Track packages with Google Maps
Officially the best thing ever: if you have a package being sent to you, from DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc, you can track it over the internet. You get given a number that you put into their site, and it shows you where it was last seen. You can get a good idea, but what if “Arrived at DHL Facility, Wilmington, OH” doesn’t help you? Perhaps we need a little help from Google Maps.
Since Google Maps was released, thousands of developers have made pretty nice applications that integrate it. Here’s an excellent example. Isnoop lets you track any DHL, UPS, FedEx or AirBorne package with Google Maps, so you can see where it is. It also gives you an RSS feed. So, therefore, it’s the marriage of three excellent technologies.
Here’s an example of isnoop showing me my package from ThinkGeek that should be arriving very soon. (only an hour ago it landed in Melbourne, so it won’t be long now!)
Even better, people have taken the isnoop package tracker and improved on it. For example, someone made a Vista sidebar gadget that shows me where my package is:
I’ve really got to start receiving packages like this more often. It’s been such an experience playing with fun package-tracking mashups! 
–Ben
