A Better Traffic Monitor

Current traffic flow maps can tell you how backed up traffic is on your usual route home. What they can't tell you though, is whether it makes sense to take the side roads back from the office or if those are even more jammed. Last week, though, Microsoft Live unveiled a new traffic monitor called Clearflow which promises to use incredibly sophisticated technology to combine realtime data with predictive modeling to help you get home the fastest way possible--if you live in one of the 72 cities where the rollout is taking place.

Just go to Live Maps; when you get directions, make sure to check off the box "choose route based on traffic." Happy driving!