When Google Street View launched in South Africa a few weeks ago I’m sure overall productivity took a dip as everyone searched for their own homes and of course those of their exes, friends and family.

Google Street View launched in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and according to Google “their cars have driven about 40 000 miles across South Africa.”  At the moment Street View covers 27 cities and towns including major cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.

One of the major benefits of Street View is that it makes flat or house hunting a lot easier.  You no longer have to drive to look at the surrounding area at the new place you are considering, you can do it from the comfort of your home.  With Street View you can see what type of shops are in close proximity, how the house or flat looks from the outside and what you neighbours’ places look like.  The eliminating process got so much easier!

The same goes for researching hotels, guest houses or holiday accommodation.  You no longer have to take their word that it is ‘a 5-star facility’ – you can check for yourself.  For those of us that are better directed by landmarks rather than maps, you can use Street View to check landmarks before you go to your next meeting.

It would be interesting to see how often Google is going to update the Street View images and what embarrassing South African Street View images we’re going to see  

GStreetSightings.com is dedicated to the best Google Street View sightings and some of them are very interesting indeed – go take a look!

The 2010 FIFA World Cup has generated quite a bit of online noise.  It has been called the biggest web event ever (even bigger than President Obama’s election campaign) and the amount of World Cup related tweets per second has set a new record.  Twitter on average process about 750 tweets per second but when Cameroon scored against Japan last Monday there were 2 940 tweets per second.  That’s a lot of online noise!

With the World Cup a number of apps, dedicated websites and video channels have been introduced.  Below are a few that stand out:

CNN introduced an interactive new section focused on the World Cup where you can keep up with all the World Cup action.

If you’re an iPhone user and want to keep up-to-date with match schedules, standings and more download the AP 2010 World Cup Coverage app for free from the iTunes store.

Don’t own a vuvuzela?  With the Pocket Vuvuzela iPhone app you can blow, shake your phone or press a button to make the vuvuzela horn sound.  Note:  this app is highly addictive

Interested in what happen behind the World Cup scenes?  Check our www.soccerbabe.co.za or their YouTube channel for the latest, juiciest soccer gossip.

What is your favourite app or website to keep up-to-date with the World Cup happenings? Share it in the comments section!

Awesome Note

If you like making lists and ticking things off then this app is a must-have.  Awesome Note allows you to ‘organise your life’ by allowing you to update and manage your to-do list as well as to make and save notes and memos on-the-go.

mSecure Password Manager

Never forget a password again!  mSecure Password Manager allows you to securely managing and store sensitive information like log-in and bank details.  The app is available from the iTunes app store for $2.99.

Pocket Universe

Interested in astronomy or want to learn more about the night sky?  Pocket Universe allows you to ‘carry the stars in your pocket.’  The app comprise among others a star atlas of 10 000 objects, a guide to moon phases and a live link to astronomy news.  Download the app from the iTunes store for $2.99.

Where’s Gumbo

Entertain your toddler for hours.  Where’s Gumbo is described as a digital ‘lift the flap’ book and Gumbo the dog is lost and it’s your toddler’s task to find Gumbo.  Want to make it even more interesting?  Upload an image of your own pet Download this free app from the iTunes app store.