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After dealing with the numerous issues of my previous AMD Geode carputer motherboard, I decided to upgrade. Some of the problems I had were hanging at POST, bluescreens due to driver issues, and overall weird behavior. I also wanted more features, such as the ability to boot from a USB drive. Not only that, but the board ran pretty hot in my glove box and lacked performance that I wanted.

Alas, the Intel D945GCLF2, based on the Intel Atom, is finally released. One of the key features that caught my eye was the dual core Atom processor. Not only is it dual core, but its power usage is outstanding. It’s estimated to use 4 watts under load while consuming milliwatts (thousandths of a watt) when idle. Being in a carputer, power consumption is a vital specification because you need to figure out how large of a power supply you will need. The power consumption spec can also give you an idea of how much heat will be disappated, because after all, the power not used for computing will dissipate into heat.

The power supply I am using is an Opus 120. It’s rated for 120 watts and has powered my previous build just fine. I ran into one snag that I didn’t expect, however. The motherboard uses a 12v P4 ATX connector (see pic on the website) as well as the standard 20-24pin ATX connector. The power supply I have (and most that I’ve seen) do not have this connector incorporated into their harness.

To solve this problem, you can either purchase a molex to P4 adapter, or you can mod your existing wiring harness and add the P4 connector. I chose to mod my existing wiring harness and add the P4 connector to one of the existing molex connectors. Basically, I cut off the P4 connector from a regular ATX power supply, stripped the wires, and crammed them into an existing molex connection. See the pictures on the website to see what I mean.

After everything was setup, I installed the full Windows XP Pro with SP3. I opted not to use TinyXP because I felt that it could cause issues down the road with all the drivers it has stripped out. After the installation, I installed the usual Winamp, VLC media player, SpeedFan, iGuidance, Centrafuse, and finally the drivers. Instead of configuring Windows to hibernate after the car was shut off, I chose to shutdown completely because I’ve had lots of issues with hibernation such as it not resuming correctly.

With 1GB of RAM and a 2.5″ 80GB 4200RPM hard drive, the performance isn’t too bad. You would think that a 4200RPM hard drive would be kind of sluggish, but I can hardly notice it. Windows starts up from a cold boot quickly and so do all of the programs I use. I’m never left waiting for the next song to load or a program to open.

The low power consumption of the board is also very noticeable. With my old board, the CPU temperature would always be at least 45C upon boot, and rise to a little over 60C after being used for awhile. On a cold morning, at about 55F, The Intel Atom managed to boot up at 30C and after 20 minutes, it had only risen to 35C! Now, when I open my glove box, there’s no more hot air oozing out. The air inside the glove box is almost the same temperature as the air in the cabin! However, the temperatures will differ based on the ambient temperature inside the cabin, so the CPU will run hotter on a warmer day. On an 80F day, the CPU boots at 30C and rises to about 55-60C, still not bad on a very warm day.

All in all, the Intel D945GCLF2 is a great buy. At only $89.99 from Mini-box.com, you get tons of features, and best of all, a dual core processor. With low power consumption, low temperatures, and high performance it seems as if the board was made explicitly for carputer usage, in which it excels.

Technology has a way of skidding from science fictions’ past into the present like Michael J Foxs’ Delorean in “Back to the Future”. Remember those sliding doors in Star Trek on the U.S.S. Enterprise? We take them for granted now. And every time I see someone flip open a cell phone and talk to someone, I expect to hear them say “Beam me up Scotty.” The day of live streamed video mail is coming soon -very soon. Every science fiction movie I ever saw had someone talking to someone else from a TV screen and we all laughed, yet today I heard that our IT department is supplying built in web-cams standard on all newly issued laptop models.

I had a real wide-eyed moment today and I have to share it with you. I watched our doctor wave a Dr. McCoy-Star Trek-type “tricorder” over my sons chest. “What IS that?” I had asked. The doctor explained that it would “re-align the electrical impulses that were out of sync so his respiratory infection could heal.”

