As posted the new GeoEye-1 Satellite, which is sponsored by Google, has send the first satellite image of the earth. It shows the area of the Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, USA.
The purpose of the Earth-Imaging-Satellite is to sell pictures for customers around the world. The full resolution will not be used because of legal issues. Google will use these images with a maximal resolution of 50cm/pixel.
The GeoEye-1 proves the trend that Earth-Imaging-Satellites become more and more interesting for private companies not only for national agencies. For the year 2011 or 2012 it is planned to launch a further satellite, which allows resolutions of about 25 centimeters per pixel. The question is only who will use these data - and which (private) information can be retrieved.
A new plug-in for the web browser FireFox allows to localize the user, which could bring a lot of new opportunities (and fears). “Geode“, the name of the plug-in, is currently for testing and should later be integrated in Firefox version 3.1. If you allow websites or web services to read your geographical position this information can be integrated into the service. There are some similarities to “Loki” a technology by Skyhook, which tries to identify the position of a computer using a wireless networks.
This technique can be used not only for intelligent map services but also for localised news services, security enhanced logins, etc. For example, RSS-Feeds can change their content in case of different location (e.g. Office, Home).
The Geolocation Specification by the W3C can be used for designing such services.
The first Andoid phone was officially announced by Google, HTC and T-mobile. There was not really a “WOW” effect during the presentation. The design is well known from the first Android presentations and the features could have been expected.
Here a small list of facts:
- Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7201A™, 528 MHz
- Memory: 256 MB ROM, 192 MB RAM
- Dimensions: (LxWxT) 117.7 mm x 55.7 mm x 17.1 mm
- Weight: 158 grams (5.57 ounces) with battery
- Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320 x 480 (HVGA) resolution
- Network: HSDPA/WCDMA, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- Device Control Trackball with Enter button
- Keyboard: Slide-out 5-row QWERTY keyboard
- GPS: GPS navigation capability with built-in GPS receiver and map software
- Connectivity: Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11b/g, HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)
- Camera: 3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus
- Audio: Built-in microphone and speaker
- Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, Capacity: 1150 mAh
- Expansion Slot: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
- Special Features: Digital Compass, Motion Sensor
Some Drawbacks:
- No syncronisation possible with your PC
- You have to provide your data to Google
- No support for Microsoft Exchange Server
- It is not possible to handle multiple Google Accounts
- Except Youtube clips it is not possible to play other video formats.
- No standard 2.5 inch earphone jack (only via USB).
- No big internal storage.
- Online music from Amazon can be downloaded only via WLAN and not via UMTS (3G).
- Text can be entered only via the QERTY keyboard and not on the touch screen.
But beside all this drawbacks the good thing is that Android is open-source and all software based drawbacks will be eliminated by the community soon.
I’ve already posted that Google together with GeoEye will launch a new Satellite for Google Earth and Google Maps images. The so called “GeoEye-1” satellite will take photos with a resolution of 0.41 cm / pixel. In the following pictures you can see the difference between a image with 100cm/px reolution and a picutre with 41cm/px.
100cm/px
41cm/px
On the GeoEye Website you can watch the lauch of the satellity on video.
Many have thought as much that in the future Google will launch own satellites into the space. Google doesn’t want to buy only third party satellite images any more. Their geographic services Google Maps and Google Earth should include also imagery from their own satellites. Google has a partnership with GeoEye and they will shoot the first satellite into space.
It can be assumed that satellite maps will become more accurate and up to date. Currently satellite images in Google Maps and Google Earth are approximately 2-3 years sometimes 5-6 years old. For Google this is not acceptable any longer.The new satellite should provide Google permanently with new photos form the earth. In only one day an area with the size of Poland should be photographed with a resolution of 40 cm. It’s not know how much Google has invested in this project but it can be assumed that Google will be the only map provider, which will use this data.
The 2 tons heavy satellity will be launched next thursday from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It will orbit the earth in 680 km height and will take photos with an resolution of 40cm/Pixel. For privacy reasons Google will only use 50cm/pixel reolution.
[via GWB]
100cm/px
41cm/px
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