January 2009
10 posts
6 tags
Windows 7 , Readyboost and Low CPU usage
After setting up a 15gb readyboost cache on a Memory Stick Duo I’ve noticed that my CPU usage in Windows 7 drops significantly. Windows 7 already has better resource management than Vista but it seems using a large Readyboost cache significantly reduces hard disk access and CPU usage. Here’s a screenshot of my Task manager and the CPU usage hit 3% (it was 2% at one point but I...
4 tags
Gadgets not working in Windows 7 Beta
If you’ve suddenly found that Desktop Gadgets (the old Vista Sidebar) won’t work in Windows 7 Beta it’s probably because you’ve set UAC to not notify (read: pester) you! Here’s the fix
4 tags
Readyboost improvements in Windows 7
Just noticed that in Windows 7 it’s possible to have multiple devices as Readyboost drives AND increase the size of Readyboost Cache files. You can see here I’m using Memory Stick slot built in to the SZ71 with a 16gb card formatted with exFat. Another new feature is the “Dedicate this device to Readyboost” which isn’t explained but could offer improved performance by...
5 tags
Windows 7: VS2005 webdev stops debugging on launch
Just a quick one, if you’re having this problem. Symptom is to launch a debug session in VS2005 in under Windows 7 running IE8 and the Webdev server halts leaving the browser up, unable to connect and debugging has stopped. Works fine if you set the web site to not launch a browser and navigate manually using say, Firefox. The problem seemed to be down to multiple iExplore.exe instances...
5 tags
Improve Outlook performance by taking it Offline
If you use Outlook with Exchange and find it slow and sluggish at times, you’ll notice a performance improvement by switching to “Offline” mode. Just click in the bottom right of the Outlook Window and select “Offline”. This will break the connection between the Exchange server and Outlook and switch you to a mode that can check periodically for e-mail (much like a...
4 tags
Windows 7 installed, works!
Yesterday I took caution, threw it firmly at the wind and upgraded my Vaio SZ71 from Vista SP2 Beta to Windows 7 Beta. Oh and I didn’t image my drive first. OK I’m not completely crazy. I did have a backup of my files courtesy of Carbonite and I figured if it went wrong then it would be a great excuse for a rebuild. I also didn’t jump straight in but researched a lot of reports...
6 tags
Why we won't see Flash on the iPhone anytime soon
Since the iPhone launched with mobile Safari a lot of people have been asking about Flash support and with each subsequent firmware update it’s discussed, wished for but doesn’t materialise. Rumors are that Adobe have it written but Apple won’t allow claiming it would be a resource hog. So what’s the big deal with flash and why won’t Apple really allow it? The...
5 tags
Autoresponders, good or bad?
I’ve been reading about certain faux pas when it comes to using Twitter and one was specifically about the use of Auto responders. Anyone using e-mail clients like Outlook and services like Exchange will be familiar with setting up out of office replies and other responders. Social networks like Ecademy allow you to send an auto response when someone hits your profile but are auto...
4 tags
First impressions of Encamp for iPhone
Check out this post on Apresiphone for first impressions of Encamp, a new Basecamp native app for the iPhone. Very cool!
4 tags
Twitter, generating revenue and APIs
There’s no doubt that Twitter is a huge web success story - a simple question of “What are you doing?” has got people and organisations talking to each other and has shown how news can travel faster through a social network than it can through the standard news channels. The big question though is how will Twitter monetize their service in 2009? The obvious choice is keyword...