“Seriously?” I thought to myself. This was real. My son thought it tickled and the doctor did the treatment until the levels on the front showed the body had re-calibrated. Just when you think you are getting a handle on things, something new pops up and surprises you.

I am a specialist in assistive technology. I see new things that come out on the market all the time. I have been following the research and development of mapping the neuro-network of the brain to pinpoint the combinations of impulses and electrical frequencies that make up hand, wrist and arm movements. There are studies right now on how to re-create these impulses in “bionic” arms that replace severed ones. The research will allow our human brain to operate the new appendage by thought.

I was at a national convention this fall where I sat and had an eye gaze unit wirelessly track my retina from four feet away. As I looked around, the cursor on a large flat computer screen moved in the same direction. The cost was huge, but the technology was there for someone who is severely disabled and wants to access life through a computer. I’m sure I saw Tom Cruise do that in a movie a couple of years ago.

There is no way any one person can know it all about any niche in technology anymore. The world is becoming more and more specialized. We have specialized services within specialized niches that are in specialized markets of specialized companies. It can get pretty crazy. I have heard predictions that there will come a time when a person with my job in general assistive technology will not be able to be an assistive technology specialist anymore. They will have to focus on a sub-category because the specialization will be so intense.

How does this apply to parents of children with disabilities? If you are a parent, You need to know a couple of things:

1. You should be comfortable in knowing that you can’t learn it all.

Don’t put yourself through guilt and frustration over this fact. Just get an overview of the services and equipment your child may need. Be prepared to say “I don’t know but I can find out.” That is my biggest phrase. I have learned how to find a needle in a haystack on the Internet when it comes to AT. I spend a great deal of my time online researching equipment, treatment, therapy or definitions and descriptions of medical disorders. Be ready to see the Internet as your best friend. There is so much information out there it is staggering.

Most people hate to waste time searching for information. They want it done for them. If you have a child with a disability, start searching and asking. There are answers out there. I don’t even pretend to think or want to bluff you into thinking that I know all there is. “All there is” changes every day. If I were to comment on occupational and physical therapy supports, new treatment for seizures and ADHD with neurofeedback for children using computer games and slot car race tracks, simulating virtual reality on the TV with a Wii, and so on, we would be here for the next 2 years - and by then 70% of what we knew would be obsolete and new technologies would have taken over.

2. There are new and limitless possibilities for young children with disabilities.

Where we are headed is going to be amazing. The textbooks need to be re-written on how we serve children because of the impact of technology in every aspect of education and special needs service delivery. If you are a parent of a small child today, the advances in technology to support are going to be incredible. It is a good time to be alive. You have options no one had before you. There is technology to support your child that is amazing. Take some time to look search blogs, forums and pod casts that talk about technology in education, assistive technology and trends in alternative medicine for neurofeedback. The technology associated with alternative medicine is gaining more respect as time goes on and shows great promise as it becomes a hybrid in collaboration with traditional medicine and treatment.

I imagine by the time you read this, I’ll need to be writing a second edition. That’s OK. As long as I don’t expect to ever catch up, I can relax and find the things that work. That is what serving children with assistive technology is all about anyway. Finding out what works to support kids.

Why do you need a Touchscreen protector?

We all love our electronics and we tend to think of them as indestructible. However, at the end of the day, they are nothing more than plastic shells that hate to get wet and can easily become bent bruised or broken when accidentally dropped.

But its not just the obvious threats that can do your electronic gadgets in. Even a bit of food between the keys, or tapping too hard on an unprotected key, can send your electronic gadget to an early grave. That’s why more and more people are looking at products like clear screen protectors to keep their electronics running longer.

The problem with most skins is that they are supposed to be one-size-fits-all, but whatever they are designed to fit doesn’t seem to be what you are holding in your hand at the moment you’re trying to get one installed. If you are thinking about buying a cell phone screen protector, get one that is specifically made for your brand and model. A custom-designed iPhone 3G case is going to fit your iPhone 3G like a glove. And that’s important. If your skin fits loosely, it can be torn, or fall off, and leave your iPhone 3G at risk.

