Microsoft’s Live Branding “Confusing”

We in geospatial know that Virtual Earth/Live Local/MapPoint has challenged us. But the analysts know it too, so says David Smith, an analyst at Gartner.

Microsoft’s Live branding has been tremendously confusing and has hurt the company, and it is very likely contributing to the situation they are in right now. They’ve created another brand and have not differentiated it.

We know that the Live Local vs. Local Live vs. Local.live.com confuses many. We also know that Google dropped Google Local after learning no one knew what it was. Folks seem to have no trouble with Google Earth and Google Maps. I think AskCity will work, too.

- C|net

Emerson Still Looking at USGS Opportunities

Missouri Representative Jo Ann Emerson who’s supported the USGS facility at Rolla since it was set for closure was recently appointed to the subcommittee for the Department of Interior Appropriations, which includes USGS and the Mark Twain National Forest.

In addition to an open house last week, she met with USGS staffers. She discussed “earthquake preparedness and seismic monitoring using the facility’s vast expertise and technical resources. She said she is doing her best to save USGS…”

- Rolla Daily News