» Dell Issues BIOS Updates to Prevent NVIDIA Notebook GPU Failures » Blog Archive Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech

While Dell certainly isn’t the only notebook vendor to use the affected GPUs, they are the first to issue a series of BIOS updates to address the issues. Of course, much like the driver, this will increase your fan usage, cooling the GPU, but increasing noise and reducing battery life.

As noted in Dell’s post, however, if you’re seeing any of the following:

* Multiple images
* Random characters on the screen
* Lines on the screen
* No video
For a full list of computers effected read the full story.

AlaskaJoe

iPhone 3G: From 'must have' to 'maybe later'

On last Sunday's show, I was asked if I was going to get a new iPhone or stick with my current iPhone. I'm sticking with the original. Here's an article that touches on some of the reasons. I have to note that I've had no problems with the 2.0 firmware, but ymmv.

iPhone NDA: Doing more harm than good

"The iPhone software development kit (SDK) is the only sanctioned way to develop applications for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The SDK includes APIs, documentation, and sample code; so far, Apple is treating all of it as confidential information. To download and use the SDK, developers must accept a nondisclosure agreement that prohibits discussion of any of this 'confidential information.' Since the platform targeted by the SDK—the iPhone OS 2.0—was released July 11, the NDA has become a source of frustration for the growing development community."

Come on Apple. It's time to lift the NDA.

Tech rigged S.F. computer meltdown, prosecutors say

Here's a follow-up to a story I posted last week and which we discussed on the show. This just gets stranger and stranger. It shows what a trusted individual can do if they have the mind to.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 07-27-08

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 07-27-08. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.


There will be a Celebration of Life for Jack in Ft Worth on Saturday, October 25th everyone is welcome.

Jayna is looking for assistance in honoring Jack's final wishes to be laid to rest in South Dakota. She needs your help with expenses, (Air fare, Hotel and car rental). Anyone wishing to help, please click here to Donate.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) First up for the week a link Joe sent me, another on hyper-mileing, ways to coax a few more miles per gallon out of your car, just by modifying your driving habits. http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/

2) I have noticed a lot of difficultly lately with web video, and audio streaming, and it seems to be getting worse. I was thinking it was something to do with my system. Not so sure now I ran across this article that seems to point in other directions. Too much data too little time; or something like that. Link to the article in TechnewsWorld magazine here http://www.technewsworld.com/

3) Here is another one on the future car. There is going to be so much come out in the next few years, as far as different ways to commute, it is already getting hard to keep up. This is an area I really like, the compressed air car. Has me wondering if the next VW Bug craze will be coming out of India. http://www.dancewithshadows.com

4) Okay I know I am in a rut here but what can I say, I can’t resist foldable cars, and airplanes to save space in your garage, or make parking in New York possible. I just had to toss this on in for good measure http://www.techeblog.com/

5) Last up for the week I am sure you have seen it in the news that after years of research they have finally found out what is behind the northern lights, thought I would post an article that explains what is going on. http://science.nasa.gov

High-priority patch fixes critical vulns in RealPlayer | The Register

"The company says versions for Windows, Mac, Linux operating systems are all vulnerable to at least one of the flaws and that users should update as soon as possible."

If your running RealAudio you better upgrade.
AlaskaJoe

Setup CCleaner to Automatically Run Each Night in Vista or XP :: the How-To Geek

If you don't use CCleaner you might want to take a look at it. I found it a year or so back. I like it a lot better than the old RegCleaner we used to use to fix the registry. CCleaner also lets you kill things in Start up.
The author also wrote "Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Run CCleaner Silently" he tells you how to run CCleaner.
AlaskaJoe

Escapee ‘Spam King’ dead in apparent murder-suicide | Zero Day | ZDNet.com

Convicted spammer Eddie Davidson, who escaped from federal prison over the weekend, killed his wife and 3-year-old daughter before killing himself in what is being described as a murder-suicide.
A SPAMMER did something right, except he killed his wife and child also. :(
AlaskaJoe

Parts of San Francisco Network Still Locked out

This story is more than a little strange. I bet in the future San Francisco city network admins have to go through very, very stringent background checks.

Microsoft Drops Player Fees On Games For Windows Live

"Games For Windows Live is 'now offering completely free online multiplayer' service, Microsoft said in a statement posted on the service's Web site. The company previously charged a monthly fee of $7.99. However, the emergence of several free online gaming services may have prompted Microsoft to drop the monthly charge."

When it works, competition can be wonderful!

Computer Mouse R.I.P. In Five Years, Experts Say

We discussed this one the on the show today. I don't believe it. Neither do most of the readers of the article according to the comments. My favorite comment:
i predict the end of analysts in five years.

