visited states mashup

Thanks to Peter for a tip on this cool app that shows loads of potential... visited states let you create a map that shows what elese??? States I've visited.. cool! Below is my visited states map (red shows states where I've been). Be sure to check out the developer's website for pointers to tons of cool mashup projects - see http://douweosinga.com/projects




create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Below is my Countries Visited map!



create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Mashing Toronto

What do you get when you take a great city, the Google Maps API, and creative individuals with coding skills? You get 28 fantastic Toronto "Google Maps Mashups". The Toronto Google Maps Mashups Compendium provides the bst mashups from the city with a variety of food & drink, transit, housing, arts & entertainment, education, sports & leisure, and photography oriented Google Maps mashups for Toronto - see http://blogto.com/city/2007/02/toronto_google_maps_mashups_compendium/ - got a favorite mashup?? Drop me line describing a cool new mashup you've stumbled over

McCartney, music, and mapping standards.. does it matter?

Interesting analogy as I watch a TV interview with Paul McCartney... apparently the music legend and song writer doesn't read music! So, think about how many in the traditional GIS space think of mashups and mashers and the lack of attention paid to open standards, map projections, principles of cartography, yadayada... does it really matter? If Paul can become an icon in the music industry without learning how, or caring how to read music does it matter if map mashers don't learn about geography, cartography, GIS, etc... hmmm

Nokia N95 User Tip - The 4GB Memory Card

Are you lucky enough to be using the GPS-enabled Nokia N95? If so here's a tip on a whopping 4GB Memory card that you MUST have in your device - The SanDisk microSDHC 4GB - see also the Nokia N95 compatibility list from ScanDisk

2006 NAIP aerial photography North Dakota

The North Dakota State Water Commission has recently updated their map services to include the 2006 NAIP aerial photography. The resolution of this photography is 2 meters and is similar to the quality of the 2004 photography. The 2003 and 2005 photography have higher resolutions of 1 meter. See http://mapservice.swc.state.nd.us

Oh the joy of going to the DMV!

Just went to renew my DL at the DMV.. ohmygodIhategoingtothetheDMV!! Gee, that would be a great url! I never seem to be amazed by the lineups, the disorganization, the endless waiting etc... with the technology we have access to its simply amazing that one can go into a DMV, take a little paper number (what is this a freaking bakery???) and come back several hours to see if your number has come up yet. I went into the DMV at around noon, grabbed ticket number 161 - they were currently serving customer number 93 - I assume they got there about 8 AM! The lady at the counter tells me to come back later if I want or simply call in while I'm away to see how the numbers are progressing. So, I leave and take the dog for the walk.. obviously I can't sit in there for 8 hours with the dog in the car. I come back after 1.5 hours or so... now serving number 116! So now I'm home, I'll head back over around 4 PM and see how things are coming. Amazing as it seems there's only one Dept or Rev. office that serves all of Ft Collins, Loveland, Windsor and surrounding areas... I guess I could hoof it south to Longmont but would I be any better... simply amazing! Hold on... let me call the number now to see what person is currently being served.... Gee, the number is busy... AGAIN! Stay tuned on my progress! Got any DMV tales to share???

AutoCAD Map 3D webcast reminders, emails, calls

Autodesk's Pete Southwood is holding another webcast this week (tomorrow).. how do I know this? Well, besides the emails that keep me informed of all the events I also get phone calls occasionally as well. Interesting as last week while on the road in San Jose I get a phone call and its a sales dude from Autodesk (likely an agency) asking me if I'd like to register for the webcast - talk about gorilla marketing! So, maybe I'll save them a few calls and offer you a reminder about this latest webcast: "Three More Compelling Reasons to Move from AutoCAD to AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 "
Date: Wednesday, June 6th
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PST) - see here or more on ADSK events st http://experience.autodesk.com

City Guides and Local Search dominate as search terms

Ever check out those cool little search term clouds that many sites offer? I was recently looking around the European "Nokia Experience" website -  a portal devoted to N-series device users - see http://www.nokia.se. They proudly show off what users are searching for and the following terms seem to be dominating lately - "City Guides" and "Local Search". Clearly, the smart phone device users are trying to figure out how, when and when they can get somewhere. Its also likely that during the busy summer travel season guides and local search are hot topics. Other popular search terms include:  City Guides Flash  MiniMap  Mobile Search Mobile TV MP3  Multimedia Computer Podcasting turn-by-turn navigation Web Browser WidSets Voice-guided navigation VOX

TomTom Map Share - users collecting and sharing data

I just got wind from Tele Atlas that TomTom is today announcing something new TomTom Map Share - an app. designed to allow consumers to input minor map modifications directly on the maps on their devices and to share this information with fellow TomTom users.   TomTom Map Share will allow users to further personalize and customize their navigation experiences.  TomTom may beat Dash Navigation to the punch as this sounds similar to a Beta program that Dash will be launching this summer when the test devices are sent out to 2,000 users who will drive the streets and gather/input data and updates to their database. The official announcement hasn't hit yet but should come shortly - see www.tomtom.com

 

Google maps and anti spam filtering

Recently I've noticed a new way for web masters to implement a nifty anti-spam solution into their contact forms. Recall "back in the day" when you typically would have to enter a string of letters/numbers that were displayed in a separate box - you know, those often non-legible scribbles that you had to retype in order to prove it was a real human posting through the form. Now google maps developers are integrating a map-based anti-spam solution when you need to look at a map, locate a place name that appears near the center of the map, then pick that name from a list. A clever way to avoid those pesky spammers who we all love to hate! I found this example over at locr - see http://www.locr.com/contact.php - note: sometimes I find that the place name that I feel is near the center isn't in the list so its nbot perfect, but it is cool!

