Google Brings the Earth to Your Desktop

Google Inc. has launched a new software package that allows you to see satellite images on your desktop.

Google Earth lets you search for locations anywhere on earth and display 3D aerial images of major cities and tourist attractions. Google Earth is in development, but a free beta version is available for home users. Locations can be searched by address, intersections, cities, zip codes or countries and the images can be zoomed in close enough to see streets and buildings.

The images generated are 3D ? you can rotate the view to see different sides of an object. You can navigate using a mouse or the keyboard, and view selectable layers to display information about local features such as roads, terrain, schools or golf courses.

Images of 38 US cities can be viewed from "the ground up" allowing you to see 3D representations of buildings and terrain. Measurement functions include distances between two locations, perimeters, radius and area.

Search results can be saved, printed and emailed. Driving directions can be automatically generated and you can trace the route using the "Play" button located underneath the directions tab.

Google Earth is based on technology from Keyhole Corp., a digital mapping company acquired by Google in 2004. The database that drives Google Earth is based on images from satellite and airplane photographs. The database is said to be "multi-terabytes" in size.

Google Earth is available in several versions. The free version is for personal use. Google Earth Plus costs $20 and integrates data from your GPS device. Google Earth Pro costs $400 and is designed for businesses who need a research and collaboration tool. Finally, there is Google Earth Enterprise Solutions for on-site deployment of Google Earth.

The technology behind Google Earth is not new, and smaller companies such as GlobeXplorer LLC have been offering 3D aerial views for several years. Google has the marketing clout, however, to bring the technology to the consumer level and integrate it into its advertising programs.

Users can search for local businesses and receive a viewpoint of 10 search results within a specified area. Clicking on a business listing brings up its address, phone number and driving directions.

This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet or in ezines as long as the resource box and hyperlinks remain intact.

Ross MacIver is the director of Best Online Content. We provide quality content for your web site and offer a full range of design and SEO services.

RELATED ARTICLES

Reduce TCO: The Java Database Way
TCO (Total Cost Ownership) is the buzzword in today's business world. This metric helps enterprise managers assess direct and indirect costs and benefits derived from their investment on IT components and services. A vital component of overall TCO is database management. All information-centric applications need databases for data storage. Also, the storage demands of small and mid-sized companies are growing rapidly, as more emphasis is given on data backup and long-term archival of data disaster recovery. Embedded databases have arrived in this scenario as a major cost-cutting tool. They help organizations in managing the growing storage requirements by providing a cost-effective and reliable solution for data backup, file storage and archiving, thereby assuring a lower cost of ownership for small to medium sized business organizations. The remainder of this article will focus on the database server that I am most familiar with (Daffodil DB) and how it helps in the reduction of TCO. Though the example has some nuances specific to Daffodil DB, I am sure that readers will be able to extrapolate the theme to better understand the role of a database in TCO reduction. Let's begin with Development and Deployment Costs. Gone are the days when applications had to be tested extensively for all underlying platforms. Now, one can shrink the cost and time required to develop and setup solutions on multiple platforms by using a Java database. A separate deployment for different platform implementations of a large application is a major expense that an enterprise can do without. Administration Costs are a major concern for many-a-company. Logically, database administration costs are a significant component of TCO. When embedded with an application, a compact Java database can be made practically invisible to the user, since it (the database) requires no administration and runs on the same Java virtual machine (JVM) as does the application. Its simple performance tuning process helps in optimizing database performance and vastly reduces database administration costs. Now let's move on to Compatibility Cost. Java databases, being platform independent, are compatible with all operating systems and application servers. This feature helps developers in choosing their own range of effective and economical solutions. For example, with Daffodil DB the developer can use Open Source tools like JBOSS application server for reducing overall TCO. Last, but certainly not the least, let's get to Licensing Costs. Pardon me if I seem to evangelize Daffodil DB, but that's one area where I can 'preach' with confidence. As Daffodil DB can be used / embedded with a wide array of applications, flexible licensing policies have been developed to accommodate the diverse needs of the development community without restricting the same to just one standard license. Each application development organization may pick the right combination of licenses that best meets its needs. The organizations may also acquire additional licenses or upgrade their licenses. Do I hear someone shout 'What about Open Source?'

