MapInfo Pro 10.0 Gets a New User Interface

As the Insights conference and the launch of MapInfo Professional 10.0 nears, PB Business Insights dropped another tidbit about the new release.

“MapInfo Professional 10.0 will feature an enhanced user interface. The new interface, which includes redesigned icons and dockable toolbars, helps organizations more easily and efficiently create maps in fewer clicks. The end result:  it’s easier and takes less time to create maps that can be shared throughout an organization.”

I saw a screen capture here, though it’s tough to make out all the detail. The blog post about it also notes a webinar on the new release on June 9.

Report to OMB on Privacy Addresses Personal Location Data Privacy

Gary Price at ResourceShelf/Docuticker let me know that the report Toward A 21st Century Framework for Federal Government Privacy Policy
was released yesterday. and includes recommendations on location privacy. The report is by the Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board” and was presented to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The report offers recommendations and updates to privacy policy touches on geospatial privacy on pages 22 and 23. Wish I could copy the relevant passages but the PDF is not cooperating.

Yet another new name for Live Maps (whatever)

“Live Search Maps will now be called Bing Maps – with the Virtual Earth platform becoming Bing Maps for Enterprise.”

This comes on the heels of the announcement of Bing, Microsoft’s “decision engine,” which goes live worldwide June 3. For more on Bing, Discover Bing. The few previews I read, including this one from Wired, say about the same things: some cool stuff, but stay with Google on search. I know I’m a hard sell to get off Google, but I’ll give Bing a try, if only because I like the cherries.

No change in map product functionality.

- Microsoft rep

Quote of the Week

“Yes, in the future you’ll be able to do great things involving location, and I can’t wait. But let’s cut the crap. Today, people aren’t doing that. At the moment, the type of clients that are using mobile don’t really care about location.”

- RingRing Media’s Managing Director Ben Tatton-Brown discussing location-based mobile advertising in an article at Clickz RingRing Media describes itself as “The UK’s leading independent mobile media agency.”

NASA to open source tools to make WorldWide Telescope Format Data

TechFlash filed the Freedom on Information Act request to see the documents that detailed an agreement between NASA and Microsoft to put imagery of Mars and the moon in the company’s WorldWide Telescope. It turns out that while NASA will convert its data into Microsoft’s format, the agency will also make the conversion code available under an open source license.

- TechFlash