Package tracking is really one of the better inventions of the 20th century. One of my favorite tools for said activitiy is TrackThePack, a delightfully simple tool that lets you track packages from a multitude of services, and keep them together in one simple list. It also throws each shipping location the package visits onto a map, which is neat, but mostly useless.
If you're unregistered, you can only run a single tracking number at a time. Registered users get the added benefit of pulling in the package updates as an RSS or iCal notification feed. People who will be away from a computer can also sign up to get SMS updates, a handy feature offered by some (but not all) package carriers. This way you can get it from all of them without sharing any of your personal information.
For heavy-duty users, the service offers a Firefox extension that lets you track a package just by right-clicking on the tracking number, which will automatically add it to your package queue.
Related: Trackthis tracks packages on Twitter
Track one or more packages from multiple services with TrackThePack.
(Credit: CNET Networks)
FedEx's new Adobe AIR package tracker.
(Credit: CNET Networks)FedEx was on hand today to show off its new Adobe AIR application for tracking packages.
Similar to tracking widgets you may have seen on tools such as Apple's Dashboard and Yahoo's Widget engine, you can keep small widgets on your desktop that update and let you know when that digital camera you ordered online mistakenly got delivered somewhere three states over. But that's not the sole use. The application doubles as command center for business users and frequent shippers to keep track of what's going on with several of their packages at once.
The company hopes small business users will take advantage of the application to help them manage shipped packages and make certain they get to their destination. Likewise, anyone who wants to keep tabs on purchased items can simply use the application as a more powerful tracking tool. Eventually, FedEx intends to upgrade the AIR application to support things such as shipping labels and integrating business contacts--things its software applicaiton takes care of.
The application is set to release in beta within the next month and will be limited to U.S. shipments, although there are plans to expand to International shipments.
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