RobiNZ CAD Blog

Has Google purchased Esri?

Did you wonder why — as of January 20, 2015* — Google Earth Pro licenses were made free? I don’t use Google Earth often and, although happy not to have to deal with disappearing Earths, didn’t really think much about it. Last week I got a link to a blog post by someone who has clearly thought about it a great deal. Duane's hypothesis is rather intriguing, especially for Esri GIS users. Google has purchased Esri | Duane Wilkins | LinkedIn "Go large or go home" they say, so here goes. Here's my take on the new GooEsrigle relationship. The... Read more →

Thoughts on the demise of Google Reader

Google are killing Reader, their RSS feed aggregator: Official Blog: A second spring of cleaning “We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favorite websites. While the product has a loyal following, over the years usage has declined. So, on July 1, 2013, we will retire Google Reader.” Who cares about RSS? I do! Google cite declining Reader use and I wonder if Twitter and Facebook have killed RSS? While I use both, tolerating Facebook and loving Twitter, I still use RSS in the way I... Read more →

Cycling Directions now in Google Maps New Zealand

Yay, Google Maps now has cycling directions for New Zealand and Map Maker tools so we can add updates. Below you can see Google Maps suggested route from my suburb to the city. It routes cycles to the North Western Motorway (or freeway for US readers) in preference to a shorter suburban road route. Although cycles are not allowed on the motorway there is a cycle path beside it which is the safest way to town. The current route misses a short section of cycle path near Henderson and in the city. You can use the Map Maker tools to... Read more →

New Zealand Google Maps (and Earth) get Traffic!

There aren’t many people in New Zealand but we have more cars/head than most (~2.5 million cars/4 million people). Then consider not far off half the population live in one city and it is squeezed onto a narrow isthmus between two harbours*. So we do have traffic and now so do our Google Maps (UPDATE 2012-04-13: and Google Earth): Traffic Conditions for New Zealand on Google Maps Kiwi automobile commuters, we want to reduce your time stuck in traffic. Today we have expanded our live traffic coverage in Google Maps to cities in New Zealand. * My Glen Eden to... Read more →

Google New Zealand

Love today's www.google.co.nz look UPDATE 2010-02-03: And here is the story behind it: Kiwi Doodler’s work displayed for millions to see Today we're celebrating Kiwi kids’ return to school on the Google New Zealand homepage - with New Zealand’s inaugural Doodle 4 Google winning image replacing the Google logo for the day. Last year, for the first time, Google asked New Zealand students to give the Google logo a uniquely Kiwi makeover by creating a doodle to reflect the theme of ‘My New Zealand’. Eight-year-old Amelia Abbott of Nelson won the competition with her entry, ‘Green and Gorgeous’, and today's... Read more →

Google Earth Pro and the end of the world

My Google Earth Pro license expired. This was entirely my fault as Google Earth does warn you to renewal time is approaching but I hadn't used it for a while and forgot. However, because our firewall... Read more →

Walt Disney World in Google Earth

Disney have just released a remarkable 3D model collection on Google Earth covering the massive Walt Disney World® Resort, Orlando. The level of detail is incredible to the as you can see in the compa... Read more →

Design productivity secrets from "Google User Experience", and a flaw in their UX?

“UX is an acronym for "user experience." but many of the principles discussed apply to all design projects. ChangeOrder: Secrets of UX Design Productivity from Google Last Thursday, I attended a... Read more →

Google Maps for New Zealand

Google recently launched a localised version of their New Zealand map. We’ve had basic road/location info since last year but this adds search and links to local directories. It will even help you buy... Read more →

Satellite tracked Godwit expected in NZ today - 30,000 km to Alaska & back!

It’s a long-haul flight to nearly everywhere from New Zealand. Often you crawl off the plane with a sense of achievement for merely surviving the flight. Spare a thought for the little Godwit “E7” who... Read more →