Google/LBS Tidbits

Google has updated the quality of borders in Maps and Earth.

- Google Lat Long Blog

Reuters is reporting that Google, Motorola and HTC have been working along side Raytheon to develop software which could allow a soldier on the battlefield to gain important information via an Android OS device.

According to Raytheon, Google has helped push the limits of the phone and integrate features such as detailed satellite imagery, unmanned drone video and even tap into the Patriot missile system itself. This software could certainly allow the soldiers to gain all the intelligence they need to authorize a missile launch, and one day may even launch missiles from their phones.

- Android Police

BrightKite now offers “levels” for its badges so that super visitors can be distinguished from just regular ones. The idea is to generate more data and more rewards for those who check in. And, to distinguish the offering from Foursquare where only mayors get rewards.

- Mashable

Foursquare reached its millionth check in.

- PC World

Bing Maps is powering FaceBook Stories.

- Bing Maps Blog

GeoLoco was an LBS event this week in San Francisco. (I suspect being packed in around ESRI UC, the unconference, SOTM and other things it got a bit overshadowed in the geospatial areana.) Wade Roush, my former local Xconomy infotech guy, was there and reported on the event which focused on making money from location. I like his list of takeaways:

- It’s not about finding yourself on a digital map; it’s about the intelligence you’re providing to marketers in the process.

- To gain users for your location-based service, give them rewards, make it fun, appeal to their narcissism–and be nice to journalists.

- Check-ins themselves are becoming passe, so location-based networking companies have to provide value in other ways.

- If Facebook ever gets serious about location, it could be game over for a lot of other companies.

- How location-driven services handle privacy issues could make or break them.

- It’s still early days, and there’s plenty of room for innovation by startups.

- Xconomy

GPS Tidbits

“Wisconsin’s highest court yesterday approved police use of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to track motorists, as long as a valid search warrant is obtained.”

- The Newspaper.com

...according to the San Francisco Chronicle, [cellphone thief and cyclist] Horatio Toure had ridden straight into a company’s demonstration of a nifty real-time GPS-tracking system.

This system, called Alert and Respond, is the brainspawn of Covia Labs. Yes, these are the people whose soul revolves around the idea of “unifying communications and control.”

Yes, this fellow stole an iPhone while it was being used to show off the company’s tracking app. The iPhone was recovered.

- C|net

Even the smallest of public transportation “agencies” can get GPS tracking. The wholly volunteer run Astoria Oregon trolley now has its own GPS-enabled phone and a system in place to broadcast its location to the Chamber of Commerce website. Rides are still $1 per person or $2 per day.

- Daily Astorian

More Cuts at ITT Geospatial

ITT Corp.’s Geospatial Systems has laid off less than 150 workers in Rochester, NY, Indiana, New Jersey and Virginia. The layoffs were due in part to the loss of a government contract per a spokeswoman. No further details were given on its nature. The last layoff, in April, was due to restructuring. Rochester now has 1,500 of the 2,300 workers in the division.

- Rochester Business Journal

Local Search Patent

EZlocal, Inc. has been issued Worldwide Patent Number 61/352115, which covers what the company calls “what, where and with?” search functions. I can find no reference to a “worldwide patent” with that number, save in the press release. I think the release is really about pushing the local search engine, EZlocal which seems to distinguish itself by having extra “requirements” categories you can add to search like “takes credit cards” or “open late.”

- press release