Santa Tracker Race: Google’s Santa Tracker vs. NORAD

[bananas]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/12/santa-tracker-race-googles-santa-tracker-vs-norad/

Dec 23, 2012 6:27am
Santa Tracker Race: Google’s Santa Tracker vs. NORAD

Only on the Internet could you find two tech companies competing to track Santa. Last week NORAD, which has tracked Santa since 1955, announced its new Internet Santa service. While it still tracks Santa and his reindeer on Christmas, it replaced Google Maps with Microsoft’s Bing Maps.

But Google’s not giving up on the business of tracking Mr. Claus. Using its Google Earth and Google Maps products, the Internet search giant is tracking Santa on its own this year with a new algorithm. Yes, that means you’ve got two Santa tracker options to pick from starting Christmas Eve.

<snip>

The new Santa Tracker doesn’t only live on the web at http://www.google.com/santatracker though. There is now a new Chrome extension and Android app to let you follow Santa. Conversely, NORAD’s apps, which it has worked on in partnership with Microsoft, are available for the iPhone and Android and Windows Phone 8 smartphones.

However, Google’s got more to offer on the entertainment front. It’s built out an entire Santa site where you can provide information about your a friend or family member and have Santa give them a call or send them an audio message via email. There are also a few games. The Santa Racer game lets you navigate Santa’s sleigh through a track and collect presents and the Present Drop game lets you drop presents into moving chimneys.

<snip>

[bananas]

1. Norad To Track Santa With WebGL - IE Users Left Out

I haven't verified this, but I wouldn't be surprised:

http://www.i-programmer.info/news/145-mapping-a-gis/5164-norad-to-track-santa-with-webgl-ie-users-left-out.html

Norad To Track Santa With WebGL - IE Users Left Out
Written by David Conrad
Tuesday, 04 December 2012 09:52

Every year Norad uses its radar to track the progress of Santa so that children everywhere can know where their presents are. This year the operation goes even more high tech with the use of WebGL to create a 3D location map. The only problem is that IE users can't view the page because IE doesn't support WebGL. So instead of a 3D lollipop, IE users get a blank screen cinder from Santa.

Well OK, not a blank screen, the app falls back to a 2D map display on IE but this isn't exactly the Christmas magic you might have hoped for. To view Santa's track in glorious 3D you need a WebGL supporting browser and for desktop users this means installing Chrome or Firefox.

The 3D visualization of Santa's location uses the Cesium open source virtual globe which is built on top of WebGL. There are some simulations available on the Cesium site but of course as the blog says:

<snip>

The blog is also very clear about the reasons for using WebGL and the requirements for viewing the graphics:

WebGL is available on most modern browsers, including Chrome and Firefox, and on all major desktop operating systems: Windows, Linux, and Mac.

It doesn't explicitly say that if you are using IE you can't play in 3D but it does provide upgrade instructions to Chrome or Firefox.

<snip>

[bananas]

2. This one seems better

http://thesantatracker.com/
They have a map, streaming radio, and check out their ustream channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-santa-tracker

[Throckmorton]

3. My dad talks of tracking Santa with the Search radar while on duty at the HA-67 NIKE site in 1962.

Son, he said, "Santa is Joe Stalin's Grandfather, thats why he wears a Red Suit".

"One turn towards Pratt and Whitney and we were gonna light him up with the Target Acquisition RF Set".

Dad always drank a little to much on Christmas Eve.

[Bucky]

4. I didn't get jack shit for Christmas. I thought I'd been bad. No, Santa was using Bing Maps.

Dumbass elf.