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National Geographic Maps has partnered with AllTrails, an online network for outdoor enthusiasts, to launch a co-branded service at alltrails.com. The site aims to be a comprehensive destination for people planning hikes or other backcountry outings. Its 200,000 users can browse nearby or search for trails, post reviews and photos and share trails with friends. Users who have completed a trail are listed on its page.

Trail profiles give time and distance measurements, weather forecasts and routes overlaid on topographic maps. AllTrails initially used Google Maps data but found it to be too inaccurate for safe planning of wilderness trips. After Google began to charge for access to the Google Maps SDK, AllTrails began to explore other partnerships. Today's announcement with National Geographic is the beginning of an integration that will move AllTrails away from Google.

For many of us, science fairs may conjure an image of the school gym, full of students showcasing their science projects - their hypotheses, their experiments, their data. But in part due to the financial constraints of both schools and families, these sorts of events are on the decline. The Google Science Fair, however, doesn't require poster boards and it doesn't require travel. It is, in fact, the first ever online global science fair. And any student (age 13 to 18) anywhere - as long as they have a computer, a browser and Internet access - can participate.

Today in Amsterdam, popular augmented reality (AR) mobile browser maker Layar is celebrating the one year anniversary of its launch with an event called NEXT. In the company's brief lifetime, it has attracted millions of users to the Layar mobile application on Android and iPhone devices with its impressive catalog of layers. Today, the company made several announcements including additional international pre-load deals with handset manufacturers, new features for its browser, and partnerships with major brands.

In an ironic twist of fate for 2009, Fox's IGN Entertainment, a company known for its game reviews of products like Zombie Apocalypse acquired What They Play. The newest member of Fox Interactive is touted as the "family guide to video games" and offers reviews, warnings and suggested products. Under the umbrella company of What They Like, What They Play uses the "Entertainment Software Rating Board" (ESRB) to warn parents of games containing explicit lyrics, cartoon violence and drug references.

In an ironic twist of fate for 2009, Fox's IGN Entertainment, a company known for its game reviews of products like Zombie Apocalypse acquired What They Play. The newest member of Fox Interactive is touted as the "family guide to video games" and offers reviews, warnings and suggested products. Under the umbrella company of What They Like, What They Play uses the "Entertainment Software Rating Board" (ESRB) to warn parents of games containing explicit lyrics, cartoon violence and drug references.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of Jacques Cousteau or you're intrigued by The Life Aquatic's mythical jaguar shark, Google has a new tool for you. The company announced updating the Ocean Expeditions layer of Google Earth with blog posts and comments from recent excursions. Groups like the Census of Antarctic Marine Life and National Geographic's Ocean Now Pristine Seas Expedition have been mapped and tagged for audience exploration.