The WiFi Zone

$15 to Check first bag on American Airlines

Here we go. The end of airline travel as we know it. American Airlines has announced substantial cutbacks in service , decommissioning of aircraft, and increase of other fees from $5 to $50. And if you check a bag, you'll need to cough up $15 for...

Published Wed, May 21 2008 3:48 PM by bowman

Filed under: Ramblings, Travel Tips

Why won't MS take x64 Computing Seriously?

This is the second time Microsoft has let down Vista 64 bit users who are also photographers. The first was on the lack of RAW codecs for Windows Photo Gallery, which the PIX team blamed on the Camera makers. Today, a new tool, " Pro Photo Tools...

Published Thu, May 01 2008 2:53 PM by bowman

Filed under: Companies Not Supporting 64 Bit OSes Suck

Do you have a non working DSM-750 Media Center Extender?

Here's some info from Mark Espenschied, a Marketing Communications Manager for D-Link Systems, Inc. in Fountain Valley, California. " A small number of early production DSM-750 Wireless N HD Media Center Extenders have an issue with a corrupted...

Published Thu, Apr 24 2008 5:15 AM by bowman

Filed under: Vista, Media Center Extender

Wireless Networking Gear-the Softer Side

I've got this great DAP-1555 Draft 802.11n "Xtreme N Duo Mediabridge" that I use to wirelessly enable my Xbox 360. (You can buy these in pairs to add to existing networks. And if you want to use your 360 wirelessly, you'll definitely...

Published Tue, Mar 11 2008 8:04 AM by bowman

Filed under: WiFi, Wireless, Home Networking

D-Link DSM-750 Media Center Extender (FAR better than Linksys!)

I've just setup a production DSM-750 Medialounge Media Center Extender . This new extender streams everything over Wireless 802.11n Draft 2.0 (using a DGL-4500 in 5GHz mode) including High Definition Live and Recorded TV from a Vista Ultimate x64...

Published Mon, Mar 10 2008 3:58 PM by bowman

Filed under: Media Center Extender

NASA to beam Beatles Music Into Space

"Across the Universe" will be beamed towards the North Star on Feb 4th. I love this idea. Calling ET.... Technorati tags: NASA , Beatles

Published Fri, Feb 01 2008 4:05 PM by bowman

Filed under: Stuff, Technology

Don't pack spare Lithium batteries in checked baggage after 1/1/2008

According to this US Government site, spare batteries should be packed in carry-on luggage only. Here is the table that appears on the official website. GUIDE TO RULES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008 Type Of Battery/Batteries In Checked Baggage In Carry-On...

Published Fri, Dec 28 2007 3:40 PM by bowman

Filed under: Technology, Ramblings, Travel Tips

Happy Holidays

And a Healthy and Happy New Year

Published Mon, Dec 24 2007 6:27 AM by bowman

MS to force us to view ads whether we want to or not?

ZDnet blogger Russell Shaw certainly has found a scary patent filed by Microsoft. " Enforcing rendering advertisements and other predetermined media content in connection with playback of downloaded selected media content. Playback of selected media...

Published Sat, Dec 22 2007 10:25 AM by bowman

Filed under: Ramblings, DRM

Updating Acer Ferrari x64 Ultimate with new BIOS

Acer refuses to provide a 64 bit winphlash. I finally figured out a quick and easy solution (not wanting to buy a USB floppy). Acer adamantly refuses to acknowledge that 64 bit users want to update their BIOS. And the Ferrari 4000 doesn't support...

Published Thu, Oct 25 2007 3:34 PM by bowman

Filed under: x64, Technology

Infected job search sites lead to identity theft for 1.6M

Computer World is reporting that job search sites, including the highly trafficked Monster.com may have compromised visitors who click on malicious ads. Yesterday the report was 40K+ users, now it's 1.6 million. Technorati tags: security , ID theft...

Published Sun, Aug 19 2007 3:23 PM by bowman

Filed under: Technology, Security, Malware

Help Design HP's Next Laptop

I received an invitation, in part because of some reviews I've done as a blogger, to provide feedback and ideas to HP on what kind of laptop I'd design if I could do it myself. The sky is the limit and I think this is a great opp for MVP's...

Published Tue, Aug 14 2007 5:37 AM by bowman

Filed under: Technology

Nero 7, Vista, and where did the thumbnails go - registry fix

Bad bad nero. Changes the registry from these defaults. So save this as a reg file or carefully edit the registry (need admin rights): Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.DVR-MS] @="" "PerceivedType"="video"...

Published Sat, Jun 30 2007 9:09 AM by bowman

Filed under: Vista

Best Buy Tells Me "Online Prices are Different"

No wonder the State of CT is suing Best Buy. Yesterday, I checked all the Internet ads for a microSD card for my cell phone. Best Buy had a 2GB Sandisk card plus adapter for 49.99 less 5.00 sale price. I live 5 minutes from the local Best Buy Store. So...

Published Sun, Jun 17 2007 5:50 AM by bowman

Filed under: Ramblings

BBC's Panorama Investigative Show Thinks WiFi is Unsafe

The basis for all of this nonsensical conclusion is apparently some unsubstantiated leap between mobile phone technology and equipment and a theorized similarity to WiFi equipment. Say what? Someone at Panorama is WiFi phobic. My long standing opinion...

Published Fri, May 25 2007 1:22 PM by bowman

Filed under: WiFi, Wireless, Home Networking, Stuff, Technology, Ramblings

How to bolster wireless security away from home

If you travel with a laptop and connect wirelessly, you need to take extra precautions. Most public wireless providers and hot spots use no security at all. Everything you send and receive is sent in the clear with no encryption. If you are using a VPN...

Published Thu, May 17 2007 1:35 PM by bowman

Don't take Microsoft's Advice on this one. WEP is not secure.

Microsoft recently posted a column on Ad Hoc WiFi Networking on the Vista Community site and advocated using WEP if WPA was not available. This article further gave instructions on entering a 5 or 13 character WEP key without even bothering to explain...

Published Wed, May 16 2007 10:30 AM by bowman

Filed under: Vista, WiFi, Wireless, Home Networking, Technology

My Velocity Micro x64 & Vista MCE & CableCARDs=Happy Together

Some of you may remember that back in December 2006, Microsoft and AMD shipped me a Velocity Micro Cinemagix Pro Cinema Entertainment System . This AMD Athlon X2 system with an ATI x1950 dual DVI card, 2 gigs RAM and huge hard drive was a wonder. Microsoft...

Published Tue, May 08 2007 2:06 PM by bowman

Filed under: Vista, CableCARD, x64, Technology

Shopping Annoyances (and some dangers?)

Yes, this is a detour from technology oriented content. I'm about to give up brick and mortar stores permanently, as the aggravation factor has gotten permanently out of control. I'm stuck getting groceries at physical stores, but I'm definitely...

Published Sun, May 06 2007 5:44 PM by bowman

Velocity Micro PC DCT/CableCARD Ready Arriving Tomorrow

My refitted screamer arrives back home tomorrow. I'm ready!

Published Fri, Apr 27 2007 3:10 PM by bowman