In+ersec+ion for Spatial People

Here's the recent Google-related geonews.

From official sources:

• Discussed over Slashdot as a story named Google To Allow Location Service Opt-out, Google effectively now allows you to opt out your wireless access point (such as your wireless router) out of their Google Location Server database
• The developer blog introduces the new Maps API Drawing Library: "The Drawing Library provides a toolbox which enables users to draw markers, lines, and shapes on the map, much as they would in any drawing application. The tools can be used for collecting annotations from users, or for selecting regions to search or highlight. Applications can listen for events when overlays are added and respond accordingly, such as issuing the search query or saving the annotations to a database."
• Less clicks: you can now see your rated places and discover new ones directly on Google Maps on your desktop or on Android
• You can apparently follow robotic wave gliders crossing the Pacific in Google Earth, here's what it looks like

From other sources:

• A story ran over Slashdot Monday about China Building Gigantic Structures In the Desert and seen in Google Earth, I waited to publish about it since I was expecting a followup, I was right (I'm not always right ;-), here's the entry named Giant Chinese Desert Mystery Structure Solved - and to spare you clicking, it's apparently spy satellite calibration targets, the GEB shows a screenshot of the very strange and large structures
• The GEB informs us how to Build your own Liquid Galaxy with the Fluid Nebula, what? In short, it allows you to get Google Earth running on multiple screens at the right angles and control movement via your smartphone or tablet
• APB reports that Adwords location targeting interface got updated
• SS mentions "the possibility that Google might deploy robots to photograph streets for Google Maps"
• Ogle Earth blames Google for photography regulatory scrutiny in Slovenia
• Kurt Schwehr announced he's joining Google to work as a GIS Data Engineer on oceans
• The GEB also posted entries on Exploring Mauna Loa in Google Earth and the Duke University unveiling an excellent 3D Campus Map

Here's the recent Google-related geonews in batch mode.

From the official sources:

• For developers, Google shared an entry on managing and visualizing your location based data with Fusion Tables and another one on High Performance KML for Maps and Earth
• Google informs us building outlines now appear in London, Paris, Barcelona, and more
• Google announced Google AdWords Express for local businesses and that Places Pages has been improved
• They shared an entry on Keeping an ‘eye’ on the 2011 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons
• Google added large geographic features in Google Earth, such as the Alps and the Sahara Desert
• Google has an entry named UNITAR/UNOSAT team up with Google Map Maker to boost impact of community mapping for disaster relief and humanitarian aid
• Google has an entry celebrating Marine Day with Google Earth exploration of the ocean with Japan's Skinkai 6500
• Here's an entry on the evolution of the look of Google Maps from 2009 to 2011
• Google shared an entry on last week's imagery update, with tens of countries getting fresh imagery

From other sources:

• The GEB shares an interesting tool to find out what you are allowed to do with Google Maps and Google Earth, license-wise
• SS mentions that Google and SAP are teaming up for geovisualization of business analytics
• The FGT blog lists Geodetic Tools For Google Earth
• Ogle Earth offers a long entry on South Sudan's northern border discrepancies between Google Earth and other sources
• Another entry on Ogle Earth indicates satellite corroborates accounts of a massacre in Sudan and is visible in Google Earth
• The GEB shared an entry on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu in Google Earth
• Here's an entry on Google Earth in the Classroom with StrateLogica