So Verizon finally updated my Razr M to 4.1.1 and, for some reason, the battery life has become absolutely horrid and wifi tethering has basically stopped working. [more inside]
posted by NYC-BB on Mar 10, 2013 - 4 answers

People keep emphasizing that a major advantage of Nexus mobile phones is that Google will update them to the latest version of Android. But does it really make a huge difference going from a .x to .x+1 Android release when you have so many apps that can modify every aspect of your phone, not to mention what you can do with alternative firmware like CyanogenMod?
posted by Foci for Analysis on Mar 1, 2013 - 11 answers

Twitter, Ticketmaster, Google, Facebook how do their architecture and infrastructure work. Looking for a book/site which explains how these tech services may be assembled. Obviously not looking for the secret sauce or anything. Just wanting to understand the bigger picture of how large scale technology work and come together. Not looking to understand the code aspect or nitty gritty details of how each component works. Just broad understanding is what I am looking for. I am a UI engineer looking to get more background on middleware and backend systems. Please recommend any sources/sites/blogs/books to help me gain decent insight.
posted by gadget_gal on Dec 19, 2012 - 8 answers

Blog/website tech support needed! How can I move my newly designed Wordpress site from a subdirectory to the root, while somehow archiving the old indexhibit site which currently dwells on the root? I only have a couple of days in which to do this! [more inside]
posted by betsbillabong on Oct 18, 2012 - 11 answers

I need to quickly figure the 9th and 20th business days of each month for the rest of 2012 and all of 2013. Preferably not in a manual fashion. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Sep 14, 2012 - 6 answers

What are some good tech blogs for non-nerds? [more inside]
posted by jpdoane on Jul 6, 2012 - 5 answers

How do I install a wireless antenna on a HP ZV5000 laptop? [more inside]
posted by brownrd on Mar 6, 2012 - 7 answers

I think the accelerometer on my phone (HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus) is broken (evidence). Am I right? [more inside]
posted by invitapriore on Feb 6, 2012 - 3 answers

What should I buy my brother for his birthday? I have a brother who's impossible to buy gifts for, and it's his birthday soon. I know the following things about him: He's a computer programmer and website designer. He loves Apple products, The Simpsons, Futurama, and XKCD. His heroes are people like Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, and Dawkins style atheists/rationalists. He's a non-smoker and non-drinker. He's asked us not to get him a gift, but he's still my brother and I'd like suggestions for something more thoughtful than an iTunes gift card. My budget is pretty low, and he handles all his own tech shopping. Suggestions for quirky, fun or interesting gifts would be appreciated.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn on Oct 9, 2011 - 25 answers

I want to drive 20ish LEDs, should I run them as series or parallel and why ? [more inside]
posted by 70klicks on Jun 20, 2011 - 8 answers

I have an interview coming up with a startup and was advised not to dress up and that "polished business casual is just fine." What should I wear? [more inside]
posted by mrbob14 on Jun 7, 2011 - 24 answers

How anonymous is my anonymous gmail account? [more inside]
posted by argonauta on May 25, 2011 - 21 answers

How does MeFi stay up to date with PC Tech? [more inside]
posted by BurN_ on Mar 23, 2011 - 13 answers

I'm wondering if this is even possible... my client wants to be able add the ability to select from the list of available printers; a remote fax machine. The original file will be quickbooks invoices. All my searches turn up what seem to be really old 'almost' solutions.
posted by bravowhiskey on Mar 22, 2011 - 4 answers

No really, what is the difference between a Mac and a PC? [more inside]
posted by oohisay on Dec 14, 2010 - 33 answers

why can word 2004 no longer indent block quotes properly? [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish on Dec 3, 2010 - 4 answers

I'd like to have an RSS feed for Bloomberg News, specifically for their environment reporting, that I can put into Google Reader. The problem is, Bloomberg News discontinued RSS feeds in 2006. None of the workarounds I've found are satisfactory: This one, for example, tries to use Google News, but it wouldn't really work for my purposes. (Using "environment" site:bloomberg.com as my search string wouldn't necessarily return all news items related to the environment -- a story just about renewable energy, for example, not its environmental benefits, wouldn't show up at all.) There's also Feedity, but they want you to pay to have feeds with any sort of functionality, which I'd rather not do if I don't have to. Page2RSS is closer to the mark, but the output is messy (multiple stories in the same feed item). Businessweek.com, which is owned by Bloomberg News, offers RSS feeds with Bloomberg News, but they don't allow for narrowing down on just the environment reporting. Is there a solution out there that's better? [more inside]
posted by Cash4Lead on Nov 23, 2010 - 4 answers

