Monday, July 20. 2009

Microsoft Knows Some Geography Principles

How do I know?

"Microsoft is planning to open the first of its planned retail stores next to existing Apple stores this fall." per MaryJo Foley at C|net. I wonder if a Dell kiosk will appear nearby? Or maybe other phone stores? This could be interesting.

E-mail subject: Invitation to Test Drive Navigation Devices

That was the subject of an e-mail from AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) I received today. I thought: test drive = car, navigation device = GPS. I puzzled: Autodesk no longer has an LBS division and geospatial has been very quiet.... this is very odd! But of course, it referred to a computer navigation device, aka a "mouse" available for a test drive.

AOL CEO Tim Amstrong: Fewer Ads, More Value to Advertisers on MapQuest

Armstrong (who joined the company from Google) was asked about his plans for the second 100 days on the job:

At a baseline level, you are going to see improvements to MapQuest. Some of the pages on MapQuest had 17 ads on them. We've just removed 10 of the ads. You are going to see us bring down the total amount of ads and concentrate on the value for advertisers.

- Business Insider

Verizon Opens Omnia - Now Users Can Choose GPS Apps!

Last week Verizon released CF03, a software update for the Sansung Omnia phone that unlocks the GPS for use with other apps other than its VZ Navigator. Verizon was one of a very few carriers locking down the garden...

- C|net

A Surprising Local Paper Article on GIS

I read a lot of local paper articles on GIS. Most explain the technology reasonably well, but if anything, they over do what it can and can't do. And, you almost never hear of officials not liking it. So, hats off to Gary Pinnell writing at TampaBay Online. His "On the Map" (while it has some statements that give me pause, such as: "One day, that information may come from satellites, McIntyre hopes. If it does, it may be more accurate, Hanna reasoned, since a satellite will account for the curvature of the earth.") highlights the good, bad and ugly in Highland County, Florida.

For example, some of the ugly:

The ability to find telephone callers is nowhere near done, said J.P. Fane, E-911 coordinator in the sheriff's office. GIS addresses must be constantly validated.
...

"It's been a very complicated thing," said Joe Campbell. From the sound of his voice, it's clear the election supervisor isn't thrilled with GIS. It's been frustrating.

"The sheriff wants one thing, the property appraiser wants another thing. And what we want to know is, where does everybody live?"
...

Much of the GIS information in Highlands County may not become publically available, because most taxpayers will lack the speedy computers and proprietary software to access it, Hanna said.

Top Tweets from Friday #ESRIUC

Some of the more interesting tweets from Friday at ESRI UC:

UC is over. Recovering from exhaustion. Now the real work begins....but where to start?
@geoparadigm

Continue reading "Top Tweets from Friday #ESRIUC"