Business Archives

June 20, 2007

News Roundup: GE 4.1 Stuff, Plotting a Trail, Business Reviews, More Second Earth

• GE 4.1 Stuff - The Google Earth 4.1 beta has been out for more than a month. There are a couple little features I haven't mentioned. First, they fixed a bug which prevented you from looking straight up in Google Earth. And, when using the SpaceNavigator you can look up at a 3D Building and when you let go the view stays looking up (pre-4.1 would pop the view back to the horizon). In addition, during time animation, the background star field animates according to the passage of time (see a post about this at Barnabu's site). There is an annoying bug in 4.1 which prevents the compass in the upper right from automatically disappearing like it is supposed to. There are also a number of subtle rendering bugs which are annoying. I hope a new beta will come out soon.

• Plotting a Trail - Googler John Gardiner posts about his hobby of helping plan trails. He uses topo map overlays, a GPS track and placemarks to help communicate a planned trail. See an example trail near South Yuba River in Northern California.

• Business Reviews - Google has added a new feature to Google Maps which lets you review and rate a business you find in a map search. Maps already showed ratings and reviews from other web sites, but it also now allows you to give your own reviews and ratings. Simply search for a business and choose "More Info". Then choose "Write a review". You have to be logged in to a Google account. Very simple and straight-forward. A couple of suggestions I have: Allow folks to just give it a rating without writing a review, and allow people to use anonymous as a reviewer name (but, limit them to one review per establishment).

• More Second Earth - Avi Bar-Ze’ev, former Keyhole developer of the application which became Google Earth, shares his thoughts about the recent article by MIT Technology Review called Second Earth. Avi goes into depth about the possibilities / impossibilities of Google Earth and Second Life being combined as a mashup. Definitely a worthy read if you liked the Second Earth article. Wade Roush (author of the Second Earth article) even commented he really liked Avi's article.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 07:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 19, 2007

Pict'Earth - UAV Aerial Photography Solutions

Back at the beginning of the year, I wrote about a video someone posted showing a guy flying a remote controlled plane (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV) and used a digital camera to take aerial photos and show them in Google Earth. The guy who created it is David Riallant, and his company Pict'Earth is located in France. He has now expanded his operation and has a new office in the USA, which is being run by Jeffery Johnson and Stewart Long. They have a new web site called PictEarthUSA.com. The new company has a system available which uses a basic remote controlled plane, Pict'Earth software, and a Nokia N95 as both the camera system and wireless broadband communicator. They offer both live and professional aerial image processing services. Not ony that, but they have recruited the efforts of the well-known Google Earth innovator Valery Hrosunov in Perm, Russia to develop the software for the image processing and display in GE. Check out their gallery of example photos.

Related:

• Remote controlled plane video
• High resolution photos from a UAV in Google Earth
• Driving a Car with a SpaceNavigator

Posted by FrankTaylor at 09:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 13, 2007

Road Maps and Local Search for Sweden in Google Earth and Maps

Google has released new map data for the country of Sweden. You can now turn on the "Roads" layer for Sweden, and you can now search for business listings (search for "pizza" for example). You can also get directions for road travel in Sweden. Google also announced on their Lat Long blog that they have Google Maps for Sweden at maps.google.se. The layers of point of interest (dining, lodging, etc.) have not been added yet for GE. Google already has roads for many countries around the world, and the list is growing every couple of months. Great job Google!

Posted by FrankTaylor at 08:55 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 12, 2007

News RoundUp: Football Game, VesselTracker, Antarctic Bases, Egyptian Digs, 3D Cities Help, Chimps, Gallery

• Football Game - Google Earth Hacks has developed an American-style football game you can play within Google Earth. The game is played within a football stadium inside GE, and you interact through radio buttons in the Places pane. You either choose Offensive or Defensive plays depending on who has the ball. You see the position of the ball at the end of each play, and get feedback on statistics for each play including scores. Pretty fun to play, and an interesting application of GE technology.

• VesselTracker - The VesselTracker.com site is dedicated to providing ship vessel tracking data (right now for north of Europe) using maps and Google Earth using the Automated Identification System (AIS). Interestingly, VesselTracker are using Virtual Earth for the 2D maps, but Google Earth for the 3D maps. Thanks to a tip from GmapsMania. Try a free version in GE (24 hour delay).

• Antarctic Bases - Google's recent imagery update includes some high resolution photos of portion of Antarctica. Stefan Geens found a KML collection of placemarks for all antarctic bases (via this site). Many, but not all, appear in the new high res photos.

• Egyptian Digs - OgleEarth reports about a LiveScience article on how satellite photos are helping Egyptian archaeologists to find new dig sites. OgleEarth notes that satellite photos are helping make many kinds of scientific discoveries.

• 3D Cities Help - The Google Lat Long blog has posted about a new 3D Warehouse "Help Model a City" feature. The intent is to help foster a community based approach to creating 3D models of buildings in cities around the world.

