Hardware 2.0

July 2nd, 2009

Apple issues "common sense" heat advice for iPhone 3G/3G S

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:27 pm

Categories: Apple

Tags: Apple iPhone, Apple Inc., Apple iPhone 3G, 3G, Smart Phones, Cellular Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Do iPhone 3G and 3G S handsets overheat during regular use? According to unconfirmed reports iPhone 3G S handsets can get get hot enough that they turn pink. I’ve not see one first hand so it’s hard to confirm the reports, but it seems that the reports/rumors have prompted Apple to issue an advisory.

Operate iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly.

Store iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

If the interior temperature of the device exceeds normal operating temperatures, you may experience the following as it attempts to regulate its temperature:

- The device stops charging
- Display dims
- Weak cellular signal
- Temperature warning screen appears with the message “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it” 

There’s also some suggestions as to activities can raise the temperature of the iPhone:

Some conditions and activities that may activate the Temperature warning message:

- Leaving the device in a car on a hot day.
- Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time.
- Using certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight.

Then there’s a section of safety standards that that the iPhone conforms to.

I don’t use an iPhone but I have noticed that the iPod touch can get hot sometimes, but not hot enough to cause problems. My own cellphone, a Nokia E71, also gets pretty warm at times, especially when using the video phone feature. I have upgraded the batter in my E1 to a Mugen Power high-capacity battery, so this might be what’s causing it to warm up.

It’ll be interesting to see if this turns out to be a fault or just some random incidents. The fact that Apple has issued an advisory is curious though. Maybe the 3G S is more susceptible to overheating than earlier models.

July 2nd, 2009

Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:22 am

Categories: Gadgets, Gaming, Graphics, Hardware

Tags: Performance, Antec, Board, Overclocking, Motherboard, Price, CPU, Intel Corp., Core, GTX 295

Welcome to the updated and revamped Hardware 2.0 “Very Best Kit List” for Jul/Aug 09. Here I’ve put together a list of the best high-end and mid-range and budget components currently available. So if you’re thinking of buying, building or even upgrading a PC, this list is a must-read for you!

These components are on this list because I firmly believe them to be the best either in terms of performance or price - although I’m ready to admit, as always, that there’s room for debate and some choices “go with the gut” more than others.

NOTE: Each time I come out with a list of kit I always end up fielding a few emails and comments from people wondering if companies have “bought” space on the list. Let me tell you now that the only way for a product to get on this list is to be the best - period. Manufacturers, vendors and PR companies have zero influence over this or any other recommendation that I make.

Also note: I’m looking to expand this list by adding more categories and components. If you’d like to see anything added, let me know!

Final note: All prices are approximate … shop around for the best deals!

Next –>

July 1st, 2009

4.7 million Firefox 3.5 downloads ... and counting!

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 8:33 am

Categories: Software

Tags: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

It’s not been 24 hours yet, and Mozilla’s Firefox 3.5 web browser has been downloaded over 4.7 million times.

You can keep an eye on the download stats here.

It doesn’t look like Mozilla will beat the world record set back when it released Firefox 3.0, where there were 8 million downloads in 24 hours.

I’ve been running Firefox 3.5 for a few hours now and have a few thoughts:

• Page loading times are fast, noticeably faster than IE8.
• However, firing up the browser is painfully slow, even with no add-ons.
• Private mode works well, but it’s nothing new, and an example of Mozilla playing catch-up.

I’m also getting a lot of reports of random issues, from web pages not being rendered properly, add-ons not working, and crashes. I’ve not tried replication any of these issues yet so I can’t comment.

Nice browser, but it feels evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary.

June 30th, 2009

Testing Firefox 3.5 ... mind your add-ons!

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:52 pm

Categories: Software

Tags: Mozilla Firefox, Add-on, Web Browsers, Internet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Now that Mozilla as finally released Firefox 3.5, I know that many of you will be eager to take it for a spin … but be careful as upgrading might mean you end up with fewer features, not more.

I’m getting report from a number of Hardware 2.0 that Firefox 3.5 is incompatible with a number of popular add-ons. I don’t have a list affected add-ons, but I suggest that if you rely on add-ons to improve your browsing experience, then you should probably take things slowly and test.

If you find that a must-have add-on is hosed, you can always download the latest version (3.0.11) from here.

