I have an Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 mobile phone with Windows Mobile 6.5. I like it a lot.

But since a while I got the errormessage ’The system cannot find the path specified.’ when I tried to play a playlist in Windows Media player. I have a lot of special playlists created for different styles of music, what is my mood and  for playing Audiobook CD’s of  Jim Rohn or Tony Robbins…

I was annoyed with the errormessage and wanted to find quickly a solution via Google. I was puzzeld I found only 1 relevant link (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=362841) but it wasn’t the solution for my problem.

What was the case?

First I had an English firmware ROM on my phone but since a while I have used a Dutch ROM. I discovered that playlists have a logical referrer of the location which is not translated bu the OS. I saw that all files on the external memorycard in the .asx file were stored in their path as \Storage card\. I saw when I created a new playlist that the system didn’t use \Storage card\ in the path but it used \Opslagkaart\ (note, this is dutch for storage card). Little odd as you ask for my opinion, but ok, it’s like that. I changed the path in my ASX files from \Storage card\ to  \Opslagkaart\ and… it WORKS! It’s that easy… I expect this solution is for all foreign languages of Windows Mobile and not only affects the Dutch ROM.

It’s really easy. Create a folder with the name ‘GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}’.

If you open this folder you will see nice options

It’s just easy to have all these options in 1 folder.

The manufacturers of television will change their focus from FullHD to 3D. HDMI 1.4 is already updated so their specifications can support 3D. Sony announced the PS3 will support this. Bluray discs should be able to provide content in 3D.

USB3.0 and SATA3 will be available as mainstream products. Actually they are already available for reasonable prices, ASUS and GigaByte have already mainboards with these interfaces. Thank due USB3.0 we will see some FullHD webcam on the market to provide realtime 1920×1080 filming and other nice applications which require lots of bandwith. USB2.0 was able to achieve 480 Mb/s as theoretical limit while USB3.0 will do 4.8 Gb/s (4800 Mb/s). Tenfold In 2010 will these connections and interfaces become mainstream and find their way in new computers.

Consoles will focus on controllers. Microsoft announced their Natal. Sony will come with their Motion Controller. Online gaming will become more important. I think Sony will adapt some strategies of Microsoft like Microsoft Live! has. Not completely but something similar.

2009 was already showing 64-bit operatingsystems arrive on home computers. I see it around me more and more. A lot of users, even advanced users, are not aware of the fact their new PC is running, especially Windows 7, the 64-bit version. Because of this they choose the wrong drivers or applications. Adobe is providing more and more of their application also in 64-bit versions. In 2010 64 bit will become more mainstream, which is I believe good .

Socialnomics will become more important in relation of doing business on internet (Facebook, Hyves (typical Dutch), MySpace, etc..). I think internet advertisement will grow a lot.

In The Netherlands almost all Dutch televisionchannels will start broadcasting in HD. I expect that around march 2010 the commercial channel will do the transition to HD. The negotations are currently in progress. CI+ is completed. The contentproviders agreed now broadcasting can be in HD.

A different story…. I have the feeling Apple will grow their marketshare. More often you see this nice designed computers in peoples home but also in offices.

People are going to connect more devices on internet. IP TV will grow more. Modern FullHD televisions have already functionalities builtin. Your TV is connected to the internet and you are able to see YouTube or ‘Uitzendinggemist’ (English note: you can review broadcasting of public dutch Television). Also DLNA and similar functions give you the possibility to view photos, videos and listen to your music streaming from your computer to your television. Because of this the television set will become a more centrale device for multimedia in the livingroom.

People will see live television events or rebroadcasts more often on the internet.

In 2010 I expect in The Netherlands to show the first commercially implemented Microsoft Surface solutions.

On the market of processor we will see more and more 4-core or quadcores to become normal. Processors with more than 4 cores will be available widely around march for a reasonable price. We will see the comeback of an old friend. HyperThreading shall again be implemented in this new generation of processors.

FullHD HDD camcorders will be available a streetprice around 400 euro and so available for the mass.

I don’t know exactly which standard will win the battle but I expect in 2010 a breakthru of looking for 3D without the need of the annoying glasses. I already saw this in the CeBIT in Hannover but I think in 2010 some manufacturers will leave the standard for what it is. I think that Philips will abandon their own system and choose for another. Time will tell.

In 2010 I expect that mobile operators in The Netherlands will change their usage policy concerning using VoIP on your internet flatfee subscription. We see this happen in some European countries.

In 2010 Spain will take the presidency of the European Union Council from Sweden.

Canada will organise the Winter Olympics while South Africa will do so for the World Cup Soccer.

From Kennedy Space Center in Florida a historic mission will start named STS-133. This will be the last mission in which the Space Shuttle will be operational. 2010 is the last year the space shuttle will be active. The successor is ready and it’s name is Orbital Space Plane, sometimes called OSP.

Will E-Book readers play an important role in 2010? I don’t know for myself. I’m not an e-book reader. Ofcourse, sometimes it’s handy to search technical things. A searchable ebook is handy. We will see.

I know Henk since my childhood. He owned a Commodore Amiga, like I did at that time. I met him because he was a friend of my father.

People who experienced problems with learning to do computer stuff did sometimes hear me say. Come on. It’s not that hard. My friend Henk is 80 years and he can manage it, that’s right. He did. Sad to write in past time. Henk is no more.

Since a few weeks he had Windows 7 correctly installed on his computer with some tips and hints I gave him. He had to know the difference. Fantastic to see this.

I can remember one time he had a complaint filed with Apple because the sync-program between his iPod and Windows did not function well and now and than his collection was erased. Always funny moment when the people asked him his age. If he called me those moments gave me a big smile on my face. He actually knew more about it than the young nerds who were working at the helpdesk.