Microsoft CRM Data Import FAQ
Microsoft CRM has built-in conversion tool, however you should probably first try third party conversion tool, such as Scribe. It is relatively expensive and has bunch of importing capabilities, that you might never use and need. Scribe allows you to map objects in source and target, when source is ACT! for example. If you are just realized the need to load data into CRM ? please research Microsoft CRM import tool and Scribe. Here we will describe other option and possibilities

Linux for Home Users
Hey Guys! Don't raise your eyebrows or fear by hearing the word Linux. It is as user friendly as windows. Just take a look at the articles below and all myths about Linux in your mind will disappear.

Daffodil DB: Web Database
What is a Web Database?

Antivirus Software ? Get The Bugs Before They Get You!
You turn on your computer, and it doesn't look quite right. Maybe your icons have changed, or the background picture is wrong. Some options are disabled. Even worse, you may not be able to boot your computer up at all. Guess what ? it's probably got a virus.

Is Software Tester a Most Infamous Person in a Software Project Team?
The fact that a software tester is a most infamous person in a software project team has some grounds underneath it. This is because a software tester usually speaks of the bugs in the developer's code. For a developer to take this pin-pointing personally hurting is humane. The tussle between the testers and developers may lead to failure or delay of the software project. This article presents some of the aspects which both the developer and the tester should know about each other and work harmoniously in a team.

Microsoft Great Plains Reporting ? Overview for Developer
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular, partly because of Microsoft muscles behind it.� Now it is targeted to the whole spectrum of horizontal and vertical market clientele.� Small companies use Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology ? Great Plains Dexterity dictionary and runtime), Great Plains Standard on MSDE is for small to midsize clients, and then Great Plains serves the rest of the market up to big corporations.� There are several reporting tools available and you definitely need to know which one to use for different types of reports. If you are developer who is asked: how do we create report for Microsoft Great Plains ? read this and you will have the clues on where to look further. Great Plains Report Writer (ReportWriter) ? this is built-in reporting tool.� All the original report in Great Plains are written in ReportWriter.� ReportWriter itself is Dexterity module.� You should use this tool if you would like to modify existing Great Plains reports, such as Blank Invoice Form - here you can place your company logo, change the positioning, fonts, colors, etc.� ReportWriter will allow you also do new� reports - simple option� if you want to export all the records from one Great Plains table - use it.� New report, however doesn't have interface where you would enter parameters - so it is not useful for real custom reports.� Another limitation of ReportWriter - you can not do cross-modules report - when you need sales and purchasing info on the same report for example. FRx.� This is excellent tool when deal with financial reporting - it works on the General Ledger level (Balance sheet, P&L, Cash Flow Statement, etc.).� It also allows you to do multiple companies consolidation - when you do consolidated Balance Sheet (with inter-companies transactions elimination). Smart List - Export to Excel ? this is nice feature in Great Plains - you could create a list with simple criteria and then export it to Excel. Crystal Reports.� It gives you unlimited functionality.� Obviously flexibility requires you to know Great Plains table structure:� Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables.� Find the table in the proper series.� If you are looking for the customers ? it should be RM00101 ? customer master file.� If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents ? they are in SOP30200 ? Sales History Header file, etc.� Create ODBC connection to GP Company database.� Use the same technique as when you create standard ODBC connection for GP workstation ? but change default database to targeted company database.� Create SQL Query to probe the data ? we always recommend tuning your query and see that you are getting adequate results ? in any case ? Crystal Report is just a nice tool to show the results of your query. Direct Web Publishing off Great Plains databases ? yes - it is easy now with Visual Studio.Net and you can hire good programmers.� This is good - Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, Solomon, Navision and Axapta will be integrated into so called Microsoft Business Portal - which will have web interface - you can get the idea if you look at Microsoft CRM web client - so direct web publishing is good taste. SQL Queries.� If you have SQL background - this is great field for you.� You know - with properly formatted SQL query you can realize simple EDI export/import for the integration with legacy systems. Happy designing!� if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! [email protected]

Understanding Document Management
The term "document management" and "paperless office" is the subject of countless articles and books. Everyone wants to achieve this lofty goal but not everyone understands what the terms really mean. Before you can embark on the journey of achieving total document management, it's important that you have a good basic knowledge of the terms and concepts that go with it.