What is the best way to digitize old family photos yourself? [more inside]
posted by Carius on Nov 17, 2010 - 12 answers

Is it possible to create a newsletter that will add/omit information to a weekly e-mail based on the user's preference at the time of subscription? [more inside]
posted by gacxllr9 on Nov 7, 2010 - 4 answers

Mrs. littleredwagon has asked about a 'customer survey' type app that someone has interest in getting developed for the iPhone. [more inside]
posted by littleredwagon on Oct 1, 2010 - 4 answers

I'm clueless. I have an ADSL modem and two computers. Despite having both a USB and Ethernet connection, only one works at a time. Help! [more inside]
posted by csjc on Jul 10, 2010 - 9 answers

Windows 2000 Server suddenly won't boot, even in safe mode. Any way to get it running for just a few more weeks? Difficulty: No installation disks. [more inside]
posted by gemmy on Jun 10, 2010 - 4 answers

I've been given the opportunity to write a weekly tech/computer/electronics column for my local paper and although I have plenty of column ideas I can't for the life of me come up with a name for it. So I'm asking the Hive Mind: what should I call it? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by Bango Skank on May 8, 2010 - 10 answers

Got my connectivity/internet issues fixed yesterday. But what was the problem? I don't understand what the tech guy told me. [more inside]
posted by mreleganza on Mar 20, 2010 - 5 answers

Will part A fit into slot B? [more inside]
posted by geekchic on Mar 8, 2010 - 5 answers

I want to use a LCD monitor as a TV. What do I need to do to make this dream come true? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jan 21, 2010 - 15 answers

I have a Fujitsu Lifebook T4210. After the screen broke I ordered a replacement from ebay that looked like someone just selling stripped computers. He said it was 100% operable. After installing it everything works including the LCD but the pen is not recognized. [more inside]
posted by kzin602 on Dec 12, 2009 - 0 answers

Is there good sites that provide ranking of computer processors performance? [more inside]
posted by idyllhands on Oct 30, 2009 - 17 answers

InterviewPrepFilter: I need to brush up on my numerical reasoning. I'm looking for ways to master things like word/story problems (probability, work-rate, distance), and some math review. I have good logic skills, but basic math can be confusing for me, esp. under pressure. Tutoring is not really an option and anything that is cram-friendly is also good. Any books, resources, tips, general guidance from math-y people ?
posted by sidd.darko on Oct 22, 2009 - 4 answers

TechFilter: I'm part of a medium-sized IT support company and we're looking at some new helpdesk/workflow management software. What advice can you give on your setup or software you are currently working with? [more inside]
posted by de1mar on Oct 14, 2009 - 8 answers

I used to feel pretty confident with computers / IT in general (80s child). Now I need a boost to get back up to speed, especially digging around in the OS / filesystem. Recommend me a good book / website / hands-on project? [more inside]
posted by KMH on Aug 6, 2009 - 7 answers

What's your stake in international tech standards and OOXML?(I'm working up a thesis and I could use some input from the computer literate world) [more inside]
posted by trcook on Jul 30, 2009 - 3 answers

Can anyone identify this Gillette DE razor I picked up at a flea market today? [more inside]
posted by Dr Dracator on May 16, 2009 - 9 answers

Mac OS X / Microsoft Office 2004 (Excel) crash and failed file recovery has left excel in an endless loop of restore and crash. Can anyone help me to find and delete the (unwanted) auto-saved excel sheet that is causing this problem? [more inside]
posted by urban greeting on Dec 4, 2008 - 3 answers

Windows Media Player 11 -- I (foolishly, it seems) allowed MS to update to the newer media player. I hardly ever use these bloated monsters, but sometimes, at night, I enjoyed one of the visualizations, and I've used it for years. In the latest and greatest media player from MS, it is not available. Where can I get the 'old' visualizations, and how/where to I install said visualizations so I can once again use the only thing I care about their media player? Alternately, can I install an older MS media player on this machine once this new one has its hooks into my puter, and how do I install an older media player, and where do I get it? I'd rather use the latest, as I'm sure it's more up to date against whatever hacks someone may come up with; that said, I want my dang visualization back.
posted by dancestoblue on Jul 30, 2008 - 4 answers