• Chimps - Jane Goodall's Gombe Chimpanzee blog has released a new site design. It's appropriate that the first blog which used Google Earth initially as the only way to view blog entries is now supporting GeoRSS (geotagged RSS). They are also now supporting Google Maps for viewing entries, and are using a new blogging tool called EarthWatchr. via OgleEarth.

• Gallery - The new Google Earth Gallery has been updated with new entries. You can also install a Gallery Gadget for your iGoogle page. My favorite new entry is the collection of placemarks showing the life of Neil Armstrong (first man to walk on the moon).

Posted by FrankTaylor at 07:42 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 05, 2007

Google Transit in Google Earth

Google Transit is a Google Labs project whose objective is to provide information on public transportation schedules and routes in order to encourage better use of this mode of transportation. Currently available in over a dozen cities, and including most of Japan's regional and national air and rail system and ferries, this is already an ambitious project. I just discovered that some of this information has apparently been available in Google Earth for some time. If you open the Layers folder for "Transportation" there is a "Transit" sublayer. If you turn the Transit layer on and visit one of the cities listed on the Google Transit site (e.g. San Diego, Seattle, Austin, Pittsburgh, Portland, Honolulu, ...), you will see the routes for public transportation. If you zoom in closer you even see the bus stops, and links in the description will take you to the web site of the public transportation web site for that city.

What would be really cool is to fully link the ability to get real-time information. Check out the Google LatLong blog (the official Google blog for the Geo products Maps and Earth), which says that in some of the supported cities in Google Maps (not in Google Earth yet) they will tell you the next departure times for a specific bus stop! Try this in this map of Zurich for example (click on the little bus icons, then "View upcoming departures"). You can also search for specific bus stops like this "59th St - Columbus Circle Station, new york" (this works in GE too).

Apparently details about this support came from Googler Thomas Fly during a presentation some time ago. I'm surprised I hadn't noticed it. via GoogleOperatingSystem blog. More information at WorldChanging.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 10:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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More entries for this category:

