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Lenovo BIOS firmware update

Lenovo BIOS firmware update

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Lenovo has urged its users to download and update the latest BIOS firmware update that disables a controversial “unwanted software” from Lenevo PCs, notebooks and laptops.

After much criticism, Lenovo finally broke silence on the matter- unauthorized installation of certain programs in large number of Lenovo computers. The company was using a “rootkit-like” technique to install certain programs forcefully on a large number of its Windows laptops and PCs. Lenovo was using BIOS to keep track of certain applications on Windows’ system files and overwrite it on boot-up with its in-house alternative called Lenovo Service Engine (LSE).

Furthermore, a vulnerability was found in the way the company was tweaking the BIOS. The vulnerability, if exploited, allowed an attacker to gain admin-level access of the system and install malicious code. Lenovo issued a patch to fix it on July 31, but it requires manual installation.

In a public announcement, the company has now said that its latest BIOS firmware, which was released on July 31, disables the script which allowed automatic reinstallation of unwanted software even after a full Windows wipe. The vulnerability affected a large pool of Lenovo PCs and laptops including Flex 3 1120, Yoga 3 11, and Horizon 2 27 among others. All the new laptops that shipped after June 2015 aren’t affected with the said vulnerability.

“The vulnerability was linked to the way Lenovo utilised a Microsoft Windows mechanism in a feature found in its BIOS firmware called Lenovo Service Engine (LSE) that was installed in some Lenovo consumer PCs. Think-brand PCs are unaffected,” wrote Lenovo.

“Lenovo and Microsoft have discovered possible ways this program could be exploited in the Lenovo Notebook implementation by an attacker, including a buffer overflow attack and an attempted connection to a Lenovo test server.”

The update firmware is available to download from company’s website. Depending on the configuration of your BIOS, Lenovo has also put up instructions to help you install the update on your machine.

The full list of impacted products is as follows:

Lenovo notebooks: Flex 2 Pro 15 (Broadwell), Flex 2 Pro 15 (Haswell), Flex 3 1120, Flex 3 1470/ 1570, G40-80/ G50-80/ G50-80 Touch, S41-70/ U41-70, S435/ M40-35, V3000, Y40-80, Yoga 3 11, Yoga 3 14, Z41-70/ Z51-70, Z70-80/ G70-80.

Lenovo desktops (world wide): A540/ A740, B4030, B5030, B5035, B750, H3000, H3050, H5000, H5050, H5055, Horizon 2 27, Horizon 2e (Yoga Home 500), Horizon 2S, C260, C2005, C2030, C4005, C4030, C5030, X310 (A78), X315 (B85).

Lenovo desktops (China only): D3000, D5050, D5055, F5000, F5050, F5055, G5000, G5050, G5055, YT A5700k, YT A7700k, YT M2620n, YT M5310n, YT M5790n, YT M7100n, YT S4005, YT S4030, YT S4040, YT S5030.

Old Laptop Batteries Could Power Slums in India

Old Laptop Batteries Could Power Slums in India: IBM Study

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Many of the estimated 50 million lithium-ion laptop batteries discarded each year could provide electricity storage sufficient to power homes in developing countries, researchers at IBM say.

The researchers at IBM Research India in Bangalore found that at least 70% of all discarded batteries have enough life left to power an LED light at least four hours a day for a year.

While it’s possible to combine LED lights with solar panels and rechargeable batteries, using discarded batteries could make the approach far cheaper.

“The most costly component in these systems is often the battery,” says Vikas Chandan, a research scientist at the lab’s Smarter Energy Group, who led the project. “In this case, the most expensive part of your storage solution is coming from trash.”

The IBM group, working with a hardware R&D firm called RadioStudio, tore open discarded laptop battery packaging and extracted individual storage units called cells, tested those individually to pick out the good ones, and recombined them to form refurbished battery packs. Then, after adding charging dongles as well as circuitry to prevent overheating, they gave them to five users in Bangalore who lived in slums or operated sidewalk carts. Three months later, the users said the battery packs had worked well.

