Dell Remote Access and Decrapifying my Dell Laptop

I was willing to give the Dell software a chance but decided to remove the "Dell Remote Access" which had previously nagged the cr#p out of me, the last straw was finding millions (I'm prone to exageration, but not this time) application event log messages with source "PHP-5.2.4", I'd already wondered about the high CPU usage.

The messages began "The description for Event ID 2 from source PHP-5.2.4 cannot be found." so OK, not DELL but installed by DELL and these messages indicate that its garbage anyway otherwise it would have registered itself correctly.

Some examples of the actual messages (20/min):

1. The text of the event was "php[6732] gets Content-Type: text/vnd.wap.wml; charset=utf-8
2. PHP Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Dell\apache\htdocs\media_tags.php:0) in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Dell\apache\htdocs\dsl\include\mob_header.inc on line 0

Anyway, glad thats over, will look at the others when they give me a reason. Hopefully that also removes the occassional 2-5 second hang that I get where even mouse doesn't move (in Vista Ultimate 64 bit).

Microsoft and 64 Bit Drivers - Schizophrenia or Just Arrogance?

Apparently Microsoft feels hardware vendors (other than itself) should be producing 64 bit drivers for its 64 bit operating systems.

As I've just installed 64 bit Vista I have just discovered that the "Microsoft Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader" I bought new less than a year ago doesn't have 64 bit drivers and that Microsoft has been promising them since 2006.

Now the keyboard was average to start with as was the fingerprint reader (so much for trusting reviews) but you'd think that they would make an example and at least create drivers for their own hardware before throwing stones.

Anyway as my wireless Microsoft mouse is also the one of the most problematic piece of cr@p I own, I think thats it for me and Microsoft hardware.

As for the solution (I do want a fingerprint reader), DigitalPersona, have an upgrade offer which is a discount on new hardware/software which does support 64 bit. I decided to take them up on it otherwise Eikon also make models that support 64 bit OS.

My Dell came with some face recognition software, but to get it to recognise you, you spend most of your time making funny faces at the camera and in any case it can be fooled (so I hear) by a photo, maybe I should just keep a good one next to my laptop... Nah, just kidding.

I just remembered another thing... I'm sure most of us assume a fingerprint reader is for security, apparently Microsoft don't belive this. They don't tell you how the passwords are stored (in the clear no doubt) and also specifically say say it shouldn't be used to secure important information, it is only to be used for convenience!!!!!! My new fingerprint reader not only works much better but is a security device and not an expensive toy...

Online Android Application Browser

Well it looks like you can use this online site to see what is in Google's Android Market without the need for an Android phone.

Google Contacts can't import Pictures! No Android phone for me?

Hi,

I would really like an Android based phone (probably the HTC Hero) but am unsure because its hard to tell "how connected" you need to be (as I just want GSM and no data plan) and what features are available disconnected. You have to be in the secret society to tell what most of the available applications are and what these will cost (you need to commit yourself by buying have a google phone and go to the market place to find out).

Anyway the above issue aside I had a look at the Google Contacts Application online and it looks like it would suit my needs and contacts can be members of multiple groups (unfortunately you can't nest groups). I decided to give the import feature a go.

The import reads the vCard file and seems to create contacts OK but all without the contact's picture. I have confirmed that the vcards do have the picture (it contains "PHOTO;JPEG;BASE64") so the issue would appear to be google's.

Unless someone tells me I'm wrong then I have to assume that Google contacts is what the google phone will sync to and if it doesn't want to accept photos then you have to wonder what they were thinking when they created the import (and from some searching the export) feature. Surely I can't be the only one who doesn't want to spend untold hours to upload and attach about 100 photos...

My other main alternatives are the iPhone and Palm Pre, which I'll now be spending more time looking at.

iHearSafe - Earbuds and Headphones that prevent Hearing Damage from iPods etc

These earbuds and headphones can be used with any audio device and no matter how high the device volume is turned up, the volume level will always remain below 85 decibels and prevent damage to your hearing.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

The device "Generic volume" cannot be stopped right now. Try stopping the device later.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm sick of this problem, Windows seems to have many different flaws in this area.

