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Tag: geogeeking

Turkey Tracker 2010: It’s not a geeky Portland Thanksgiving without streaming video, an Arduino, Twitter, and some geogeeking

Turkey Tracker 2010 features the usual Arduino enabled thermometer and real-time tracking of turkey temperatures. And live video. And live graphing. And photos. But this year, it also comes with some additional technology trimmings.

For many people, things are starting to slow down as Thanksgiving approaches. But for others? Things are just heating up. Literally.

Yes folks, it is once again that time to turn our eyes toward Portland’s own Turkey Tracker, the Internet phenomenon that lets you and yours track turkey temperature and preparation in real time. Why? Because they can. Read More

Portland inside: MapBox iPad mapping app has Portland mobile geogeeking under the hood

[HTML3]According to Wired Magazine, mobile devices need custom maps. According to me, Portland is the de facto hub of mobile development and it’s not too shabby when it comes to geolocation geekery either.

No, it’s not a non-sequitur. You see, the maps built on MapBox described in the article? The Development Seed ones? Under the hood of that iPad pursuit is good old Portland mobile geolocation ingenuity, thanks to Justin Miller. Read More

Paperbacking Portland geogeeking: Adam DuVander releases Map Scripting 101

Yes, I realize “paperbacking” isn’t a word. But you hip kids Google and Skype and whatnot. I thought you would give me a little leeway. Or something. What’s that? Whoa whoa whoa. “Geogeeking” is so a word. Is so. Is so!

I think we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. (Is SO!) Because I’ve got more important fish to fry here. You see, one of our favorite Portland tech types—Adam DuVander—has finished his tome to geogeeking (is SO!), Map Scripting 101: An Example-Driven Guide to Building Interactive Maps with Bing, Yahoo!, and Google Maps. And we’re not talking any eBook here. We’re talking real dead tree stuff. And that, my friends, deserves a Map Scripting 101 launch party. Read More

WhereCamp PDX pinpoints a location

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times: Portland loves the camps. And while—this summer—the camps seemed to be a little light, we’ve still got a few on the docket as we saunter into the fall camp camp campity camp season.

One of those camps is WordCamp Portland which I’m not going to talk about right now, because I’m going to be talking about them later. Hint hint.

Another, is WhereCamp PDX, the geogeeking camp for all of you mapping and geolocation types. And if that sounds interesting to you, you’ll be happy to know that WhereCamp has just finalized their dates and location, October 2-4 at Metro. Read More

Geomena: Could this be the Wikipedia of geolocation data?

[HTML2]You ever have one of those posts where you’re really excited by something that you can’t seem to explain sufficiently? Where—conceptually—you get it, but you don’t feel like you’re doing the subject matter justice?

Well, that’s where I’ve been for the past few days with Don Park’s latest project, a fine piece of Portland geogeeking called Geomena, a creative-commons licensed access point location database—or as Don so eloquently puts it “the Wikipedia of access point locations.”

And that, my friends, is a subject which I have not been able to justice. But I’m going to try. Read More

Waze and means: Helping test drive Waze means a free Whiffies pie for you

While iPhone and Android app Waze isn’t Portland based, having Di-Ann working there does give us a Portland tie. And now there’s another opportunity to put Portland on the Waze map literally.

When it comes to geogeeking here in Portland, most everyone knows about Platial, one of the original social mapping efforts that was founded right here in the Silicon Forest. But what you may not know is that Platial’s cofounder and chair, Di-Ann Eisnor, is hard at work with another geolocation company called Waze.

While Waze isn’t Portland-based, having Di-Ann working there does give us a Portland tie. And now, there’s another opportunity to put Portland on the Waze map—literally. Di-Ann is inviting you to give Waze a test drive and provide feedback on the mobile. And the reward for your hard work? A free pie from the Whiffies food cart for participating drivers. Now, what could be more Portland-y than that? Read More

Get to geogeeking with OpenStreetMap this weekend

Portland has always had an interesting geolocation contingent here in town—companies like Platial, gatherings like WhereCampPDX, and mobile apps like Ice Condor. So what better town to help with the OpenStreetMap project?

Portland has always had an interesting geolocation contingent here in town—with companies like Platial, gatherings like WhereCampPDX, and mobile apps like Ice Condor. So what better town to help with the OpenStreetMap project?

No better place, my friend.

That’s why the OpenStreetMap folks will be hosting two events this weekend. Read More

Platial on how social mapping will change the world

And today, I was completely blown away when I caught up on a series of posts by Portland-based Platial’s Di-Ann Eisnor, documenting her thoughts on “How neogeography will change the way we live.” After reading the series, you’ll never look at mapping the same way again.

I always wish companies took time to blog a little bit more. Share a little insight. Blow off some steam. Or even just tell us what they’re thinking.

Sometimes I think the folks running startups forget that they’ve got a great deal to share. That their experience or their failures or even just their focusing on a singular topic in excruciating detail gives them a unique vantage for which many of us mere mortals yearn.

That’s why I love people like David Abramowski who take the time to chronicle their journey.

And today, I was completely blown away when I caught up on a series of posts by Portland-based Platial‘s Di-Ann Eisnor, documenting her thoughts on “How neogeography will change the way we live.” After reading the series, you’ll never look at mapping the same way again. Read More