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I have to get some things off my chest but first just know that most people in Arizona drive around with a lasso in their truck for just such an occasion.

1. Most people are very familiar with responsive web design.  The concept where a website automatically reformats itself to best fit on the size screen or type of device you have.  Awesome stuff right?  Rarely do I have to pinch and zoom on a website anymore.  Yet I’m still seeing tons of (mostly government) mapping applications fail completely on smartphones and tablets.  The mapping libraries are available to handle things, just need to get people to actually use it.
2. Apple Maps released an update today.  Much of it is just better support to find things but they did go the eye candy route.  I don’t know about you but I find 3D mapping a huge pain in the rear on mobile devices. Heck I can’t even remember the last time I opened up Google Earth (quick check, nope I don’t have it installed on this MacBook).  Sure the idea that Big Ben has the correct time is pretty cool from a technologist perspective but the user in me just wants to have transit mapping and better traffic results.  That’s how you get me to use the map on my iPhone.
3. Looks like Apple is also ready to release more details on their smart watch.  I’ve seen some really amazing things with the Android Wear products and one can only think that the Apple Watch will push the envelope more.  Personally I like the idea of my watch telling me which way to turn while walking in a city.  I suspect we’ll see lots more this summer with mapping and smart watches.
4. Middleware is so dated, except in our line of business.  If there is nothing a GIS developer likes more is inserting multiple levels of severs between an application and a database.  Paul Ramsey said on my hangout that he thinks that PostGIS is about feature complete.  That’s why I think the magic moving forward will happen in the direct visualization of databases in the browser.
5. Pitchers and catchers have reported.  Spring is here and the boys of summer are working hard.  Don’t worry about me though, it’s an odd year and that means the Giants won’t win the World Series.  Next year though be ready!