Laptop dead

Well, my brand new vpr Matrix died. I like it a lot, but it’s going to be ~2 weeks before I get it back, repaired. So I’m screwed trying to get things working around the yard, which is pissing me off to no end. I’m really close on the Iraqi alert program. Just needed to do some final testing and more options (like distance to look at, etc.) Don’t know what I’m going to do now. I was hoping to release it before the whole Iraqi war started, or right about that time (which looks to be now, or next week).

I may just release it, but not publish the fast as much as I’d like. *sigh* Oh well, thank you Best Buy :P

I’ve been researching PocketPC’s. I 99% sure that’s the next target platform. Lugging that PC around has been a pain in the ass, so I’d love to get it working. Only problem is, I can’t find a wireless network in Columbia. I’ve considering trying to use the lap top – get a Linksys DSL router w/ wireless, put the web server on the lap top, drive down town or wherever, power it off the car, and at least a temp wireless network going. A pain, but it might be worth it.

The actual location-aware stuff seems to work really well, I just don’t have the infrastructure to really test it out. Once I’ve got a few things working, I may take a trip to someplace that provides a really solid public network. Go to NY or the SF and map out part of the city. Basically get a guide book or history book and walk around, entering facts.

A new idea:

I could develop a War Driving application. People are already using wireless cards and a GPS to map nodes. I could use a AE to combine those two. Start a new group, let people enter info in (actually, Hehe, could just automatically generate the info when it detects a LAN it hasn’t seen before. Basically drive around, hit a new name. See if it’s on AE. If not, send it in). Then you could set in a mode that as you drive around, it tells you how far away the nearest point is. Could be a very cool demo of the technology, and I’d think people War Driving would be a good target audience.