TomTom releases its latest map update for the summer jurneys

Tomtom has just released  new maps in preparation for the Summer. In total, 1.5 million km of new roads have been added to TomTom’s global map between May 2011 and May 2012. Additionally, new stadiums, temporary and permanent event venues and park & rides across the UK, Poland and the Ukraine have been included. Major map changes include adding 107,000 km of new road networks in Brazil, and updating 12,000 km of motorways in Spain.

Maps have been extended to cover greater areas of Mexico, Malaysia and Indonesia. Southern Africa maps now include more unpaved roads in rural areas for better routing and more accurate estimated times of arrival.

In addition, TomTom announced the TomTom Via 130, featuring a new Speak & Go function where drivers can control the device with just the sound of their voice, as well as making hands-free calls, which helps them keep their hands on the wheel and their focus on the road.

source: TomTom

Bing Maps now uses live traffic and geocoding from Nokia

Apparently the collaboration of Microsoft and Nokia goes beyond Lumia smartphones. After the latest up-date the  - now uses Nokia's live traffic and geocoding algorithms. Bing Maps can now offer the same traffic information that is already available at Nokia Maps in 24 countries (Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK and US).

Why is it a good news?

This info is really important for all Bing Maps users from one basic reason - Nokia is the owner of Navteq - the biggest mapping data player on the planet. Not only their traffic data is one of the most accurate but also their geocoding algorithms (taking latitude and longitude information and connecting that to a readable address) will surely offer better routes and directions for Microsoft-mapping service users.

But this not the most important conclusion... the most important thing is that those two giants are teaming up to build better location-based services and apps. With their financial potential and Nokia's announcement of the new  Nokia’s Where Platform, can bring LBS to whole new level. I'm looking forward to see where it will go!!!

Nokia Where Platform video:

source: Nokia Conversations, The Verge

New Inrix Traffic 4 - helps drivers avoid traffic congestion for free

When you live in US (and recently Europe;) and you check your morning traffic info you don't really think about where is this data coming from... Well there is big chance that it's coming from Inrix that is the leading-provider of traffic information, directions and driver services all over the world. The company that is usually behind the scenes of the biggest players including huge number of the hottest automotive brands  is now coming out. 

The company collects and analyzes traffic data points from nearly 100 million sources, and now it's putting that information to work with Inrix Traffic 4 for iOS. In addition to helping users avoid congestion brought on by road work, police activity, local events and traffic accidents, the app now provides drivers with optimal routes. 

This surely not the best navi app ever but it's for free and with the best traffic information available on the market, so it's definitely worth trying. 

source: Engaget, Inrixtraffic

Location, Location, Location - Infographic

Location, location, location - this is the most known marketing phrase ever, but it's as well the most true marketing phrase ever! Now in the era of location-aware devices and networks, where people, emotions and content is spatially identifiable it is even more true. Kissmetrics created nice infographic summarizing how one can use location for marketing purposes broadly describing it as geo-marketing. 

Well... I would argue if it's a correct definition of geo-marketing that is historically linked to advanced spatial analysis with GIS tools but lets forget about science and enjoy this cool infographic.

CLICK ON THE PIC TO SEE FULL INFOGRAPHIC

source: Kissmetrics

NY Mayor Bloomberg announces Made in New York Digital Map to showcase tech jobs

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is often coming up with different ways to compete with west cost in terms of start-up engaging projects. This time the Mayor has introduced a new way for New Yorkers and others who plan on making the move to find jobs in the technology sector. The project is called 'Made in New York Digital Map', and it's an online map that shows off the city’s tech startups and job opportunities.

We can read on the project web site: 'The Made in NY Digital Map is a visual testament to the vibrant state of New York's digital industry - showing a powerful constellation of over 500 homegrown startups, investors and coworking spaces across the five boroughs. Browse by neighborhood, review job postings, or add your own startup to the digital landscape - the Made in NY Map is a living resource that reflects New York City's dynamic innovation ecosystem.'

The map shows the number of companies hiring (right now there are over 300 companies hiring), and invites more tech companies to submit themselves as well. It is nothing super innovative but it's great that Bloomberg is trying to attract tech savy talents to The Big Apple.

source: engaget, Made in NY Digital Map

Apple's mapping puzzles

What will Apple do with its $97.6bn reserves? Maybe they're own mapping solution... From couple of years Apple started collecting
pieces of a perfect mapping puzzle. 

First piece

First in mid 2009 Cupertino quietly acquired Placebase - Maps API company. Then, founder and CEO of Placebase, Jaron Waldman, started working at Apple on a new “Geo Team”, presumably helping to integrate Placebase mapping technologies into future Apple products. At the time, there was a growing rift between Apple and Google due to Android, resulting in then-CEO Eric Schmidt resigning from Apple's board. It was believed at the time that PlaceBase might serve as some substitute for Google mapping data used in iOS's Maps app. Well... it didn't but Placebase Geo Team worked on something new and in August 2011 they've filed a patent of so called 'schematic maps' which is a technology of smart generalization of map data. 

Second piece

A year later, Apple acquired another mapping company - Poly9, a Canadian start-up that specialized in connecting mapping data with other data sources to create unique map-based visualizations. Poly9 was mostly known from it's Poly9 Globe project which was JavaScript-based 3D globe similar to Google Earth but available on web browsers. Media immediately started to speculate about Apple Earth of Google Earth killer but we didn't heard nothing about Poly9 from that time.

Third piece

In October 2011 Apple has acquired a third mapping company C3 Technologies - which specializes in spectacular 3D mapping based on SAAB's military technology - you can read more about it >>here<<. In generally it gives different experience than Google Earth because it's all generated from photorealistic aircraft images and it gives Cupertino data and technology to create something truly mind-blowing (at least from Apple worshipers perspective). This was as well a sign to Nokia and Windows Phone as the Finnish giant is using C3 maps in they're 3D web maps. 

Where is it all going?

How and when Apple will put this technology into iOS users' hands is still a mystery. But it's clear that Apple intends to put the pieces of technology it has acquired so far together to do for mapping what it has done for voice control with Siri. Meanwhile despite all rumors, iOS 5 launched in October 2011 is still be default equipped with Google's mapping service and Apple had recently extended its agreement with Google.

source: Ars Technica, Mashable, 9to5mac, iMore