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Fun with Google Maps

Capsi

Future scenario: a reader finds a concert or venue on my new site. The address is listed, pictures of past shows appear.. all is good and fun. But wouldn't it be nice to know where exactly the venue can be found? It would!

Well, it looks like that's exactly what I'll be offering. Here's an example showing the local pub on a satellite/map hybrid view, generated using a .klm file I saved from Google Earth (and will be dynamically generating once I add coordinates for venues to the database).

/img/journal/20070726-googlemaps.png

Still needs some work (custom icons, more venues, a label for the venue selected, links to the venue page of other venues showing in the area).. but nonetheless I'm happy.

Integrate AdSense with Google Analytics

Software

Yesterday I found a great resource: the ability to track AdSense clicks in a Google Analytics account. This gives publishers a more advanced way to track their best-performing content, as well as the ability to analyse cross-segment performance. As a further benefit, this makes URL and content channels in AdSense a bit redundant, allowing publishers to focus on style/shape/positioning channels in the actual AdSense reports.

Landlord Rob

Personal

Apparently the pub registered me with Jameson as their top Jameson drinker, which might or might not have to do with all the Irish coffee I order.

Anyway, this mean I'll get a certificate and deed for a couple of square feed in Ireland. I'm going to be a landowner in Ireland.

That's kind of neat considering Google has approached me again for a job interview. Their European tech centre is in Dublin so the more land I own there the easier it would be to relocate. :-)

eCPM Calculations

Software

Those of you who've been talking to me recently must be aware that I've been working hard on a new project, based on the profile, calendar, photography and journal functionalities of this site in a far more professional way.

Even though a large part of the motivation comes from a private passion for technology and music, there's a chance that the new site would become more than a hobby. It could very well generate substantial extra income on top of my 9-5 and possibly even serve as a complete substitute for work. Ergo, I did some calculations and made a graph showing the number of pageviews a month required for certain amounts of income, based on pessimistic, expected and optimistic levels of Google Adsense eCPM (average advertisement income per thousand banner impressions).

Bottom line? A tenfold increase of visitors would give me a free trip to London or new Ed Hardy shoes every month. A twentyfold increase would allow me to start working part-time. A hundredfold increase would let me retire alltogether. I'm not convinced that the last option is a realistic one, but the first two sound like something I can pull off.

Definitely to be continued. :-)

(PS: if you want a sneak preview, drop a comment or send me a text/mail.)

(PPS: Arjan, if you read this.. is Operation Valkyrie still on the radar?)

Google Censorship

Software

Let's see.. we already had Google Search, Groups, News. Earth, Maps, Mail, Talk and Froogle. And Google Calendar. And now also Google Spreadsheets. I maintain: the KGB, Gestapo and Chicoms must be jealous of Google. Not too surprising then that China and Google remain bedfollows.

It is somewhat worrisome that a top player in data mining, centralisation, analysis and trending is trying to find a way to work with censorship, somehow, instead of outright rejecting it. Does the "don't be evil" mentality still apply? And if not.. then little prevents the eventual appearance of a CEO who realises Google can offer exactly what these totalitarian powers want. And then concludes to go for it, after all on the long run it never did IBM any harm.

That is surely a worst case scenario (unless you include Google selling us out to the Chicoms), but it wouldn't be evil of Google to show some backbone now.

Google is sorry

Software

Someone pointed out an error with my mail server. I wanted to check out what's up, but Google won't let me search for "mail error: H3.1".

We're sorry...

... but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now.

We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we'll see you again on Google.

I'm disappointed. For all the data-mining Google could do, you'd think they'd know the there's no operating sytem nor user behind this IP address who is very likely to get infected with malware.

"Google Earth helps terrorists"

European Union

I'm no fan of Google, or at least I'm not a fan of their editorial staff when it comes to the selection of "News" sources. But to say that Google Earth helps terrorists, that's a bit over the top if you ask me. If you can, also read Arjan's excellent Dutch writeup.

Both politicians and police are concerned that certain locations in the Netherlands, such as the port of Rotterdam, the royal palace in the Hague and Amsterdam Airport, already potential terrorist targets, could be made more vulnerable to terrorists thanks to the detailed images created from satellites and aircrafts within the last three years available via Google Earth.

Technically it's fair point: a free flow of information benefits everyone, including the bad guys.
But when actual possesion of blueprints and weapons is not a terrorist threat in the Netherlands, I don't think government should waste time on matters like these.

Google Searchbar Madness

Software

Well, the fifth session of a dozen tries seems to have resolved my issues with the Google searchbar: my KDE and Konqueror are free of bloat again (I prefer IKWS). Still wondering what caused the first 59 times to fail though, that's a pretty nasty bug. KDE disagreed with me so much that it almost felt like I was using Windows again.

I wonder when we upgrade to the A9 toolbar.

© Copyright 1995-2008 Robert John Kaper. All rights reserved.

Tom has more friends but mine are prettier! (#1/1)