I suggest you also read the release notes.

Tip: You might be able to tweak an add-on to work by following the instructions on the Mozilla knowledge base … it’s quite involved and there are no guarantees that the add-on will work, but it’s worth a try!

June 30th, 2009

Benchmarking Firefox 3.5

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:37 pm

Categories: On the test bench, Windows 7

Tags: Mozilla Firefox, Benchmarking, Web Browser, Web Browsers, Internet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

I’ve just loaded The release version of Firefox 3.5 onto my browser test bed in order to do some benchmarking. How does Mozilla’s latest browser compare to the rest?.

As usual I’m running two two tests:

• SunSpider JavaScript benchmark
• V8 Benchmark Suite

I expected Firefox 3.5 to be fast, but I didn’t expect it to beat Google Chrome, and I was right. It’s odd to think that it’s been nearly a year since the last major Firefox upgrade, but in that time the browser faces stiff competition from both Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari.

So, Firefox 3.5 now lags behind Chrome and Safari 4. That said, the browser is fast enough that you won’t really notice that it’s not the fastest!

Here, for completeness, are the ACID 3 results:

Close, but no cigar …

After I get a few more hours under my belt I’ll post a review of Firefox 3.5.

June 29th, 2009

And Windows 7's killer feature is ...

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 5:07 pm

Categories: Windows 7

Tags: PC, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

I keep hearing about how Windows 7 is going to be just the CPR that the ailing PC industry needs to get itself out of the hole it’s in. It seems that folks, both consumer and enterprise, are going to be flocking to their favorite OEMs and throwing cash at them in exchange for brand-spanking-new PCs running Windows 7.

OK, I like Windows 7. It’s a nice, robust OS with a jazzed up interface and a few new features. But here’s my question - what’s the Windows 7 killer feature that’s going to be pulling people to the PC stores in their droves to buy these new systems? Sure, there’s always those folks that must live on the bleeding edge when it comes to technology (I’m one of those people), but when it comes to the masses (both consumer and business), I’m having a hard time seeing what would make people go out and spend money on new systems before their current system becomes obsolete.

I’m guessing that analysts are counting on all those people who were put off by Vista and stuck with XP to rush out and spend on new systems. After all, some

Read the rest of this entry »

June 29th, 2009

Microsoft sets pointless 25-PC upgrade limit for Windows 7

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:37 pm

Categories: Windows 7

Tags: Volume-license, OEM, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Productivity, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

It never fails to amaze me how Microsoft can make things far more complex for the end user than it needs to be. Take the Microsoft Windows Upgrade Option that was announced last Friday where you can buy a PC now and upgrade it to Windows 7 when the OS comes out. This is great for the home user, but it leaves small businesses and organizations out in the cold.

The reason is an arbitrary limit set by Microsoft which sets a 25-PC limit on upgrades. If you have more than 25 PCs to upgrade, then you are pushed into volume licensing. Microsoft didn’t make this clear last Friday, but left it to OEMs to pass on the message to consumers.

HP:

You may order one upgrade kit for each eligible computer. However, if you are a computer administrator ordering on behalf of your company or organization, you may order a maximum of 25 Windows 7 Upgrade Kits for 25 eligible computers purchased during the eligibility period. If you need more than 25 upgrade kits, contact Microsoft about a volume license. For more information, go to www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userrights for Microsoft volume licensing.

Dell:

Is there a limit on the number of tags I can order?

Yes. Only one Dell Windows® 7 Upgrade kit is allowed per service tag. In addition, the number of Dell Windows 7 Upgrade kits allowed to any one customer is capped at 25 per physical address. Customers with more than 25 PCs are encouraged to pursue Volume Licensing.

Sorry, but I don’t get why this limit exists. Why does the upgrade process need to have the number of upgrades capped at 25, especially during these troubled financial times.

Note: When Vista was released Microsoft actually set the upgrade cap at 5, so this could be seen as a better deal … of sorts …

I can’t understand what’s wrong with “one eligible PC, one upgrade,” which seems to me like the simplest way to handle things. Personally, if I were looking at buying 25+ systems, I’d let my dollars do the talking and only give my money to an OEM in return for an assurance that I’d get hassle-free upgrades. After all, it’s the OEMs that manage the upgrade scheme.

