Trucker Tech

Windows XP SP3 Blocking Tool

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) began being pushed out to those of us using Windows Automatic Update back on July 10. Considering the fact that I'd had no problems with SP2 I wasn't overly concerned about the possibility of this latest offering causing problems. As it turns out; I should have been.

Immediately after the update was installed I began having problems. Because, at the time, I happened to be in Barrow Alaska, staying at a work camp that had less than acceptable Internet access, I didn't make the connection between the update and my problems.

After I got home, though, the problems instantly escalated and the Blue Screen of Death began to appear on a regular basis. Since I'd finally put two and two together, I did a quick "system restore" and shut down "Automatic Updates". Not what I'd call a great solution but, at the time, it was the only solution I could think of.

Little did I know, Microsoft has actually come up with a solution that allows me to continue receiving updates automatically without getting SP3 installed against my will. I get a weekly newsletter from "Ask Leo!"; and lo and behold, the first item in this weeks issue pointed me toward the Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit.

Thanks, Leo! It's just what I needed! I hated to turn off "Automatic Updates" but SP3 was just not working for me. Now I can get my security critical updates without SP3. 

Before you jump at the opportunity to block SP3 you should read all the information offered by Mr. Notenboom 'cause he provides some information that might help you prepare your laptop in such a way that SP3 will enhance rather than enrage!   

Sirius/XM Merger Approved

It's not like I didn't expect it but, after 17 months, I have to wonder if the window of opportunity, to create one successful satellite radio broadcasting company out of two struggling companies, has passed. After all, a lot of things have changed.

The merger was actually approved on Friday, July 25th, and, in the last couple of days, I've read a few interesting posts, not the least of which was an article in Business Week entitled "XM-Sirius: Land Mines Aplenty". The article outlines "some of the new technologies and services rolled out since February 2007 that will surely make it more difficult for a combined XM-Sirius to compete".

A lot of those opposing the merger did so because they felt that the quality of a merged company would suffer due to a lack of competition. That narrow view, which I can only conclude stems from a lack of information or deeply held bias, almost makes me laugh. While XM and Sirius will no longer be competing against each other, they face stiff competition nonetheless.

Considering current economic conditions, and considering that the American consumer has a wide range of choices in mobile entertainment, a good number of which are free, the success of the merged satellite radio company is anything but assured.

It's my personal opinion that the determining factor in the success or failure of the merged company will rest in the programming choices offered to consumers. First, the programming absolutely, positively, must continue to be varied and innovative. Second, consumers need to have nearly complete freedom to choose the stations they want from each of the providers.

I'll pay a premium for a la carte programming but not if it means that some stations can only be chosen on a "one or the other" basis. If I can't get all the stations I want, I won't continue to be a subscriber; and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this attitude.

Way back when the merger was first proposed, the companies offered a glimpse into what the menu of price and content choices might be; I'm not sure if this is what will actually come about, and the menu lacks detail, but it's at least a place to start.

The merger's approved, let's hope the results live up to the hype. 

XM/Sirius Merger Approaches Approval

It's finally been reported that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin will support a merger between XM and Sirius. It's about time.

The Department of Justice signed off on the deal back in March with a lengthy statement that began with the following paragraph:

"After a careful and thorough review of the proposed transaction, the Division concluded that the evidence does not demonstrate that the proposed merger of XM and Sirius is likely to substantially lessen competition, and that the transaction therefore is not likely to harm consumers. The Division reached this conclusion because the evidence did not show that the merger would enable the parties to profitably increase prices to satellite radio customers for several reasons, including: a lack of competition between the parties in important segments even without the merger; the competitive alternative services available to consumers; technological change that is expected to make those alternatives increasingly attractive over time; and efficiencies likely to flow from the transaction that could benefit consumers."

With that statement in hand it's a bit baffling, at least to me, regarding the reasons behind the delay on the part of the FCC in bringing this matter to a close. It could be that Chairman Martin and the commission had misgivings going beyond anti-trust issues.

Trucker Tech Podcast: Episode 7

It's been almost 2 months since the last Trucker Tech Podcast and, for that, I apologize. The listening audience for Episode 6 was larger, by far, than for any previous podcast and I'm seriously hoping that the long interval between episodes hasn't caused a loss of interest; time will tell.

In this episode, which you can find exclusively at Life on the Road, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Sal Scuderi. Sal is the president of The Scuderi Group, the good folks who are in the midst of developing the Scuderi Split-Cycle Air-Hybrid engine.

In late January I wrote a piece at Life on the Road, Will the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine Change the Face of Trucking?, and, after reading it, the PR guy for The Scuderi Group asked me if I'd be interested in an interview with the president of the company. Of course, I said "yes".

I don't think this interview offers any ground-breaking information but it is interesting and, hopefully, it'll cause ya'll to do a little research into the engine and it's development. I think the Scuderi design is the most important refinement of the Internal Combustion Engine since that of Rudolph Diesel. Providing, that is, that it's actually built. We'll see.

In this episode I also finish up my "Wi-Fi Facts" commentary. As I promised in a previous post, I toned my attitude down a bit and, hopefully, between the commentary in Episode 6 and this commentary, I've provided enough factual information about truck stop Wi-Fi for you to make good decisions, based on fact, regarding your methods of connecting to the Internet while traveling our highways and byways.

