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The official launch of the Google Maps API Version 2 provides a number of tweaks to enhance its performance and decrease the number of memory leaks that happened in previous versions.

Sweet new features and friendlier terms of use accompany the latest news about Google Maps. Product manager Bret Taylor noted that Google Maps has officially started the beta test of the new version in the Maps blog today.

"Version 2 cleans up much of the API and improves performance and stability in fundamental ways based on the feedback of many API sites," he wrote. Tops among the updated features: a JavaScript download that is half the size of the old Maps API JavaScript download, and a GUnload method that can be called to destroy most circular references.

Said Taylor, "On Google Maps, this has virtually eliminated memory leaks in IE."

Google's newer friendlier self manifested in the updated terms of use for the Maps API. Its 90-day announcement to developers of forthcoming advertising represents a change from the previous terms, which allowed Google to drop in ads without notice into Maps.

A Google representative I contacted about the change in terms regarding ads could not elaborate on what would happen if a developer refuses to accept advertising when contacted and responding to Google within the 90-day window. "We have no specific plans to announce at this time in regards to advertising," came the response.

They also removed the page view limits, which had been a sticking point with many developers. "If, however, your site gets more than 500,000 page views per day, we ask that you talk to us before you launch," Taylor said.

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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.