The same thing is true for any phone screen protector. If it’s not designed to fit your electronic device, it’s not what you should be buying. Take LG phone covers for example. With over 100 models, in all shapes and sizes, it doesn’t make any sense to think that all LG phone covers are the same. Try using LG Shine accessories with an LG Invision and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Samsung phone covers are another example of one-size definitely does not fit all. Order a generic one and you’ll spend the next few hours with scissors and a tape measure trying to shoehorn your F268 into a cover that wants to go on the Pixon. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you should need an engineering degree just to install a phone screen protector.

Another problem with generic cell phone protectors is hey are usually made from cheap materials that will yellow over time. A lot of good it does to invest in an Instinct if your protective Instinct case keeps you from reading the screen. Only consider Instinct accessories made from the highest quality urethane films for your cell phone screen protector.

And it’s not just about protecting your cell phone screens either. Remember, your electronic devices are at risk from a number of dangers, and it’s not just the screen you have to worry about. That’s why you need full-body and keyboard protection besides a cell phone screen protector.

So before you invest your money in some phone screen protector that won’t fit and won’t protect your entire cell phone from damage, consider getting a self-healing one that’s custom-designed to be so much more than a touch screen protector.

Microsoft continues its strategic software transformation. It was during the first keynote of the PDC2008 (Professional Developers Conference, from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 in Los Angeles) that Ray Ozzie, chief software architect for the company introduced Windows Azure. Windows Azure is a new offering designed specifically for “cloud computing”. Cloud computing is internet based applications and development.

Incorporating a layer of virtualization, it automatically handles the problem of load distribution by distributing and requesting resources between data centers based on volume. In short, the whole infrastructure of datacenters will support applications and emphasize security and high availability. This solutions architecture will be built around SQL Server, Active Directory and .Net technology.

Windows Azure is not an OS. It constitutes the foundation for a platform for broadcasting services in a “cloud”. It is built around Live Services .Net Services, SQL Services, SharePoint Services and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Services. This allows any company to expand services very easily.

The great strength of Windows Azure is the mode of development services. The programmer can use all the languages of the .Net platform to create a service, including Visual Basic .Net. Microsoft is trying to develop cloud computing services for everyone. Note that Windows Azure is open to other development tools and other programming languages (eg Eclipse and PHP).

The Windows platform allows Azure to create services, which range from simple to complex. It also allows companies to extend upon existing online applications. Microsoft Azure is the first step in the progression, evolution and migration of client based applications to web based services.

It is easy to get confused when you are researching computers. Many newcomers get frustrated and it seems like the salesman at the local big box electronic store is speaking a foreign language. Many terms and words apply to the computer industry that does not apply to any other aspect of living. What is software? What is hardware? What is the CPU? ROM? RAM? Let’s take a moment to look at some examples of computer hardware.

Computer hardware is just that, the “hard” surfaces you can touch. Hardware is what the computer is made of. Software is the programs running on the hardware that tell your computer what to do when you use the computer to balance your checkbook, look at email or surf the internet. Examples of computer hardware include:

• The Monitor - what you view the results on, like a television.
• The CPU - central processing unit is where all the complicated math and computing happen.
• CD or DVD ROM - This is the drive that “reads” cd’s or dvd’s. ROM’s are NOT burners the “read only.”
• CD or DVD RW - This is the drives that “burn” or “make” cd’s and dvd’s. Typically they can read and write to a cd or dvd.
• Memory - This is just as it reads; the more memory your computer has, the better it will function.
• Printer - This allows you to print documents (your resume,) pictures, and many times printers have more than one function. Many printers can double up as scanners, fax machines and copiers.
• Wireless or Hardwired Routers - These are the devices that allow you to connect to other computers in your “network.” They can work singly or in conjunction with “modems” which are the devices that allow you to connect to the internet.

