Where the flu be at

I recently learned that Google.org has made a foray into monitoring respiratory viral trends. Although the data is only an approximation of flu trends and cannot account for the fact that several viruses are actually responsible for flu-like symptoms (the data comes from users' flu-related searches), it is pretty darn accurate, it is pretty darn fast, and it is pretty darn cool. It also has the benefit of covering the entirety of the U. S. of A.
Check out Google's FluTrends: google.org/flutrends

This contrasts with the Intermountain Healthcare version, which relies on hard data from clinical laboratory tests (like the ones I perform) on real patient samples to determine which viruses are present. While it is incredibly accurate, it does take more than a single day to get the data online. It also is limited to the areas served by Intermountain Healthcare. Unlike Google Inc., however, This site shows the spread of individual respiratory viruses, pertussis, enteric parasites like giardia and cryptosporidium, enteric viruses, and other gastrointestinal pathogens.
Check out IHC's GermWatch: intermountain.net/portal/site/mdvsi/

I guess I just think it is cool because I've always had a secret fascination with infectious disease. Maybe it will be as interesting for you as it is for me.

Perhaps it is odd to ask, but does anyone have any thoughts on what makes one better than the other?