He was delighted on gadgets. We shared that interest…

We could have a good discussion… because on some issues we were not having the same thoughts and ideas but always did we respect eachother opinion and feeling.

Henk, Rest In Peace…

It looks strange to me see this happening. If you ask the people why they do this you will hear the argument most time emotionally and so not made on functionality.

Their management decides for Apple because… it looks great. A lot of consultant cannot do their work like they would like, but that seems not the main issue. When saving costs you don’t want to go to Apple. They are inside the higher and expensive area of the market. This is the only true reason why they choose Apple. Look us, on a different level.

I admit I like the looks of MacBooks. Only they are so inpractical. Daily tasks cannot be done, due of the fact there are only Windows-versions available.

You are stuck with Apple when buying cables or accessoires. This can become an issue when you travel a lot and in a urgent situation in a need for a cable. It’s horrible when you on the road and suddenly you need a cable. There are very few stores. PC stuff is a lot easier to find due to the mass of stores.

Apple is beautiful but in the real world inpractical. Maybe for a normal and light user who only surfs on the web it’s an alternative, but if you somewhat more experience user with an Apple you will reach it’s limitation fast.

1. Battlestar Galactica ‘2003′ which is based on Battlestar Galactica of 1978.
2. V ‘2009′ which is based on V of 1983.
3. Stargate Atlantis ‘2004′ which is based on Stargate SG-1 of 1997.
4. Star Trek : The New Generation ‘1987′ which is based on Star Trek of 1966.
5. Knight Rider ‘2008′ which is based on Knight Rider of 1978.

Funny thing is that Windows 7 should be on the market within 2-3 years. Now Microsoft has put it faster on the market to ‘please’ the consumers. Funny in a technical view is that Windows 7 is created based on Vistas code. Isn’t that strange. Vista was that annoying OS… but now put into a new jacket and look everybody likes it.

This is the proof that those technicians are nothing more than a herd of sheep… simple followers

I was thinking Windows 7 should start the beginning of accepting 64 bit in an OS. According the first numbers of sales of HP, Samsung and ASUS you can indeed see a lot of 64 bit OS are being sold with new computers.

History again repeats itself. People complaining that Windows is a bad thing, while it’s not that bad at all. A lot is said because of misinformation and incompetent consultants. Microsoft knows how to deal well with this.

Do I advise Windows 7 above Windows Vista? I have to say it works comfortable. A lot of new features are added which don’t look important in a first glance. But they give you such a nice feeling when working that you miss it when going back to Vista.

Number 1 : All Along The Watchtower (quality of video is bad but you can see playing him the guitar well)

Nummer 2 : Hey Joe (with famous teeth solo @ 1:45)

Number 3 : Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Number 4: Purple Haze (Live @ Atlanta)

Number 5: Angel

Jimi Hendrix songs do not have the same constant rating. It depends how I’m feeling, how is my mood. Number 5 can be number 1 and vice versa…

I’m going to give some key combinations which should make working with the PC easier. Eventually you will also work more relax with the computer. Which is a nice part of these tips.

The following combinations work in all Windows screens and applications :

CTRL-A : Select all
CTRL-C : Copy
CTRL-V : Paste
CTRL-F : Find
CTRL-Z : Undo (undo your mistake)
CTRL-P : Printmenu
CTRL-S : Save (Very useful tip!) (Now and than clicking CTRL-S saves your day because you have a saved copy of your document even if something went wrong)

Alt-F4 : Close screen/windows or close your program, if no program is working close Windows
SHIFT-INS : Paste

PrtSc : Make a screendump
Alt-PrtSc : Make a screendump of the currently active window/application

CTRL-ESC : Windows Start Menu

Last but not least : CTRL-SHIFT-ESC, you will start the Windows taskmanager and can you regain the controle of your system if a program have strange behaviour.

If you want to make choices from a menu in programs most of the time you can choose it by pressing ALT-x (x= character which you will see underlined when pressing ALT). As example I give you Word; pressing ALT-f will open you file. This works in most Windows programs.

The most important advantage of 64 bit versus 32 bit is that you can use more than 3.5 GB in your system. If your computer at the moment is equipped with 4 GB you can only use 3.5 GB for your system and applications. With 64 bit versions either Vista or Windows 7 you can use above 4GB.

Your processor has to have 64-bit capabilities.

I have tested several versions especially with the focus on speed. Windows Vista and Windows 7 were tested in 32 and 64 bit on an AMD Turion64 X2.

My focus was looking for difference between the feeling of speed and working speed.

Editting a Full HD 1080p recording with adding 3 effect in Adobe Premire Elements 7 (32 bit version).

I did a surprising conclusion.

I had expected that Vista 64 would give a power boost, but this wasn’t true. I had Windows 7 32bit installed. The editting went without delays. The system was able to monitor the recording without sound stuttering.

Weird was this problem is known due to slow harddrives. The harddrive cannot cope with the stream. On the desktop computer I don’t have this problem due to faster harddrives, on the notebook I have. The weird part is that I was able to edit easier and faster on Windows 7 32bit than on the fast desktop pc.

I would have expected Vista 64 should perform the same or better than Windows 7 in 32bit… End conclusion is that Windows 7 is really faster with the same hardware even on 32 and 64 bit… On this ‘old’ notebook I have a preference for the 32 bit version because I can’t upgrade to more than 4GB. Also some drivers and programs cannot deal well with 64 bit yet. But it is really well compared to Vista 64.

I’m sure the next computer will be 100% certainly Windows 7, 64 bit edition…