alerts

Ineffective alert

Browser-based e-mail notifiers have become de rigueur, and it's no surprise that Google Chrome has its fair share of these add-ons. Unfortunately, as much as we wanted to like Google Alerter, this particular application needs a little more work before it's ready for prime time.

Google has introduced quite a few services that have become popular in addition to its much-lauded Gmail, and Google Alerter attempts to help you keep track of several of these. In addition to Gmail, the add-on also alerts you to new items in Google Reader, Wave, and Voice. We thought this sounded promising, … Read more

Window on the weather

If you want to know what the weather is, the saying goes, look outside. MyFreeWeather allows users to do just that, without ever having to get up from their computers. This attractive weather program lets users view illustrated versions of the sky in their selected location, with both the time of day and weather accurately portrayed. With features typical of other weather software and the nifty sky graphics to boot, we think MyFreeWeather is a nice choice for a go-to weather program.

MyFreeWeather's interface is sleek and intuitive, with the sky illustration filling the upper third or so and … Read more

Clean your clock

The Windows system tray clock used to be the most primitive and least accurate timekeeper since a caveman stuck a stick in the ground on a sunny day. What Microsoft left undone was an opportunity to developers who rushed in with much-needed improvements such as atomic clock updates and, best of all, colorful, customizable, feature-packed skins and utilities that let you put useful, accurate clocks on your Windows desktop. Unisoft's 3D Tray Clock Ex. is just such a utility, updated with more looks, more features, and more improvements to stay ahead of the much-improved clock on recent editions of … Read more

Avoid iPhone overages with OverMyMinutes

What's the only thing worse than paying that monthly AT&T bill? Paying an even higher AT&T bill, which happens when you blow through your allotted talk time and/or text messages.

That's why I'm a newfound fan of OverMyMinutes Alerter, a free app that alerts you via e-mail and/or SMS when you're getting close to your talk/text limits.

At first blush, this may seem unnecessary. After all, you can use AT&T's own MyWireless app to review your minutes and data usage, or just dial *646# to get … Read more

EconoDriver, SafeDriver records driving performance from key fob

The EconoDriver and SafeDriver by Lemur are wireless vehicle monitors that record driving performance to a key fob display to help drivers be more efficient and safe.

The key fob displays are battery powered and can be mounted on the dashboard for continuous monitoring of reports. Both units ship with a sensor that plugs into your vehicle's OBD-II port to wirelessly transmit information from your vehicle's sensors to the key fob.

The SafeDriver displays the maximum speed, distance traveled, and sudden braking incidents to help parents keep tabs on new drivers. The device locks with a PIN to … Read more

Ford, MIT partner to reduce driving stress

Ford this week announced it is partnering with MIT's AgeLab on a project to identify specific stress-inducing driving situations, monitor a driver's reaction to the situations using biometrics, and evaluate methods to incorporate new stress-reducing features into the next generation of Ford products. The six-month effort will begin in January and will focus on human interaction with a specially equipped 2010 Lincoln MKS.

Ford's goal for the program is to take this a step further by creating the most comfortable driving environment possible so that the driver is always relaxed and calm.

By using the Lincoln MKS, … Read more

Real-time tracking of those who wander

It's said we exit this life the same way we enter--drooling and in need of diapers. It is, then, cruelly fitting that Medical Mobile Monitoring has recently developed a medical-alert tracking system that resembles a baby monitor.

The company's MobileHelp medical-alert system, launched in November, tracks users no matter how far they wander, as long as they are within range of an AT&T cellular network. It costs about $35 a month. The system also uses GPS satellite tracking, so you can literally watch the person you are monitoring online in real time:

When subscribers need help, they simply press their help button and are connected via two-way voice to a central monitoring station that is live 24/7/365. The technology from Medical Mobile Monitoring also allows family members to see an online map and location of their loved ones over the Internet and be notified via mobile phone and email when an emergency arises.

Aside from such a service being both inherently creepy and inherently useful, it is also a sign of the times. In October, we covered the release of a similar tracking system, called EmSeeQ, whose faceless black watch has the unfortunate effect of looking like something Batman or a secret agent would wear, thereby calling unnecessary attention to itself.

MobileHelp's waterproof pendant may be better, but still doesn't hit the mark.… Read more

PC service station

A relatively new Web-based service we've seen more of lately is the driver maintenance site, a Web site that, for a fee, will scan your computer, identify incorrect or out-of-date drivers, and install the proper ones from a vast database of hardware and software drivers. One of them is PC Pitstop, which is both software and a Web site, www.pcpitstop.com. The visually intense site is both a storefront and a portal to forums, newsletters, and other information. It offers numerous free scans for various PC-related issues, all of which seem to lead to the same conclusion: you … Read more

Twitter begins testing new tweet notifications

Twitter announced late Wednesday that it is starting a limited test of a new feature that displays the number of new tweets in your timeline since you last refreshed. This works in much the same way as the new tweet notification on the search page for a term. When you click the notification, the new tweets slide out in the same fashion as the search page.

While this functionality was probably not too difficult to implement, since it was already built for the search feature, it is a welcome addition and something that just makes sense. In fact, it would … Read more