Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony’s Alpha A700 has been pleasing (or displeasing, we suppose), users for just over a year now, but those that have stuck with it in spite of a few issues can now smile brightly. Sony has just unleashed a firmware update for the DSLR which reportedly adds in an option to select auto exposure bracketing (single and continuous) with 3 shots in 2 EV steps and gives the choice to nix the High ISO NR feature. Furthermore, it supposedly improves the image quality in a high ISO setting, the auto white balance and D-Range Optimizer performance and the reliability for communication between camera body and vertical grip. Any owners out there care to give a shout on how their rig is performing post-update?

[Via DPReview]

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Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Details are slim at the moment, but one thing’s for sure: Dell customers affected (or not affected… yet) by those wonky NVIDIA GPUs will have their warranties extended by 12-months to compensate. The 1-year “limited warranty enhancement” will add coverage for this issue to everyone who recently purchased one of the 15 NVIDIA-equipped machines listed in the read link, and we’re told to expect further details about the whole ordeal in short order. Breathe easy, folks — you’ll be taken care of somehow or another.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Quite a few Instinct owners were giving Samsung / Sprint one option: crank out a firmware update to show that they cared before the 30-day test period expired, or deal with all that messy RMA paperwork. Unfortunately for the aforesaid firms, the handset’s first update is coming ten days after that date (at least for the earliest of adopters), and initial reports suggest that glaring problems still exist. Some users are suggesting that Sprint TV is less pixelated than before and that overall snappiness is improved, but the patently awful browser still remains at 1.0 (and thus just as awful). Look, when the change that gets most people jazzed is the battery meter’s newfound ability to hit 100% (and not just 90% as in the past), something is seriously wrong. Anyone else find any nuggets of goodness in the new update?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: A bigger, more life-changing update looks to be planned — hang tight, Instinct owners!

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Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

So yeah, quite a few NVIDIA GPUs have been acting up. Nothing new there. However, Dell’s attempting to help its laptop owners out by making a few notable BIOS updates readily available for download. Apparently the issue “is a weak die / packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations.” In order to combat the problem, Dell’s BIOS flashes “modify the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations,” though the Round Rock powerhouse only promises that the updates will “help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues.” Hit the read link and give it a go — it can’t hurt… we hope.

[Via Electronista]

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Filed under: Household

We can’t say we’re terribly saddened that this riveting caper has finally ended — after all, the poor crew needs a reliable place to unload, right? Shortly after the space shuttle Discovery delivered a new pump for the jury-rigged commode, Oleg Kononenko — who we hear is now widely regarded as a galactic hero — spent around two hours installing the hardware and running a trio of tests. After everything was tightened up and functioning as advertised, the crew presumably relieved themselves just before carrying on with the installation of the recently acquired Kibo lab. Crisis averted.

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Filed under: Household

It’s amazing how quickly humans can remedy problems when really placed in a bind, and rather than waiting for supplies to come up with Discovery next week, crew members aboard the International Space Station were able to solve their little dilemma already. Reportedly, cosmonauts were able to cure whatever was ailing the temporarily non-functioning john, enabling those stuck in space to urinate freely. Thankfully, the seven-year old toilet is due to be replaced with a fresh new one this Fall, and we’d say the replacement couldn’t arrive soon enough.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking

Guess what, loyal Windows Home Server users? A fix for that completely obnoxious data corruption bug is on the way. According to an email beamed out by the WHS team, the final release of Power Pack 1 is still aways out, but the public beta is all set to be loosed on those who willingly accept the associated risk(s). Said download is slated to launch in “early June,” but those who want to get in on the pre-release fun are being encouraged to sign up now. Needless to say, those who toss their name in the ring better be sure their data is backed way up — after all, the whole point of this test is to find any remaining holes that could render your files unusable. Keep an eye on that inbox for an invite, and if you’re content with just getting the end product, the wait is growing ever shorter.

[Thanks, Drew]

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Filed under: Gaming

It’s no secret that Rock Band hardware has experienced its fair share of failures, and while the kick pedal has caused the lion’s share of grief on the drums, we’re pretty sure at least some of you out there have thoroughly ruined those heads. If so, the similarly bummed folks over at Official Xbox Magazine have a possible solution. We’ll be honest — the “fix” described in the read link below isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re too impatient to take your problems up with Harmonix, find the smallest screwdriver you can and have at it.

[Via MAKE]

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Filed under: Gaming

Select owners of Guitar Hero III for Wii have been moshing uncontrollably as best they can in mono for months on end, but it seems as if Activision has finally got its interconnects sorted and will start issuing replacement discs. According to direct end-user reports and the (admittedly blurry) shots in the gallery below, the firm is now dishing out pre-paid envelopes in which customers have to ship back their faulty GH III disc and wait “3 to 4 weeks” before getting a new, stereo-enabled one free of charge. Live sans your favorite game for a month, or keep rockin’ in the monaural world? Tough call, indeed.

[Thanks, Sam K.]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Unfortunately, details are extraordinarily scant at the moment, but it appears that Canon is readying one more fix for the EOS-1D Mark III, which has been plagued with an autofocus issue for what seems like ages. Apparently, the forthcoming fix — which could involve hardware and / or firmware alterations — will make improvements even over last year’s tweak. Reportedly, the firm’s AF engineers are confident that they have now realized the “root cause” of the problem, hinting that this solution may in fact be the last. Per usual, there’s been no clues handed out as to when users will actually be notified that a fix is available, but we’re sure official word will stream out soon enough if there’s anything to this.

