Auckland City for Microsoft Flight Simulator - Real New Zealand

Microsoft Flight Simulator comes with basic scenery for “Auckland” but the only way you’d see it looking like this is out the window of a real aircraft!

Godzone Virtual Flight have released Real New Zealand -- Auckland City "Base Pack" scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator . This is stunningly detailed photo real scenery for Auckland District from about Whangaparaoa to Pokeno including the inner Hauraki Gulf islands (Rangitoto, Waiheke, Ponui etc).

The image (right) shows the West Coast near O'Neill and Te Henga/Bethells Beach. You can see the coastline, beach and land textures are great and there is enough detail in the terrain mesh for reasonable modelling of most features. The CD includes Geographx 75m resolution “mesh” which provides the lumps and bumps in more detail than the default Microsoft scenery. It is also compatible with the newly-released Geographx 20 metre and 40 metre if you want even greater detail. A good demonstration of the impact detailed meshing can be seen on the Godzone or Geographix mesh pages .

The image (right) shows the end of the detail area at Whangaparaoa and gives a comparison between Real Auckland and default resolution. You can clearly see change in textures, autogen and coastline accuracy . In addition to detailed photographic scenery texture there are lots of detailed building models and even “entourage” such as boats in Westhaven. Part of the joy is spotting those familiar landmarks. As with the real city you see the Sky Tower from nearly everywhere..

One warning is that it does not include detailed airports. According to the website accurate, custom-built, photo-realistic airports within the Auckland area are being developed and will be available for purchase. Unfortunately existing detailed airports (such as Deane Bauntons Auckland 2002/2005) are not compatible but this scenery does provide a fantastic base for future releases.

If you Flightsim around Auckland, it’s a must have.

• There are more screen-shots, details, system requirements and purchase info at the Real New Zealand - Auckland Website

John Cleese in New Zealand when I'm not!

John Cleese is coming to New Zealand to perform a new one man show in early December. Problem for me is that I’ll be in Florida

A New Kiwi Car Lovers Blog

Aaron Bhatnagar and Robert Good have launched a new blog dedicated to cars.

Kiwi Car Lovers Blog

This blog is dedicated to cars. Your blog hosts are Aaron "Pablo" Bhatnagar and Robert "Puntiki" Good. We are car lovers - but we definitely don't always love the same cars. We look forward to posting info about cars and then rating them - and we invite you to submit no-holds barred comments on the cars we blog!

[Via RobiNZ Personal Blog]

Election '05 Leader (Southpark) Profiles

goNZo does the NZ Political Leaders as Southpark characters

goNZo Freakpower: Election '05 Leader Profiles

H2Gone ~ Austrialia Dries up:

In a post on “A Networked World” Earl comments on how Australia is drying up. A few days later the Sydney Morning Herald report even tougher water restrictions. His suggestion that New Zealand could be invaded by a horde of thirsty Aussies is rather terrifying. [See RobiNZ Personal Blog]

Maximus Leads Transatlantic Challenge:

The New Zealand super-maxi yacht Maximus took the lead in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge when the schooner Mari-Cha IV had to stop for 12 hours to repair damage...
[Full story at www.sfgate.com]

[Via RobiNZ Personal Blog]

Kea Blog - Kiwi Politics:

Jason Watson has a blog focusing mainly on NZ politics but also some current affairs and IT content. I found it via David Farrar’s and have added his feed to my subscription list, its well worth a read.

Kea Blog

“'Well', you may ask, 'why the Kea and not the Kiwi?' I mean no disrespect to our diminutive little flightless night crawler but I think the Kea is a much nobler, stronger bird (it's a bit like comparing the Bald eagle with a Spotted owl). In a fight between a Kea and a Kiwi you would be digging a Kiwi shaped grave.”

 

[Via RobiNZ Personal Blog]

BBC To Use NZ Weather Software:

The BBC have adopted a computer graphic system developed in NZ for their weather reports.

News Item: Xtra: Business News: BBC To Use NZ Weather Software

Blog Item with details on technology & history: Living in Paradise: Weatherscape XT and the BBC

Press Release (video samples): Metra - BBC launches new weather format using Weatherscape XT - 14 May 2005

[Via RobiNZ CAD Blog]

Businesses move into blogosphere - New Zealand Herald

The local paper wakes up to business blogging. Nothing new but adds a local spin to the whole business/blog debate. Was this prompted by the recent Business Week story?

