ABI: Wi-fi Device Locating to Lead All other in 2015

Or as ABI states it: “ABI Research has forecast that Wi-Fi location will outstrip all other location technologies including GPS, cellular and MEMs, with shipments reaching more than 1 billion by 2015.”

Now I can’t say I understand that sentence. Shipments of what? Wi-fi chips? Sure, those are in everything - my laptop, my phone, e-readers… sure more of those will ship in the future. Now, is the prediction those chips will be used for locating? For that, there needs to be software on the device to tap into local Wi-fi hotspots and determine location. You need to install something like Loki to “do” location. Maybe those software packages are the 1 billion things that will be shipping in 2015?

There seems to be a rash of reports that suggest that just because a device ships with a chip or software that it’s used. TechCrunch took Google to task when it stated 9 million people are using Latitude. The argument: since Latitude is packaged with Maps, folks who use that are counted even if they don’t use it. I remember when Autodesk pushed Autodesk Map (now AutoCAD Map) on anyone who did any sort of mapping in AutoCAD. Many of them never, ever used the “Map” menu, but Autodesk counted them as users.  Is this the same thing?

- press release

Is Hardware Relevant Again in Geospatial?

In the days of "big iron" computing companies IBM, HP and DEC dominated. Then there was the era of PCs where Dell, Compaq, and Gateway had compelling price points. In geospatial, Intergraph provided an all in one solution with VAX, CLIX, and MGE. But the days of hardware relevance in geospatial have long since vanished. Any old PC will do; the computing power is there along with adequate graphics cards.

Enter "the cloud." Ah yes, the nebulous and yet undefined "geocloud." And what hardware is relevant for this new age of computing? The tablet, of course. Bypassing netbooks altogether, I am suggesting that tablets are relevant to geospatial like no other hardware in the last 20 years.

Here’s my reasoning: What is it that we really need to make maps fly off the page? Its visualization, of course. Now, it’s not exactly easy to take your desktop PC "door stop" with you to the field, nor is it likely that you’ll drag one of those huge touch screen tables either. And while very handy, your cell phone falls short of providing the big picture you really need.

Tablets are being built in many different form factors from the 9.7" iPad screen to the 7" Blackberry Playbook to the dual 7" screen Toshiba Libretto to the 12" ASUS Eee Pad. The big benefit is that they are all portable enough to carry without lugging big packs and all have network access with high resolution screens. You can whip these babies out on top of your pick up truck just like you would paper maps and not have to worry about them flying away. Such a deal?!

Tablets are Flash ready (most are!) with high resolution screens for excellent multimedia capabilities and many have built in cameras…some have two cameras! This is the hardware many in geospatial have been waiting for. You don’t even have to drag the GIS geek from the backroom to show off the pretty maps. Just throw down the "tab" in your next boardroom meeting with your VP and you’ll be promoted to be the next CLIO: chief location intelligence officer.

There is one problem. It’s the "geocloud." Just how much computing power moves to the cloud is a big question. Solutions that are platform hosts like WeoGeo and Skygone are compelling as are true solutions like Esri’s Business Analyst Online and Alteryx.

I think we’ll see a plethora of new solutions move to the cloud in 2011; I think we’ll even see Google offer image processing of satellite data online with Google Earth Engine, as an example of a "high powered" computing capability that we should expect; and I think we’ll see tablets deliver the end result of cloud-based solutions to more professionals. So, while computing power moves to the cloud (Amazon, Microsoft, whoever) and all communication becomes wireless (take your pick of carriers), tablets become the delivery mechanism to visualize geospatial information.

[I recommend reading ZDNets "20 iPad Competitors to watch" and CIO Magazine’s "Cloud Computing: 2011 predications"]

Podcast: A Hallway Conversation: Can you Locate me Now?

Did you ever wonder how hardware makers insure their devices can locate you effectively via GPS, cell towers and Wi-Fi? How do they answer the question “Can you locate me now?” One way is to use in-lab simulations for testing. Executive Editor Adena Schutzberg spoke with Nigel Wright, Spirent’s Vice President of Marketing for Wireless about how their testing services work and are used.

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Update: iOS 4 Hardware Uses Apple’s Own Wifi Database for Location

GigaOm suggests that yesterday’s press release from Skyhook noting its latest four patents is intended to start a legal battle with Apple and perhaps Google.

- GigaOm

—- original post 7/30/10——

That’s what what the letter Apple sent back to Congress regarding its privacy issues states. The older Apple devices still use Google and Skyhook but from iOS 4 forward it’s all Apple data. Here’s the key bit:

To provide the high quality products and services that its customers demand, Apple must have access to comprehensive location-based information. For devices running iPhone OS versions 1.1.3 to 3.1, Apple relied on (and still relies on) databases maintained by Google and Skyhook Wireless (“Skyhook”) to provide location-based services. Beginning with the iPhone OS version 3.2 released in April 2010, Apple relies on its own databases to provide location-based services and for diagnostic purposes. These databases must be updated continuously to account for, among other things, the ever-changing physical landscape, more innovative uses of mobile technology, and the increasing number of Apple’s customers. Apple has always taken great care to protect the privacy of its customers.

Good digging there MG Siegler!
- TechCrunch

Podcast: A Milepost for Mobile Social Location Services

Last week’s SXSW Interactive event included lots of buzz about location based services, with just about every article noting the excitement around Foursquare and Gowalla. There were no huge announcements or “big winners,” at the event, but judging from other recent LBS announcement our editors think the group of services that tap into location have reached a key milepost in their development and use. Joe Francica and Adena Schutzberg share their evidence for drawing a line in the sand.

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