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There are some online mapping news tidbits on Tuesday.

First, Google appears to have expanded its walking directions feature from a limited test to a broader swath of Web users, according to Search Engine Roundtable.

It's not clear how many cities are covered now, but at least San Francisco, New York, and London, according to my testing.

Google representatives did not immediately return an e-mail seeking more information.

And over at Microsoft they've greatly expanded the coverage of Virtual Earth, according to a Virtual Earth evangelist's blog.

The site's Orthoimagery, images taken from directly overhead, and the 45-degree bird's-eye view, now include tons of additional cities in the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, a bunch of new countries around the world can now be seen in satellite images.

Google expands walking directions on Google Maps. This screenshot shows how to walk from the Museum of Modern Art to the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City.

(Credit: Google)

And here are walking directions between the Tower of London and a nearby coffee shop.

(Credit: Google)