The Google maps anti-spam email solution - are you a human?

Safe software now offers Linear Optimization Technology

Interesting news out of Vancouver, BC-based Safe Software today... The New Linear Optimization Technology Compresses Spatial Data Files by up to 80 Percent according to the company. Oregon-based TCI’s Curvefitter linear optimization technology will be integrated into the upcoming release of FME 2007, providing users with the capability to create smooth linework from "point to point" linework while reducing file size by up to 80 percent. File size reductions of this magnitude will result in much faster processing times for CAD and GIS data, and fewer processing problems caused by limited available memory. By intelligently inserting arcs into linework that depicts map features, Curvefitter technology also allows FME users to create more visually appealing maps. Curvefitter technology is available as an extra-cost item for the upcoming release of FME 2007. For more information on Curvefitter, visit www.safe.com/curvefitter.

Smoking gun nabs court filings of detailing terrorists use of Google earth for JFK research

I guess its no big surprise but once again Google Earth will be making headlines this week.. now as the app and imagery served up via Earth was apparently used by the terrorists plotting to strike against JFK airport. Lets just be glad that these guys were'rnt clued in enough to actually get away with their plans... kudos to the enforcement people for foiling this latest attempt. See Here

Apple iPhone launch date set for june 29 - iPhone or N95 which one do you want??

Coming June 29.. the much anticipated Apple iPhone... do you want one? Loads of hoopla surrounding this one although is it really a big deal? I'm a bit skeptical about this mainly due to the high price tag. I've been a user of Nokia's high-end Symbian smartphones for several years now and so its not really a big deal to me that Apple is coming out with this device. Obviously the recent news about Apple's iTunes store now serving up DRM-free music downloads makes sense now doesn't it? Mind-you, Apple could do some serious damage to Nokia's efforts to penetrate the North American market - particularly the young, hip crowd (with cash!) Speaking of cash, bring some cash with you when you go to buy this one as it will come with a serious price tag. If music is the big selling point of this one then will it be worth it? Gee, you can already grab a device like a Nokia 5300 music phone from AT&T... a sweet music phone with great MP3 player, loads of memory and its cheap - no doubt one of the best "low-end" mobile devices on the market today! So what will it be.. an Apple iPhone or a more sensible choice like a Nokia N95?
See HERE for more on the iPhone release - see also http://www.apple.com/iphone/ - see video clip below showing an iPhone being used by Google CTO Michael Jones at Where2.0

NavQuest.com offering free "MAP IT" Feature

This new feature from navquest allows marine enthusiasts and marine businesses to map their location and trips via a simple URL on the Nautical Charts and satellite images. “MAP IT” Highlights include:
- Send (print, e-mail & SMS) customized maps, satellite images and destination information with location, navigation directions to customers, friends and family via simple URL/Link.
- Share your favorite fishing, diving, marinas, surfing & deal locations via a simple URL/link to customers and friends
- Put your business or a favorite location on the map.
- Allow us to expand the functionality of your websites to attract and retain users via NavQuest.Com Map-It feature.
- Outsource your map-enabling and destination information needs with URL/Links and avoid a significant expenses associated with establishing, and maintaining a mapping infrastructure platforms.
To explore our new “MAP IT” feature please visit: http://www.navquest.com/mapit.asp - according to the company NavQuest.com is the internet’s only FREE Online Marine Navigation service and Water Enthusiast Portal

Listening to your KML in Google earth - Wild Sanctuary

No doubt one of the coolest things I saw (and heard) at last week's where2.0 was listening to KMLs in Google earth - actually you can also listen using Google maps too. Bernie Krause of the Wild Sanctuary announced that he's sharing his vast collection of soundscapes with the World. So what you might think... well, think about this... this is likely one of the largest private collections of digital sounds of wildlife and various ecosystems that you'll ever find. Even better, the soundscapes are being shared via KML so now users of Google earth can enjoy listening to their 3D mapping experience while being immersed in the sounds of nature. The soundscapes are also available via Google Maps. See more on this at http://www.gisuser.com/content/view/11779/ or grab the KML at http://earth.wildsanctuary.com/ - HEre's a sample video clip I captured at Where2.0

Fast Company slams Google's "real time" street views

More "ripping" on Google's Street Views... this time its from Fast Company. In an "interesting" read, the publication not onl;y refers to the high-res imagery as a form of stalking (I assume because you can make out people's identities) but in an amusing piece of mis-information they even refer to the imagery as being real time! Come on man, the images were like take several months ago. The article rounds up by noting that people are still trying to determine the usefulness of the imagery. I for one find them useful for helping locate a building or address by taking a virtual stroll down the street prior to actually going there. In a somewhat related matter. Microsoft will soon be rolling out additional 3D street-level imagery for the following cities: Austin, Texas; Cape Coral, Florida; Cincinnati; Indianapolis; Savannah, Georgia; and Tampa, Florida. Northampton, England, and Ottawa, Canada - recall New York was recently rolled out in high-res by the company.