Posts Tagged ‘Maps’

  • 05 Feb

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Google Maps with Multi-touch available in the Market

    0

    Recently the new version of Google Maps show up in the Android Market and asks for an update. The current version is called 3.4 and includes Multi-touch as amazing new feature for Map navigation. Now it is really convenient to browse the map using following functions and gestures:

    • double tap to zoom in
    • +/- buttons for zoom in and out
    • tap & move for pan
    • 2 finger pinch for zooming

    Multi-touch should work on all devices. So not only on the Nexus One or Motorola Droid/Milestone but also on older devices such as Samsung Galaxy, HTC Magic, HTC G1 or HTC Hero (at least with custom Roms).

    This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

    It really seems Google will no longer consider Apples “claim” for Multi-touch. In the near future it is expected that Google and 3rd party developers of Android will provide a lot of apps with Multi-touch capabilities (some examples like the browser are seen in the video). Reasons for buying an iPhone are smelting like snow in the sun.

    Other new features for Android Maps are extended Lab functions. Following “experimental” functions are available:

    • Map scale
    • Terrain view
    • Favorite categories
    • Button for switching themes
    • Direction arrow for current position
    • Traffic layer including lables
    • Button for my location
    • Address info buttons
    • Directions and distance
    • Measurement tool

    With the new version it should be also possible to use your Google My Maps Account.

  • 21 Sep

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Google switched completely to TeleAtlas

    2

    Google switched their underlying map data to TeleAtlas for their whole branch of products. Now Google Earth, Google Maps, Local Search and Google’s mobile solution using Teleatlas for their underlying data. Many see this as logical step after the acquisition of Navtech by Nokia. Recently there where some differences in locations when you ask for them in two different products (e.g. Google Maps and Google Maps API). This should now be unified.

    Map Errors can be reported:

    With the “Edit” functionality the users have the possibility to correct mapping errors (http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=68474#modify). but Google also encourage people to report errors directly to Teleatlas using following link: http://www.teleatlas.com/ForConsumers/MapFeedback/index.htm

    Information to Teleatlas:

    TeleAtlas was founded in 1984 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TomTom. The headquarter is in Ghent, Belgium and by 2007 about 1900 employees are working at TeleAtlas. The total revenue is more than 300 mio. Euros. Official Homepage: www.teleatlas.com

    [via spatiallyadjusted]

  • 24 Jul

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Finding Addresses in Austria

    0

    I have tried to compare the big three search engines, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Live in their functionality and usability for finding address locations. Address Geocoding is an important field of the GeoWeb and should be not problem for these three companies, but during the test I identified enormous deficits or a complete lack of these functionality.

    Test address was: Europastrasse 4, 9500 Villach, Austria. This information should be more than enough to visualize the exact location on the map.

    Lets Start with Microsoft Live Search. In my test this service completely fails. First of all if you try to enter the address in the search box of the ordinary Web Search you get some results which may be related to the address but it was not checked that the entered string represents an address (complete lack of semantics). Therefore, I changed to maps.live.com, to see if I can locate my address here. First of all you have to change the mode from the default (businesses) to locations. Then I entered the address to search. The results displays the map near Villach but far away from the correct location. Live maps do not have address geocoding for Austria. Hence, it cannot be recommended to search for Austria addresses.

    The next service I tested was Yahoo Local Maps. Similar like Live Search it was not possible to visualize the address from the normal web search. In the Yahoo Local Maps mode it is possible to enter the address in the search field. The result does not perfectly fit but it is close. Additional you get a hint that the exact address cannot be found but the nearest address is visualised. In this case much better than Microsoft Live Search.

    At least I tested the market leader Google. And it is the test winner of my small experiment. By entering the address as search string the first result is a small map, which visualizes the exact location of the address. From this small view you can directly change to Google Maps. Of course also Google Maps locate the address without any problems through the search box.

    So try it for yourself and tell me your Experiences.

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

  • 07 Jul

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Google Maps with voice search

    0

    Typing on a mobile device my be very cumbersome. Google also recognized this disadvantage and provide a voice search for Google Maps for mobile devices. They give a short tutorial how to do voice search. unfortunately it is only available for some blackbarry phones, but I assume it the service is accepted by the user, more phones will be supported.

    But how it is written on the site?

    “Using your voice is optional. You can always type your searches as usual.”

