The Google Maps Olympic Games Medal tracker map

A slick but simple Google map enabling users to monitor the Olympic games medal standings. Grab the code and embed on your website also... see here.

The GeoEye Launchpad website

GeoEye has just today announced a new website for those of you wanting to keep tabs on the launch of GeoEye. The company also has a redesigned website, developed by BrainSpark Media. See the announcement here and see also http://launch.geoeye.com/LaunchSite/

Global Mapper rolls out R 10

The popular Global Mapper tool has been updated to R 10 today. Notable new features include:
- Added support for importing ESRI personal geodatabase (MDB) files.
- Added support for importing and exporting BigTIFF files.
- Added more control over placement of labels for point features. Now when
- Added support for selecting/changing the layer that features are in when
editing existing features and creating new ones with the Digitizer Tool.
- Added KML/KMZ Super Overlay Support!
and much more! See more details in the announcement or jump to globalmapper.com

Words for the device maker - keep it simple

Isn't funny how sometimes the smallest, simplest things can make such a huge difference. We always hear of people searching for the elusive killer application or killer device. Take the iPod for example, cool device, although whay I would want one when my smartphone does the same thing but better and simpler to work with. The iPod is great but the iTunes application is... well, I can't go there as some people would take ofence to my language ; 0) Another example - I recently came into posession of a new smartphone from Samsung. A cool device that runs Symbian OS 9 and has all the bells and whistles... one problem though and right out of the gate... getting the back cover off the device is incredibly tough. The first time it took us (yes, two of us) about 5-7 minutes. Pulling the SIM card out was almost as difficult, likely since I don't have 3" long finger nails! Perhaps you've experienced this with other devices, maybe trying to get the battery, open the casing, or perhaps to locate a common setting like changing your wallpaper or ringtone. Great advice for device makers and application developers - keep it simple, make sure it works, and make it simple to accomplish the common tasks, otherwise you will lose customers.

The fake iPhone lines... WTF?

Nice move on the part of Orange to try and lure consumers into shops to snatch up the latest iPhone.. the company is actually paying "actors" to line up in front of some 20 stores to create a sense of device "hysteria". Something tells me that the mobile device savvy Europeans aren't likely to fall for this one! Source: eWeek

Everybody in line!

Are you having iTunes or iPhone woes?? You likely are not alone

Seems that problems just keep on plaguing Apple device users. It seems these days that if you fire up your iTunes and connect an iPod you simply don't know what's going to happen.. will you be able access your music, will the music be there, or ??? Looks like iPhone users are having some fun as well. Case in point, check out these comments from a couple of unhappy users...

"Yesterday, I noticed from my iTunes that Apple had recently released 2.0.1 for the iPhone. I downloaded the 240-megabyte update. A little while later, I received an unknown error 6 and the update aborted, but not until after it had erased my phone. So for the second time in the past couple of months, my phone became a brick. My impression is that Apple can't cope with the success of the iPhone and the demands it puts on their engineering and support organizations."

"Yesterday I took my second iPhone home after the first one wouldn't hold a charge. This one charged and worked fine, except for one thing. I noticed last night that it had Cube Runner and Facebook apps installed--something I know I did not download because I haven't downloaded ANY apps yet. I also found somebody else's bookmarks on this iPhone. At some point in the Apple chain, someone clearly made a decision to put a returned/used iPhone back in the box, seal it and try to pass it off as brand new."

these are but a couple of comments you'll find floating arond concerning the device. Have you had issues or do you love all things Apple??

Y360 panoramic 60 megapixel street-level imaging vehicle

Now this is mobile mapping and imaging! Yotta has introduced a vehicle-based imaging service that will provide unique high-res panoramic street-level views of property and highway features. The vehicle's high-resolution digital camera captures images every 2 metres, with the precise position (to less than 1 metre) of each image calculated by combining GPS, Inertial and Optical tracking systems with advanced algorithms. The unit is billed as Y360 - see more.

Garmin and uLocate Team on Location Based Social Networking

Interesting to see uLocate, developers of the WHERE platform partner with Garmin. This means that users of Gamin GPS devices will now have access to social networking services like friend finding network, Buddy Beacon. See more

Real Time Networks video collection

Over at Amerisurv Former stand-up comedian Gavin Schrock, the manager of the Washington State Reference Network, and the author of our popular RTN-101 series, kicks off the new video series. Parlaying his comedic skills (particularly in Part 7), Gavin Schrock presents short, hilarious explanations of Real Time Networks. See all the vide here

Nice to see Where2.0 back in San Jose next year

After recently being hosted in San Fran, Where2.0 is back in San Jose next year - nice year! details - O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference, May 19-21, 2009 The Fairmont San Jose San Jose, CA - see
http://conferences.oreilly.com/where see also here for more details

www.flickr.com GISuser.com's Where20 2008 photoset

A mobile tip - turn your smartphone into a free hotspot

Here's another fine mobile tip for you travelers... how would you like to never again have to pay those crazy fees for WiFi that hotels like to slam you with... I'm sorry, but I'm not about to pay a hotel for WiFi if I'm already paying $200+ a night to stay there! Enter JoikuSpot. Simply pout, if you have a smartphone (Symbian OS.. sorry) like an N95, N82 etc... you can grab this free app ( a pro version also exists) and you can turn your device into a hotspot... very simple. no more sniffing for free wifi from lounges and other hotels, coffee shops etc... all you need is your device and a data plan. The app was recently recognized in the Forum nokia innovation series. For more information www.joikuspot.com. Remeber, paying for WiFi is for suckers... much like paying for free GIS data!

Unwrapping another new GPS-enabled smartphone (Samsung SGH-i560)

GPS is all the rage and pretty much every new smartphone on the market should come with GPS inside in my opinion. I just got my hands on the latest from Samsung, the SGH-i560 (for the fashion conscious, trend setting blogger... is that me??), a Symbian OS 9 smartphone running S60 3 and has GPS inside among loads of other goodies... here's the unboxing. I haven't had a chance to mess around with it yet but this will give you a sneak peek. My son is also teen-testing their latest music focused device, the SGH-i450.








See more details and specs here

OOPS... it looks ok from my side!

Ohmy... not another Bush moment! Sorry but I couldn't help myself... enjoy!

"Hey George... something's wrong here... what do you mean... it looks just fine from my side!"

Tracking Twitter and the twitter cloud

A nice twitter tool is available at twitscoop enabling you to view what's hot in a handy cloud, you can also follow or track what some of your favorite tweeters are doing - well done! see http://www.twitscoop.com/