One more cool reason to think about the Nokia E71

The E71 has a dual personality - it's the perfect mobile companion for the business user (think push email, messaging, office functionality etc... but it's also a cool device for the non-business user - 3MP camera, video, messaging, web browsing, MP3 etc... One of the really cool features I enjoyed with the device is listening to messages and email. See the short demo clip below.



See more about the E71 here
See also this E71 image Gallery

2030 North: A National Planning Conference

Canada is waking up to the reality of a North transformed by climate change, challenges to northern sovereignty, and rapidly increasing natural resource exploration and development. But beyond vague and often contradictory messages about polar bears or the Northwest Passage, Canadians have no clear picture of what this will mean to their lands and waters, wildlife and peoples of the circumpolar world. 2030 NORTH will assemble the best data and expertise about the north to create the first comprehensive picture of the Arctic 20 years from now - and beyond. The conference will bring together over 350 Aboriginal leaders, scientists, academics, policy makers, NGOs, industry and government to generate the foundations of a comprehensive northern strategy for Canada. Debate and discussion around the following five themes will guide the conference: (1) Climate Change Impacts; (2) The Pace of Change; (3) Land Claims Agreements; (4) Northern Science Policy for Canada; (5) Canada's North: A New Strategy.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1-4 June 2009
See http://www.2030north.carc.org/index.php

Updated Nokia Email Service (Beta 3) - mobile email done right... and Free (for now)

Nokia has rolled out a new Beta mobile email service, enabling users to quickly and easily setup mobile email (a free service) on your mobile. Available for most E series devices and high-end N series units (like the N95, N82 etc...) Simply run through the email setup screens, enter your email account parameters (mail server, port, username etc...) you may need help from your ISP to get this if you aren't familiar with how to do this, then voilla... you're ready to receive your email while on the road... best of all it works and its free! I ran this service on the Nokia E71 while on a recent trip to Finland and it was a breeze and enabled me to easily stay in the know about what was happening at the office while I was away... see http://email.nokia.com
Note: as always, be aware of data charges if you are roaming or don't have all u can eat data plan! The "free" part of the service will end when the app comes out of Beta.

Enter your email setup parameters

Select your device and SMS the setup application
Once the SMS comes through you are ready to download, install, then setup...
Once downloaded the installation is fast and painless. The check your application folder, enter your password in the setup module then check your email!

Fire up your new mobile email app to view your messages and send email
Viewing my first mobile email from Nokia email (Beta)

More on the Google (Android) G1 via the T-mobile update

The latest T-Mobile customer newsletter is promoting what else??? the G1 naturally! IT's really too bad that most of the service attendants in the wonderful T-mobile shops are pretty much clueless about the device... but they do proudly comment "well... it's has Google search and maps".. ya that's useful!! For kicks I always like to ask them a couple of questions about Android and watch as their face contorts into a confused state... ;0) Regardless, the G1 from HTC is indeed an interesting device. I'm on the fence as to whether I really want to extend my contract for yet another 2 years for a device that is essentially release 1.0.0.0 - I was really close but I think I've decided that I may wait it out a bit!

See more at http://www.t-mobileg1.com/ or jump to our dedicated Google Android section on the LBSzone

NGA and Washington, D.C. area recruiting initiative for Imaging and Geospatial scientists

An interesting hiring blitz coming up from the NGA - These positions support humanitarian efforts and national security and contribute to the ongoing war on terrorism, both home and abroad.

Targeted positions include:

- aeronautical analysts

- geodetic earth scientists

- geospatial intelligence analysts

- imagery intelligence analysts

- marine nalysts

- nautical cartographic analysts

- source strategies analysts

- cartography

- regional analysts

- imagery and geospatial sciences

See www.nga.mil or more details here

A Denver Open StreetMap Party

Seems that Denver will the the place to be next week for the next Open StreetMap mapping party. Peter Batty informs us via GeoThought blog that him and a couple of colleagues will be running a week-end mapfest, best of all they will be based in LODO and will no doubt be replenishing their body fluids at Wynkoops... sounds like a cool time! See details

Looking Ahead to Nokia World 2008, Barcelona

A reminder, Save the date for this year's Nokia World 2008 event, December 2-3, 2008 in beautiful Barcelona, Spain. With thought-provoking seminars, informed keynote speakers and a wide range of interactive experiences, Nokia World 08 can inspire anyone and everyone with an active interest in the business of mobility. Recall, now that Nokia has NAVTEQ as partof their holdings there is no doubt going to be added focus on the future mobile geo location technologies and services!