Businesses move into blogosphere ~ The New Zealand Herald

[Via RobiNZ CAD Blog]

Experimenting with Blogger and Blogjet

This post will probably be the last on this blog.*

I started with another blog before trying Blogger and will continue there.

Friends had asked about a free service and I felt had to try Blogger before I could recommend they try it. It has been good but prefer the other solution for my work & content. The other reason for this was to try BlogJet with another service and that has been very successful.

If you want a great free blog, I recommend Blogger and if you want a great off-line post composition tool try BlogJet. The combination is great.

* I reserve the right to change my mind at any time :-)

AutoCAD 2006 Preview

RobiNZ Work Blog: AutoCAD 2006 Preview

Billy Connolly - World Tour of New Zealand

Billy Connolly’s series World Tour of New Zealand is currently screening here. The 100% Pure New Zealand site have a great page about the series including slides, stories and links to things & places seen in the show.

They also have a day by day route map. If you are planning a trip to NZ its a great place to start.

Billy Connolly in New Zealand
Filming magnificent sperm whales, having a cup of tea on a back road to no-where, eating shellfish plucked from the sand with local Maori…
These are just some of the memories Billy Connolly has of his unique tour of New Zealand for the fourth Billy Connolly World Tour television series. Guess what? You can have the very same experience.

World tour of New Zealand Route - Day by day maps and activities

His own site www.billyconnolly.com is awesome. “Isn’t it the best looking place you’ve ever seen?” he asks and it is!

Maximus: SuperMaxi racing yacht

I saw the new SuperMaxi racing yacht Maximus on the harbour for the first time on Sunday, while cycling. Unfortunately by the time I got a clear view from North Head for it was motoring.

Team EBS founders Charles Brown and Bill Buckley asked designer Greg Elliot to come up with the “fastest boat for its size”. Size was about the only criteria and at 30.5 metres (approx 100ft) overall length its huge! Comparison with the super-yacht and smaller boats around it (see photo) gives some idea of the scale.

Built by Cookson Boat Builders Maximus pushes the limits of SuperMaxi design with a carbon hull, canting (swing) keel and rotating wing mast. The links below show some of the design and technology behind this impressive project.

Next time, I’ll catch it in action!

Maximus Weblinks:

Video (Broadband and Dialup) featuring interviews with EBS bosses Charles Brown and Bill Buckley as well as members of the design team, boat builder and more.

Gallery: CAD design and tank testing

Maximus sea trials (Greg Elliot website news-page)

 

The New Zealand Edge

Kiwi's on The Edge

The New Zealand Edge : : www.nzedge.com

Ever since Columbus didn't dip over the precipice and disappear into the cosmos, or the first images of the earth's circumference from space were beamed back out to TV screens, people have taken easy comfort in the spherical outlines of planet earth - but no more - every week across (not around) the planet, thousands of New Zealanders are - upsetting assumptions, rocking equilibriums and putting the edge back into the globe.

Review of "The Way Up Tour - Toronto” - Pat Metheny Group

c h a n d r a s u t r a has superb reviews of Pat Metheny Group’s "The Way Up Tour -  Toronto” and the CD. While you are there, or if not a PMG fan, check out the other content and photo albums. It’s a lovely blog.

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Pat Metheny Group takes Toronto all The Way Up

“Even James Joyce, music lover that he was, couldn't help me come up with the adjectives to describe the experience of seeing Pat Metheny Group, on tour”

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Going all The Way Up with Pat Metheny Group

“For those of us who love jazz as a living thing, as an organic and vital form, TWU represents an epic achievement in jazz form”

The Way Up tour is extensive but, unfortunately, comes nowhere near New Zealand. Tokyo is the closest however 8,809km is a long way to go for a concert. The only way I’ve seen PMG perform to date is on DVD & I hope there will be one of this tour. Experiencing PMG Live is high on my “Must do before I die” list but arranging to be on the other side of the world at the right time is tricky.

PS: This post is green with envy

NZ Telco news

Some interesting stuff from computerworld.co.nz

Telecom keeping a wary eye on Skype
A third of NZ broadband users have Skype, telco says

But thats only 40,000! There are still only 120,000 broadband users in NZ?