What is Groupware?
Vince Lombardi once said that, "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." If this is the case, then what do we need to do in order to insure success in our companies? How can we combine the efforts of each individual as Mr. Lombardi said was so key to the success of a particular organization? While there are many possible solutions to these questions, I have found something that will help your company become more organized, and your employees more unified in their work. I am talking about groupware.

How to Build a Basic CSS Layout
Designing without tables by using CSS layouts is fast becoming the new standard on the Web because of the benefits mentioned in my previous article. Web browsers used these days are now able to render web pages proficiently. In this article I will endeavor to create a basic 2 column CSS layout which you can use for future design projects.

Marketing Your WinRunner Team
It won't matter how effective your WinRunner Team is if no-one outside your immediate organization knows about your accomplishments. For this reason, marketing your WinRunner Team is vital to your success. When times get tough, executives look for cost-cutting measures. The QA group is often the first on the chopping block. If these high level executives don't fully understand and appreciate the value of your service, they will see the cost of WinRunner licenses and maintenance as well as the highly skilled, but also more expensive WinRunner engineers as a nice place to start trimming the budget. They will not have the time or luxury to launch an investigation to see if these services are really necessary.

Preventive Maintenance Software Companies
Several software companies design programs for preventive maintenance. Most of the preventive maintenance software companies produce programs for facilities and businesses. Because many programs are adaptable, they can be used for different types of facilities. Some of the best know preventive maintenance software companies are SMGlobal, Inc., Sigma Data Systems, Inc., and Smartware Group.

Know-how in Microsoft Publisher
For those who still don't know, Microsoft Publisher helps computer users to easily create, customize and publish materials such as flyers, brochures, catalogs, newsletters and websites. It provides tools to create professional and compelling marketing materials that will help you take your business further. With professional page layout and text tools, you can build a strong visual identity for your product or company.

Great Plains Dexterity: Customizations & Source Code Programming
Great Plains Software Dynamics, Dynamics C/S+, eEnterprise were written on GPS proprietary programming language and development environment ? Great Plains Dexterity. When Microsoft bought Great Plains Software, Dynamics was renamed into Microsoft Great Plains, but Dexterity is still the architectural base, there were trends to move MS Great Plains to .Net and reprogram it in C#, but in our opinion Microsoft is probing its own technologies and places them into competition with each other. Microsoft Business Portal is probably the direction, when existing ERP products: Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon will have seamless web interface. In this small article we'll try to give your Dexterity source code programming options and directions.

Tools for Customizing Great Plains
Microsoft Business Solutions ? Great Plains has captured the US market with its integrated business applications for small and mid-size organizations. Its comprehensive accounting and business management capabilities provide businesses with tools to customize various modules of the Great Plains software. These tools have been proven to have contributed to business growth and tighter control over its processes.

Vlans
In order to implement VLANs in a network environment, you'll need a Layer 2 switch that supports them. Almost all switches sold today that are described as "managed" switches provide the ability to make ports members of different VLANs. However, switches that don't provide any configuration function (such as many basic, lower-end switches) don't provide the ability to configure VLANs. Almost any Cisco Catalyst switch that you'll come across today provides the ability to make ports part of different VLANs.

Free Software: How Not To Get More Than You Bargained For!
I completed an experiment recently. I wanted to find out exactly what software I could get free on the Internet. My main focus was for software to include utilities and useful home business applications.

Microsoft CRM Development
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions.

Microsoft CRM Modification ? Overview for IT Specialist
Microsoft CRM is now on the scene and it is increasing its market share, due to the Microsoft Business Solutions muscles and marketing strategy. It is tightly integrated with other Microsoft Business Solutions products such as Microsoft Great Plains, Solomon, Navision.

Groupware: Avoid the Ad Hoc Shuffle
Groupware

home | site map