Always a "must-attend", Nokia World offers press attendees, developers, business partners, and mobile technology architects a chance to get a detailed look at the road ahead and the state of the industry regarding mobility. Spanning 2 days, the event features a busy couple of days where top Nokia execs, technologists, visionaries, and evangelists are available to answer your questions and show you first-hand the Now and the "What will be" regarding the company's industry solutions, services, and devices.

Nokia World will once again offer attendees a dynamic experience, a space where real stories and original thinking are shared, an environment where collaboration leads to innovation, a place where like-minded people bond, partnerships and even friendships are forged, a destination where people connect and join conversations that help define and drive the future of our industry.

The event spans over 2 days and will feature executive keynotes from Nokia executives. Nokia World is also a hands-on experience where users can take part in the Experience Lounge... after that there is always a great time at the Nokia World party, hosted by Nokia and guaranteed to be a memorable evening.

Topics of discussion this year will center around several themes including:

• join the journey
• join the community
• join the fun
• join and collaborate
• Join the living network

For event details and the full agenda see: http://www.nokia.com/nokiaworld

Register online at http://www.nw2008.com/

Recall Nokia World 2007

Nokia World 2007 took place Dec. 4-5, 2007 in Amsterdam. SymbianOne founder Glenn Letham was in attendance and provides images, videos and features from the event. See this Nokia World 07 Archive for reports from the event.

Images from Nokia World

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Images from Nokia World Beach Party

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Intro to Machine Control webinar from Carlson

Heads-up on today's lunch-time seminar series from carlson Software - Introduction to Machine Control -- Are you considering 3D Machine Control? Have you wondered how it might benefit your business’ bottom line. This webinar, presented by Randy Noland, V.P. of Sales for Machine Control and Positioning for Carlson Software, will help give you the answers. Noland will review the general benefits of 3D Machine Control over traditional methods as he discusses and illustrates Carlson Grade Supervisor v1.0 and Carlson Grade v3.1 and gives a general overview to machine control using 3D positioning technology. Space is limited! Register here

First Image Collected GeoEye-1 Earth-Imaging Satellite

GeoEye has released the first images collected by the recently launched GeoEye-1 satellite. GeoEye-1 simultaneously collects 0.41-meter ground resolution black-and-white imagery in the panchromatic mode and 1.65-meter color (multispectral). This first image showing Kutztown University located midway between Reading and Allentown, Penn. see details

More imagery for Microsoft Virtual Earth thanks to deal with DigitalGlobe

Man, Microsoft's Virtual Earth mapping service just gets better all the time... for imagery this service simply can't be beat! Details of today's announcement with DigitalGlobe include a multi-year contract under which DigitalGlobe will provide Microsoft’s Virtual Earth with its premium, high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will have access to DigitalGlobe’s vast ImageLibrary, which contains over 460 million square kilometers of premium earth imagery, as well as new images being collected every day by its growing constellation of satellites. Recall DigitalGlobe has highest-resolution satellites QuickBird and WorldView-1 hard at work and WorldView II will be coming in the near future. See more

Imagery over Old Town fort Collins, Co as seen via Virtual Earth

Blackberry Storm (Touch) coming to Vodafone

An interesting device from Blackberry incorporating unique functionality enabling carriers to target a different crowd that is associated with the traditional Blackberry devices (ie. the business user). This is what Vodafone says... "BlackBerry Storm retains the full functionality and security features of the BlackBerry platform but is also ideal for avid Facebook, MySpace and YouTube users, while Flickr fans will love the ease and speed of directly uploading their pictures seconds after taking them." Detailed info here

Features:

First ‘clickable’ touch screen smartphone purpose built for Vodafone – revolutionary tactile touch display
Building on BlackBerry platform’s strong wireless heritage, the BlackBerry Storm is ideal for both consumers and business users featuring:
Large, high resolution screen coupled with Vodafone’s ultra high speed network delivering world class Internet browsing
Fast and easy access to customers’ favourite social networking sites
Turn by turn satellite navigation
Great for keeping in touch – all e-mail, SMS and MMS in a single in-box
Multi-media services including outstanding music and video experience:
Download music or transfer it from the PC
Incredible sound quality
Largest screen on a BlackBerry smartphone
http://www.vodafone.com/storm

Mapper G marries Google aerials and street level data

An interesting announcement from Mapping Solutions (Michigan) with the release of Mapper G Software. The Mapper G software that marries Google aerials and street level data together with MapInfo Professional (8.5+) for more effective market analysis. With Mapper G, analysts can seamlessly mix their own data with aerials from Google that encompass high resolution, street-level images... interesting! See more