Nothin' to do with trucking; cool race, though

One of my favorite BBC shows is called Top Gear; an award winning TV show about, mostly, cars. The hosts are all well informed, charismatic, and quite funny. My cable company doesn't always offer the series for broadcast but, when it does, I rarely miss an episode. As it happens, Top Gear, according to Wikipedia, is one of the most pirated TV shows in the world. With video segments like this one; it's no wonder.

The video is of a race between a Bugatti Veyron, driven by Top Gear host Richard Hammond, and a British R.A.F. Eurofighter Typhoon. Richard lays out the rules at the beginning of the clip and then the race is on!

Garmin® nüvifone ™ Combines GPS and Cellular

I wasn't aware of the fact but, according to Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO, the Garmin nüvifone “...is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for – a single device that does it all.” I knew I was waiting for something and now I know what it is; but, since the nüvifone is yet to hit the market, I'm still waiting.

The nüvifone is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2008 and, since it's a phone in search of a carrier, I'm assuming that, by then, appropriate agreements will have been reached among appropriate parties. No one knows how much it'll cost, yet, but I'm confident that it won't be cheap.

Garmin didn't announce the cellular technology upon which the phone portion is built but Engadget is claiming to know that it's HSDPA. If they're right, AT&T will probably be a leading candidate as a cellular service provider.

Verizon vs. Intelius

Verizon Wireless has been tireless in its efforts to keep cell phone numbers private and cell phone users free from frivolous telemarketing, polling or myriad other irritating calls. For awhile, Verizon Wireless was the only cellular provider refusing to participate in the Wireless 411 Project; calling it a "Dumb idea".

Now, as Intelius, a data mining company, has somewhat surreptitiously let its plans to sell the cell phone numbers of private citizens be known, Verizon Wireless yesterday urged the company to halt the mining and sale of these numbers:

"Stop it. This is a violation of Americans' privacy. People expect their cell phone numbers to remain private," said Steve Zipperstein, vice president and general counsel of Verizon Wireless. He added that Verizon Wireless intends to take whatever steps might be necessary, including litigation, to protect its customers' numbers and privacy.

According to their web site, Intelius plans to charge a fee to find "unlisted or unpublished" cell phone numbers as well as identify the wireless service provider. This information is mined from the Internet, personal Web pages and other sources, and has not been authorized by individuals to be sold for this purpose.

"Trolling the Internet, using data mining techniques and simply buying lists to create a directory are actions that clearly violate a consumer's right to privacy," Zipperstein continued. "Verizon Wireless has long refused to release our customers' numbers and we call on legislators and policy makers to ensure that what a consumer wants to be private stays that way."

Verizon has a long-standing policy of keeping their wireless customers numbers private and has even gone to the trouble and expense of filing, and winning, civil actions against unscrupulous telemarketers. (See, for example, this and this.) Still, Verizon Wireless has come under attack by some for their own data gathering efforts while others are critical of them for failing to cooperate in efforts to create a cell phone number directory.

Personally, I'd just as soon keep my cell phone number private. I resent the fact that a company like Intelius feels information that I've not provided to them and the commercialization of which I've neither granted permission or been compensated for is theirs for the selling. In this issue I stand wholeheartedly behind Verizon Wireless and thank them for their efforts on my behalf.

Over the Road Wireless for...the Future, Part 1

Over the last several weeks I've been inundated with articles and blog posts regarding one new wireless technology after another. The nature of these journalistic efforts seem to fall into a couple of categories; they either focus on a new technology as the overarching future that'll squash all competitors or they focus on a technology they pompously proclaim as dead.

Since I don't have a crystal ball I'm not going to make any attempt to predict the future but I thought it might be interesting to pull together some of the things I've been reading and see if we can draw any quasi-conclusions. (Nope, not gonna draw any hard conclusions based on supposition; sorry.)

As you've probably surmised from reading the title, this will be a multi-part post focusing on wireless technology as it relates to those of us living an over-the-road lifestyle. Of course, the impacts that varying wireless technologies have on the general public have to be taken into account since it's the wider population that'll largely determine which technologies will be widely adopted. So let's get to it.

Trucker Tech Podcast Transcript: Episode 6, Part 3

And here, today, is the final installment in the transcript for the Trucker Tech Podcast: Episode 6; the Commentary. I get off on all kinds of tangents and probably sound a little bit (or, maybe, a whole lot) like I'm trying to convince you, the listeners, that I'm a whole lot smarter than you. Well, that wasn't my intention, I got off on tangents 'cause I lack the ability to focus and, as far as the "whole lot smarter than you" attitude goes, I was just trying to give my arguments some credibility.

If there's one thing the years have taught me it's that the more I learn, the more I realize just how little I really know. Anyway, I wandered so far afield in this commentary that I had to break it into two parts, the second of which will be included in Episode 7; and I promise, I'll focus and lose the attitude.

Trucker Tech Podcast Transcript: Episode 6, Part 2

Yesterday I posted the transcript for the "Gear and Gadgets" segment of the Trucker Tech Podcast: Episode 6 and, the good Lord willing, I'll post the "Commentary" tomorrow. Today's transcript segment is the "Tips and Tricks" segment which deals with a couple of program utilities that can help you organize your passwords and make them much more easily inserted into the web forms in which they're required.

I also tell you a bit about using virtual credit card numbers in an effort to circumvent any key-logger spyware that may have inadvertently found its way into the inner-sanctum of your hard drive. I've included a few links, including a link to a page that can help you create better, nearly unbreakable, passwords....