Removing the U3 Partition from a Flash Drive

I find most extra software bundled with hardware unnecessary and usually annoying; U3 luckily is both.

After attempts to format, fdisk /mbr, diskpart clean, etc. all failed. I did some poking around and found the uninstaller is bundled with the startup app, clever...

1. Insert your U3 flash drive  and Launch the U3 application.


2. Click on the U3 Launchpad Settings


3. Click the Uninstall tab on the Settings menu (all windows and files accessed from the flash drive must be closed).


4. Finally, click Uninstall U3 Launchpad

That's it, no more pop-ups and annoying software.

Resetting a Verizon MiFi 2200

A recently returned Verizon MiFi 2200 was found to have been reset by the user, with now-forgotten settings. Luckily the reset is easy...

1. Power on the MiFi (if it isn't already).


2. Take off the back cover and depress the reset button with a paperclip or similar (look for a hole labelled RESET in one of the corners).


3. Hold the button in until the status LED turns green, then blinks once (this can take up to ten seconds).


4. Let it go and then you'll find the SSID listed on the back in your available wireless networks (typically Verizon MIFI4510L XXXX).

Disable Prius Beeping when in Reverse

If you have a Prius, there's a good chance you are annoyed by the constant beeping when you put the car in reverse. I can understand if it's heard outside the car, since it's almost completely silent when in electric mode, but it only alerts the passengers in the vehicle. Since selling my Corvette, I've been driving my wife's Prius a lot and the beeping was beginning to really grate on me...

After a few searches, here's what I found (read the steps once before attempting, some of them are time dependent).

1. Start the car with your foot on the brake as usual.


2. Press the ODO button until "ODO" appears on the dash display. (If it's already present, cycle around once to display it again.)


3. Turn the car off.


4. Again with your foot on the brake, press POWER to restart your Prius.


5. Within 6 seconds of starting, press and hold the ODO button for 10 seconds and don't release it.


6. You're still holding the ODO button after 10 seconds, right? Now shift the car into Reverse and quickly press the Park button. You may now release the ODO button.


7. The odometer display should now show "b on" (if not, start over).


8. Press the ODO button until the display shows "b off."


9. Turn the car off by pressing the POWER button.


10. Start your Prius now, put it reverse and enjoy the silence.

Note: This is supposed to work only with US models, so if you're abroad it's up to the kindness of your dealer. And I've only tested this on a 2009 Prius, so your mileage may vary :)

So how much does my Nook weigh?

I knew it! Every time I put content on my Nook Color it becomes heavier and heavier. I already have 4GB of data on it and the extra .000000000000000001 grams is killing me. (It weighs 15.8 ounces, before adding all that heavy content.)

And this is precisely why I have an eReader. The Nook Color allows me to carry a whole library of IT titles as well as works from every spectrum of printed media, without braking my back or ruining my gas mileage (a former colleague carried about fifteen fat UNIX books in the back of his car everywhere).

I'm not saying that the Nook Color is the best choice, but when I bought mine, it was the only color, non-iPad choice at (or under) $250 that was worth anything. Given a choice today, it would be the Kindle Fire, although Barnes & Noble does have an announcement pending... (Maybe my wife would like a slightly used and loaded Nook Color, it's not very heavy.)

Pandigital Novel

I must say I didn't have the highest hopes for the Pandigital Novel eReader at $149, but I at least expected it to function for reading.

The out of the box experience was fine. Everything worked and the device's battery was charged to 97%. It detected my wireless and authenticated effortlessly, no issues with connecting with my Windows 7 laptop, upgrading to the latest firmware or copying epub and pdf files to the file system, which showed up like another drive.

The browser was lackluster and the device settings were limited, but all I really wanted was a device that I could use for reading. It displayed my files correctly and the night-time reading mode was pleasant, since it shows the text in negative (great for reading in bed with the lights out). And this is where I was mostly disappointed...

My problems were the accelerometer, which kept changing from portrait to landscape when at a mild angle or slight turning motion and the less than sensitive touch-screen. I was slowly adjusting to the auto-rotation "feature" by moving the device as little as possible, but the touch screen is what killed it for me. Turning pages can only be accomplished via the touch screen, which took two to five "swipes" each time; which of course takes you out of the material you're reading and involves far more movement than a light-sleeping spouse would prefer.

