Knight News Challenge Opens Today

Submissions due Dec 1. There’s been lots of great geospatial projects funded (and then acquired!).

- details via @timoreilly

Update: Hexagon Bond Sale to ReFinance Intergraph Loans

With approval of the acquisition complete (press release), the plan to sell the bonds was announced.

[The company] proposed a 6.5 billion Swedish kronor ($980.2 million) rights issue to partially finance its $2.13 billion acquisition of Intergraph Corporation. The number of shares to be issued and the subscription price will be announced on Nov. 19, while Hexagon will seek shareholder approval for the move at an extraordinary general meeting on Nov. 24.

- WSJ

—- original post 10/7/10—-

Hexagon will sell bonds to refinance some of the loans used to fund the acquisition Intergraph Corp.

After the purchase is complete, Hexagon plans to sell shares to raise $850 million.

- BusinessiWeek

NAVTEQ in-dash Nav Data Update:  $185

Aaron Gold at his about.com blog plans to switch to an aftermarket mobile nav system after NAVTEQ informed him of the update place for him system. As he notes, he can buy a new stand alone device with more features for that money plus a few tanks of gas!

Also quaint: NAVTEQ sent him a letter in the mail!

- Aaron’s Car Blog

Garmin and Asus Will Break Up in 2011

Company sources report that the co-branding deal will not be renewed when it expires on Jan 1, 2011. I don’t think there was much hope for the Garmin phone, no matter who was providing the hardware/OS or other bits.

But, new Android-based phones will use Garmin’s navigation software.

- ZDnet Asia
- Reuters

Google Tidbits

A report in La Stampa cited by PC Magazine reveals that Italy has demanded that Google give residents a three day warning about when it will be capturing Street View images. The warning would be via radio and newspapers (I wonder why not via the Web?) and the cars must be clearly marked.

via C|net

The Daily Mail reports that Google’s Terms of Service prevent it from using Ordnance Survey MasterMap and U.K. local authorities’ guides in its offerings. The specific issue: “‘The current Google terms in clause 11.1 allow it to reproduce, modify, publish and distribute royalty-free any data used in conjunction with their maps, whoever it belongs to,’ said a [OS] spokesman. ‘This means that Google is obtaining a free and perpetual licence to use other people’s or organisations’ data for the purpose of enhancing Google Maps.’”

via The Map Room

Just about 3% of Germans have taken Google up on its offer to have their houses removed from Street View. On the Media asks why that country is so concerned about this data collection.

- On the Media