http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhVu2oeInc

Google Maps is constantly improving with little things that make getting around in a green way quite a bit easier. It was over a year ago that they added the “walk there” directions feature, and in January they added a great public transit layer. This new editing feature, especially when it comes to adding in information making cities and green spaces easier to get to and navigate, is a big bonus.

via Treehuger

A rather paltry sample of 994 young people were surveyed by charity YouthNet, and the results show just how crucial being connected was to the younger generation.

When asked when they felt happiest, 45 per cent suggested it was when they were online and 32 per cent agreed the statement that there was no need to speak to a person for information when the internet was available

Information? Nah!

Bizarrely one in five of those surveyed suggested they had never looked at the internet for information and advice, although 37 per cent would use the web for advice of a sensitive nature.

This has led to the conclusion from report author Professor Michael Hume that young people need more support, which, guess what, author commissioners YouthNet do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI6wVtCY99E

Google has launched Google Building Maker, finally allowing people to add a third dimension to the buildings on its maps.

Previously, the buildings that were given a more solid appearance in Google Maps were handpicked by Google – but that is all about to change.

A new tool, Google Building Maker – which is described as a cross between Maps and a ‘gigantic bin of building blocks’ – will allow you to create three dimensional structures, which will then be compared against the original photos and, if it seems accurate, placed into the system.

Open source building

“Some of us here at Google spend almost all of our time thinking about one thing: How do we create a three-dimensional model of every built structure on Earth?” Asked Google’s official blog,.

” How do we make sure it’s accurate, that it stays current and that it’s useful to everyone who might want to use it?

“One of the best ways to get a big project done — and done well — is to open it up to the world. As such, today we’re announcing the launch of Google Building Maker, a fun and simple (and crazy addictive, it turns out) tool for creating buildings for Google Earth.”

So how exactly does it work? Google explains: “Basically, you pick a building and construct a model of it using aerial photos and simple 3D shapes – both of which we provide.

“When you’re done, we take a look at your model. If it looks right, and if a better model doesn’t already exist, we add it to the 3D Buildings layer in Google Earth. You can make a whole building in a few minutes.”

via TR

A new app allows you to back-up all of the content on your Facebook page, including comments and information that’s posted on your wall.

SocialSafe was launched in the summer and is a piece of software that helps protect the information posted on your Facebook page.

This service has now been updated with a Facebook Wall Back-up app – a Ronseal-esque function that allows you to collate all the content on your Facebook wall.

This is also complimented with a new Time Capsule feature, which allows you to chart the history of your Facebook pages.

Key moments captured forever

Speaking about the the new features, Julian Ranger from SocialSafe explains: “It’s important for users to have complete access to their own data whenever they want it. Often people don’t think about how long data remains available to them when stored within social media sites such as Facebook.

“As we all share more personal details within social media sites, knowing that those key moments in time are captured forever provides an essential safeguard.”

SocialSafe is available now, on both PC and Mac, with all-new Wall Back-up and Time Capsule functionality for the introductory price of £1.99.

Got to www.socialsafe.net for more details.

via TR

In a story to warm the cockles of those of us tired of cynical marketing ploys, Twitter’s founder has denounced “MBA business plans” in favour of producing a service real people actually want.

Speaking to the Online News Association‘s gathering in San Francisco, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams defended his company’s lack of income, pointing out that the bottom line isn’t everything.

What you want to see

We’ll surely hear plenty more of Williams’ rather surprising mantra: “Create something that you want to see in the world, not what some MBA brandishing a business plan suggests.”

He also told the conference, which ended on Saturday, that the recent $100 million (£63 million) funding injection doesn’t put him under undue pressure to make Twitter profitable.

“I am motivated by the world telling me I am going to fail,” he said.

One step at a time

To avoid that scenario, Williams discussed new and imminent Twitter functions, including Twitter Lists, a developers’ tool and a better microblog search engine.

