From time to time I need to track “lost” devices used by employees. But I’m always disappointed that, AFAIK, no single app has all the features basic features:

• Remotely activate GPS on the “lost” device. Androidlost and Airdroid does this well.

• Frequent updates with heading and speed. (Low bandwidth protocol like UDP ??) And while the GPS is waiting for a lock, display the satellite reception strengths.

• Support both phones and tablets.

• Easy to use authentication, like Airdroid.

• Easily allow groups to track each other. Just like adding people to a hangout.

• Chase the “lost” device with another android. On reflection, the simpler the better. Distance and bearing is enough: http://xkcd.com/407/

Take a look at the edits of user chdr. He’s adding street names in many different countries on 4 or 5 continents. Seems highly unlikely that he surveyed it himself.

He never uses source tags or changeset comments and he didn’t respond to my PM on the subject. So where does he get his data from ?

osm.org/browse/changeset/11120321

A year ago I learned of the SoTM scholarships. My old expired less than 3 months after the conference, which means that European Union countries will not issue a visa in it. So I immediately applied for a new passport, knowing that the delays at the department of Home Affairs increased after they upgrade the security features on the documents they issue.

After I received the scholarship, it was a couple of nervous weeks while I waited for the passport, but fortunately it all worked out. As I explained in a previous post, it turned out to be a big adventure :
osm.org/user/Nic%20Roets/diary/7243

The conference has confirmed (to me at least) that OpenStreetMap is vibrant and growing, and since then I've done a lot of work for the project: I've upgraded my Gosmore map viewer with 3D, improved lowzoom and rendering and improved user interface. Routing has also improved, but it still needs some work.

I also teamed up with slashme to map soccer stadiums ahead of the FIFA World Cup (Soccer city near Soweto and The Royal Bafokeng stadium near Rustenburg).

I mapped Hilbrow, Florida Lake and few of the older suburbs of Johannesburg on my own. The city was established a little more a century ago. Much of the growth was due to rich gold deposits and the resultant high demand for labour. But lately, vast numbers of economic refugees have arrived from all over the African continent.