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Filed under: Internet, Google

Google Earth gets weather, new layer layout

Google Earth Weather
Google has rolled out a few new layers for Google Earth and a redesigned layer menu to help keep them tidy. Major categories get their own heading, while sub-directories are folded into, well, subdirectories.

For example, Google Earth 4.2 now includes a weather layer with sub-folders for clouds, radar, conditions and forecasts, and information. The clouds information is updated hourly with data from the Naval Research laboratory in Monterey. The radar information is updated every 15 mminutes, while Weather.com provides forecasts.

You can also download KML files showing the last 24 hours of cloud data or 6 hours of radar data.

Google has also added the MDG Monitor, a layer that shows how countries are doing in meeting the Millennium Development Goals to do things like combat poverty and hunger, improve education, fight HIV/AIDS.

[via Google LatLong]

Filed under: Internet, Blogging, Web services, Social Software

Tumblr updates bring new bookmarklet, Radar discovery page, API and much more


We're beginning to wonder if David Karp and the others behind Tumblr, the increasingly cool tumblelog service, have forgotten the meaning of the word 'sleep,' as some recent updates have brought even more coolness to the table. First up is a dramatically improved bookmarklet that gives users a lot more control over what they're posting and how. To its credit, the previous bookmarklet was pretty smart about knowing whether you want to share things like a quote, a picture or a video, but it didn't give you a say in the matter. Now, the new tabbed version (officially version 3) puts the choice back into your hands, just in case you have something different in mind than what Tumblr's clever javascript choses.

Next on the big-hitters list is Tumblr.com/Radar (in alpha, cuz beta is so yesterdy), a page that lets you watch the new posts appearing across all Tumblr blogs. This is a great idea, though we figure this should simply be the main page for Tumblr.com to help introduce those who are new to the concept of a tumbelog and to help potential users get the ball rolling (Exhibit A: the del.icio.us main page).

Other notable changes include a clean new theme added to the growing list, dynamic quote sizes for quote posts, new 'links with descriptions' and 'YouTube Videos' options for feed importing and something that should put a smile on the face of developers and blog hackers everywhere: an official Tumblr API.

Nice work yet again for the service that makes stream-of-conscious blogging perhaps easier than it should ever be.

Filed under: Fun, Internet, E-mail, Web services, Social Software

Radar mobile photo sharing app

post videos and pictures with radar

With Radar, users can take pictures with a mobile phone or digital camera and send it directly to Radar as a picture email message, then choose which friends can instantly see it from a phone or PC. Think Twitter on steroids.

To get the process started, you have to sign up for a free account, and pick a unique username. When account information is submitted users are presented with a unique Radar email address. This is the email address where you would send pictures or videos either from your mobile camera phone, or from your desktop PC. Once they have been uploaded to your personal account, friends and contacts can then post comments and share their thoughts on your pictures and videos through a special invitation code you send them. Just another way to incorporate your mobile lifestyle into an online social setting.

[via Mashable]

Filed under: Internet, Web services

Weather.com introduces interactive maps

Weather.com introduces interactive maps
I admittedly don't spend any significant amount of time at Weather.com, but a little birdie who does just tipped us off to a new Interactive Weather Map beta that still has that new feature shine to it. The map offers full drag-able goodness, with the ability to swap between Radar, Clouds and Clouds + Radar coverage. On-the-fly transparency of said coverage is also present, as well as a slow-frame animation for those who want to get their amateur weather man on.

All of this is powered by Microsoft's Virtual Earth, and it is indeed an impressive piece of (beta) work, though I can't find any sort of press release or wiz-bang announcement. Now, if Weather.com could only introduce a new 'Reliable Weather™' option (even an alpha would be fine), we'll be in business.

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