Month: February 2010

Windows 7 drains battery life

Posted by ts On 05.02.2010

Microsoft’s Windows 7 is sucking the life out of laptops and netbooks at a faster rate than its predecessors, according to computer users who posted their complaints on a support forum maintained by the software maker.

Some users are complaining that the operating system is draining their batteries at an alarming rate, while others say the OS is issuing false alerts, warning them that their batteries are about to run dry despite having a full charge.
“Unbelievable!” wrote forum member RVBoston, in a post Wednesday. “It is Feb 2010, so this issue is already 8 months old and no fix from MS?”

Another user, Mnemeth, also complained that the problem has been ongoing for months. “It was working fine then all of a sudden, around the 1st or 2nd week of October 09, it wouldn’t hold a long charge and I got the error,” the user wrote.

One forum member said the glitch forced him to switch to an alternate operating system.

“After 20 years of using Microsoft OSes, I’m moving to Linuxpermanently,” wrote Russ Latham. “I just wiped Win 7 off my new Acer and installed Ubuntu 9.10. Everything works and the battery is showing normal capacity,” he wrote.

Microsoft officials, according to numerous Internet reports, confirmed that they are investigating the issue.

“The warning received on some computers using Windows 7 uses firmware information to determine if battery replacement is needed,” a company spokesman said.

“We are working with our partners to determine the root cause of what appear to be erroneous warnings and will update the TechNet forum with information and guidance as it becomes available,” said the official.

source – informationweek.com

Headphones Design: 100% Tangle-Free, Sport-Zip Earbuds

Posted by ts On 05.02.2010

We may have wireless (almost) everything these days, but still-wired ear buds are about as portable as most personal audio equipment gets – which brings us to the ever-present problem for pro, amateur and audiophile alike: tangled headphone cords that lead to loose wiring at best and entirely broken audio connections at worst.

To combat this classic design dilemma, designer Ji Woong has posed and simplest of solutions: zip-up headphones where the two individual strands of wire (leading up to the left and right earbud) become one with a singular zipper action. Compared to bulky over-ear answers to the same engineering question, this is as mobile as it gets.

As an added bonus, the zip-action piece doubles as volume control and status hold so you can adjust your audio settings then lock them in place while jogging, biking or otherwise on the go. Add some noise canceling, a slick black version and this might be the most style-savvy as well as function set of in-ear headphones ever designed.

source – dornob.com

Firefox froze…

Posted by ts On 05.02.2010

Save CPU Cycles by Disabling the Windows 7 Search Feature

Posted by ts On 05.02.2010

Here I found something that annoys the hell out of me, when using my W7 – read on…

unfortunately …

If you can’t get used to the new search feature in Windows 7, or you just prefer using Everything,Google Desktop, orLaunchy, you might be interested to know you can disable it.

While we’re not recommending to average users to disable the built-in search functionality, if you really don’t use it, you could save yourself some CPU cycles by getting rid of it. Over at How-To Geek (my home away from Lifehacker), we’ve got a guide to the quick steps to disabling the built-in Windows Search feature, but you can do it easily by simply heading into the Control Panel, searching for “Turn Windows features on or off”, and then unchecking Windows Search from the list.

Once you’ve restarted your PC, you’ll notice that the search box is gone from the start menu, and there will no longer be a search box in Windows Explorer when you’re browsing through the file system. You should also note that Microsoft Outlook’s “Instant Search” feature depends on Windows Search, so that will use the slower Outlook search instead.

It’s definitely not a setting for everybody—and frankly this writer loves the Windows 7 search box, but if you never use it, at least now you know how to disable it. If you prefer your instructions in step-by-step format, click the link for the full guide.

source – lifehacker.com

MSI Wind Sliding Tablet Mod – Videos

Posted by ts On 05.02.2010

Early this week, netbooked.net discovered a new tablet mod brewing on the Insanely Wind forums. The modder’s plans are to mod his Advent 4211c (MSI Wind U100 clone) into a slate tablet with a sliding pull down keyboard. He now has a bunch of videos up showing off his work, still a WIP though.

The videos show off Windows 7 and OS X use with a stylus (single touch resistive touch screen) and progress on the sliding mechanism for the pull down keyboard.

