Google Developer Day

Today I went to Google Developer Day 2007 with my colleagues. (Photos here). This is a free event held by Google simultaneously around the world (Tokyo, Brazil, US, UK etc). It was held in Technology Park, Redfern. Since this is a free event, tickets were gone really fast! Fortunately I have reserved my ticket 2 months ago!

In this event, Google showcases their popular products such as Google Maps, Ajax, Google Web Toolkit, GData, and also announcing for the first time, their 2 newest products:

• Google Gear - an open source technology that allows you to take your web application offline and still able to run it! It install a small sized local SQL database to your local machine (while disconnected from the server) and enables you run Javascript asynchronously. Aaron Boodman was presenting this by unplugging his laptop from the network in the middle of the talk! And he's still able to run his url-based slideshow and change database content! Review here. This is way beyond cool! You gotta to check it out!


• Google Mapplets - mini-applications you can embed within the Google Maps site. Example is real estate search, restaurants search, etc. Using gadgets, it can manipulate map with Javascript calls that are derived from Google Maps API.

A few weeks back, Google chooses 5 finalists of websites that best use and implement their Google Map mashups. One of these finalists is www.propertyguru.com.au (check it out!) - they are our company website made by the Australian Property Monitors team. It features a really simple to use search function and great functional Google Maps to help users look for property. In today's event, all 5 finalists showcase their website and visitors will vote which one they think is the best Google Maps implementation. By the end of the day, it was announced that the winner was *drum rolling*..... Property Guru !!! Congrats to Lachlan, George, and the rest of APM team! :) Photos of the award ceremony is available in my Picasa album.