Around 50 million laptop and desktop computers are discarded in the US every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, in India alone, about 400 million people lack grid-connected electricity.

laptop battery life

How to Increase battery life of your laptop?

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There are simple techniques available to extend battery life of your laptop. Some of these tips are for when you need to increase your battery at that very moment, while others are preventative measures, best implemented before your battery life comes up short.

Step 1: Click on the Start Menu and type “ CMD ” in the Start Search bar.

Step 2: The search will start and it will then display an icon of “ CMD ” . simply right click on it and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: It will open command line, now simply run the command “powercfg -energy” without quotes. (For windows 7 users.)

-OR-

Simply run the command “powercfg /energy” without quotes. (For windows 8 users.)

Step 4: Now Press “Enter”.

Once you successfully execute this command , Windows will run a complete scan of your system and it will find some ways to improve performance and power efficiency.
The results of this process will be saved to an HTML file, which is commonly present in the “System32” folder of most of the systems.

To access this file, simply follow the path which will be displayed in command prompt window after completion of the command. Read This file to understand that what program in your system is consuming more power and degrading the performance.

To save power, make your computer do less in general:

  • Don’t use a screensaver. They’re unnecessary on modern displays and will drain your battery to do nothing useful when your display could be off and saving power.
  • Reduce Screen Brightness
  • Have Your Display Automatically Turn Off
  • Run fewer programs in the background.
  • Disable Bluetooth and Other Hardware Devices
  • Reduce CPU usage.
  • Avoid maxing out your RAM. If your laptop’s RAM is full, try to make more RAM available — close programs running in the background or try to upgrade your laptop’s RAM.
win 8

How to play DVDs and Blu-ray discs in Windows8 ?

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Windows_8_Media_CenterA problem that many Windows 8 users is facing is that it will not play your DVDs or Blu-Ray discs. The reason is that Microsoft is not paying for the right to use the patented software technology needed to play DVDs anymore because most devices in the market nowadays do not even have optical drives. If you are a movie buff you will have to find third-party software that can play your disks such as VLC.

If you want to enhance Windows 8 you will have to pay Microsoft extra money to download the Media Centre software. This will enable DVD and Blue-Ray support. If you are using plain vanilla Windows 8 you will need to upgrade to the Pro pack, which comes with Media Center and some other unrelated features. Microsoft itself advises people to buy third-party DVD software instead of doing this. This is because upgrading will cost you more than Rs 5,000. It is best to avoid it.

If you are already using Windows 8 Pro you can download the Media Center pack for around Rs 550. Just open Control Panel, and click “Add Features to Windows 8”. You will be shown the upgrade available, depending on which version of Windows 8 you are using.

Those who have bought the Enterprise edition of Windows 8 will not be able to download the Media Center pack. It is best for them to download or buy additional software.

ZTE 3G Data Card

New ZTE 3G data card launched in India

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ZTE 3G Data CardZTE Telecom India, a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s ZTE Corp., has launched 3G data cards in India.

“India is an important market for ZTE and this is our first step to enter the open market and cater to the needs of the masses,” said ZTE India Director Terminals Business Yuan Kang.

The company has partnered with HCL Infosystems’ wholly owned subsidiary Digilife Distribution and Marketing Services for channel distribution and Flipkart.com for online sales.

ZTE is initially introducing two models, one with 14.4 MBPS download speed, which is a WiFi enabled hotspot, and another with 7.2 MBPS download speed.

The 14.4 mbps data card is priced at Rs 2,250, and the 7.2 mbps datacard at Rs 1,799.

laptop hard drive

How to replace the hard drive for your laptop?