Kiwis being used as guinea pigs…

Vodafone tries to trump 3G
NZ is 'renowned' as a testbed, carrier says

In 2000 the government gave a charitable trust $5 million to set up a 3rd mobile phone network (after Telecom, Vodaphone). Not much return so far other than “research”. It will be interesting to see how ACT MP Deborah Coddington gets on trying to follow this up…

Little action from $5m loan: 
'I think we can probably kiss that money goodbye,' says MP

 

World-first digital encyclopedia goes live online: Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

World-first digital encyclopedia goes live online: Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Prime Minister and Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark has launched Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, the first original, official, digital, national encyclopedia in the world.

[Via govt.nz News]

Te Ara is online at www.TeAra.govt.nz

‘Te ara’ in Maori means ‘the pathway’. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand offers many pathways to understanding New Zealand. When complete, it will be a comprehensive guide to the country’s peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy, institutions and society.

---

Te Ara consists of 9 themes, appearing progressively:

2005: New Zealanders – the arrival and settlement of the people.

2005: Earth, Sea and Sky – shaping forces such as geology, tides and climate.

2006: The Bush – New Zealand’s landforms, fauna and flora.

2007: The Settled Landscape – how people live in, use and change their environment.

2008: Trade and Exchange – the economy, business and city life.

2009: Connections – social groups, families and communities.

2010: Nation – systems of government and symbols of national identity.

2011: Daily Life – the customs, leisure activities and beliefs that make New Zealand unique.

2012: Creativity – arts, culture, invention and innovation.

In addition, between 2005 and 2008 there will be features on:

• 22 major geographic regions
• 50 iconic places such as Cape Reinga and Milford Sound.

NEW Hamilton to Auckland Road Cycling event

Event Promotions, who run the very successful 100 K Flyer (Rotorua to Taupo), are going to stage a road cycling event from Hamilton to Auckland on 11th September 2005.

Cycling News FLASH:
New and exciting Hamilton to Auckland Road Cycle event to cater for all!

It’s going to be a real beauty! This exhilarating ride starts at the renowned Te Rapa Race course, Hamilton, on Sir Tristram Avenue at 10am.  The majority of the 95 km distance is on peaceful country roads and travels on the west side of the Waikato River and finishes at the A&P grounds in Pukekohe.
For the comfort of riders, all support vehicles will travel up State Highway One.  Entry forms will be available from the middle of June. More information to come – watch this space!

If you still want to enter the Rotorua to Taupo 100 K Flyer – 2nd April 2005 – registration details are available on the website with late entry possible up to race day. They are expecting 3500 – 4000 riders this year. I did the ride in 2003 and its a great event. Mostly gentle rolling country and avoiding the main highway for the majority of the route. I missed last year as was on holiday in the South Island but hope to be there this year.

New CAD Blog aims to teach IntelliCAD

This arrived in the in-box, I’ve never been on a “press” mailing list before. I haven't used IntelliCAD but if you want to start this should help.

-----Original Message-----
From: ProgeSOFT

To: Press
Subject: New CAD Blog launched: "Learning IntelliCAD" powered by ProgeSOFT

 

A new CAD Blog to learn IntelliCAD (ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD) has just been launched.

Blog address is : http://news.progesoft.com/intellicad/

"Learning IntelliCAD" is the first blog 100% dedicated to learn the CAD (Computer Aided Design Software) software IntelliCAD. Every day tips and tricks are posted on the blog and users can actively participate with comments and opinions.

1 terabyte on Holographic disc?

Could 1 terrabyte on Holographic disc make the Blu-ray vs HD-DVD debate irrelevant?

Six firms form the HVD Alliance around 1TB disc - Engadget - www.engadget.com

While Sony and Toshiba (among others) are squabbling over Blu-ray and HD-DVD, CMC Fuji Photo, CMC Magnetics, and three other companies have rallied around Optware’s HVD technology—that’s Holographic Versatile Disc…

Optware

Holographic recording technology records data on discs in the form of laser interference fringes, enabling existing discs the same size as today's DVDs to store more than one terabyte of data (200 times the capacity of a single layer DVD), with a transfer rate of over one gigabit per second (40 times the speed of DVD). This approach is rapidly gaining attention as a high-capacity, high-speed data storage technology for the age of broadband…