The Earth Is Square

I have mentioned before about exporting KML/KMZ files from WWJava, now Chris Maxwell, the lead developer at Intelesense Technologies has posted some code and a demo of a KML importer for WWJava.

This is just a basic implelementation of KML support for WWJava, but that is how everything starts out.

nigel from the WorldWind forum has posted a screen shot of a Naval Game he has been developing.  He didn't post much in the way of details, other than he has asked to open source the .net code since they have moved to WWJava for the base code.

Well, I almost forgot what happens around here the second weekend of July..  But it is that time again for the Toyo Tires Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals (Monster Trucks and other trucks that get 10 gallons to the mile).  If you really want to know what this is all about, check this PDF then.

Hard to beleive that in the 21 years it has been going on, I have not once been there to see it.  And not going again this year.. in fact I am going to avoiod the west end of Bloomsburg all weekend.

I came acrost this story/blog post on the BBC News website today.  Last week Simon Davies, the director of Privacy International, wrote a letter to Google asking about Google privacy privacy protection standards will be up to the task at hand.

You may be aware that Privacy International has stated, both privately to Google legal staff and to the media, that we are concerned about a number of potential violations of national law that this technology may create.

- Simon Davies
Director
Privacy International

The reply from Google is online today.

You correctly note, however, that we had publicly committed to respect other countries' privacy laws and norms, if and when we did launch outside the US. Yesterday's launch therefore not only brought the value of Street View to new shores and new users, it also demonstrated our commitment to meet the privacy challenges of the product.

-Jane Horvath
Senior Privacy Counsel
Google

While Google says they are ready to go and that the system is working fine, they do admit some faces and license plates are missed because of a combination of reasons.

I think at this point it is more of a "Wait and See" game.

I have a new computer setup that I already have WorldWind and GISExplorer on, so went today to download and install Google Earth for it.  But since it is currently off network I went to download and will just copy the install file over via a thumb drive..

Errr, NOT happening.  Where is the downloadable file?  What is this "Google Updater" they think I should have instead?  When I want to download an application.. I want to download the bloody application!  (You can see how long it has been since I installed a new Google Earth )  So, complaining asside, I re-run the network and take a computer offline to bring the one I want to use online and install.

Next "Bad Google" comes up.. it never asked me WHERE I want to install Google Earth!  It wants me to install an app on the OS partition.. argh!

I know their "motto" is "Don't Be Evil" .. but I think it should be "Don't Be Smart" instead.. this is some dumb thinking from Google.  Trust me.. I know better than Google on how I want to download and install my software.

This is something that will make you do a double take.  Mio has a GPS unit (not found on their website) that was previewed on CNet, it is the Knight Rider GPS.

From what I saw on the video (which is disturbing in some spots..) they have lights on the sides which mimick KITT's "mouth" from the TV series.  The screen shows the left-to-right bar that was on the front of the car, and the voice used sounds similar to KITT's voice.

Now, just going on the Geek / Nerd factor... this is a GPS I would have to have.  Just something about hearing KITT asking where I would like to go and "talking" to me that just brings back the 80's.

But, since this is just a "First Look", no idea when it will come out, or for how much.  I am sure that for the main GPS functions, this is no different than most other Mio GPS units.