Steve Holden's Blog

Tech Tracking #003 - Android, Gune, MacWorld, WordPress, Etc.

Here are some tech items I've been tracking:

• PaulaD has published a list of “50 Free Android Apps that Will Make You Smarter & More Productive".
• Gune is a mobile search service/platorm that searches 14 sites in a single interface. 
• Victor Cajiao at Typical Mac User Podcast is speaking that this years Macworld 2011.
• "Teach Yourself WordPress 3 in 10 Minutes" by Chuck Tomasi & Kreg Steppe is at the top of the list at WordPress.org
• Cox Cable is now offering “Ultimate Internet” using Docsis 3.0" ... cost could be up to $100 a month 
• Electronics West is Feb 9-10, 2011 in Anaheim, CA.
• Microsoft & T-Mobile are teaming up to offer a 2-for-1 deal for the new Windows Mobile HTC HD7 phones.
• You can take FileMaker Training Series for FileMaker Pro 11 remotely via GoToMeeting (50% off).
• ScotteVest has a new Sport Coat & Revolution Jacket - plus a special edition leather jacket.
• MindMeister's iPhone app is now FREE and the iPad app is $7.99 ... great online MindMap application.

Windows 7 Tip - NVIDIA GT 220 driver

My desktop test system for Windows 7 Ultimate is a HP s5150t with a NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 video graphics driver. As I post this tip, the NVIDIA site has the following video driver available (since 8/21/2009):

• 190.62_desktop_win7_winvista_32bit_english_whql

Which I installed a couple of weeks ago. Previously they had the following:

• 186.34_desktop_win7_winvista_32bit_international_whql

I was having periodic problems with the v186.34 version where the video would just stop sending a signal, and I'd have to remote in and restart the computer.  Since putting on v190.62 I haven't had this issue so I think the bug has been fixed.

However, I recently ran Windows Update (I think on Friday morning) and it said there was a new graphics driver available for the NVIDIA GT220. I mistakenly trusted the recommendation and installed it.  It appears to have been the v186.34 version because my video issue shortly re-appeared.  I backed out the buggy update, put v190.62 back on, and everything is stable again.

Hopefully, as Window 7 gets closer to official launch, this type of driver issue will be resolved.  If not, it could be a rocky launch for what has been for me a pretty solid product.