6. ChartGeek - Sectional Maps for Pilots in Google Earth - May 28, 2007
7. News Roundup - GeoCommons, AC3D, LaudonTech Maps, MacFamilyTree - May 23, 2007
8. More Roads, POI, 3D Buildings in Google Earth - April 12, 2007
9. News Roundup: Amsterdam Google GeoDay, Google LitTrips, US Capitol - March 30, 2007
10. Traditional Advertising Gets Boost in 3D Google Earth - March 27, 2007
11. Google Earth Classified Ads by Safarri - March 26, 2007
12. Movie Making Information for 300 in Google Earth - March 20, 2007
13. gCensus - US Census Data for Google Earth - March 14, 2007
14. Lloyd's Using Google Earth for Insurance Visualizations - March 12, 2007
15. Major Layer Update for Google Earth - March 10th - March 10, 2007
16. News Roundup: Google Earth Resume/CV, Google Maps Interface to BMW cars - March 07, 2007
17. News Roundup - Tax Collector, Google Federal, Virtual Worlds Conference - February 28, 2007
18. World Oil Consumption - 3D Charts in Google Earth - February 27, 2007
19. FedEx Pilots "Smart" Tracking with Google Earth - February 23, 2007
20. Google Earth Advertising Gets More Credibility - February 21, 2007
21. News Roundup - India Censorship, SightSeer, Plazes, Education - February 05, 2007
22. Update to Ads in Google Earth/Maps - February 02, 2007
23. Shape2Earth - GIS Data to Google Earth - January 29, 2007
24. Dutch KLM Releases Air Fare Finder in Google Earth - January 24, 2007
25. News roundup: Google vs. Microsoft, 3D San Jose, Endurance, Weather, Off the Map - January 23, 2007
26. Google Announces Aerial Photo Shoot for Australia Day - January 26 - January 22, 2007
27. Google Earth Layers - January 11, 2007
28. SpaceNavigator Works on Mac OS X - January 09, 2007
29. News Roundup: GlobeXplorer Acquired by Digital Globe, Conferences, Google Telescope - January 08, 2007
30. Mars Sucks - A Game for Google Earth - December 29, 2006
31. Amazing Implementation of Marine Charts for Google Earth - December 21, 2006
32. NASA and Google Sign "Space Act Agreement" - December 18, 2006
33. Trulia Adds Google Earth for Real Estate Searches - December 05, 2006
34. Exciting New "3D Mouse" for Google Earth - The SpaceNavigator - November 27, 2006
35. Exclusive Economic Zones in Google Earth - November 24, 2006
36. Satellite Photo of KFC Logo and Viral Marketing Scheme - November 17, 2006
37. CBS News Does Google Earth - November 09, 2006
38. Baseball, 3D Stadiums, Videos, and Google Earth - November 02, 2006
39. Cape Town Travel Guide for Google Earth - October 31, 2006
40. Spanish Architecture Project in 3D by Tagzania - October 27, 2006
41. Live Flight Sales and Driving Tips with Google Earth - October 26, 2006
42. James Bond DVD Promotion Using Google Earth - October 20, 2006
43. News Roundup - October 09, 2006
44. Google Earth Enterprise in Oil and Gas Industry - October 03, 2006
45. Ad Campaign for Saturn Aura Uses Google Earth - September 26, 2006
46. Google Earth Las Vegas - September 22, 2006
47. Roundup - Pillows, redtrails, earthpoint, Robogeo 5, libferris, virtual land rush - September 20, 2006
48. Anousheh Ansari Blasts off to Space - September 18, 2006
49. Interview With Michael Jones - Google Earth Chief Technology Officer - September 14, 2006
50. Huge New Layers Update in Google Earth - September 13 - September 13, 2006
51. "Prison Break" on Google Earth - September 11, 2006
52. CBS News Does Google Earth - Missing Last Step - September 08, 2006
53. British Airways Uses Google Earth to Improve Online Sales - September 01, 2006
54. Turnhere.com - Videos About Places - August 15, 2006
55. Campus Maps with 3D Buildings in Google Earth - August 14, 2006
56. Music Group Audioslave Uses Google Earth for Promotion - August 04, 2006
57. Vancouver in 3D for Google Earth - July 21, 2006
58. Weather Symbols in Google Earth - July 18, 2006
59. News Roundup - July 15, 2006
60. Magnalox Provides Live Tracking Interface for Google Earth - July 07, 2006
61. 1000 Pizzas Publicity Stunt Using Google Earth - June 28, 2006
62. Win a Free Trip from Surfing Magazine by Using Google Earth - June 21, 2006
63. RoboGEO - Simplifying Georeferencing of Photos - June 10, 2006
64. Digital Camera Illustrates Camera Shot with Google Earth - June 04, 2006
65. Forbes Magazine Article - Maps Mania - June 03, 2006
66. Pin in the Map - Keep it Simple - May 30, 2006
67. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Points of Interest in Google Earth - May 26, 2006
68. See More Recent Aerial Photos in Google Earth - May 22, 2006
69. Google Earth Business - May 21, 2006
70. Da Vinci Code Tour in Google Earth - May 17, 2006
71. Ads in Google Earth - May 10, 2006
72. Gulf Impact - Analysis of Damage to Oil/Gas Industry from Hurricanes - May 09, 2006
73. Win a Mazda CX-7 in a Sweepstakes Contest in Google Earth - May 01, 2006
74. Mission Impossible III Promotion with Google Earth - April 28, 2006
75. TheCity Local - Google Earth Dating Service - April 26, 2006
76. City of Bergen Norway Makes Smart Business Move in Google Earth - April 10, 2006
77. Honda Releases Traffic System in Japan for Google Earth - April 04, 2006
78. Apple iPod Ad in Google Earth? - March 27, 2006
79. Business and Google Earth in Information Week - March 22, 2006
80. Track "Amazing Race" TV Show in Google Earth - March 20, 2006
81. Google Earth E-mail Signature - March 14, 2006
82. Bed and Breakfast Locations in Google Earth - March 06, 2006
83. Here Comes the Oscars - March 05, 2006
84. Eye in the Sky Advertising - March 04, 2006
85. EarthPoint - Real Estate Listings with some GIS - March 03, 2006
86. Arc2Earth Released - March 01, 2006
87. Giant Frog Attacks Chicago - February 17, 2006
88. Visualizing Controversial New Buildings in New York in Google Earth - February 06, 2006
89. CNET Superbowl Guessing Game in Google Earth - February 02, 2006
90. Win a Fiat Sedici in Google Earth - February 01, 2006
91. South American Trade in Google Earth - January 27, 2006
92. Sundance Film Festival "Event Map" in Google Earth - January 24, 2006
93. KMLer for Converting ArcGIS for Google Earth - January 19, 2006
94. Real Estate for Google Earth by Re/Max - Again! - January 14, 2006
95. Top 500 Hotels in Google Earth - Travel + Leisure Magazine - December 28, 2005
96. Adidas Promotion Uses Google Earth - December 27, 2005
97. Company Specializes in Google Earth/Maps Services - November 28, 2005
98. Ski Resorts and Snow Reports in Google Earth - November 21, 2005
99. Everything You Wanted to Know About Singapore - November 12, 2005
100. Example of Google Earth Ad - November 08, 2005
101. EarthBooker - 80,000 Hotels in Google Earth - November 07, 2005
102. Real Estate Interest in Google Earth Grows - November 01, 2005
103. NewsGlobe a Geographic Locator for News - October 06, 2005
104. Cruise Ship Positions and Web Cams - October 05, 2005
105. Garmin Buys MotionBased - October 04, 2005
106. ~12 Million Google Earth downloads? Where's Mac/Linux Versions? - September 30, 2005
107. Google Helps NASA - September 29, 2005
108. Making Money with Google Earth - September 28, 2005
109. Security and Privacy Concerns and Google Earth - September 13, 2005
110. City of Portland GIS Adds 3D Buildings - September 03, 2005
111. Business Opportunities and Google Earth - August 30, 2005
112. Real Estate Done Google Earth Style - August 29, 2005
113. ABC Primetime Uses Google Earth - August 26, 2005
114. City of Portland GIS - August 25, 2005
115. EarthPlot - Commercial Software - August 23, 2005

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