This is "Mapnificent"

The idea being that you can figure out, for example, which neighborhoods would be within a 30-minute commute of your workplace.

Mapnificent is a net tool that shows the area that can be reached by walking or public transit from a given point.

The video below explains how it works. Thanks to Andrew Sullivan.

And more, if you liked Mapnificient, I’m sure you'll love http://old.isokron.com

It is only operating for Paris and another French city, but the color coding is nice and the feature finding the best points for two people to meet is very useful.

 

Solar storm could cause GPS disruptions in the US area

If you're having trouble getting a GPS signal this week, it could be due to solar storms.

There were three large explosions from the sun occurring over the past few days. The magnetic storms that these explosions cause can significantly disrupt power grids, satellite signals, and telephone communications.

In 1989, a solar storm caused the entire city of Quebec, Canada to lose power for several hours. The recent solar activity is not expected to cause disruptions of that magnitude, but starting next year and continuing into 2013, there will be a major increase in solar storms that could cause up to $2 trillion in damages.

The last time the planet saw a similar activity was in 1859, so there is no modern precedent to guess what the potential impact might be on a modern industrial society.

Read the full article from Reuters to find out more about the recent solar activity and the impact it could have on GPS users.

Use Junctions to view your social content on a map

Over the years we've seen a few services that help to put your social activities into Google Earth, but none that have done a very effective job of it. That's where Junctions (jnctns.com) comes in, with a very innovative iPhone app that can help build maps of your social actions.

The service automatically builds "exMaps" (experience maps), which are 3D interactive maps of your social activity. Real-world interactions are noted in exMaps as crossable intersections called "junctions". Users can dynamically browse all content based on location, time and/or people.

For now, the system requires that you use their iPhone app, but that will be changing in the future. Soon you'll be able to add tweets to it with the #exMap hashtag, and they have other plans in mind as well. Personally, I'd love to be able to just feed it my full Twitter and FourSquare accounts and let it just parse the data from them. It seems like this is the direction they're heading, so it'll be fun to watch them progress.

To try it for yourself you can visit their website, which includes a sample exMap that you can play with, and you can download their free iPhone app here.

For more, check out the video below:

http://vimeo.com/23781930

GPS Fleet Tracking and Overcoming Employee Friction

GPS fleet tracking puts you ahead of your competition. Fleet tracking solutions are a new way for businesses to cut costs and improve efficiencies with remote resources. It’s quite simple really; these solutions work by providing you (the manager) with real time information about your vehicles. Whether your business is looking to develop reporting transparency on its external resources or simply optimize fleet routes, GPS tracking solutions can help.

However, it’s often not that simple. While fleet tracking software provides numerous benefits for your business, you may need to convince your employees it can help them too. They may initially feel intimidated by a technology that monitors their every move; but you need to help them understand that fleet tracking technology isn’t to micro-manage; it’s to help improve efficiencies for both parties.
Overcoming Obstacles
On the back end, there are little downsides to fleet management, according to an Aberdeen study; businesses found a 21% reduction in operating costs per vehicle with fleet management software. However, for businesses to get these advantages, you need to make sure your employees understand (A.) how to use your solution, and (B.) how they can benefit from these tools.
How the system works
The first step in helping employees understand your solutions is to be honest and forthright in your decision. Explain to your employees the process of, how and what the system tracks. The fleet management system will engage when the car is turned on and it will track the vehicles location and route. The information then will be reported back to you, where you will attempt to determine what changes can be made.
How employees benefit from these tools
One of the most important steps to implementing a fleet management solution is overcoming the fact that no one really likes the idea of being constantly watched. Counter this by making sure your employees understand how fleet tracking solutions can improve their jobs:

• More transparent job performance review. Better possibility for standing out for superior work
• No discrepancy with time and attendance systems. Your employees will never be paid less than the actual amount of hours worked.
• Less risk for accusations. There is a famous story of a Nevada driver who had been accused of causing an accident; when he was cleared from the charges by providing the fleet tracking information that he was nowhere near the accident.
• Potential to work less hours. Improving routes can mean that your employees have the ability to work fewer hours if they so desire. This could sometimes save them from the dreaded 2am routes.

You should know that your employees who resist the technology are likely the least productive workers. With GPS fleet tracking, your drivers who consistently outperform are the one who will shine. Some businesses are even finding that creating incentives to allow drivers to retain a fraction of the savings helps them embrace the technology better. Whatever you do, be prepared to answer questions. GPS fleet technology may have a bit of a barrier to entry, but it well worth the extra costs associated once it is up and running.

Building outlines now appearing in most world cities

A new feature to support your walking around in the area, at least you should know whether to expect low buildings, skyscrapers, or some cool architecture!

Since early 2007, Google Maps has made maps more lifelike by showing 3D building outlines when zoomed into cities.

Then the release of Google Maps 5.0 for Android ushered in the next-generation of mobile maps where you can rotate, tilt, and zoom in and out of 3D maps on a mobile device.

3D buildings are available in different world cities as London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Singapore and Lisbon.

These buildings will appear in both Google Maps and Google Maps for mobile.

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

GPS-Location Tracker App For iPhone

GPS-Location Tracker app for iPhone is another “easy to use” app for iOS users.

The app works worldwide and it uses real time location services to provide accurate data delivering your exact location.

Among the different features:

-         copy the coordinates;

-          send to SMS, Email, Facebook and Twitter;

Demo video below:

or download the app clicking here for 0.99$

Free GPS Navigation for Android – Google Maps

Google introduced a free, turn-by-turn GPS navigation application for the new Android 2.0 smart phone platform.

Google’s announcement for its Google Maps GPS Navigation is:

 

This new feature comes with everything you’d expect to find in a GPS navigation system, like 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting. But unlike most navigation systems, Google Maps Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of your phone’s Internet connection.

Some of the features included in the application:

- Up-to-date map data: Automatically includes latest map data from Google, which is constantly being refined by Google and by users submitting corrections

- Plain English search: Locate destinations by entering business name or landmark; no address needed

- Voice search: Speak destinations and Google Maps Navigation will automatically interpret and plot routes

- Live traffic data: Indicator warns of upcoming traffic issues

- Search along route: Find businesses along path of travel

- Satellite view: 3D view of route to aid in understanding directions

- Street View: first-person perspective of route and destination images

Demo video from Google

 

And a the demo video of Samsung Galaxy S II (S2) GPS Google Navigation & Google Maps Test.

 

 

Welcome to “all about MAPS and GPS”

Now that you have found this blog, I hope you will find this friendly and helpful place to get updates, leave your comments, ask questions and receive answers. We are young but together we can grow and launch a common shared platform to be used by all the members interested in MAPS and GPS.

I want to offer a free base blog for reviewing all manner of GPS devices.

I can’t guarantee that all the devices we will go trough have been tested but at least here you’ll find a very independent and honest comments and opinion….and this is guaranteed.

I would like also to drive to the world of the Maps and out to get the best out of those.

Don't be afraid to ask and participate.

If you feel you want to become a moderator of a specific section, let’s talk about it.

And finally….a warm welcome to “all about MAPS and GPS”.