A Time-based Transit Map

Time + Maps are always an interesting combination.
Stefan Wehrmeyer has developed a Google Maps application called Mapnificent which provides several intereting functions that combine maps with time. The application shows the areas you can reach with public transport in a user-defined time, and tis also displays the overlapping areas that two differnt persons can both reach within a given time.
Check the video clip in which the developer expains how this application works.

Mapnificent from Stefan Wehrmeyer on Vimeo.

A New Android Application : Google Shopper

Google has launched a new Android application called Google Shopper which can lead you to a new way to buy goods. Google Shopper gives you information about a product that is displayed on the screen of your Android-platform mobile phone. The application can read a 2-D bar code or the front page of a book. In addition, the application recognizes your voice and searches for products that you are looking for.


Google has already launched an application called Google Goggles which uses image processing technology (namely image extraction and recognition). Google also already has an application called Google voice search.

Can Microsoft Bing maps takeover Google maps?

Recently Microsoft launched the new Bing Maps. It seems like they are really trying hard to takeover Google maps. They did an especially great job using crowd-sourced photos to create 3-D virtual worlds in their Maps.
Here are a couple of video clips about Microsoft’s Bing maps.

Google jumps into the SNS (Social Network Serviece) Market : Google Buzz

Google launched a new Social Network Service (SNS) which is called Google Buzz.
Google has been observing the huge success of Twitter and Facebook. Now google tries to claim part of the success of Twitter and Facebook in the SNS market

Washington Post: "Google phone would break industry model"

The advent of the Android-based Google phone "Nexus One"

Google has tested their first mobile phone, "Nexus One," through their employees.

The appearance of an advanced mobile device this year has led to an outpouring of mobile augmented reality applications.

So it is very interesting to hear that Google is going to launch their first mobile phone, "Nexus One."

Here is an interesting news article from the Washington Post about the new Google phone. It compares the policies of iPhone and Google phone to the OS battle between IBM and Apple in the 1980s.

The full detail article is here.
The image from here.

An amazing image recognition technology - Google Goggles

Since I began to study augmented reality, I have recognized that image recognition and image detection are significant technologies that can enhance locating accuracy.
Now Google has introduced an application (a new searching method) called Google Goggles. It recognizes the image of a book's front page, the text of business cards, and even buildings. In the cases of books and buldings, Google Goggles shows further information about those objects. In addition, it directly extracts text from business cards (name, phone number, etc.)