New York to Dublin, as directed by Google Maps
Interesting “glitch” in Google Maps, you can get directions from New York to Dublin.
Link to Image
Direct Link to Google Maps
Gotta love direction step #23 : Swim across the Atlantic Ocean 3,462 mi
I’m 28 today….
…. which makes me officially old !
Damn.
Dublin Pubs & Google Maps Mashup
Oracle 11g
I’ve been beta testing Oracle 11g database since it has been made available (5 months ago) to certain Oracle Certified Partners. This was kicked off with a week long introduction session in San Francisco in November.
Since I work for eSpatial, I was primarily interested in the new Spatial features that are contained with 11g; these are: 3D data & TIN’s (Triangular Irregular Networks) and Spatial Web Services as well as improvements to the GeoRaster and Newtwork data model features.
3D Data & TIN’s
This is a major new feature which looks extremely powerful on first look. It should take a lot of the current complexity out of 3D spatial data analysis and querying. It will allow software companies without hugely complex desktop applications (such as eSpatial) to work with 3D data much easier than would have ever have been previously possible.
Web Services
This is a funny one. In your typical 3-tier architecture (Database -> Application Server -> Client) you would assume that any Web Services would be running in the Application Server, simply configured around the underlying data. However, since this is a database feature, the configuration is a little complex, requiring extra database metadata. Having said that, I believe that this feature would be of use to Oracle Spatial users that do not currently have any OGC Web Services yet implemented. (Which I imagine is a very limited number).
GeoRaster Improvements
The 11g GeoRaster improvements are excellent. Its so much faster than it was in 10g and really gives the feel of a finished product. We’ve loaded entire US GeoRaster datasets into an 11g install, which was running on an under-spec’d PC (768MB RAM & 1GHz processor) and it still performed really well.
I’ve not yet really looked at the Network data model changes, so I cannot comment.
What I also good is that the Spatial Java API (JavaDoc) is now one complete API for all libraries. I did have an issue because these libraries were complied with Java 5, causing them to not work on my existing software installations, and Oracle 11g installed Java 5 as default on your PC anyway, which may prove issues for some developers/deployers, but I’ve requested 1.4 versions of the libraries to be included with the next release.
On the whole, the performance of 11g is extremely good, it feels very solid.
PS3 = the Xbox 360 + £146 in beer money
Interesting Marketing by Microsoft
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=160496&site=cvg
But then again …. Fosters is muck, so I might even be tempted to go for the single bottle of Becks !
Joost
So I’ve got myself a BETA testing account for Joost (http://www.Joost.com) and I gotta say that I’m really impressed with the technology. Its runs taking up 40KB/s –> 70 KB/s of my broadband connection, but here’s the thing … The clarity is perfect, there’s not glitchy jumpy video that we’re used to from Youtube, it really looks well, and the User Interface is also a thing of beauty. Another brilliant feature is that it just starts playing when you select your desired channel, with no “Buffering…” like we’re used to from other sites/services.
I’ve used a lot of P2P TV (Sopcast, PPLive, PPMate & TVants) all of which were very jumpy and took 60KB/s and above.
Joost really could be the breakthrough that Internet TV has been waiting for, but ultimately it depends on what content is put up for viewing. However, I firmly believe that this can be the platform by which the Movie and TV industry can publish their content online.
I think that Zedo from Azeures should learn from this, and adopt a prioritised piece downloading system where it will download consecutive pieces and play while actually downloading (if this has not already bee implemented)
D’Oh !!!
I won a free XBox 360 + 3 games when they were released (in Ireland) over Christmas 2005, and ever since I’ve just had it plugged into the Red, White & Yellow (aka. Composite / C-Video) sockets on the side of my TV, as I wasn’t bothered buying a new HDTV. But I’ve just read a discussion where it was pointed out to me that the SCART connection on my TV would give a better quality image.
D’Oh !!!
Looks like i’ll be buying a SCART switch box, so my PS2 & XBox360 & my DVD player can share the 2nd SCART input on my TV.
Arsenal in white away kit next season ?
Seem unusual alright, I wonder will it transpire ?
