Colin Klinkert Dot Com

A lot of people don’t realise it, but since May 2008, it has been possible to travel through the galaxy on your computer. That’s when Microsoft Research released the public beta of WorldWide Telescope, a powerful piece of downloadable desktop software that allows people to zoom through the galazy, visiting planets, constellations, even nearby galaxies.

The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a Web 2.0 platform that allows your computer to function as a virtual telescope—bringing together imagery from ground and space-based telescopes around the world for a seamless exploration of the universe.

You can choose from a growing number of tours of the sky guided by astronomers and educators from some of the most famous observatories and planetariums in the country. You can pause the tour, explore on your own, and then rejoin the tour if you like – just where you left off.

Since its release, almost 2 million people around the world have downloaded this free desktop observatory, called a “phenomenal resource for enthusiasts, students, and teachers,” by PC World.

This week (on March 24) Worldwide Telescope got a boost with the news that NASA and Microsoft are developing technology that will make content including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon explorable on WorldWide Telescope,

WorldWide Telescope has been nominated for two awards since its release – an American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) award and the Edison Award. The Edison Awards “symbolize the persistence and excellence personified by Thomas Alva Edison,” recognizing ingenuity, innovation, and creativity in the global economy.

Curtis Wong, and Jonathan Fay, from Microsoft Research drove the creation of Worldwide Telescope, and continue to enrich the telescope’s visuals and add features.

WorldWide Telescope provides a neat segway from inner space to outer space. With Virgin already booking flights for a real space trip, the world is moving ‘up and beyond’.

How long do you think it will be before you and I can take a trip to Space as if we were taking a trip to another country?

Adobe is well known for its photo and video editing software, but its most widely used product is a freebie used by millions of people: Flash technology. It is the technology working behind the scenes on many websites and web servers that allows users to enjoy video online.

As reported in the New York Times, Adobe is to announce that Flash is being extended to the TV screen at the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.

Shantanu Narayen, Adobe CEO, expects TVs and set top boxes supporting the Flash format to be on the US market later in 2009. The top benefit of Flash technology coming to the TV screen is that users will be able to watch the same videos on the PC, phones and TV screens.

Disney CTO Bud Albers said in a statement that his company is one of the backers of Flash on the TV, stating “Coming generations of consumers clearly expect to get their content wherever they want on it, on any device, when they want it. This gets us where we want to go.”

Thanks in part to Flash, Adobe is reporting impressive profit figures. It makes money by selling software that allows media creators to build Flash applications and video. Flash is installed on 98% of all computers and 80% of web videos are viewed using Flash technology. In 2008 Adobe reported income of $871.8 million on revenue of $3.6 billion.

Never one to give ground on any of its related markets, Microsoft is pushing a Flash alternative called Silverlight which it claims has better support for HD 1080p video content. Microsoft states that HD capability is vital in a form format that is to be standard for video on TV. Microsoft’s Brad Becker (a former Adobe executive) said, “I can’t imagine what could be more important on a television than high video quality.”

There’s not been a real competitor to Adobe for ages – Microsoft could just start bridging the gap between the PC and the TV more effectively.