Apart from the obvious reason that data could still be in the process of being written to the drive due to caching (depending on drive options), there are still many times where there has been more than sufficient time to have completed writing to the drive and it fails the first time but always works on the second attempt!

Now for those times when a retry fails (if that isn't annoying enough) you first need to look for open applications that may be referencing the drive, having explorer open viewing the drive will of course cause these sorts of issues. Start by looking at obvious processes and then start closing any open applications which you have used (since the last boot) to view the problematic device and then retry.

If that doesn't work then use the Sysinternal's "Process Explorer" (recommended task manager replacement) or its command line "handle.exe" can locate the process(es) holding the device open. For example, I used "handle t:" and it will say something like "explorer.exe pid: 4704 C: T:\".

You will find that "explorer.exe" sometimes holds directories open long after you have moved on to a completely different location, you will also find the root or desktop "explorer.exe" is frequently the problem (this requires you to stop and restart the desktop process (process explorer's "restart process" option makes this easy).

Yet another "explorer" bug is demonstrated with the image on the top right where "explorer" remains running (holding T: open) even though as a user I have closed it (and it has disappeared from view). I assume it has bugs in the handling of "/e" and/or "/root" command line switches.

Anyway I hope that helps. I can imagine that processes like acrobat reader (which can remain in memory after closing for a period of time) can also be the cause but you should now be capable of identifying your problem...

Camera Video Recorder Glasses like the EVR130

There have been a couple of time driving or riding my bike it would have been handy to have a camera for the incriminating evidence, at those times I also generally wear glasses, so it seems like a good idea to have contantly recording glasses where the camera always follows you!

I don't like that its only 1.3 megapixel, and uses the much slower USB 1.1, but still, it doesn't appear to be too expensive (and available on eBay), I'll keep my eye out on alternatives for now...

Here is an example of some captured video (best to right click, save as) which actually looks quite good.

From the web site:

The EVR130 is a 1.3 Mega Pixel Eyewear Camera/camera glasses/eyewear camera/video recorder/eyewear recorder/recording sunglasses with built-in 2GB Memory and Micro SD card slot.


1.3 mega pixels CMOS camera for clear digital recording Built in 2G memory for as long as 5 hours video recording With extended memory slot for TF/Micro SD card Sleek and elegant design suits for both men and women users A must equipment and highly recommended device for journalist, traffic police, travelers and etc Real time recording, never let memorable moments sneak away from life Easy connection with PC/Laptops by USB port, no driver needed User friendly operation button for easy control.

video glasses (lose the TV?)

Again not what I was looking for but this has to be the way of the future. 3D TVs will need glasses and once you have glasses why do you need the TV?

Most (but not all) actually look pretty ugly but that would not stop me!

I will do some more investigation when I get more time.

Hindsight cyclist's Glasses for "eyes in the back of your head"

I was looking for something else and found "hindsight" glasses which seem like they'd be great for cyclists (watch for idiots without needing to turn you head).

As the Nike site is garbage I won't bother to link to their site, in any case I assume there are other similar glasses that a google could uncover, I will have a good look later when I have more time...

No sound from Canon HD (or any) Video on BeyonWiz

Yet another movie/format that won't play on my BeyonWiz :-(

Whenever a movie or video won't play correctly it is almost always the sound that is missing, I can only think of one movie where the video didn't work.

I used to have a canon S2IS digital camera and the BeyonWiz couldn't play its video or audio, with my new SX1IS the BeyonWiz plays the video but loses the audio (an improvement I suppose)...

I have seen many instances where the BeyonWiz sees the audio channels and supports the codecs but still won't play the audio, however in this particular case of the SX1IS generated video (which vlc etc plays fine) the Beyonwiz reports 0 channels.

Unfortunately the manufacturers don't have any real bug resolution process or I'd be reporting it there.

I have attached a small 320x240 video demonstrating the issue for those with a BeyonWiz, I used this resolution to keep the video size small the same issue occurs in high definition (1920x1080). It can be downloaded for testing from here. I am using the latest firmware (01.05.280).

The images show what VLC reports (2 channel "sowt") as well as what the Beyonwiz shows (0 channel "AAC"). The Canon website for says my SX1IS generates: MOV (Image Data: H.264; Audio Data: Linear PCM monaural).