most mad scientists can tell you, sometimes things just don't work out. But that doesn't mean more experiments aren't on their way. 
You can access these experimental add-ons from the tiny green beaker icon at the top right-hand corner of your browser screen while your browser is pointed at a Google service that enables Labs.
We're betting there's still a number of browser-based Google Maps users out there. After all, unlike the mobile versions of Google's ever-reliable satellite maps services, you don't get the same experience as with a mouse and keyboard. For that reason, we found some really useful experimental projects that will basically transform your normal desktop computer into what might seem like a spaceship's central computer.
Oftentimes, when you simply zoom in on Google Maps using the plus sign, you still have to drag your way through the map to find the location you're looking for. This is especially time consuming on a large monitor. Enabling the drag 'n' zoom feature is an efficient way to zoom in on a specific location or coordinates, without the hassle of sifting through a 800 x 600, or larger, screen space.
This is not the time, or place, to discuss Google's privacy laws. Instead, revel in the fact that if you're not familiar with a certain area, you can map it out on Google maps and check out your surroundings beforehand. Enabling aerial imagery gives you routable, high-resolution overhead imagery--like the overhead view of an omniscient deity. Imagery is only available in certain areas, as this function is still in beta.
Remember the timeless children's tale of the world traveling vagabond, Carmen Sandiego? Well, this is the less frustrating version. Test your knowledge of world geography by guessing the name of the country from the overhead satellite imagery. Is it London? Is it France? Is it Carmen Sandiego's underpants? You never know until you play!
Rotatable maps instantly transform Google Maps into a virtual globe. If you'd much rather have the South Pole face north and vice versa, than this experimental add on definitely gets the job done.
As the Internet becomes our go-to destination for event planning, we're finding that going to specific restaurant and location review websites are no longer as reliable as they used to be. So, Google's What's Around Here? functionality finds out what's around your destination, in case you want to get a bite to eat after that interview, or would like to find a hotel around an area of bars.
Plan on steering a ship? Or perhaps rowing a boat? The LatLng tooltip retrieves detailed longitude and longitude coordinates so you know exactly where you're going.
