My Computer Keeps Restarting For No Apparent Reason | Troubleshooting Tips

April 19, 2011 – 1:38 pm

In the past 20 years of fixing PCs I’ve came up with four different checks I can use whenever my computer keeps restarting. The goal with these checks is to identify what piece of hardware or software was causing the problem and then research that online (for possible solutions).

I always begin by checking the CPU temperatures in the BIOS menu. This is essential as you want to make sure the computer is not overheating. If the levels appear too high in comparison to your manufacturer’s guidelines then open the PC and use a can of compressed air to clear out all dust. Check the fans and fan filters have not been damaged and make sure the CPU and heat sink are still firmly attached.

If the system won’t even let you login before the computer keeps restarting then you have a limited number of options. The best option is to go to the advanced Windows menu (hit F8 as the system boots to access this menu) and choose the last known good configuration. This overwrites the registry file with an earlier healthy version which Windows had saved. It should work around issues, viruses or registry damage.

Once you are able to login then the main file to check is the event viewer log [start menu, run program, eventvwr.exe]. This is one of the more useful Windows operating system files which keeps note of every single exception that is getting phone. I will usually identify those messages that were logged in the moments prior to when my computer keeps restarting and research these online.

Finally, I ramp up the checks with some hardware analysis. Begin by doing a bad sector repair and analysis using Windows error checking tool. Next, the Device Manager utility will also identify of hardware is conflicting with other components or if you have corrupted device drivers. The utility’s own help section.

The Power of Touch on your Gadgets

April 15, 2011 – 11:44 am

The new revolution on touch screen gadgets was spurred by the introduction of touch screen features. The creators of touch screen laptops adapted to this innovation creating a lot of buzz on the side of the customers. For now, touch screen gadgets like touch screen laptops can be considered as luxury because of their very high prices. As the trends of the prices seem to lower down because of overwhelming competition, it can be expected that the prices will surely become affordable after a couple of years.

Touch screen gadgets makes the user more inclined to touching the device instead of too much clicking or pressing. A simple touch which does not require too much pressure is great relief on the hand muscles. You can move the cursor with your fingertips; scroll up, down, left or right with simple glides to the desired direction and your hand movements will be the one controlling what happens especially on menu selections. This comfort on navigation was definitely one of the reasons why customers crave for touch screen gadgets.

One of the most talked about and craved of the touch screen gadgets are the tablets. Probably the most popular tablet by this time is the Apple Ipad. Its function was primarily specialized for gaming and social networking. Popular games like Plants vs. Zombies are created to be more interactive with the use of the Ipad. Of course after the introduction of the Ipad, many applications sprouted out for touch screen gadgets. Aside from games, there are Ebooks which makes you experience reading electronically. Other popular touch screen gadgets are the Ipod which is also from Apple. This is a smaller prototype of the Ipad and can also function more for entertainment purposes like watching movies and videos, playing games and communicating with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

On the part of the touch screen laptops, there are laptop manufacturers which developed a dual touch screen laptop. Yes, it’s true that your keyboard will now be touched instead of pressed. The letters and command buttons will now appear on the bottom part of screen from the virtual keyboard. These amazing innovations will definitely be surpassed by upcoming developments on touch screen gadgets.

Applying Innovation Strategy To Software Tools

April 14, 2011 – 1:23 pm

Software development can benefit greatly from establishing a good innovation strategy plan from the outset. This incorporates using research into new technologies to improve existing product features and come up with new product ranges.

The basic building block of innovation strategies is effective research within a software house. Individuals need to be tasked with researching new technologies, concepts and operational procedures which may prove effective in the software you produce. These individuals need sufficient time allocated to do this type of research work and to prototype proof of concepts. Once the company gets bigger then dedicated research departments can be established to collate ideas from other departments as well as customers.

The research work does however need to be done along your regular product life cycles. This is essential since you want to make sure the stream of innovative concepts produced/delivered from research is going to flow correctly and engineering. To get the flow right, management will need to establish how many research is are needed in order to guarantee an effective flow of innovative feature ideas and product lines.

The final key element in good quality innovation strategy planning is establishing your communication channels. This is crucial for making sure you have effective idea transference into and out of research. The research teams themselves needs to hand over their concepts to engineering groups. Doing this may be quite simple and small companies where the research individual with actually be a part of engineering team. As companies grow, it becomes more necessary to have a dedicated architecture teams and proper documentation produced by research in order for engineering to do their work effectively.

Communication back into the research team should also be fostered through proper communication channels, use of databases for storing ideas/feature requests/customer suggestions and this should be regularly reviewed, archived and prioritized. Product management may need to administer this database in some circumstances to highlight any innovative marketing strategies they perceive within the knowledge database of new product ideas.

Is the PS3 Move Really Better Than the Classic PS3?

April 13, 2011 – 6:35 pm

Since the release of the new PS3 Move Bundle, there has been a lot of debate on whether it is better than the supposed best PS3 bundle deal that has been released before it. Given the fact that one has to pay a lot for it, much thought would need to be spent on deciding whether to buy it or not. If you are are one of the people who are in this kind of dilemma, it would be best for you to take a look at all the facts so that you could get some kind of help in making up your mind.

The good thing about sticking to the old PS3 version is that its price now is way lower than its original price when it was released. Though it is cheaper, you cannot say that quality has been sacrificed. In fact, it is still one of the best releases ever made in recent times. If you are a beginner, it is advisable that you try out this version before going with the PS3 Move.