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Filed under: Displays

We’ve heard all sorts of myths when it comes to fixing a stuck pixel on an LCD, and while the following methods shouldn’t be expected to bring completely dead pixels back from the grave, commenters seem to think the methods are at least somewhat successful in getting pixels out of their single-colored funk. Up first is the flashing colors approach, which points you in the direction of a free java applet that rapidly flashes different hues on the screen to try to get the affected pixel to change. If that fails, you can try applying pressure to the stuck pixel, and if you’re still left with the annoyance, you can resort to tapping the monitor with an eraser nub (or similar). So if you find yourself sick of staring at that non-conforming pixel, hit the read link and give the trio of methods a go — just don’t go in expecting any miracles, alright?

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Remember that autofocus fix that Canon was supposedly working up? Turns out, the company isn’t quite ready to start accepting faulty EOS-1D Mark IIIs just yet, but it is shipping out upgraded versions to new buyers. Rob Galbraith managed to wrap his hands around not one, but three of the new DSLRs in order to substantiate his findings, and what he found was noticeable improvement. In summary, the sub-mirror fix was said to boost the performance of the AF, as it enabled the camera to deliver “about the same number of in-focus frames whether it was warm or cold.” Unfortunately, it seems that the solution still left a lot to be desired; Mr. Galbraith noted that it still couldn’t match the EOS-1D Mark II N, and implied that there was still room for betterment. ‘Course, we’re really just scratching the surface on his thorough (and we mean thorough) look at the sub-mirror fix and v1.1.3 firmware, so if this issue has been hounding you, do yourself a favor and check out the read link.

[Thanks, Anand]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming

Good news! Turns out your right ear wasn’t insane after all. Apparently, Activision has simultaneously fessed up to the lack of stereo on “some” Guitar Hero III discs for the Wii and offered to make amends. Company spokeswoman Rhy-Ming Poon stated that the firm “recently became aware that some consumers have not been able to enjoy the full audio output in the Nintendo Wii version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,” and added that it was “currently working with Nintendo and planning to issue an improved audio experience in future versions of the game.” For users who already bought in, these re-mastered discs should be available at no cost sometime in early 2008, but specifics beyond that weren’t disclosed. So yeah, at least you can count on a stereo version hitting your mailbox, but unfortunately, it won’t be before the holiday break.

[Thanks, Jason]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Although it was but a week ago that we first caught wind of potential Rock Band hardware issues, it seems the problems are more than just a figment of our imagination. We know, living that rock ‘n roll lifestyle can certainly cloud your judgment, but if you’re certain your axe is experiencing some issues — particularly with the strum bar — EA’s here to help. The company has affirmed that certain guitars in initial shipments may have left the warehouse with “an imperfection [in] the strum bar,” and if you’re one of the afflicted, EA is offering a brand new replacement gratis. So go on, hit the link below to get the process started, and while you’re waiting to get a shiny new Strat, why not brush up on those drum rolls?

[Via Joystiq]
Read - EA confirms guitar issues
Read - Replacement website

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Hey, you — busy rigging up your malfunctioning Guitar Hero III Les Paul using the low-fi method we showed you earlier this week? If you’re just getting started, we’d recommend putting the rubber bands back in the package and taking a look at this. Granted, it seems a bit silly that we’re figuring out ways to repair instruments that should have been solid right out of the box, but we digress. This entirely more technical (but equally painless) fix involves a Torx driver, a bit of PCB rearranging and a triple check to make sure the wiring within wasn’t installed haphazardly to begin with. If done properly, the contacts should have a much better connection once the axe is reassembled, and if you’re still left with nonfunctional frets after all of this, you’ve certainly got our permission to go all Jimi Hendrix / Pete Townshend / etc. on it.

[Thanks, Kyle]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops

Not a moment too soon, Apple has apparently delivered on its intentions to squash that annoying freezing bug that plagued some of its latest iMacs. Available now for Leopard (iMac Software Update 1.3) and Tiger (iMac Software Update 1.2), the update reportedly “provides important bug fixes and is recommended for 20- and 24-inch iMac models with 2.0, 2.4, or 2.8GHz processors.” Unfortunately, we’re given absolutely no elaboration beyond that, so for any of you out there still limping by on a freeze-happy machine, why not get your download on and let us know if your troubles do indeed vanish?

[Via PCWorld]
Read - iMac Software Update 1.3 for Leopard
Read - iMac Software Update 1.2 for Tiger

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

We’re not exactly sure if this problem is widespread, but for those currently dealing with malfunctioning frets on the new Guitar Hero III Les Paul, you should certainly give this a once over. An incredibly industrious gamer went out of his way to show us all what a few rubber bands and a 3M Utility Hook can do to solve your Guitar Hero blues, and if you haven’t already slammed your axe into the floor, lit it on fire, or ceremoniously bludgeoned your Xbox 360 in frustration, there’s hope for you still. This low-fi fix reportedly holds the connector plate in the neck and the pins in the body together more securely, enabling users to resume shredding sans trouble. Granted, this may not cure every single faulty axe out there, but it’s certainly worth a try. Go on, roll up your sleeves and hit the read link for an (immensely easy) walkthrough.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Digital Cameras

If you’re one of those folks who just refused to fork out thousands of dollars for an EOS-1D Mark III after hearing reports of a seemingly widespread autofocus issue, take heart. Apparently, Canon is fessing up to the problem and is planning a remedy, although a simple firmware update doesn’t seem to be it. According to an interview with Chuck Westfall, Canon USA’s Director of Media and Customer Relationship, the firm is looking to issue a hardware fix that “adjusts the sub-mirror within the body.” The company doesn’t seem to think that every one of these beasts are afflicted, and its supposedly gearing up to provide a “simple way for owners to identify if their camera is among those affected.” As for dates, US-based owners should be hearing more details about how the process will work by “the end of this month,” while buyers that reside elsewhere will likely be informed shortly thereafter. If you’re thirsty for more, be sure and hit the read link for the full chat.

[Via CNET]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!