Although the list above is quite extensive, it does not include all the examples of computer hardware you might run into. Lot’s of devices are considered hardware (remember, you can touch hardware.) The list of devices not mentioned include cd’s and dvd’s, flash drives, floppy drives and disks, the mouse and keyboard, and the hard drives that store the operating systems and software on.

Computers have different configurations of hardware. Some offer more memory, storage, or optional drives. The type of computer you purchase will depend on what you do with it. There are different configurations available for virtually every application and desire. Whether you are going to play games, just email and surf the net, or plot the distances between the planets and stars, there is a computer set up and ready for you to purchase. Each will be configured a little differently based upon what demands your applications will place upon the hardware.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the different examples of computer hardware and can make an informed decision when making your next computer purchase.

Mobile is now a new gadget owned by the people. They want to be connected to their friends and world around. For them mobile phones seem to be a better option. These days’ mobile phones have the facility to access Internet easily. People can receive email alerts, chat with their friends, surf net and much more. Due to this many people find mobile an effective means of communications and increase their sales. People send messages that comprise of details about their products and services. Interestingly many political parties use mobile as the medium for promoting themselves during the elections. You might be thinking mobile promotion services very expensive. But it is not so…Depending on your needs the companies offer with various mobile marketing services that include:

* SMS (Short Messaging Services) Marketing
* LBS (Location Based Services) Marketing
* MMS (Multi-Media Messaging Services) Marketing

These days many search engine optimization companies provide affordable mobile SEO services. You can employ one such company that offer mobile marketing services. Here they will send the mobile users on a particular network, an advertisement about the services and products being offered by you. As the product is being reached to many people at a time, it becomes a cheap way of promoting the products and keywords. They will use the vocabulary and keywords that will promote the business activity effectively. Keywords… yes you read it right. These are special / unique words that help to promote the brand and services. Using them the service provider prepares a campaign.

Some of the advantages of mobile marketing are:
* Freedom to interact anytime & anywhere
* Personalized communication with all customers
* Computerize and shared out messages based on criteria
* Advanced tracking and reporting
* Powerful follow marketing
* Easily the messages and alert can be managed & sent
* Both small and big companies benefit from the services of the company by gaining popularity

For affordable mobile search engine optimization opt for SMS Push Service / Bulk SMS Service, now.

The anti-malware software route is assuredly the easiest and in most cases the best route to take when it comes to fighting spyware and adware.

One of the most renowned utility for removing nasty software has a very suitable name: NoAdware. Despite what the name infers, the software covers spyware as well. The application uses special “definitions” which are basically rules to say which software is a standard application and which is malware. Based on these definitions, NoAdware decides whether or not a certain file is dangerous, and with the consent of the user, appropriately destroys any threats. These definitions are continually updated by the developers as newer and more advanced strains of malware are created, so you are going to be safely protected for a long time in the future. Another interesting feature of this particular anti-malware is the immunization feature, which blacklists known adware and prevents it from ever installing. Accompanying this are also various browser options which add safeguards to your internet browser in order to further reduce the chances of anything undesirable happening.

Another competitor in the anti-malware market which is recommended for use is Spyzooka. This program follows the same lines as other utilities, locating and removing problem software. More noticeably, Spyzooka is programmed to analyze your computers configuration and find anything which has been changed by Adware or Spyware, and repair such items. Your computer is also tweaked for optimal performance if desired by this software, which is useful for recovering from an infection, as your computer may still not be back to its good old self. One of the major upsides to this software is the way it receives its new definitions. Spyzooka has little web spiders crawling around the internet 24/7 finding new threats and updating your software before most threats even become major issues. They also back their software with a really strong and customer friendly guarantee.

The last recommendation for this situation is ParetoLogic. They are a company which offers a wide range of solutions for almost every mishap on your computer. Whether its viruses, Trojans or dialers, data recovery or registry integrity, they’ve got it under control. Their anti-spyware and anti-malware software can cope with mutating infections which may change their behavior in order to avoid detection. Their very own technology named “Zheng” is a network functionality which is unlimited in scalability and customizability, and allows ParetoLogic to release extremely up to date updates for their products, which is very good.