Friday, June 19. 2009

Free Eval of MapInfo Professional 10

MapInfo (aka Pitney Bowes Business Insights) has always been good about making evaluations available and the company is doing the same thing for v10. You can get a 30 day eval here. (Do read the license and privacy policy to which you must agree before requesting it.)

Those Sticky Google Maps Mashups

I think the very first Google Maps mashup I ever used was GMaps Pedometer. I used it to lay out running routes around the area. I was primitive and simple and worked just great. And, it's nice to see it's still out there (now better than before!) and cited in the New York Times this week.

Do I use it now? Not so much. Now I'm typically looking for routes to "get somewhere" on foot or bike as part of my training and I use Google Maps. I get a route it suggests, then "rearrange it" get in the required mileage.

Garmin Linux Phones: One and Done

Remember the promise of the new Garmin phones? (Feb coverage in APB.) Remember how Garmin was to use Linux and even open sourced the OS for its regular nuvis (2008 coverage)?

Well, the Linux love affair is over at least on the phones, per C|net.

When asked about the potential of Garmin-Asus' current Linux platform for future devices, [regional director for Southeast Asia sales, Hektor] Tung revealed that this will be used only in the G60. Future smartphones will either come with Windows Mobile like the M20 or be based on the Google Android operating system.

New, Pay-as-You Go iPhone Turn-by-turn App

The app, by respected NIM, is called Gokivo and was announced on Wednesday (press release, which notes required subscription). It's got a one star (lowest) rating at the AppStore and some suggest it is misleading consumers with a $1 fee, but then an add-on charge for one minute, ten minutes or a month's worth of navigating. On top of that, at least one user found the directions wanting.

Also interesting:
- Apple is featuring the app on the front page of the App Store.
- It uses Yahoo! Local.

- iLounge

Symbolizing Fire Hydrants on the Ground, Not the Map

The Toldeo Blade reviews how many of the big cities in Ohio convey information to firefighters about the pressure available from different hydrants. Some must look it up on paper, others will have laptops in their trucks. But in Akron it's all right there in full color, on the hydrant.

For more than 20 years, fire crews in Akron have known the number of gallons per minute to expect from a hydrant based on the color of the hydrant's dome. In that city, red, orange, green, and white-domed fire hydrants dispense 500, 501 to 1,000, 1,001 to 1,500, and more than 1,500 gallons of water per minute, respectively.

Columbus has tried to implement a similar system, but a public perception problem prevented implementation. In short, people will question why their local hydrant is low flow. Instead, Columbus is moving off paper water atlases to laptops.

Old Poll, New Poll

In May we asked about your how often you print: "How often do you print maps on paper in your work?" Of the 76 responses, almost three quarters print at least once per week.

once per week 32%
once per day 32%
a few times per year 22%
once per month 10%
less than once per year 7%

Next up: What's your preferred format for electronic publications?