HP shatters excessive packaging world record

Seeing is believing. Take a look at the picture. I thought I had seen it all. Looks like HP is not getting any awards for being "green" anytime soon. Maybe if they cut back a little on the packaging, they could even charge less. Then again, maybe not.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 07-20-08

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 07-20-08. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Jack 'daWabbit' Imsdahl 1950-2008

It is with deep regret that we must inform everyone that our friend and colleague, Jack 'daWabbit' Imsdahl, succumbed to liver cancer and passed in his sleep during the AM hours on Sunday, July 20th.

Anyone wishing to send regards to Jayna, please send an email to memorial@oncomputers.info and your comments will be forwarded to her.

There will be a Celebration of Life party in Jack's honor in Ft Worth in the near future. Details will be forthcoming.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Going to start off with a link sent to me by our fried Tony in California it is one of those spoof sites to sort of tweak your friends minds a little. The link is the one sent to me, you will just have to click on it to see just how well it is done, do your own at the end. I think you can have a lot of fun, of course that is if you can spell. http://www.news3online.com/

2) This is one for those who do not understand just how bad the economy can get. When I read this article I was torn between being scared, and thinking it was a little funny. I would think if you lived there you sure would not see the humor. Zimbabwe has just released 100 billion dollar bills, and yes that is billion with a “B”. If that surprises you how about this one of those bills is not enough to buy a loaf of bread. Worth about one dollar U.S. http://us.cnn.com

3) For the first of two green links this week a site I like quite a bit. Good videos, thoughtful solutions, interesting links. They have a different way of looking at the oil problem, they show industries how they can profit by changing. When you compare the price of a barrel of oil to a wind mill, or solar panel, the ratio changes as the price of oil increases, there by making what was once costly cheaper. If we remove the subsidy’s we give to the oil companies, or start to give them to the green producers, we might have a chance. http://www.rmi.org/

4) Here is another green link I thought you might link it is from a radio interview I heard the other night that just floored me. Basically about converting to alcohol. I had no idea how twisted the oil problem is when viewed through the lens of history. The early Fords were alcohol cars, designed for the farms using stills to create their own fuel. It was the oil barons who sold our future for a buck. Did you know that four million dollars were donated to the probation movement by oil people, the legislation pushed through congress by wealthy oil people. Not to stop people from drinking alcohol, but to stop us from fueling their cars with it. http://www.permaculture.com/

5) Last a link suggested by Joe, I know it was one of Jacks favorites also, he told me once that he went here daily to click the ad button. Every click helps to feed animals in need of care. I thought it might be a good time to ask those of you who might be interested to help with something he cared about. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

BBC NEWS | Technology | Say goodbye to the computer mouse

"It's nearly 40 years old but one leading research company says the days of the computer mouse are numbered."
Can you live without your mouse? I know Riley can. We all have had to get around in our computer without a mouse, but do you do it by choice?
We will see how this goes.
AlaskaJoe

Dosbox

I've been a pinball enthusiast for 40 years or so. I have a bunch of old pinball computer games. Most of them are from the days before windows. Most of them won't run under windows. I used to use a DOS boot disk but, geting the sound to work was hit and miss. I finally googled DOS emualtor and DOSBOX came up. It's a DOS emulator for windows. It's basically simulates a 486 in windows. Most important it emulates a sound blaster 16 and Gravis ultrasound. It runs all my old pinball games fine. If you got old DOS games you still want to play, check it out.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 07-13-08

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 07-13-08. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) As usual I will start off the week with a green link. It should be rather obvious, what with the gas situation and all that in the near future we will be looking for something different to drive. This is a link I ran across dealing with the hybrids out there, quite a lot of links here to help keep you educated as to what is out there, or on the drawing board. http://www.care2.com

2) Next up a link on how to hypermile. Not a term you are familiar with well it is also related to the previous subject, but it is more oriented with today. This is the most extensive article I hound on how to hypermile. That is to get the very utmost gas mileage from what ever you are driving now. Tricks of the trade so to speak, some sensible and some down right scary. So if you choose to try some of these do so with utmost caution. http://www.cleanmpg.com

3) This link is to a scientific study on animal behavior I found quite interesting. They taught a group of monkeys to use money. It is very interesting to see they are a lot like us, they had what amounted to a bank robbery, started to spend their cash to buy fruit, and the most surprising was prostitution. I guess it really is the oldest profession. http://lists.ibiblio.org

4) If you are a Science Fiction enthusiast you might like to check out this site, you can even write and submit your own short novel in a contest. I have not had much time in the last few days to investigate this, I ran across it last week and had it in my follow up folder on the desk top, but I thought I would enter it here for those who might like to look around, I know I will be back soon as it looks pretty interesting. http://www.orionsarm.com/

5) The last one for the week an article on the Viacom YouTube fight. Seems YouTube has been ordered to turn over records of every clip watched, along with time and IP address of every viewer who watched it. Kind of makes you wonder where all that personal information on us all will wind up. Think the spamers might want to know what you are interested in, and what you IP address is, not to mention the government, lawyers, and the Lord knows who else. Maybe it is just me, but I do not like where all this seems to be heading. http://www.news.com.au/