What is special about Geospatial?

In Youtube now you can also search for videos from a special region or location. To use local search you can enter the name of one location in the search box of YouTube. In most cases there appear a small map with 3 videos form the local search linking to an map interface. If you cannot see this map on the search results you have to specify the location in the advanced search.

The local search uses a Google Maps which is located directly above the search results. The maker and the buffer (as red circle) shows the region where videos are searched. One drawback until now that there is no direct linking between the search results and the map.

The marker in the map can be changed to search for another region.

[via GWB]

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

EveryScape is a web service similar to Google StreetView but it allows also indoor navigation. Therefore it is possible to navigate though the streets of an city and go inside buildings along the city. Of course only public buildings are recorded.

EveryScape uses Adobe Flash technology for visualisation.

“EveryScape’s patented HyperMedia Technology Platform allows anyone with a browser to experience a first-person, eye-level walk down a scaped street, gathering and sharing information on businesses and attractions, entering a store and shopping, checking the menu and reviews of a restaurant or the upcoming performances of a theater.”

United States

• Aspen, CO
• Beverly Hills, CA
• Boston, MA
• Breckenridge, CO
• Cambridge, MA
• Laguna Beach, CA
• Lexington, MA
• Miami, FL
• New York, NY
• Philadelphia, PA
• San Francisco, CA
• Snowmass Village, CO
• Steamboat Springs, CO
• Washington, DC

China

• Beijing, China

Poland

• Krakow, Poland

Will the second iPhone Generation come with an integrated GPS module? The are a lot of rumours about the second iPhone out in the internet for serveral months. Now Engadget writes that the new iPhone has GPS included. I think we will get the answer directly from Mr. Jobs during his keynode at WWDC 2008 in June.

The tend in the mobile phone industry shows the increasing importance of locational services.

[via Engadget]

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

In the beginning of this year Geonames.org has released a new Service called Geotree. This service structure Country information and other spatial information in a tree view, which can be accessed together with a map. Currently (March 2008) version 1.2 is available, including features like CSV Export, different languages, capitals and random view.

All locations can be visualized using major web based base map services like Map24, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, Microsoft, Openlayer, Openstreetmaps, etc.

The service can be seen under http://geotree.geonames.org/

License: Open Source GPLv3

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

Garmin Wednesday night surprised the cellphone industry by taking its own leap into smartphones. The Nuviphone aims both to compete with the iPhone as well as to bring Garmin’s experience with GPS navigation to the forefront. Almost entirely controlled by a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface, the device centers around its native GPS unit: in addition to straightforward navigation, a host of Google apps allow it to search for local businesses, check traffic, and view nearby weather. Any photos or videos taken with the built-in camera are automatically geotagged for positioning in location-based services.

The GPS maker also seeks to improve on areas underserved by its current rival at Apple. In addition to Wi-Fi, the Nuviphone connects to the Internet through a 3G HSDPA connection with AT&T or other worldwide networks. This helps with multi-network instant messaging (including Google) and easy access to GMail, according to the company. It also supports MMS media messaging in addition to SMS texting.

[electronista]

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.