Technology Madness

Boeing 787 Dream-liner, first touchdown video

This is a video of a Boeing 787 Dream-liner landing at the Farnborough International Airshow for its international debut. This is Boeing’s long-range, mid-size plane of the future, and it features extensive use of composite materials. more cool information about 787: Boeing 787 Dream-liner Test flight Nippon Airways is the first customer of the plane.

Video:

Pictures:

MapQuest to embrace open-source data for mapping site–1 giant leap.

AOL’s MapQuest announced at the 4th annual international State of the Map 2010 conference, their plan to be the first major mapping site to embrace and encourage open source mapping at scale–Open MapQuest site. As part of this initiative, MapQuest just launched their first site that is completely powered by open source data from OSM (open street map). MapQuest is the first large mapping company to embrace open-source mapping at large scale. See press note here

“Today we launched a version of the newly redesigned MapQuest, but on open data provided by the OpenStreetMap community,” Randy Meech, Head of Engineering for AOL Local.

“Not only is the map data open, but also this beta map stack uses popular open-source mapping software, including Mapnik for tile rendering, TileCache for caching, and Nominatim for geo-coding and search. We are now employing developers to contribute back to these projects for the benefit of the community,” Randy explained here–why its only for UK in first round of beta project and not US/Canada?
and Mapping

Since OpenStreetMap releases the data under an open license, there is no cost for AOL to use the data. However, AOL has pledged $1 million to support open-source mapping in the US. For the company, the main advantage of using this data source is clear, it’s cheaper. As WSJ stated, AOL’s MapQuest Looks to Wikipedia Model for Mapping. User can modify data/address/POI directly on http://www.openstreetmap.org/ that will reflect in using MapQuest Open UK site. In fact, since its using OSM, in actually works for any country data/direction/search which OSM supported, including US and Canada.

Since its an experiment site, not all functionality is going to available on UK open source site, like one click search through business carousal, search on map, 360 views, drag-able route, satellite image —all are missed. However, the open maps may, in some cases, end up being more accurate thanks to the crowd-sourced data coming from local residents for core functionality, like LOCAL search and direction. Good luck and congratulations MapQuest!

via [Paid content, WSJ, MapQuest Blog, MapQuest developer Blog and thenextweb]

MapQuest is paving a new road.

Mapquest today released beta version of most simple user friendly, colorful, fantastic and easy-to-use map portal. It’s like kicking to closest competitor. Most important functionality is single line search backed by amazing piece of algorithm which helps user to enter just about anything in one box to find something, to get direction or to plot latitude and longitude. Simple, colorful and powerful. Users can enter information ranging from the name of a major landmark (the ‘Liberty Bell’, for example) to a local restaurant — or something as vague as an intersection. Search is available for North-America region only.

MapQuest introduced newly redesigned concept called – “My Place”, a seamless integration between web and mobile devices. Prepare and save your travel plan, direction, place of interest, etc on website and access it through via MapQuest4Mobile iPhone application.

Another good feature is—its geo IP location functionality, which gives local location map as soon as they land to website. (Based on your IP address. I got Turkey map because I am accessing it from Turkey) And find just about anything in visible map without entering any location. All searches will be local search.

new mapquest.com

In nutshell–

Beginning today, users can opt in to test the overhauled site, which will replace the old version in about a month. New features include:
• A more user-friendly interface, including a single- line search box [omg, I loved it] and a redesigned main page that displays the map more prominently.
• The ability to search for “temporal types of content,” such as a fireworks show for July 4 or haunted houses at Halloween.
• A simplified log-in process that allows users to save itineraries and can access through mobile application/portal. Users also can post trip information directly to Facebook and Twitter.

In the future, MapQuest plans to allow users to upload photos, giving it more of a social-networking feel.

Very big congratulations to MapQuest engineers and managers! It’s marvelous achievement. Grab those eyeballs back. Everything looks cool including NEW trendy (web 3.0) logo.

See more screen snaps here.

MapQuest Street view- 360 view coverage is expanded to 120 cities in US and Canada

MapQuest Rolled out additional coverage of Street view / 360 views to nearly to 120 cities in US and Canada. This morning they added more cities in Canada and US.

