I think I shared a video of the Parrot Augmented Reality Drone from CES a while back. It appears to have made a comback for Where 2.0. I was a bit skeptical at first but this thing is making my Geek sense tingle. I want one. Hmm.. what about using it with an iPad?
Mashable is reporting a rumor about Google creating their own smartphone device. This rumor is very interesting in light of some recent moves by Google to streamline it's geolocation services though eliminating street routing vendors teleatlas and navtec. Google recently shook up the geospatial industry by integrating parcels and streetview data to create their own geocoding engine. This change paved the way for Google to create it's own turn-by-turn navigation systems.
That move might have left apple as one of the remaining gatekeepers for geolocation and the mobile web. The iPhone is the most successful mobile platform at the moment and is probably the chief gateway for users to access Googles offerings. If the rumor proves true it could suggest that Google wants to cut out all the middlemen to reach the coveted local search/advertising market. A device subsidized by advertising could pose a real threat to smartphone manufacturers like Apple.
Apple recently formed it's own geospatial development team after acquiring placebase.com. It will be very interesting to see how apple might react to a new google branded smartphone.
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Google Maps Now Uses Their Own Map Data
Layar is an interesting addition to the augmented reality apps available for the iPhone. The integration of twitter and wikipedia provide a powerful framework for local activities and businesses to create a augmented reality presence. Location based online local advertising is a big deal because it is (for now) a largely untapped market.
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Justin Houk
I'm just this guy on the interwebs! Keeping it real. I'm interested in leveraging old and new internet technology to connect and forge high value relationships, change government, and help people find a voice (not voices in their heads). I'm a Geospatial Geek in the Portland area. I speak my own opinions and I'm working on leaving the porch light on for visitors. I'm a firm believer in doing as much good as I can before inevitably turning to the dark side.
Justin Houk's Curated info stream on government 2.0, citizen 2.0, and community. Geolocation and Shiney things too!
