repairs

Fixing a cracked iPod Touch screen

The iPod Touch is one of the sleekest, most advanced portable media players on the planet. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most fragile. With one side covered entirely by a thin pane of glass, a single careless drop is enough to turn the iPod Touch into nothing more than an expensive paperweight.

To protect your investment, Apple offers a one-year, limited warranty on its iPods, with the option to buy an extended Apple Care warranty. But on the day CNET Associate Editor Antuan Goodwin dropped his first-generation iPod Touch face-down in a parking lot, he was out of … Read more

Kindle DX reveals its inner self

RapidRepair is at it again. Last week it took apart the Palm Pre, and now it's dismantled the Kindle DX.

No word on how much it costs Amazon to build the DX (read full review here), but I'm sure we'll have that soon enough (anybody want to guess?). For those interested, here's a list of chips on the circuit board:

MCIMX31LDVKN5D, M91E, CTAK0915B Samsung 916, K4X1G323PC-8GC3, EMA188A5 Samsung 907, KMBLG0000M-B998 MC13783VK5, AM86D, CTRE083B Samsung 840, K4M28323PH-HG75, AAH055BE Epson D135211B1, F09090125. E-INK I also like what the folks at RapidRepair say at the end of the operation:

"Simply follow these steps in reverse to put your Amazon Kindle DX back together! The Kindle DX has many replaceable parts inside. In many ways this product is user serviceable."

Good to know.

Check out another picture after the break.… Read more

After dismantling, Palm Pre is estimated to cost $170

For those of you who enjoy seeing the latest and greatest gear in pieces, RapidRepair has already torn apart the Palm Pre just hours after the first units became available.

Once the thing was completely ripped apart, the folks at RapidRepair tallied up the price for each component and determined that it costs Palm around $170 to build the Pre. How accurate that number truly is, we can't tell you. But what we do know is that the Pre will cost you $199 (with a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement).

Anybody think these teardowns are silly? Or … Read more

Registry-repair gem

Free Window Registry Repair is a refreshingly simple tool for cleaning up your Windows Registry. It lacks the bells and whistles offered by some programs--such as special features for uninstalling programs or managing the Start menu--but thankfully so. This is a program that does something well and doesn't stray from that success.

The application's straightforward presentation and clear menu make this program appropriate for most users. The program opens to a window with very simple, step-by-step instructions. You can perform a full scan or select areas to examine. Scanning is quick, and the results list shows the data … Read more

Problematic registry cleaner

Free Registry Cleaner has too many problems to be a good choice for anyone except those who prefer to clean their own registries key by key.

Visually, the interface is clean, if unexciting. The program offers a few other functions as well, but nothing that isn't already possible through the Control Panel, Task Manager, or other integrated Windows utilities. It defaults to a wizard interface that not easy to use. Initially, we thought the unpickable picklist was the worst it offered; when asked to select the areas to scan, we found that Ctrl-click did not work. Instead, we could … Read more

What to do when your hi-fi breaks

I get this one a lot, what should I do about my--fill-in-the-blank--broken headphones, buzzing speakers, static noises, intermittent sound, or when my subwoofer stops subbing?

Only rarely can I solve the problem with a quick fix; I always first advise contacting the dealer or Web site that sold you the product. Service is their responsibility and if they don't provide it, you shouldn't buy from them.

Of course, the best time to ask about service is before you buy any product. Will they replace a product if it fails within 90 days of purchase? Do they pay for return shipping? I'm talking about audio products here, but that advice works for any tech purchase. … Read more

Tweaker for system errors

Optimizing a system is sometimes just a matter of housecleaning: fixing what you can, getting rid of what you don't need, and generally tidying up. This user-friendly app works quickly to perform those chores on your computer, although the repair capabilities are limited in the demo version.

Error Nuker launches an attractively designed, easy-to-understand interface with five large tabs on its left side and a list of options or tasks in the large contextual pane that makes up most of its bulk. Determining how to use this utility is a simple matter, thanks to its design. Its engine analyzes … Read more

Report: Firefox buggier, but issued fixes quicker

Mozilla reported more vulnerabilities in its Firefox Web browser last year than Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera combined, but Mozilla dealt with those flaws quicker than Microsoft, according to a new a report by vulnerability-testing company Secunia.

Firefox had 115 reported flaws in 2008, nearly four times as many as every other popular browser, and nearly twice as many as Microsoft and Apple combined, according to browser vulnerability research (PDF) released this week. In comparison, Microsoft reported 31 flaws in IE, Apple reported 32 in Safari, and Opera reported 30.

However, the report found that Mozilla was quicker to patch … Read more

Bump up your old iPod to 240GB

I'll catch some hell for saying it, but Apple's fifth-generation iPod (aka the iPod Video) is one of the best hard-drive MP3 players of all time.

Say what you will about sound quality or the easily scratched screen, compared with today's iPod models the 5G iPod has a lot of advantages: it's compatible with just about every iPod accessory ever made; video output is built right in; you can use it with older computers and old versions of iTunes; and there are countless ways to hack and modify it. Unfortunately, the old guy just doesn't … Read more

Get some pro help for your Registry

This Registry cleaning, diagnostic, and backup utility benefits greatly from a well-designed interface and simple program operation. Registry Help Pro's flexible, option-laden interface speaks to the professional nature of this app. In no way does it use wizards and hand-holding to help novices. The well-written Help manual will gracefully answer any questions, but experienced users probably will never call for it.

Seven large buttons line the top of Registry Help Pro. Each opens the options and display for the program's seven primary functions. The best aspects of this application are the ever present option and properties buttons that … Read more