The iPhone 2.2 firmware update is on its way, and it's a meaty one, with goodies for Google Maps users and podcast fans. Beta users have been posting images of the Google Maps upgrades, with added support for Street View and walking and transit directions, and they look sweet.Google Street View on the iPhone:

View more images at the iPhoneYap.com forum.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog has a roundup of iPhone 2.2 reports. The Maps app will be updated to support Google Street View, and public transit and walking directions, and you'll be able to e-mail your location to other people (functionality which now requires a third-party app, such as the free Here I Am).

This next shot shows transit directions:

And e-mailing your location to other people -- I highlighted the "Share Location" button:

I have to quibble with one bit of speculation by Apple Insider's Sam Oliver; he says that the recipient of the e-mail location will need to also have an iPhone to make use of it. That isn't the case now -- if you use a third-party app to e-mail your location, that location is viewable on Google Maps on the desktop. I assume that the iPhone location-sender will support any device that supports Google Maps, which is pretty much any smartphone.

I don't want to forget about a couple of other iPhone 2.2 features that have nothing to do with Maps.

One that I'm excited about: You'll be able to download podcasts directly to your device. That feature's been high up on my wish list for a while. I currently sync my iPhone to an iMac that I use as my main computer; I have an old PowerBook that I use for travel. Because I don't sync the iPhone with iTunes on the PowerBook, that means when I travel I don't update my podcasts. I'll enjoy being able to update podcasts wirelessly and taking them with me on the road.

And when deleting an app from your iPhone, you'll be asked to rate it, says TUAW. iPhone Atlas confirms, and adds details and screenshots showing how that will work.