Check it out! MapQuest website

Vertical Volkswagens’ car garage

Volkswagen Golfs are stacked in one of the massive glass silos at Autostadt; amazing German Engineering

MapQuest is game changing player in mobile GPS Navigation (turn-by-turn direction)

.
MapQuest is playing with free navigation through its iPhone application-MapQuest for Mobile. Yep, you heard it correct… free navigation (turn by turn direction) functionality for apple iPhone. Its still in “basic status” and do not have lots of bells and whistles in it yet. Few manual operation instead of automatic; like –you have to press “re-route button” when you miss the turn; No street names etc. But hey free navigation on iPhone app is probably game changing event in mapping category. No need to update your GPS software as Route from MapQuest is backed by state-of-the-art routing mechanism and always up-to-data information about new roads, businesses etc.

And for MapQuest, I am sure its a big step towards a fight against all ‘cool’ competitors. Congratulations to MapQuest mobile team and very well done MapQuest-a brad which is synonyms to travel/driving direction.

According to the updated features listed on the iTunes site:

• Voice-Guidance speaks to you and informs you of upcoming turns. Change the settings if you prefer a sound prompt.
• Off-Route Assistance tells you when you’ve taken a wrong turn, and gives options to help you get back on track.

The app is available for free in Apple’s App Store. Give it a try today and post your comment. Currently ‘basic navigation’ available for US and Canada only.

FYI–
Note that the MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone app is different than MapQuest Navigator, a similar mobile app that tracks your progress on screen and offers Turn-by-Turn navigation. However, that app costs between 99 cents and $3.99 per month.

Related article:
MapQuest 4 Mobile - an iPhone application

via [MapQuest blog] and [mashable.com]

Clutter free, colorful, twittified, binged and hiply modern blog styled new MSN.com

This morning, I found a surprise in my email box…… A new MSN.com is coming. (You can view a preview of the site here.)After having same layout for years, I guess it was over due to have a fresh look. Current page is bit crowded, lots of information in bit cumbersome way. However, new MSN.com looks very refreshing (as a side note: it seems –use of lots of color– is becoming a trend, first AOL used it to create invisible logo. See AOL home page –uses lots of colorful logos. Then recently Apple used very colorful logo during recent conference and now MSN.com is heading to use lots of fresh – refreshing colors on home page)

The new MSN is fresh looking, has lots of white space and very colorful. User can access social stuff –twitter and facebook, and hotmail-mail, search via bing from top and footer, nice looking butterfly kind of logo (yeah it looks like butterfly without center body of it—just sides of colorful wings)

However, msn.com would like you to stick with hotmail, very much unlike Yahoo and AOL. At the same time no promotion to Zune or completely dedicated to entertainment tab.

Overall, I would say – new msn.com is more of clean and hiply modern blog style design. what’s your opinion?

Lala.com land - happy and promising place to land

Recently one of my friend from Seattle recommended Lala.com, a site that you can listen to and purchase music (which you can load to any Mp3 music player including iPod, iphone, zune etc) Originally Lala.com was developed to do CD-trading but re-launched in October 2008 as a music retailer.

After one day of using Lala.com, I started liking it-a lot. And started believing, “there’s nothing you don’t do in a browser.” creation of Lala.com with seamless and fast music streaming is the prime example of finest piece of software. (BTW- in my opinion, iTunes is no where near any competition)

So here Lala.com works: You need to sign-up to listen music; Once you sign-in, you will get instant 50 song credit (1 credit=you can add songs (they called it as “web song”) to your play-list, they called it as “collection(s)”) Once you run out of credit; you can add “web song” to your “collection” use of 1 dime (1 song for 10 cents) Later, If you later decide to also buy (download) the MP3 (web song), the 10 cents you paid for the web song is credited towards the MP3. Buy/download songs run about .79 to .99. Lala is a great way to listen to an entire song before buying. (Or “try it (for cheap) before buy it (for reasonable price)”) All of the MP3s on Lala.com are DRM-free music downloads, and are compatible with iTunes and Windows Media Player.