GeoOde open source location-aware browser extension for Firefox

Imagine an open source location-aware browser extension for Firefox from Mozilla and Skyhook Wireless... it upgrades the entire web to understand location, enabling enriched, personalized, and localized content. Geode is based upon the draft W3C Geolocation API specification and is being released as Open Source software under the MPL, GPL and LGPL tri-license. From the Geode project... "Geode provides an early implementation of the W3C Geolocation specification so that developers can begin experimenting with enabling location-aware experiences using Firefox 3 today, and users can tell us what they think of the experience it provides. It includes a single experimental geolocation service provider so that any computer with WiFi can get accurate positioning data.
With Geode when a web site requests your location a notification bar will ask how much information you want to give that site: your exact location, your neighborhood, your city, or nothing at all. See http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/10/introducing-geode/

Map Your Miles per Gallon using ESRI's MapMPG (Beta)

An interesting Beta app from ESRI via the MapMPG web service. The application enables the user to select 2 makes of vehicles in order to compare the mileage that is expected. For example, I selected a 99 Dodge Van which is expected to get 14 mpg, then compared to a 2008 Chrysler 300 which gets 18 mpg. then the cool part, the service goes out, retrieves my location (approx) based on the ZipCode provided and returns a map showing a bounding area that you can drive on a gallon - the two polygons are color coded according to each vehicle... very cool! See it at www.mapmpg.com.

Notice the light yellow polygon showing the driving range of the 2008 Dodge as compared to the 1999 vehicle.

Cheap Gas Maps - can you find $2.89 per gallon?? We did!

Nice to see the price of gas dropping somewhat (for now). Recall, there's a number of fine mashups around that will help you locate the cheapest gas in your area, like GasBuddy (also available on mobile via WHERE app) . Mapquest also tracks gas prices ($3.34 is lowest in my area today), and there's also FuelEconomy.gov

But how about this sighting in Oklahoma - NW 23rd and Penn, Oklahoma City, OK 73107 - WOW! Can you find a better price than that?


Photo Courtesy Joel Cheves

Save the date O'reilly Media, iPhone Live 08

Here's details of an event of interest from O'reilly Media, iPhone Live 08 taking place November 18 in San Jose, CA. This unique event will no doubt be interesting to any existing developers or would-be developers of apps for the iPhone platform. FYI, register before Oct 14 and save on the cost. See the event website here
Fore more info on apps and news about LBS apps developed for iPhone see here

Off topic, if you missed the SNL Biden / Palen debate

I know, its off topic yayaya... Everyone else it talking about it and for those of you, like me, that may have missed the skit on Saturday Night well, here it is - the VP Debate. Hulu indeed provides some fantastic quality video here so if anything, enjoy the fine quality from this service! Source video

Ping your message!

http://ping.fm/v/AAGnQ - "James Whatley. Thank you for sharing details of the Ping my message Via SpinVox and Ping FM. This is way cool."

This message was updated via Ping.fm... what is this about??? See here for details on the voice to text social networking service!

Traffic.com Stay informed of drive times and save your routes

Are you using traffic.com yet to help get you where your going on time? I have to admit I haven't been an avid user... but the more I look into this service the more I'm loving on it. Simply register as a user at traffic.com to plan your trips. You can easily check drive times by entering a start and end location, the app does the rest. Look deeper and then it starts getting very cool, particularly for commuters.

You can create and store trips that you regularly take and then have daily email alerts sent to you to help you plan your trip or maybe think about leaving 10 minutes earlier - hey, you may even want to take an alternative route! I know that for myself, if I'm heading South on I-25 to the airport, knowing the flow and condition of the Interstate is crucial in order for me to get to the gate in time. Having email alerts shows me the traffic flow and problem spots, estimated travel times, mass transit delays, and even notes about construction areas and even accidents... this is awesome! You can even put Traffic.com on your desktop using one of the handy widgets that are provided. If you'd rather have alerts sent directly to your mobile that's easily accomplished as well via traffic.com mobile - point your mobile browser to http://mobi.traffic.com.

At the time of writing this, if I were to be headed to DIA I would know that there's a 6 minute delay due to one incident and the trip to the tollway turn-off would take me about 40 minutes... nice! See www.traffic.com to setup your free profile and start saving yoru trips and routes.

Daily email reports can keep you informed prior to your commute

View your saved trips on your mobile handset using traffic.com Mobile

Hotspots show you places to be aware of - I use this on I-25 all the time!

NEed memory for your smartphone - here's the 16GB MicroSD

The 16GB MicroSD supported by Nokia N95 is here... you can grab it for around 50 Euro... for more on using the latest in memory see this report on the 16GB card. You can purchase online here