Seeking Alpha 2009 Prediction: Google to Acquire GeoEye

Eric Jackson at Seeking Alpha offers several micro-predictions for 2009. Among them: Google to acquire GeoEye.

6. Google (GOOG) will buy geospatial satellite operator GeoEye (GEOY). Google will see providing the map images (and searching any location on Earth) that appear on Google Maps, Google Earth and its G1 mobile phone as strategic, as well as in line with its interest in space in general. Google’s stock will end 2009 at $350.

Yes, yes, he’s not the first to float the idea and of course many outlets already refer to “Google’s satellite” based on the Google/GeoEye contract of 2008 and the Google logo on the rocket. Seeking Alpha’s other writers have been pushing GeoEye as a great investment all year. Is this down economy the right time for this to actually happen? Does this fall in line with Google’s goal of “organizing the world’s information?” To my knowledge, unlike Microsoft, Google has yet to acquire “content,” though its quick to acquire software that enables its users to create content, that it then can organize.

Johnny’s Lunch Coming to Pittsburgh

I knew nothing of the hot dog chain until we ran an article about its location technology strategy (Pitney Bowes Business Insight, aka MapInfo). There were an amazing number of comments from non-GIS people to express their love of the place. So, at least those in Pittsburg can stop adding comments asking for a store nearby!

- Pittsburgh Business Times

Free 250m True Marble Imagery

Unearthed Outdoors offers the 250m True Marble image set for a free download with a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. It’s the earth in 32 tiles, each 21,000 pixel square, available in png and tif. There’s also a series of smaller files. If nothing else, this is a great time to learn about Creative Commons if that license is new to you.

- BoingBoing and a hat tip to Larry for the pointer