Hello World!

…And, Happy New Year!

I did not fall behind on my regiment of writing Blogs, instead I focused on the role of OTR Truck Driving, and took interest in the new explosion of Apps that came around for the Trucking industry. I also took up a hobby of flying Unmanned Drones. I also changed up my routine of Mapping out routes for each delivery, and focused more on the Driver’s Database I have been building (it is already the 2^nd version since I created it in 2014). Finally, I got caught up in the Windows 10 Push out, and really enjoyed the new functions and Apps… but only kept one PC one Windows 10, while enjoying the experiences of Windows 7 Professional on my oldest HP Netbook, and reverting to Windows 8.1 on a newer version that was updated to Windows 10, but one update caused it to “hang”. It came with a challenge to back up everything before going back to the Factory version of Windows 8.1. I did decide to buy a larger laptop, but strayed from HP and tried out an Acer, with Windows 10 as part of the package. All in all, I have mentioned about having a backup pc when working in a rough environment such as the business of trucking, but even I became lazy to backups as a Monthly need.

The Blog posts remain the same, but in the back ground, my Office environment has expanded, and even updated to include the use of Online Office Programs and Clouds, App Uses through an Android Tablet, and forcing a version of Backing up from pcs to storing all works on External Hard Drives. I still need to configure my emails to back up on external drives (or the cloud) too. I’m always Developing.

Keeping Up with Technology

Along with Keeping up with the routine of Commercial Driving, and my records keeping, I had to finally expand from just netbook [Laptop] equipment, and purchase a tablet using Android as the operating system. It seems that some Apps aren’t available for Windows OS. Then, the goal of being updated with Windows 10 had me fight between keeping various versions of Windows to be able to do comparisons. Eventually, I just got yet another new pc with Windows 10. I love them all, and found out that although having the most recent operating system works with the newer Apps, having the older versions also work best with the older programs I own (you can use the Compatibility feature for the older programs, but its already on an older machine, and having a backup computer is not a bad thing. Remember, most of what I do is in a Tractor Trailer, and the extreme conditions are indeed tough on this office designed machines).

Apps, Apps, and more Apps

I must admit, to keep up with using new applications on a daily work related environment, it meant sacrificing some old routines (and for a year, that included the Blog Posts)…I really do try to give everything a purpose. But well worth it! The Apps for the Commercial Industry exploded with so many available Apps that made having information and informational resources so accessible. Besides maps and their advances in traffic information, with some supplying links to Interstate traffic cameras, there are truck stop Apps, like Truckers Path (they have a separate App for Independent Contractors and Owner Operator to find the next available load, called Truckers Load), and even dedicated Apps specific to individual truck stops, such as the Pilot Store, and Travel Centers of America / Petro App. Both types are specific to the services available onsite, even laundry information, fuel prices, and even shower availability.

Another version of Apps specific to the Trucking industry is for scaling loads, by the CAT company, called “Weigh My Truck”. This App allows you to get on the scale, and it communicates with the weighmaster inside, and you can have an uncertified copy sent to your Email address, for your own records (to get a certified copy, you still must go inside and get a printed copy). A separate App from CAT that helps you find local CAT Scales in any given area or destination.

Weather Apps come in all types, giving every individual their own personal liking and preference. They still supply current information, radar weather tracking, and news…very important for every Truck Driver from Winter and through Summer Seasons.

Picking Up Where I left Off

The struggle to advance didn’t mean giving up on Office Programs, but I did start using the Server sided versions of Microsoft Office instead of the store-bought purchase. It gives me the ability to use Office on any computer or device (I must sign in through the site), and the provided version of the cloud gives me a central location for my most recent Office file and pictures. Basically, keeping everything on a computer is a guarded way of records keeping, and using developer style programs still work best on a personal machine, but the concept in marketing has much to do with making future devices needing current processors which also means less current load (amperage), and better battery life. In turn and over time, even the devices become cheaper. There will always be personal computers, but they will be more like the App style, so you can still create, save, and store, but much of the storage concepts is now done by external storage drives and creating DVD disks. Simply put, you basically need a device or machine to create your project, and store your files separate from that same machine; that gives you the opportunity to take that External Hard Drive with you, and use another machine or device elsewhere (even hotels have computer rooms available to their patrons, and even public libraries have made large space for computers).

In short, instead of traveling with a + $200.00 machine, you simply need as little as a $30.00 memory card, to up to $ 200.00 External Hard Drive (this is based on the size of the drive space). The trick here is how you save you files, and unless you use a specifically designed software that is not accessible on other machines, having a finished product in .pdf (Adobe Reader), .ASF -.MOV., and MPEG formats for movies, and .GIF, PNG, BMP, and JPEG for pictures, you can understand why the computer never lost its basic purpose…to create. What is amusing is in the past computers came with hard drives with 20GB (Gigabyte) memory space, and over time we got addicted to so many programs and storage on one machine, Desktop come out with 1TB (Terabyte) and 2 TB storage space…for movie productions, and other expert designed programs. Now, with Windows 10, computers have gone back to needing as little as 25 GB Hard Drive, with the user’s discretion to save the project and finished product on a Cloud (internet), to an individual External Storage drive. Computers start up and are ready faster (at startup, a computer goes through processes looking to see files and programs, what needs to be updated and synchronized, along with your protected software and Email).

I Never Left

I do apologize to those who found my site, and saw it just stopped being added onto, but so much has changed in just a year, that as a Professional Driver, loads still need delivering, developing how to advance on my own routine took time, and then, there had to be some sign of a personal life. So, to finish this blog, it is not that I am back…I just needed a new starting point.

Happy New Year!