nearby.org.uk blog » google

URLsnipper for Google URLs

Barry — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:27:06 +0000

I am often copy/pasting links to Google searches – particully on Google Maps. Nearly every time I have to hand edit the URL – mainly as I KNOW a large proportion is redundant. Quite frankly a long url is scary, and others know it too.

Anyway so I created a little script for my own use to cut down the URL automatically:

URLsnipper for Google URLs

It has a good understanding of Google Maps URLs, and reasonable for Google Web search, so it makes a fair attempt at deducing unneeded bits, however it also provides tickboxes to truely customise the result to your own taste

Example (a fairly mundane one)

will add support for other urls at some point, blogsearch, news etc.

Partly inspired by this

A transformation?

Barry — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:17:20 +0000

Looking back over the last few posts, it would seem I turning into a Google hater, I certainly seem to be finding more to fault, which seems a change from my previous fanboy antics.

Some things from Google (mainly Geo) roughly over the last year and my reaction: (in no particualr order…)

Good

Static Maps API
Earth Plugin and API
Chrome Browser!
Map Icons in Chart API
Reverse Geocoding (& BBOX on forward)
StreetView
High resolution Imagry (including Wales/UK)

Bad

No PhotoOverlay or 3D-navigator in Earth Plugin
Google Installers and Updaters – a mess
Google Maps API Terms of Service.
Google Pages shutting down (sites is NOT a real replacement atm)
No Google Spell Check for Chrome (as no toolbar), and other minor irritations
Slow development on Google Maps – particully MyMaps (and MyMaps API)

Indifferent

Google Earth 4.3 a disapointment (plus no real upgrades since)
Help Forums – good, but not there yet…
GeoWeb Search API – close, but no cigar

… so its not all bad, I guess just getting more worked up about the bad, and don’t really have anything to say about the good.

Content on Google somehere, somehow?

Barry — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:03:25 +0000

I don’t know if anyone is interested in this stuff, but have been for a long time being trying to make sence of the various ‘geo’ properties operated by Google and quite a bit on how to get indexed and exposure for your content.

Update: There has been some misconception about what this diagram represents – it is only intended to cover getting content in KML/KMZ files on your website listed and indexed in Google Properties. It’s sort of murky in that content you submit to other websites are sort of included to show they end up in various indexes. It does not cover business listings at all which for the most part is sepetate totally.

GeoIndex Overview Diagram

Links for the purple circles:

probably incomprehensible, but hopefully useful to someone? Questions or feedback welcome.

Update: notable perhaps for its exclusion, is Outreach – Oops, version 2 perhaps?