Since all collection and purchases are attached to you account; you can log-in to Lala.com from Home, school, library and can access all “collections” from web without any issue. Lala.com provides full-featured mucis player on web that you generally would get from desktop application, like, iTunes or window media player.

“Lala May Have Just Built The Next Revolution In Digital Music. The company has the best streaming music product on the Internet today, and a business model that doesn’t burn cash… It’s the joy of using products like Lala that keeps me excited about startups.” - TechCrunch.com

So it boils down to this — Lala.com is faster (than desktop music player), cheaper (than iTunes), super intuitive (than iTunes and windows media payer), absolutely legal, and available from anywhere anytime from web. Lala is super fantastic.

Have you tried Lala? What did you think?

Maximize iphone 3G’s Battery Life With OS 3.0

I was excited about iPhone OS 3.0; no complaints so far but one thing I notice that my iPhone consumes more battery power that earlier and reduce live battery time. Personally battery life with 3.0 is not what I had hoped for; need to recharge the battery frequently than what I used to. Battery issue is not new for any gadgets; see what battery live your laptop is giving you.

With iPhone 3.0 release, Apple stated that “Depending on how they are configured, a few features may decrease your iPhone battery life.”

At the same time Apple gave some valuable suggestion to save battery and keep your battery life bit longer.

Here is a nice list of twelve battery saving ideas, courtesy of Apple:

Turn off 3G if you are not very speed freak.
Minimize use of location services.
Fetch new data less frequently.
Turn off push mail.
Auto-check fewer email accounts.
Minimize use of third-party applications.
Turn off Wi-Fi.
Turn off Bluetooth.
Use Airplane Mode in low- or no-coverage areas
Adjust brightness
Store and use the iPhone at room temperature
Turn off the music equalizer (EQ)
Lock Your iPhone

Via Apple.com

MapQuest 4 mobile 4 iPhone: Rich Mapping application for iPhone users

Today, Mapquest introduced Map application, for iPhone users, called MapQuest 4 mobile. Application is super user friendly and able to find just about anything with only one tap (one click.) Place Carousel allows finding hotels, gas stations, Grocery store, Bar etc with one tap. A traffic icon in carousel is ready for latest live traffic information for any location. MapQuest 4 mobile can search anything that you can search on mapquest.com website.

mapquest 4 iphone

MapQuest 4 mobile for iPhone is able to provide directions between any location ‘A’ and ‘B’ from North America. User can ask to avoid Toll free road, High ways in directions. Also, provides an option for shortest time or shortest distance while calculating route. Its very handy feature when you want to run fast or save some gas. Sometime it’s difficult to read while you are driving but this application can allow you to see each maneuver step in landscape mode. During route you can add other destination and make it multi-point destination route and adjust the order of destination the way you want to visit.

MapQuest 4 iPhone

The coolest part of this application is – it allows to retrieve your Saved maps and route which you saved on mapquest.com using you’re “My Places” account. Here’s how the My Places feature within MapQuest4Mobile works. If you haven’t already, create a free My Places account on MapQuest.com. Using the “Map” or “Directions” form, create a destination or route as you normally would, click the “Save” button instead of clicking “Print. Go to MapQuest 4 mobile for iPhone application and retrieve your Saved maps and route there. (Hey you already contributed something to save this world from Global warming by not printing maps and directions and saved tiny bit of tree)

Hitting “Find me” button finds your current location and avatar icon follows you on map as you travel. “Find Me” function utilizes iPhone GPS to plot your location on a map as well as display your position in relation to a route.

Fun aspects:
You can choose avatar icon from preloaded icons- cat, car, hand dog, battleship, ufo etc. User can also choose any photo taken via iPhone camera.

Requirement:
Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch + iPhone 2.1 Software Update

Availability and Price:
Wow, it’s FREE on Apple iTune store.

Video of Mapquest 4 mobile for iPhone:

To see the feature-by-feature YouTube video, click

Via MapQuestBlog and @MapQuest Twitter message and Readwriteweb.com and blumenthals.com