    [via: http://www.google.com/mobile/blackberry/maps/voicesearch.html]

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

  • 27 Jun

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Nokia Maps for Desktop?

    0

    Nokia is planning opening up Nokia Maps for the Desktop and synchronizing information between desktop and mobile phone. Therefore they are working on a browser frontend for their maps and navigation service Nokia Maps, which is optimized for the PC. The user should be able to plan a route on the PC and is shown the information on the mobile after synchronizing. I can be assumed that Nokia Maps will be embedded into the Ovi-platform. Currently the product is under development and will not be available before fall 2008.

    In general it can be said that Nokia make a lot of effort providing geospatial solution for the mobile world. Nokia has announced to deliver 35 to 40 million mobiles, which have built-in GPS chips.

    [via: golem.de]

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

  • 27 May

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Satellite Images: Austria in HD

    0

    Searching the own home place with Google Earth or Google Maps is definitively one of the most popular activities for many users. “Geoimage-Austria” has provided Google with new imagery for Burgenland, Upper Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg. All data is older than one year, but it should be possible to recognize an object with the size of an football.

    Until 2009 a new, updated image is planned, which covers whole Austria.

    Sample: Villach (this is older data, but also high resolution)

    [via derStandard]

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

  • 14 May

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Follow Where 2.0

    0

    There are already some videos about Where 2.0 conference online. To view these go to: http://where.blip.tv

    One very interesting talk is from Adrian Holovaty, who was talking about: “Everyblock: A Newsfeed for your Block”.

    In the end of his presentation he encuraged the audience: “Roll your own maps”. With standard maps like Google Maps, Yahoo Maps you get a lot of stuff but maybe you don’t really need this for your own map application. Additional you have no contol over:

    • color
    • fonts
    • text size
    • behavior over zoom levels
    • road widths
    • languages

    of your maps. If you publishing a website you maybe use templates but you want to have full control to design you own cooperative identity. Why do we accept ‘no control’ for our maps? Personalisation become increasingly importance – also for maps. Therefore I thik this will change.

    Further details on this topic: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/takecontrolofyourmaps

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

  • 13 May

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Face-blurring in StreetView

    2

    Google has recently updated their StreetView data for Manhatten. Beside some improvements in image quality, Google has implemented automatic face-blurring technology.  Form the screenshot you can see that it works really nice. It blurs the faces, but doesn’t detract too much from the imagery. Here is the quote form the official Australian Google Blog:

    At Google, we take our users’ privacy very seriously. Street View only contains imagery that anyone can already see walking down a public street and we’ve always had in place image removal tools. In addition, today, on the Google LatLong blog, we have just announced the first public test of our new face-blurring technology on the busy streets of Manhattan. This effort has been a year in the making – and we will continue to work hard to improve it as we roll it out for our existing and future imagery. Here’s an example from the bustling streets of Manhattan:

    In Australia (and New Zealand), Street View will also feature face-blurring, as well as image removal tools.

    This new technology indicates that Google is working on technologies to fullfill the legal requirements to introduce StreetView in Europe as well. I think StreetView Europe is comming soon…

    [via GWB, google-au.blogspot.com]

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

  • 29 Apr

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Streetview & Driving Directions

    0

    Today Google has integrated Streetview in Google Maps routing. If you generate a routing inside a city with Streetview you can see a camera. With a click on this camera a Streetview window is comming up where the street scene of the position is shown.

    You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

    Example

    [via GWB]

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

  • 14 Apr

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Google Maps offline for iPhone

    25

    Google Maps are one of the most useful applications for mobile devices. Google Maps is relatively fast and easy to use. Apple has preinstalled an Google Maps application on their iPhone. For all people, who do not have a flat-rate contract with their provider and want to have full benefit of Google Maps, there is an nice little Tool called “Maps Offline” where you can download parts of Google Maps data for your iPhone.

    Maps

    The tool can be installed on the iPhone easily (only the Jiggy Framework is needed. Once installed, the users can download maps about various areas. The size of these areas only depending on the iPhone memory itself. In some cases this could be very useful, considering that the city area of Berlin requires 100 MB for the satellite photograph and 40 MB for the map.

    Personally, I cannot varify this information because I’m not an owner of an iPhone. Maybe someone can give feedback on this.

    » Maps Offline downloaden

    [via GWB]

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

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