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All the gory details of Missouri’s fight to get answers to its questions regarding the selection of Denver for the NGTOC are detailed in this article by Rolla Daily News editor Janese Heavin. The finger is pointed at a politial decision, not a logical one. And, there’s some hope for investingations and maybe more.
It’s official, or at least as official of some guy from O’Reilly saying that Google Maps is the first “Web 2.0 platform.”
What’s interesting is that back when Web Services was the big buzz, Microsoft put out the MapPoint Web Service as the “first.” Now, it’s introduced MSN Virtual Earth and it’s way behind Google. So, being second (third, I guess since MapQuest was first) is not such a bad thing…
Google Maps Mania reports that Google Maps is now Google Local, or better yet, “merges” the two. Further, Google Maps is now considered a graduate of Google Labs.
I like the name Google Local. It screams: “It’s all about me and where I am or want to be!” It also highlights the search aspect of Google and its focus as an advertising medium.
“Time for Action” is the title of a guest editorial in the Rolla Daily Times. It calls for Missouri’s legislators to push hard regarding the selection of Denver as the home for the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. The article offers that in fact money was listed as the number one factor in the selection in speeches to USGS staff and suggests that the Rolla Center be given the chance to compete alongside Denver with the private sector in the A-76 bid now out. Interesting ideas. This whole process looks bad – sort of like the GOS situation a few years back; I’m hopeful it’ll get sorted out.
Tube Lines, the public-private partnership that runs London Underground’s Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, plans to extend its use of GeoMedia and move its GIS data to handhelds. Frankly, I expected this to be an ESRI story. Nice surprise!
