Google Maps Indoors

The nice folk over at Google have come up with another handy tool, Google Maps - indoors! Pretty useful for airports and, well, I'm not sure what else, but apparently shopping malls are on the priority list over at Google. 

Pretty limited right now, I'm sure the list will grow. It'd be nice to see every (large) airport on the list, but honestl, I'm not sure what else needs to be.

Indoor Maps availability (love that IKEA is also on there):

United States

• Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
• Boise International Airport (BOI)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• George Bush Houston International Airport (IAH)
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
• Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• Portland International Airport (PDX)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
• DDR Corp. shopping centers in Puerto Rico, including Plaza del Atlántico in Arecibo, Plaza del Sol in Bayamon, Plaza Rio Hondo in Bayamon, Plaza del Norte in Hatillo, Plaza Palma Real in Humacao and Senorial Plaza in Rio Piedras
• Vallco Shopping mall in Cupertino, CA
• Brixmor Property Group including Eagle Rock Plaza in Los Angeles, CA
• Mall of America
• Macy's*
• Bloomingdale's*
• Home Depot*
• Ikea*

*Various locations

Japan

• Narita International Airport
• Haneda Airport, International Terminal
• Haneda Airport, Domestic Terminal
• JR East in Tokyo and Chiba (main stations)
• Tokyu Corporation (main stations)
• Tokyo Midtown
• Daimaru
• Matsuzakaya
• Tokyu
• Mitsukoshi
• Takashimaya
• Odakyu
• Isetan
• Keio
• Matsuya
• Seibu
• Tobu
• Printems Ginza
• Marui
• Marunouchi Building
• Shin-Marunouchi Building
• Marunouchi OAZO
• Marunouchi BRICK SQUARE
• TOKIA Tokyo Building
• Shibuya 109
• 109 MEN'S
• Miraikan
• Roppongi Hills
• Venus Fort
• Tokyu Hands Ikebukuro
• DECKS TOKYO BEACH
• remy gotanda
• LaLa port TOYOSU
• The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)

That's my Old Chevy

"It's not just the car. It's all the memories and the feelings - it brings all that back."

"Herb Younger thought we were a film crew documenting three generations of an American family. Little did he know, we conspired with his two sons, Jared and Derek, to return his long-lost Impala. The rest, as you'll see, is history. A 1965 Chevy Impala SS is more than a car to the Younger family, it's what binds them together. To pay for his sons' education, Herb Younger was forced to sell his beloved '65 Impala. Two decades later, they found a way to pay him back."

It's honest, it's true, and it's simple. I really like this idea. 

Via Adverblog

Oh JCPenney...

Can't seem to start this post in the right way. There are too many negative things I want to say and not enough ways to say them. I'll start from the beginning.

JCPenney thinks it's a totes neat idea to give people a QR code, sorry, 'Santa Tag' with every gift they buy this holiday season. You can then use the Santa Tag to record a message, which is then played back when the recipient scans it. You know the deal.

The FAQs don't say how long the message can be, and I'm presuming not very long, which is a shame as in my mind leaving long, stupid messages is the only half-decent fun that could possibly come out of this. Anyway, watch the video, look at the FAQs - does anyone want to go through so much bloody effort to 'make' their Santa Tag? Never mind that, when you get a gift, would you rather glance at a handwritten card or take out your phone, scan the sodding Santa Tag, and sit their and listen to what's probably a very short message? Anyone? 

Pardon the rant. QR codes can really rub me up the wrong way. Everyone watch this, it's really very educational.