Free data, maps – unique insights

I am launching today another service which is a part of a bigger development project I am currently implementing. It is called Thematic Reports Series – free PDF download module. There is so much interesting data floating around that can be converted, with a little bit of effort, to insightful information and knowledge! The tools to do that conversion and dissemination are not integrated into end-to-end solution so, I am taking on the challenge with aus-emaps.com site to bridge the gaps. The first module was the reference map service launched just a couple of weeks ago. PDF download is the second piece in the puzzle, and more are yet to come.

I have chosen personal taxation statistics as the topic for the first free report. “Canberra’s Investment Habits by Postcode” is not an easy read but I hope it will generate some interest in the local community. Information is published as a series of interactive maps and as a hardcopy report in PDF format. Users have to sign up with aus-emaps.com to download PDF version of the report but maps are fully shareable. More on the report content in the follow up post.

Last Call for Google I/O

For those of you who were quick to register, we thank you for continuing to support our developer initiatives — this year’s I/O is slated to be one of our best yet. For the rest of our developers, we weren’t kidding when we told you we <3 our developers.

Starting Wednesday, March 16, we will be launching Last Call for Google I/O: A contest that spans 10 days, 10 developer challenges and 100 chances to win tickets to attend the now-sold-out Google I/O 2011.

Here’s how it works. We will announce a new challenge on the contest site on select dates at either 9am or 4pm PDT, that will last for 24 hours each. There will be 10 days of challenges with 10 winners on each day, spanning the following developer products:

  • March 16 – Android, 9:00 am
  • March 17 – Chrome, 9:00 am
  • March 18 – App Engine, 9:00 am
  • March 21 – YouTube APIs, 9:00 am
  • March 22 – Game Developers, 9:00 am
  • March 23 – Google Maps / Geo, 4:00 pm
  • March 24 – Commerce, 9:00 am
  • March 25 – Developer Tools / GWT, 9:00 am
  • March 28 – Accessibility, 4:00 pm
  • March 29 – Google Apps / Enterprise, 4:00 pm

Each of the challenges will focus on one of our developer products and has two rounds. Plan to be in front of your computers for the first half-hour that the challenge starts to complete a series of questions for Round I, which will qualify you for the main coding challenge in Round II. You will have a little over 20hrs to complete Round II.

We want to make sure that we provide the opportunity to attend Google I/O to as many developers as possible and hope you’re feeling up to the task. The contest is valid in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia with winners being announced on April 4. And don’t forget that we will be livestreaming the keynotes and taping sessions during Google I/O. Stay tuned!

Curie on The Easy Life

“Life is not easy for any of us.
But what of that? We must
have perseverance.”

–Marie Curie (1867–1934)

French physicist and chemist

two-time Nobel Prize winner

It took a lot to bring in your customers. Make sure you keep them by continually radiating the sales culture internally. When you see an opportunity, seize it (for the good of everyone).

Sales results can be directly affected by the actions of your entire team – your receptionist, your implementation people, the people in collections, your delivery people. In some cases, you may not even know it.

Be the positive spark to others. It’s the right thing to do and it’ll help you sell (and retain) more as a result.