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laptop hard driveBefore removing the hard drive manually, you must keep in mind that it is a not easy job which should be done with utmost care and caution. You must carry a set of small screwdriver because it will help you to open laptop’s hard drive. In case you are not sure enough about the way of taking of the hard drive from the case, it is better to refer the user manual. Get some tips from the user manual of how hard drive has to be taken out of the laptop. Once you take it out from the case, things become really easy for you because you can now know the dimension as well as type.

Problems are not yet over as there are a lot of laptops that use hard drives of the same dimension so again you need to find out the most appropriate hardware to go well with your laptop.

Once you finally get the correct hard drive for your laptop, you also need to check the type of connection which is compatible with the laptop. Mainly there are two types of connection – SATA and PATA are used to connect drives to the laptop. In case you have purchased the laptop within the last six years then most probably it would have SATA as it is an industry standard which is used with most of the PCs. But if it manufactured before 2003 then probably it would have a PATA connection which is outdated now.

Just have a quick look on the back of the drive which is labelled with the connector type. Now use the connector accordingly and place the hard drive in its place within the laptop.

Lenovo Ideapad Y500

Lenovo Ideapad Y500 & Z500 – WIN 8 Laptops

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Lenovo has launched two Windows 8 laptops called the IdeaPad Y500 and Z500. Both laptops have third-generation Intel processors and their high-end models come with graphic cards.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 comes with an UltraBay that lets users add an extra graphics card, hard disk drive or an additional fan for cooling. The 15.6-inch laptop has a carbon fibre cover, and a backlit keyboard with a touchpad. Users should face no problems typing in dark rooms as the keyboard has backlighting. The IdeaPad Y500 costs Rs 64,290.

Lenovo claims IdeaPad Z500 is among the slimmest laptops available in market. It is also a 15.6-inch device, but has less powerful hardware when compared to the Y500. It costs Rs 48,990.

The key specifications for both laptops are as follows.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500

  • 3rd generation Intel® Core i7 processor
  • NVIDIA® GeForce GT 650M 2GB DDR5 graphics
  • 16GB DDR3 memory, up to 1TB HDD storage
  • 750GB interchangeable HDD storage bay
  • Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity
  • USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and 6in1 card reader
  • Always-on USB port – lets you recharge a mobile device even when the notebook is powered off and unplugged
  • Interchangeable DVD reader
  • JBL speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4

Lenovo IdeaPad Z500

  • 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M 2GB graphics
  • 15.6″ Backlit LED HD display (1366×768), 16:9 widescreen
  • Up to 8GB DDR3 memory, up to 1TB HDD storage
  • Bluetooth & 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Intelligent Touchpad optimised for Windows 8, with easy scroll, zoom and rotate functions

Lenovo launches all-in-one desktop priced at Rs 26,000

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ThinkCentre Edge 62ZLenovo said it has launched a compact all-in-one desktop targeted at small businesses.

The new product called ‘ThinkCentre Edge 62Z’ is an option for traditional desktop users who are looking at a clutter-free workspace with integrated Wifi connectivity, Lenovo said in a statement.

The leading personal computer maker in the country said the product is priced at Rs 26,000, excluding taxes, and can save 65 per cent of workspace as compared to a traditional desktop.

The device is armed with a 2nd Generation Intel Core i3-2120 processor, and has 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz. The all-in-one desktop has an 18.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. The PC has a 500GB hard disk.

ThinkCentre Edge 72z:

– Mainstream AIO powered with 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors
– Rapid Boot HDD Accelerator and up to 1600 MHz DDR3 Memory
– Complimented with an ENERGY STAR compliance for superior energy efficiency
– Spill resistant keyboard that can be easily slid under the 20” wide screen
– Easy to carry rubberized handle and built in Standard VESA mount

ThinkCentre Edge 92z:

– AIO equipped with latest 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors
– Fitted with a large 21.5” wide LED 1080p HD display
– Optional 10 Point Multi Touch Screen for Interactive use
– 2GB optional discrete graphics
– Saves up to 70% of the office space and can be fitted anywhere in your workplace

Pricing and Availability
Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 72z and 92z will be available at Think exclusive stores and multi brand outlets, at an attractive price starting from approximately Rs. 27,500/- + tax and Rs. 59,600/- + tax respectively.

