In the now-famous Saturday Night Live digital short "Lazy Sunday," released in December 2005, Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg note that "Google Maps is the best - true that - double true!" Never has this affirmation been more ... well ... true.

At 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time today, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) introduced new features to its popular navigation service, allowing its users to personalize routes with text, pictures, and YouTube videos. The new service, called My Maps, includes more than 100 mini-applications, or "Maplets" that enable users to highlight cheap gas prices, provide weather reports, or seek real-estate information, which comes complete with local crime statistics.

Amateur photos from Yahoo's (NASDAQ: YHOO) Flickr service can be accessed through one feature. The new service also allows users to easily share maps and travel routes with friends, families (or stalkers).

CNNMoney quoted Google Maps product manager as noting that "We are putting the Web into maps."

To explore these new features, visit Google Maps and click on the new "My Maps" tab to get started.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.