Tech Puddle

Ever dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even worse the toilet ? Did you ever leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer? It usually means you have to replace your phone, but sometimes if you’re fast you can save the phone.

1. Remove the Battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don’t take time to think about it, electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it.
2. Dry your Phone. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as you can to prevent it from getting into the phone. Use a towel or a paper towel to remove as much of the water as possible.
3. Allow the phone to dry. Since you do not want to ruin your phone or lose all the numbers in your phone book, you need to allow the phone to dry. Don’t try putting the battery back on to see if it works as this would risk damaging the phone with a short circuit. Leaving your phone in a bowl of dry rice will help to expedite moisture evaporation.
4. Heat your Phone. Apply enough heat to your phone to cause the water to evaporate without waterlogging your digital screen. One of the best things you can do to save a cell phone is to set it on the back of your computer monitor or TV screen over the heat vents. This is usually the perfect amount of heat to fix your phone. The convection action of the heat vents will help carry away the moisture in your phone. Leave the phone on the heat for at least 2-3 days.
5. Test your Phone. After you have waited 3 days, make sure everything is clean and dry looking and re-attach the battery to the phone and see if it works. If your phone does not work repeat step 4. If it still won’t work, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it.

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Although you may think that YouTube has dominated every other site in videos watched, you may be surprised. According to comScore Networks, Yahoo and Myspace have more.
Below is the number of people that viewed video from each of sites during the month of July.

• Total Internet – 106,534,000
• Yahoo! Sites – 37,934,000
• MySpace – 37,422,000
• YouTube – 30,538,000
• Time Warner Network – 25,675,000
• Microsoft Sites – 16,227,000
• Viacom Digital – 14,077,000
• Google Sites – 7,520,000
• Ebaums World – 7,143,000
• MLB – 6,442,000
• ROO Group Inc. – 5,841,000

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“NeATL” gives us a hands-on preview of the Archos 604 portable media player…

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Microsoft revealed today its new packaging for Windows Vista and Office 2007, which are basically colorful, rounded plastic containers. Here’s what a Microsoft rep has to say:

Designed to be user-friendly, the new packaging is a small, hard, plastic container that’s designed to protect the software inside for life-long use. It provides a convenient and attractive place for you to permanently store both discs and documentation. The new design will provide the strength, dimensional stability and impact resistance required when packaging software today. Our plan is to extend this packaging style to other Microsoft products after the launch of Windows Vista and 2007 Office system.

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The company iRobot, has just designed a way to controll several robots using only a tablet PC. This technology is aimed towards the military so our troops can move around more Proficiently. The Army threw iRobot some cash to develop the Sentinel, so it’s only a matter of time before the technology is deployed in any one of our well-managed theaters of operation.

The developed user interface will:

• Provide the operator with increased situational awareness regarding the ongoing system-level and individual robot operations
• Appropriately bring to the operator’s attention changes in the operational environment detected by the robots to allow for dynamic mission re-planning
• Reduce the cognitive demand placed on the operator and allow them to focus on high-level mission requirements and not low-level individual robot navigation
• via [irobot]

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With a popular car show going on today, there were some cool tech surprises, but the UVIA M100 mobile infotainment device from Unwired Vehicles is one of the sweetest. The box uses EV-DO mobile broadband from Verizon or Sprint to deliver rear-seat passengers in your vehicle a selection of entertainment apps along with broadband Internet access so you can check your e-mail, IM, check your fantasy teams and stream music and video. These products can be either installed in the head rests, of the headliner. The only thing you will need to be aware of is that you’ll need a 3G wireless broadband antenna is mounted externally to increase reception quality and bandwidth throughput.

The UVIA M100 will be available in Arizona, California and Nevada in December 2006 and will be available nationally in early 2007 for $3,499.

via [crunchgear]

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Have you ever been nervous that your golf cart couldn’t handle the rough terrain? Well now you don’t have to because the new H2 Hummer golf cart is available. The golf cart can hit top speeds of 25 mph and comes with an array of features such as Seat Belts – $285.00 or the essential Diamond Plate Utility Box – $585.00. So if you want to ride in style pick up one of these bad boys for $17850.

more pictures…

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Tomorrow you will be able to get the new upgraded dashboard to your XBOX 360 from Microsoft. The new version has integrated support for the new HD DVD drive, and has the ability to play high definition WMV files from a connected PC, an external disc or other storage. Read more about the upgrade over at Engadget.

XBOX 360 fall update [engadget.com]

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Ever wanted to ride a motorcycle, but you’re afraid to fall off, well now we have a solution to all of that… kind of. The new Jetbike is a new water vehicle that is going to revolutionize the watercraft. The new models are powered by a 165 horsepower three cylinder two-stroke engine via a jet drive to offer a wild 60mph

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Only 0.38 inches thick, it’s thin; but the sound quality and features of FY800 are not: for example, FY800 has up to 2GB of storage space; and this capacity can be increased by adding your own SD memory card into FY800’s memory expansion slot. Another example is FY800’s ability to become a personal voice recorder, but it doesn’t just record voice—it detects your voice and automatically records it only when necessary to filter out unnecessary sound gap. This, and much more, in a sleek black body, makes FY800 a true digital masterpiece.

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This new fabric keyboard is coming out for the pcoket PC’s, Cellphones, and palm pilots. Although there are a few that have been made, Eleksen’s new keyboard looks to be the best. This keyboard gives an audible click when a key is pressed and is very usable on a daily basis. Not to mention that this is made of fabric instead of plastic like the previous ones.

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Today it’s been announced that the Hal-5 robotic suit will head into production soon.Eventually this will become handy for applications such as walking assistance and rehabilitation, nursing, factory work and disaster relief, and assisted walking for the paralyzed. Soon the company plans to produce “20 units” by 2007, while ramping up to “400-500″ in 2008. Although  this would be a neat idea  for a costume party, if  you really wanted  a real Hal-5, you would need to fork up  $42,273.

via [engadget]

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Today it’s been announced that Boeing is preparing to test their first laser equiped 747. The “airborne laser (ABL) aircraft” was officially introduced at a ceremony in the firm’s integrated defense systems facility in Wichita, and it was announced that all systems were go for “testing.” When finished, ABL will be capable of destroying a ballistic missile during its boost phase, while it is still climbing in the Earth’s atmosphere and before it can deploy its warheads – all at the speed of light.

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According to UK mag EDGE, Nintendo’s preparing to release a premium Wii console in Japan next year featuring, you guessed it, DVD playback.  Some Wii  owners may be a little aggravated at this because this wouldn’t be the first time Nintendo has released  a video game system only to surprise  everyone with an upgrade.

via [engadget]

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We have heard rumars about when the Nokia 330 is going to be released, but we finally have a closer date. Its 3.5-inch touchscreen will give you voice guidance and visual directions using NavTeq map data, and it also includes a music and video player with DivX playback. The Nokia 330 Auto Navigation is expected to be available in select channels in Europe during the fourth quarter 2006 at an estimated retail price of EUR 360 without taxes.

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