Know About Your Laptop’s Battery Status With BatteryBar

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batterybarBatteryBar, a superb power gauge that’s compatible with XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

Normally, if you want Windows’ read on how much battery life is left, you have to mouse over the tiny System Tray power icon. BatteryBar adds a full-time, at-a-glance gauge to the right side of the taskbar.

That gauge shows you either a percentage of battery life remaining or the amount of runtime left; clicking it toggles between the two readings. Interestingly, when you’re running on AC power, the gauge switches from green to blue and shows how long until you reach a full charge.

But wait, there’s more: when you mouse over the gauge, a pop-up window displays a boatload of additional information, such as total battery capacity, charge/discharge rate, AC status, and even a lifetime estimate based on historical charge/discharge data. That’s what I’m talking about!

BatteryBar is free, there’s also a Pro version that adds more features, like a graph of battery profiles, low/critical power warnings, and automatic power-scheme switching that kicks in when you switch between AC and battery power.

HP launches ultra-mobile Elitebook 2170p

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HP EliteBook 2170pHP has introduced a new business laptop in India, called the HP Elitebook 2170p, with a starting price of Rs. 69,000.

Supposedly HP’s smallest (11.6-inch display) and lightest (1.31kg) Elitebook, the Elitebook 2170p delivers 8 hours of battery life, ideal for professionals on the move.

The HP Elitebook 2170p boasts of enterprise-level connectivity, management and security features, as well as rugged, durability features, such as HP FitTight battery lock, HP DisplaySafe frame, and HP DuraCase.

Other features include laser-precision indicators to keep a track of the notebook’s status, and HP Power Assistant to help conserve battery life. An optional backlit keyboard, and fingerprint scanner will also be available.

The HP Elitebook 2170p will be available with ultra-low voltage Intel Ivy Bridge processors, in Core i3, i5, and i7 variants. Storage configurations range from 500GB HDDs to 256GB SSDs. No discrete graphics options will be available, and users will have to rely on Intel’s integrated Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) graphics solution, however, users can customize their laptops with up to 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM.

The Elitebook 2170p’s 11.6-inch LED-backlit anti-glare display bears a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. The laptop also features a 720p HD webcam.

Speaking on the launch, Vinay Awasthi, Senior Director, Product Category, Printing and Personal Systems, HP India, said:

“The new Elitebook 2170p is designed for mobile business professionals, offering a host of features that make this the ideal choice for professionals on-the-move. With innovative, reliable hardware designs and predictive software technologies, this notebook will make it easier for customers to keep their businesses running securely and efficiently”.

Specifications (base version)
Manufacturer     HP
Model name     EliteBook 2170p
CPU type     Intel Core 3rd Generation (2012)
Graphics     Intel HD 4000
OS         Windows 7
Display Size
11.6″ 1366 X 768
Screen Type
LED-Backlit LCD
RAM         16384 MB
Flash         256 GB
Hard Disk     750 GB
Keyboard     YES
Mouse Pointer     YES
Battery capacity 48 (Wh)
Weight         1310gm / 46.2 oz.
Size (w/h/d mm)     292/192/27 mm
Size (w/h/d inches)     11.5/7.6/1.1

Physical Interfaces
DC-in
Display Port
Ethernet 10/100/1000
Line-out / Headphone (3.5mm)
SDHC Card Slot
USB3.0 (x2)
VGA

Wireless Interfaces
802.11 a/b/g/n
BT 4.0
3G option

Additional Specs and Accessories
AC Adaptor
Backlit Keyboard
Matt (Non Glossy) Screen
Microphone
Multitouch Touchpad
Spill Resistant Keyboard
Stereo speakers
WebCam 1.3Mp