Slashgeo

Geoweb Guru shares a short technical overview of MapGuide, both the Enterprise and Open Source versions. From the review; "MapGuide is a web-based map platform that includes both server and client components. It is currently available in two forms: "MapGuide Open Source" from the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) under the Lesser GPL license; and as "Autodesk MapGuide for Enterprise" directly from Autodesk. [...] The open source version lacks connectivity to data stores to a number of data stores (eg. Oracle), AutoCAD integration, and localized versions. As would be expected for an open source application without a commercial support license, it also lacks additional quality assurance and formal support - both are included with purchases of MapGuide for Enterprise licenses. [...] Despite the design successes of the MapGuide architecture, it has been criticised for a number of limitations. Most MapGuide applications have to rely on a client plug-in, ActiveX control, or Java applet. This client-side plug-in is then controlled using JavaScript. [...] Although MapGuide ships for both Linux and Windows, it is generally recognised as being very Windows-centric." See also related stories below.

om_henners writes "Tomislav Hengl has just released has new book, A Practical Guide to Geostatistical Mapping over at http://spatial-analyst.net/book/. The book is available for free browsing online and as a free PDF download, or you can order a printed copy. The book is made up of lecture material for a PHD course teaching spatial analysis using open source software. All the datasets used in the book are available at the homepage as well."

Barend Gehrels writes "GGL (Generic Geometry Library) has been accepted into Boost. Boost is "...one of the most highly regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the world."

The Review Report can be found here: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lib.boost.devel /197108
GGL can be found here: http://trac.osgeo.org/ggl
Boost can be found here: http://www.boost.org/"
We mentioned the GGL last February

Here's recent book reviews found on the geoblogs. V1 offers a review of "Rethink­ing Maps" by Mar­tin Dodge, Rob Kitchin and Chris Perkins: "The book 'Rethinking Maps - New frontiers in cartographic theory' is not only about mapping today, it describes where mapping might be in the future and provides insightful considerations for thinking about the many changes happening in the pursuit of cartography." The Map Room offers information on Frank Jacobs' Strange Maps book, including a link to an interview of the Author: "An intriguing collection of more than one hundred out-of-the-ordinary maps, blending art, history, and pop culture for a unique atlas of humanity" TMR also links to a review of "The Fourth Part of the World" by Toby Lester: "This is a very impressive book: always user-friendly but never dumbed-down and covering an extraordinary range of subject matters. The best popular book on cartography, in fact, since Nicholas Crane’s Mercator; and that is high praise indeed." Finally, not really a book, but the journal "Cartographic Perspectives" has made available its issue 64.

A little over a week ago, Bjørn Sandvik of the Thematic Mapping blog and its open source engine shared his research paper named "Using KML for Thematic Mapping". From the blig entry: "My research paper, Using KML for Thematic Mapping, is now available for download (PDF, 2.3 MB). This is the first part of my MSc GIS thesis from University of Edinburgh. The second part of my thesis, describing the Thematic Mapping Engine, is already available on this page. The thesis was awarded with distinction and an invitation to Googleplex." See also previous thematic mapping stories below.

Geoweb Guru offers a book review of "Google Maps Mashups with Google Mapplets" by Michael Young. From the review: "This short book is an introduction to creating Google Mapplets - small web gadgets that are hosted by Google and use Google Maps. As well as introducing mapplets, the book builds a mashup application that uses scripts hosted on a separate website to poll and parse data for the mapplet. The book assumes some beginner-level knowledge of JavaScript and PHP. Some knowledge of Google Maps and XML is probably also helpful. If you have a high level of expertise in these areas, then you can probably work out how to use mapplets effectively without the need for this book. However, the book could serve as a helpful get-you-started book for those with more limited knowledge. [...] So why would you want to buy this book and work with Mapplets instead of the more traditional Google Maps API? As well as the fact that Mapplets work as gadgets alongside Google Maps, they are hosted by Google. This takes care of a lot of the housekeeping chores - eg. having an API identifier, checking the browser is Google Maps compatible, etc. On the downside, Mapplets communicate with Google Maps asynchronously, and obtaining data from an external server (ie. the developer's) is more complicated." See also previous Mapplets stories below.

I'm leaving to FOSS4G tomorrow, here's your dose of geonews. Don't hesitate to submit geonews to help out the other Slashgeo editors during my absence. GeoExt 0.6 has been released, including 34 new features. James Fee runs a discussion about Google va OpenStreetMap crowdsourcing competing efforts. Google now allows you to report errors on Google Maps data. Here's DM's article named Google's Michael Jones on Crowdsourcing. Not exactly related but still interesting, MapAction uses OpenStreetMap for Philippines response. Mandown offers advice regarding problems with running out of registry space with MS Windows 7 and ArcGIS 9.3.1. The Map Room shares a review of the Map Addict book by Mike Parker and an entry on colour-blind maps for the U.K. There's an augmented reality mashup event in London next week. Slashdot has a story about Acer's 3D laptop, which is obviously related to 3D visualization. APB have stories about iPhone nav apps and the MapQuest iPhone app now available. The Dataset of the Day is a breast cancer rates map. VS share a USDA crop explorer tool. Spatial Sustain offers an entry on mapping muslim populations worldwide and another one on the role of GIS in combatting climate change. Kurt offers a review of the SPOT tracking service. The Google Maps API is now available in 40 languages. Finally, the FGT blog shares an open source .Net control for map display. Please do a search to find previous related stories.