Two things on the settings screen would have kept this device in my home: a checkbox to turn off the auto-rotation and the ability to remap the analog rocker switch (the only switch aside from the power) to page turning instead of adjusting the volume (which was available via the touch screen).

I returned the device to Best Buy yesterday and will be likely be purchasing a NOOKcolor in the coming weeks.

What's in my backpack?

Every time I'm heading out the door, I throw a heavy backpack over my shoulder and drop it into my car with a thud.

What's in this bag I lug around to each client? Of course there's my HP tc4400 Tablet PC and battery charger, but there's a whole lot more, in no particular order:

• Small TechNet binder (Contents will be another post).


• An assortment of small screwdrivers for laptops and PCs alike


• Cables: 7' Ethernet, Cisco serial, USB to PS2 converter, USB to serial, iPhone charger


• 160 external hard drive, USB (for moving files and dumping images)


• Leatherman


• A small handful of unlabeled customer access badges and keys


• Three USB thumbdrives (1GB, 2GB (BitLockered) and 32GB)


• Small metal business card holder


• Sharpie and blue pen


• Tape measure

Now I'm part of the iCrowd

I finally caved and bought an iPhone. The tipping point was that my Verizon contract was up and I could save about $25/month by going to AT&T. (A friend of a friend is the store manager.)

It also helped that the iPhone 3Gs came out, offered a mature OS with a landscape keyboard and the big surprise, cut and paste.

I must say I'm rather enjoying the new phone; finding new Apps is rather addictive. The interface is pleasing and mostly intuitive, iPod functions are nicely done and most importantly, ActiveSync with Exchange works quite well.

I was rather dubious of the AT&T network, but so far so good.

More on being in the "iCrowd" later...

Mobile Tweeting with Pocketwit

Many months ago I joined the Twitter nation (tthrush, but don't expect much, I mostly lurk) and eventually added a Twitter app to my cell.

At first I tried Twobile, but the interface was a bit lacking and the it could've been little quicker.

I've since settled on Pocketwit, another free client, this time from Google. The interface is elegant and the usability is top notch. If you're using a Windows Mobile phone, I highly recommend trying this out.

Dell now posting Outlet deals on Twitter

Thanks to G4TV for this nugget:

Dell is now offering Outlet deals via Twitter. You can follow here: http://twitter.com/DellOutlet

Update: Check out who the Dell Outlet is following, there are more deals to be tweeted.

Get your Cylon here!

Okay, this is too cool not to post: ThinkGeek has affordable Cylons for purchase.

I ordered one a few weeks ago and while anciously waiting I received a call from my brother-in-law thanking me for his new arrival. Since he was the last person I ordered stuff for, his shipping address was cached. So in my purchasing frenzy I didn't notice, but as a fellow geek I was happy "Cy" had a good home.

Anyway, after ordering another one, I now have one of my own. And no I don't move it around making noises or anything (at least when my wife's around).

Geek Envy

Okay, I thought I was one of the cool kids for getting a 24" LCD. But whiIe checking out the SBS Dvia Blog today I see this: Four 24" monitors on a Vista system. If only I wasn't spending money on food and gas...

Hand me my Sceptre

My new 24" Sceptre LCD monitor just arrived, in fact I'm looking using it now while writing this post. What I replaced was a very nice, but old and power hungry, 21" Dell Trinitron CRT which is now on Craigslist as I write.

I bought it from CompUSA for $329.41, with shipping and no tax (you'll have to pay tax if you live in Illinous I imagine). During my three month search, I examined numerous comparison shopping sites, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for, a 24" LCD with reasonable specs at a decent price. Last week while drilling down through the selection of LCDs yet one more time on PriceGrabber I found the Sceptre LCD. I've seen Sceptre LCD televisions at Costco, but they were usually sub-par. This monitor had some pretty good reviews, so I took the plunge.

I'm happy to say this is a nice looking, quality monitor and of course at 1920x1200 there's a huge viewing area. All-in-all this product has my recommendation!