Real Time Traffic Alerts

I'm considering this Stage 1 in regards to my traffic alert voyage. I'll probably have it down to an art just before traffic alerts are sent to us ... "smartly" ... that's where "Stage 2" will come into play.

I am happy to announce that I've come up with a way (if you are in PA, MD, or DC) to receive real time traffic updates via text message at no cost (unless of course your mobile provider charges you for incoming messages).

To get started:

Send me an email.

You will be required to register your routes on which you would like to receive alerts as well as what conditions warrant an alert. This can be changed at any time.

Send me your cell phone number and the name of your service provider.

It's that simple. Your text message alert, after server processing, will look something like this:

"From Work Route: 4:05PM 03/26/08, FRUITVILLE PIKE at US 30, Accident."

At present I'm looking into Yahoo! Pipe options ... I would love to be able to generate alerts based on directions recently acquired. But alas, that is Stage 2. Until next time ...

-D

Virtual PCs - VMWare, Virtual PC 2007

The concept of virtual machines has been around for quite some time now. I haven't really had a chance to see it in action until using Parallels at work.

Today I was reading in PC World about Virtual PC 2007. One of the big selling points (for me) is that it's free.

As it's getting time to upgrade my desktop, I've been kicking around quite a few ideas. The main problem is that I have several 'machines' that I'd like to keep separate. The Virus Lock is really cool, but is only for PATA drives. I've tinkered with different user accounts as well as different hardware profiles ... but I don't deem those as being 'secure'.

So today I stumbled across Virtual PC 2007 and VMWare and this is the gist of how it works.

You have a 'host' operating system (the system that appears when you turn your machine on) and then you can have other operating systems as your 'guest'. This keeps all of your machines separate should a virus infection occur. Is it paranoia, or good security practice? I'm not sure. But it's a neat idea for the average person.


Until next time ...

-D