One example showing off OS X:

source – netbooked.net

Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 Mini-Notebook

Posted by ts On 03.02.2010

LifeBook UH900 Mini-Notebook

• Intel® Atom™ Processor Z530
• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
• Microsoft® Works 9.0 and Office Home and Student 60-Day Trial1
• 5.6″ WXGA Crystal View display with a multi-touch screen
• Integrated Webcam
• 2 GB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM memory (2 GB x 1)
• 62 GB, solid state drive2
• Built-in GPS receiver with Garmin Mobile® PC
• 10/100 Ethernet (with included cable)
• Atheros® (802.11b/g/n)
• Integrated Bluetooth wireless
• Main battery: Lithium ion (2-cell polymer, 7.2V, 1800 mAh)
• One-year International Limited Warranty
• ENERGY STAR® qualified
• M-code FPCM22892

Was $999
Now $849

source – fujitsu.com

Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber Band

Posted by ts On 03.02.2010

The head of the screw you stripped while you were hanging that shelf may not have seemed like a big deal at the time—until you needed to unscrew it, that is. Next time you’re having trouble, try a rubber band.

Home hacks and design blog Apartment Therapy offers a a few simple, smart tips for removing a stripped screw without any special equipment like an extractor—like using a rubber band:

A rubber band may aid in providing enough grip to remove, or at least loosen, the screw. Place a wide band rubber band [in between] the screw driver (we recommend bumping one size up from the screw head which caused the strip) and the screw, then apply hard, but slow force as you turn. If you’re fortunate, the rubber band will fill in the gaps caused by the strip and allow extraction.

They also suggest more obvious solutions like changing the size of your screwdriver, using pliers when possible, or just pounding the screwdriver into the screw head with a hammer, hoping you can create your own traction. If you’ve ever tried the rubber band trick—or have your own favorite method—let’s hear how it worked in the comments. If your screw’s just fine but your screw hole is stripped, a golf tee may be all you need.

source – lifehacker.com

Fujitsu LifeBook T900 tablet PC

Posted by ts On 03.02.2010

The FCC spoiled the surprise on this one back in December, but Fujitsu has now finally gotten official with its new LifeBook T900 tablet PC, which is available with your choice of Core i5-520M, 540M, or Core i7-620M processors. Otherwise, you can expect the same 13.3-inch display found on the company’s earlier T5010 tablet, along with a standard 2GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive, integrated Intel graphics, and a DVD burner — not to mention some niceties like a fingerprint scanner, ambient light sensor, and even a user-cleanable dust filter. This one’s shipping right now with prices starting at $1,889.

source – engadget.com

Mitsubishi to introduce preposterously large 149-inch OLED TV at ISE 2010

Posted by ts On 01.02.2010

Yeah, you can snag a TV larger than this, but good luck finding a 150-inch set with an OLED panel. In a presumed effort to quietly exert superiority over those “other guys,” Mitsubishi is purportedly planning to unveil a 149-inch OLED TV at ISE 2010, which kicks off in earnest next week — though, we have to say, we sure hope it’s not one of those modular units that we saw at CEATEC. Unfortunately, the native resolution of just 1,088 x 640 is downright boring, but we’re forcing ourselves to focus on the positives here. Essentially, something like this wouldn’t have much use outside the world of digital signage, but man, talk about making an impact on to-be customers. So, Mitsu — when’s the 1080p 4K version coming out?


Update: Ugh — looks as if this will be based around the modular technology we spotted at CEATEC. So much for our hopes and dreams.

source – engadget.com

8.9-inch ExoPC Slate has iPad looks, netbook internals, Windows 7 soul

Posted by ts On 01.02.2010

Yes, we realize that it’s hard to provide too much visual differentiation between tablet PCs with large, ebony bezels, but we can’t help but think that this 8.9-inch multitouch tablet looks a lot like another,recently announced 9.7-inch multitouch tablet. Nevertheless this one’s quite different on the inside, delivering “the web without compromise,” meaning full browser support with flash courtesy of Windows 7 on an Atom N270 at 1.6GHz, with 2GB of DDR2 memory and a 32GB SSD with SD expansion. Yeah, those specs are familiar too, and while we’re not thinking this will deliver the sort of snappy performance seen on the iPad, it will certainly be a lot more functional. Battery life is only four hours, but at least it’s user-replaceable, and a price of $599 matches the 32GB iPad. Likewise it will be available in March — or you can get a non-multitouch prototype for $780 right this very moment. If, that is, you speak enough French to manage the order page.





source – engadget.com

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