ArcGIS 9.3 Features
The All Points Blog has a short post highlighting some of the features slated for release in the next version of ArcGIS Desktop, 9.3:
- Better printing support
- “Map Tips” - for adding information to maps
- Enhanced interoperability - will support Web Feature Service, Web Cover Service for raster, KML, and GML
- APIs for REST and JavaScript
- Caching and performance improvements
- Security for web apps and services
- ArcGIS Server 9.3 will be packaged with Windows Mobile-based client
[link]
New Google Analytics Design On the Way
I just noticed a post by Jeff Veen of Google detailing a complete redesign of the Google Analytics UI. Looking at the feature tour, it looks pretty impressive and is a welcome change to the existing interface. The new UI incorporates some features that are very similar to the rich Flash-based data and graphing tool they have on Google Finance (sample). The new dashboard looks like it’ll be far more user-friendly, particularly for end users in marketing, business development, and management, but also even for us people in IT who hate digging around for web traffic/conversion data in a complicated UI. There will be better chart and graph views for your primary market areas as well as AdWords campaigns or keywords. I’ve been using Analytics a good bit lately to get deeper into the SEO and traffic optimization stuff for my company (as well as my personal websites), but this new interface looks like I could even get the non-geek involved in the more technical aspects of the development of our company. Google has posted a Flash demo of the new features of Analytics.
Google Analytics is a derivative product of Urchin Software’s Urchin On Demand system. Urchin was acquired by Google in the Spring of 2005.
Google Launches My Maps
Yesterday Google announced what I think is the best feature of Google Maps to date. It’s called My Maps, and it allows you to place your own placemarks, draw your own lines and polygons, place videos, and embed text, all georeferenced and placed interactively on the map. It also generates a public URL for every map for easy sharing. You can even change the colors and annotate your drawings.
The first noticeable difference is the inclusion of a My Maps tab on your sidebar. And like most Google products, you can choose to share your creation or keep it private/unlisted.
Creating your own points, lines, and polygons is all done through a simple drag and drop interface. After you’ve added features, any of them can include a description in plain text, rich text (with a neat little GUI editor), or HTML. This of course will allow users to easily add Flickr photos, Youtube videos, Wikipedia entries… the possibilities are endless. You can also get directions to and from any placemark you put on the map. I’ve been waiting for that feature for a long time now.
A simple table of contents will also give you a breakdown of all your features, which is nice considering you could create a humongous mashup with these new features.
One of the nicest features to highlight, however, is the ability to export anything you draw into KML format. This of course allows you to add your data to Google Earth, or one of the many emerging or existing products that are providing KML support.
My Maps adds to the growing list of interesting features that Google has recently added to Google Maps. Other features like traffic, GeoRSS support, and the click to call feature for phone numbers have all added a good deal of functionality to an already great product. If they keep on their current trajectory, Google’s on pace to dominate the geospatial technology market, at least for the general consumer/prosumer.
New Google Earth Imagery
Last week Google released a slew of new imagery, much of it hi-res. They’ve also updated and corrected some imagery problems. Here are the details:
New hi resolution:
- Canada: Downtown Vancouver, BC
- England: Northamptonshire, Nottingshire, Berkeshire, Peakdistrict, Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Avon, Gloucestershire, Linconshire
- France: Rennes, Poitiers
- US: Omaha, NE; Missoula, MT; Amherst, MA; Keowee, SC; Catawba Wateree, NC/SC; Rolla, MO; Nashville (”Burbia”), TN; Gaston County, NC; Anne Arundel County, Metro Water District of Southern California; State of Arkansas
Updated imagery:
- Spain: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Las Palmas (Canary Islands) Spain
- US: Austin, TX; San Bernardino, CA; State of Connecticut, Greater Los Angeles Area, CA
- Australia: Sydney harbor area
Fixes:
- Danish plane replicants removed (read more)
- Andes, Machu Picchu terrain repaired