An interesting Salesforce add-on (free) developed to map your salesforce contacts using ArcGIS Online – details first provided via a Twitter tip from @lindahecht (of #Esri) – see more at http://ow.ly/3wFir
Archives for December 2010
Mashing Up My Social Media Location data from foursquare, Brightkite, and Flickr with GeoCommons
A few days ago I shared details of a cool service enabling foursquare users to visualize their checkins and display their historical data – see the piece here. Well, another awesome application that enables you to share and display your social media data (think photos, checkins etc…) comes from the GeoCommons service. GeoCommons not only provides users with the platform to easily create and share custom maps, but you can also complement your data with a variety of basemap data (think OSM, Bing, Esri etc…) and mashup your data with other user contributed data layers containing a wealth of socio, economic, and physical data and attributes.
As social media services become more prevalent, something the end user needs to keep in mind is if his/her data is made available for further use, mashup, and sharing. Believe me, there’s nothing more disappointing than using a service to upload and share all your photos, only to find out that you have no archive of your history available or not even an RSS or, even better, a GeoRSS feed available – this is one reason why Flickr (Pro) has long been my favorite resource for archiving my photos. Using GeoCommons I can easily share details of some of my social media checkins thanks to the handy tools that they provide. I recently created a map used to visualize my checkin history over time. Not only is the data displayed in a customizable map but I can also mashup and share my history from services like foursquare, Brightkite (now defunct), and Flickr – I’m sure I could add more services as well if I spent a little more time and effort on this. See below for a map with an animated time series tool that will show you my checkins and photos over the past couple of years… quite fine! Best of all, GeoComms tools enable me to keep adding to and editing the map and I can easily share and embed my map where I want, like right here on the blog. A perfect addition to this map might be the addition of my geolocated Tweets… I’ll have to look closer at how to add that data! What’s very cool about the map below is that you can easily move around the legend and tools.. also, for a cool effect, zoom into Northern Colorado where many data points are dropped… Link directly to the map here or view below…
iPhone Apps for the GIS Professional and Enterprise “Power” user
The iPhone and iOS development environment has come on strong indeed, however, it’s not only about Angry Birds, Social media clients, and mobile farting apps! There’s a number of powerful, enterprise-scale apps available as well as many apps that are developed specifically for the enterprise user and GIS/mapping professional. In this year-end round-up I feature a number of powerful apps that got my attention in 2010 many of which are useful in the daily routine of many GIS professionals providing functionality like GIS data collection and editing, mobile field asset solutions, managing data in common GIS formats including Geospatial PDF – most of them are free! See solutions from Esri, Cloudmade, Autodesk, Avenza Systems, and more. See HERE for details of these fine iOS apps that got our attention in 2010.
AOL Opens up Mapquest to the crowd via open.mapquest – the Living Map!
In case you missed this prior to all the pre-Christmas hype and hooplah, Mapquest quietly rolled out their US version of the OSM driven map service via Open.MapQuest.com. Built on the OpenStreetMap (OSM) base, the site enables all MapQuest users to play an active role in the development and growth of the mapping service. This via the press announcement… “the open site employs a ‘neighborhood watch’ idea, encouraging individuals to take ownership of their localities and make the map reflective of the world around them”.
About Open.Mapquest – Open.MapQuest.com is a “living map,” improved by consumers who can easily add content and details that make the map more specific and useful. Contributors become owners of their communities on the map with easy-to-use tools that are seamlessly integrated: the soccer mom can add a parking lot that was missing or hard to find; the businessperson can add his new office or even a new development; and an avid hiker can incorporate her favorite trails. Map updates sync every 15 minutes and can be routed to within 24 hours. See Open.MapQuest.com
Users of the service can save and create maps to their “my maps”, demonstration seen below. Additionally, once you save a map you can “like” it and share via facebook, grab the embed code, or send the map details to a Garmin GPS
New, Web-Based 30-Day Trial for AutoCAD LT 2011
We all love freebies… here’s a handy, free trial from Autodesk. Autodesk has recently announced the availability of a completely online, free, 30-day trial for AutoCAD LT 2011 software. The online trial provides users with fast access to AutoCAD LT 2011 so they can evaluate and test the software prior to purchasing. This alternative to the full trial download requires only the installation of a small player, and gives users access to the full version of AutoCAD LT 2011 hosted completely online. The trial enables users to save and access files on their own computers. The new downloadable AutoCAD LT 2011 30-day trial is now available at www.autodesk.com/autocadlt.
Changes Coming to ArcGIS Online Subscriptions
This via blog post mentioned on the @Esri twitter stream… some changes are coming to the Online subscriptions as of Dec 31, 2010. This from the blog… ArcGIS Online services in Extended Support status will no longer be included in ArcGIS Online for-fee subscriptions on the premium servers (premium.arcgisonline.com) as of December 31, 1010. However, you will be able to access the older services for some time as no-cost standard ArcGIS Online services. See more on the blog and see also this detailed document The ArcGIS Online Services Support Status [PDF]
iPhone App + Sensor Web = Parking Space Finder for L.A Residents
A cool idea for the mobile user as the Parker for iPhone App gives drivers a faster and more convenient way to find parking spaces and nearby garages. The Parker for iPhone App features a simple interface that gives users an instant, location-based map pinpointing the city blocks with the most available parking spaces. Users can see which blocks have: more than four, more than two or less two spots; as well as blocks with “rock star” parking – the areas closest with the most open spaces. The app also delivers information about parking space time limits, pricing, and whether meters take credit cards or coins. It also will direct drivers to the nearest City parking garages as an alternative to street parking. The was developed by StreetlineNetworks – For more information visit: www.streetlinenetworks.com.
Nice use of AR… The Car Finder augmented reality iPhone app
Nice use of AR… The Car Finder augmented reality iPhone app
Originally uploaded by GISuser.com GIS and Social, Mobile Tech Images
There’s no questioning that Augmented Reality (AR) is a hot and up-coming technology – I’m thinking it will be definitely be huge one day in the future with ideal apps emerging in local government, tourism, real estate, and other hot sectors. Once developer has rolled out a simple AR app that enables iPhone users to locate their parked car using AR – enter AR: Augmented Car Finder by AugmentedWorks.
The app is pretty simple, the user leaves a mark or way point, identifying his/her car location/parking spot. when it comes time to return simply fire up the app, look through the lense, and get direction and distance information leading you back to your parked car – A nice idea. the app is fine, basic, although in my mind the UI is a little bit cumbersome so reading the instructions is a must, for example, a button option called “Geo Travel” really doesn’t mean anything to me nor do I have a clue what to do with it. A nice first effort though. See iTunes Shop
my iPhone App FlickrSlidr – Sharing Some Innovative mobile Apps
I share loads of screen caps and images of interesting mobile apps that readers and developers share with me. The following is a fun slideshow (FlickrSlidr) showing off some of the fine mobile apps that I’ve featured or boasted about over the past year… enjoy!
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
iPhone app tip – foursquare Venue Map
iPhone app tip – Venue Map
Originally uploaded by GISuser.com GIS and Social, Mobile Tech Images
Venue Map is a fun, simple mobile app that enables users to access details of nearby foursquare venues. Simple in concept, the app is a great way to determine what places are interested in offering customers deals and special offers via social checkin. Power up the app with location enabled, you’ll soon see icons showing venues that are nearby. Click on the icon to view the venue’s foursquare homepage where you can then easily see tips, contact information and more… quite handy really! See Venue Map in iTunes Shop