The new Google Maps application is demonstrated in New York on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012.
Google Maps Is Back! Following the fracas over Apple’s homegrown Maps app for iPhone, Google has finally launched a new version of the trusty Google Maps. Early reviews say it’s pretty darn good and hopefully won’t be leaving anyone stranded in the Australian outback. Whew. (Techland)
Trouble in the Air: Japan scrambled its jets following what it said was an intrusion by China into the airspace near a chain of disputed islands in the East China Sea. (ABC News)
Inauguration Day is Coming: And it’s being planned on this seriously gigantic map of Washington, D.C. Here’s the photos. (The Atlantic)
Clothe Your Own Ikea Monkey: Sooner or later, someone was bound to make an Ikea instruction manual on how to properly dress a monkey in a shearling coat. Turned out it was sooner. (Cheezburger)
Focus on the Important Things: Here are the 30 most influential cats of 2012. (BuzzFeed)
A Dwarf-by-Dwarf Guide to The Hobbit: Everything you needed to know about Bilbo’s beardy pals. (TIME.com)
What’s Metta World Peace Been Up To? Why, giving long Skype interviews while lying shirtless in bed, of course. (SB Nation)
‘Tis the Season: If you’re not in the holiday spirit yet, watch Stephen Colbert, Michael Stipe and Mandy Patinkin sing “Good King Wenceslas.” We’re still all warm and fuzzy. (Pitchfork)
Do the Cameras Really Add 10 Pounds? Insert unfunny “Honey Boo Boo” joke here. (Mental Floss)
The 20 Most-Watched Ads of 2012: YouTube has released a list of the most popular ads of the year; here’s what came in at No. 1. (via Adweek)