Via NYT ]]> http://brillmagazine.com/twitter-founder-rails-against-business-plans/feed/ 0 http://brillmagazine.com/uk-injunction-to-be-served-by-twitter/ http://brillmagazine.com/uk-injunction-to-be-served-by-twitter/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:00:06 +0000 Christal http://brillmagazine.com/?p=238 An injunction has been served over the micro-blogging network Twitter, a first for Britain.

An unknown Tweeter has been ordered to stop posing as Donal Blaney, a right-wing political blogger.

The real Mr Blaney told the BBC that messages in his name were ‘mildly objectionable’.

Breach of copyright

The order – handed down by the High Court states that the Tweeter is breaching copyright by producing messages in Blaney’s name.

Because of the legal difficulties in ascertaining who the Twitter user is, the injunction can be served via 140 characters.

Unlike the US, the UK allows injunctions to be served through various means rather than just in person.

Emails and faxes have been used in the past, but this is the first time that Twitter has been used as the server.

The injunction – which will be known as Blaney’s Blarney Order is due to be served – with a link to the full text – at 7.30pm BST.

via TR

Gone are the days when anyone should be surprised that an unprofitable company can be valued at a number followed by a long string of zeroes, but the news that Twitter is apparently worth $1 billion comes pretty close.

That’s the valuation put on the microblogging pioneer by new investment announced this week that raises the company’s sterling value to £625 million in spite of it having no significant income and plenty of outgoings.

Say it with a blog

The company announced the $100 million (£63 million) injection by Morgan Stanley and other investors in a blog post by CEO Evan Williams. He said:

“It was important to us that we find investment partners who share our vision for building a company of enduring value. Twitter’s journey has just begun and we are committed to building the best product, technology, and company possible.”

Twitter has plans for monetizing the site through premium services and shopping recommendations, but has yet to turn a profit in its three-year history.

[Via NYT] ]]> http://brillmagazine.com/twitters-worth-massive-1-billion/feed/ 0 http://brillmagazine.com/google-voice-under-fire-from-att/ http://brillmagazine.com/google-voice-under-fire-from-att/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:02:54 +0000 Christal http://brillmagazine.com/?p=143

Remember how a week ago we looked at the row brewing between Apple and Google over Google Voice? Well, this time it’s US phone carrier AT&T that’s getting in on the action too.

After a complaint from the carrier to the American Federal Communications Commission (FCC) claiming that Google Voice is blocking calls made to some premium-rate numbers, Google has responded with some force.

Forced to join in

The background to AT&T’s complaint is that it is forced by US common carrier laws to connect certain high-cost calls from its long-distance lines to local networks owned by other operators.

At&T says this means it has no choice but to participate in an unfair system where the local operators sometimes get to share part of those revenues with the owners of the premium-rate lines; often adult services.

Blocks in place

However, it says, Google Voice isn’t bound by law to connect such calls and is simply blocking access to them instead. This, AT&T claims is unfair and it is asking the FCC to intervene. Google, as you might expect, disagrees.

Writing on the Google Public Policy Blog, company lawyer Richard Whitt sets out his defence to AT&T’s claims. He says:

“Google Voice’s goal is to provide consumers with free or low-cost access to as many advanced communications features as possible. In order to do this, Google Voice does [our emphasis] restrict certain outbound calls from our web platform to these high-priced destinations.”

Google is exempt

He justifies the blocks by pointing out the differences between his firm’s service and normal phone companies:

“Unlike traditional carriers, Google Voice is a free, web-based software application, and so not subject to common carrier laws. Google Voice is not intended to be a replacement for traditional phone service – in fact, you need an existing land or wireless line in order to use it.”

Clearly, there’s plenty more mileage in this argument, but why is it relevant to non-US readers? As Whitt says, “AT&T is trying to make this about Google’s support for an open internet.”

Old world, new rules?

In other words, a large traditional company wants the government of its country to interfere in how online software works and is used when it overlaps with its own services.

Google’s argument, therefore, can be applied to similar future debates in any part of the world – do we really want the authorities regulating the fast-moving world of web development just to keep big business happy?

[via TR] ]]> http://brillmagazine.com/google-voice-under-fire-from-att/feed/ 0