Microsoft has a good product in Windows 7, but seems set on fumbling the launch, first by setting upgrade prices too high, and now with this arbitrary limit of upgrades.

[UPDATE: A Microsoft spokesperson just got in touch with me to remind me that the upgrade limit applies only to consumers and small businesses. Well, that's my point exactly. While there aren't going to be many consumers buying 25+ systems, it's entirely possible that small businesses or small organizations might, and this limit gets in their way. This is why I find the limit to be arbitrary and pointless.]  

June 29th, 2009

Who here has ever needed to replace the battery in their notebook?

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 11:58 am

Categories: Gadgets, Hardware

Tags:

With more notebooks shipping with a built-in battery, some people are worried that this prevents them from being able to easily replace the battery, forcing them to pay for support or buy a new notebook. But how important are user-replaceable batteries? Have you ever replaced the battery in your notebook?

Note: By built-in battery I mean a system where you can’t just pop a catch to remove the battery - the truth is that it’s actually quite easy to replace the battery in such systems as long as you competent in handling a screwdriver.

There are two times when I feel it’s advantageous to have a user-replaceable battery in a notebook (or cellphone for that matter):

• When your on the road and away from the charging cord
• When the original battery starts to wear out

But while I can come up with good reasons to have a user-replaceable battery, it’s been ages since I ever bought a spare battery when on the road (a car cord is far less hassle) or replaced a worn battery.

What about you?

 Loading ...

June 29th, 2009

Getting your hands on Microsoft Security Essentials ...

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 6:30 am

Categories: Security, Software

Tags: Security, Microsoft Corp., Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Microsoft allowed 75,000 people to download the beta of its new Microsoft Security Essentials, but all these places were snapped up in under 24 hours. However, you can still get your hands on the downloads … if you know where to look!

Here you go …

I’ve checked out the downloads and they’re the genuine thing and digitally signed.

I’ve got Microsoft Security Essentials running on a couple of systems and so far, things seem pretty good.

It’s basic, but its also free, so the choice is yours.

Remember, this is a beta of a security product, so don’t go installing it on critical systems.

June 26th, 2009

Mythbusters' Adam Savage hit with $11,000 AT&T bill

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 1:46 pm

Categories: Mobile Technology

Tags: Web, AT&T Corp., Canada, Mythbusters, Channel Management, Modems, Marketing, Hardware, Components, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

It seems that Mythbusters’ Adam Savage was doing a spot of traveling in Canada and made the mistake of taking his AT&T USB Connect Mercury modem with him. A spot of web surfing ended up with him getting a eye-watering $11,000 bill for roaming from AT&T.

Note: Some media outlets are reporting that he racked up the massive bill using his iPhone, this is incorrect.

Savage broke the news via Twitter:

Sorry, bit of explanation: device in question wasn’t my phone, it was the AT&T usb connect Mercury modem.
12 minutes ago from web

And I got the “data is charged at .015 cents, or a penny and a half, per kb”. About to try to explain the difference to them. Sigh.
18 minutes ago from web

They’re claiming I uploaded/downloaded 9 million kilobytes (9 gigs) while in Canada. Frakking impossible.
19 minutes ago from web

@sleepingbri you read it right. $11,000.00
about 2 hours ago from web in reply to sleepingbri

Did I mention they’ve turned off my phone until I pay? #attsucks
about 2 hours ago from web

Almost forgot: Hey AT&T! I will fight this bullshit.
about 2 hours ago from web

Text messaging fees are stupid robbery? (they are), AT&T is attempting to charge me 11k for a few hours of web surfing in Canada. Pls RT!
about 2 hours ago from web

If this is a mistake, AT&T need to sort out its act. If it’s not a mistake and it’s possible to rack up insane charges while roaming then there needs to be some sort of mechanism in place to prevent people from digging such a deep hole for themselves.

Data transfer charges while roaming are a rip off? Myth confirmed!

[UPDATE: Looks like AT&T have sorted this out for Savage.

"Today the tweeps became twoops. Just got off the phone with AT&T and they've taken care of everything to my great satisfaction."

Still, there's a deeper issue here, since not everyone is Adam Savage, and not everyone has nearly 60,000 Twitter followers that catch AT&T's eye ...]