On the other hand, if you are a certified gaming addict, it is high time for you to shift to the new PS3 Move. You will certainly feel the rush as soon as you have started using it. There is no question that it is indeed amazing. It’s almost unbelievable how advanced its graphics is. It makes use of a motion controller that has internal sensors that has the ability to detect your every move. You can say adios to pushing buttons and start directing your focus on your movement in order to gain control of the game.

No matter which of these options you choose, you will never go wrong. If you really want to know if which of them is better, all you have to do is to assess your needs and skills. This also includes your preference in gaming. By then, you will be able to immediately decide which model of the PS3 to buy. If money is one of your considerations, you would be better off opting for a cheap PS3.

Acer Mini Laptops Are The Best in Terms of Quality and Price

April 13, 2011 – 5:05 pm

Acer is amongst the world leaders for mini laptops. Its Acer Aspire One is one of the bestsellers in the range of mini laptops and this is due to its truly great quality and reasonable price.

Acer mini laptops offer great transportability, because of the very limited size, which ranges from 8 to 11 inches (screen) more or less, and also because of the devices’ little weight. The average Acer mini laptop weights only around 300 lbs.

Moreover, not only Acer mini laptops are great models in terms of the size, but for being mini laptops they are also very powerful. One of the Acer mini laptops has an Intel Core i5-430UM processor that make sure that your computer has enough power to be able to do whatever you need to do. Not only they are powerful, but also they feature good amounts of memory space, as the Aspire One has a 500GB SATA hard drive that will keep it running at 5400rpm on 4GB of RAM. In addition, battery life is surprisingly long, as you will be able to use most Acer mini laptops for more than five hours straight without charging it. This is a major plus to these laptops, as it saves you the hassle of having to bring the charger with you when you decide to use your mini laptop away from home.

Even though one might think that a small screen such as a 9 inch screen is not appropriate for a laptop, Acer mini laptops’ displays are high quality LCD screens, and do not cause any disturb to the sight even if they are small.

The best model of Acer mini laptops is, in my opinion, the Aspire One A150, which comes in either blue or white, and costs around $400.

In conclusion, if you need a mini laptop to use as a portable second or backup computer, Acer offers the best deals both in terms of quality and price.

Free Shoutcast Hosting: Why You Can’t Find It

April 12, 2011 – 12:04 am

If you have your own online radio station or are considering starting a station you have likely researched your shoutcast hosting options. Many small radio stations operate as hobbies and do not necessarily have a revenue source, which makes paying for hosting often a challenge. Although it is tempting to look for free shoutcast hosting for your online radio needs, it is often difficult to find. Here are a few reasons why finding free hosting is a challenge, and why you might want to avoid it.

Shoutcast servers have high bandwidth costs and often use a lot of server resources

Bandwidth is the amount of data transferred to and from a server and is usually calculated monthly. When an online radio station is operating you are broadcasting streaming audio on the internet and can often have dozens if not hundreds of listeners connected at the same time. Due to the nature of the service, the data transfer usage can be extremely high and costs the hosting provider money. This is the major reason why you do not see a lot of free shoutcast hosting plans – it is just not feasible.

Many stations now request the use of an automatic DJ service, that will allow the broadcaster to upload audio to the host server and it will stream automatically. The issue with this service is that it uses a lot more server resources than the traditional streaming methods. This increased usage and their incurred costs are what often put a high price tag on shoutcast plans.

When you host for free, you don’t own anything.

If you do happen to find a free shoutcast package, it does not come without risks. If you are not paying for something then you do not own it, and you run the risk of it being shut down out of the blue. Be careful if you are looking for a free service, it might be worth paying a few dollars a month to get something more reliable.

Reasons to Buy the New Nintendo 3DS

April 11, 2011 – 10:54 pm

Gaming addicts everywhere are in a rush to get hold of the new Nintendo 3DS that is set to revolutionize handheld gaming technology. Even before this new hand held hits the shelves, the market has been abuzz with buy 3ds slogans in an effort to pique the curiosity of the gaming public.

Industry experts divides today’s Nintendo 3DS consumers into two distinct categories. The first one being the typical addict gamer who will buy this new game to add to their collection. They are the ones who place advance orders and wait in queue for the stocks to arrive. The second type are the ones who can’t decide if the Nintendo 3DS is right for them. They go through forums and search through 3ds wiki pages but are still left undecided. If you fall under this category, then here’s a simple checklist to help you decide on whether this new game from Nintendo is right for you.

Buy a Nintendo 3DS if you are into 3D viewing and gaming – if you love 3D then the new Nintendo 3ds is definitely for you as it is the first of its kind to harness this technology without the limitations of having to wear 3D glasses. With its lenticular technology, gamers are guaranteed a viewing and gaming experience unlike any that they have ever seen.

Buy a Nintendo 3DS if you are into some of its other features – though 3D technology is the main focal point for this new hand held game, Nintendo 3DS however also boasts of other features that gives it its distinct edge over competition. It’s StreetPass feature for example lets gamers share data while the Activity Log enables users to monitor their games. In addition, Nintendo’s AR games and cards allows for games that are life like and realistic.

Buy a Nintendo 3DS if you are in search of something new – if you want to be one of the firsts to experience a new breed of console gaming, then the Nintendo 3ds should be on your list as it is one of the latest technology to hit the market and though experts may argue that 3D in itself has some limitations, it does however connect you with some of the generation’s most loved games that have been reinvented with 3D technology such as Super Mario and Street Fighter IV.

Buy a Nintendo 3DS if you have outgrown the Nintendo DS – though the Nintendo DS has proven its appeal and longevity since its launch in 2004, some consumers are itching to get a newer version. If you have grown tired of your DS, then it’s high time that you experience the new Nintendo 3DS.