The EVO 4G is one of the thinnest Android superphones available, and the key for the Powermat back cover that replaces the original EVO back is that it doesn’t add thickness to the phone once installed. In the video, the entire Powermat system is demonstrated, and it’s clear the folks behind the technology devoted a great deal of attention to detail in order to make it a viable consumer product.

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Getting Started

Mac owners can install Windows under Bootcamp, which is part of OS X. This creates a Windows partition that allows booting into Windows as desired. Parallels Desktop (and competitor VMWare (vmw) Fusion) offer a simpler solution. A virtual machine is created inside OS X where Windows (or other OSes) can be installed and run while OS X is running. This opens up options not available to Bootcamp users, such as dragging and dropping files between the two “systems”.

Once Parallels Desktop 6 is installed, it walks the user through the Windows installation. There are options for installing Windows from the Mac DVD drive or from an image file (ISO), which is what I used. Windows is not included with Parallels; you need your own purchased copy. The Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) install went quickly and without issue, all in a window on my Mac OS X desktop. Once Windows was done installing (and rebooting) I sat through the long Windows Update session to add all the security updates.

Parallels has a Transporter utility for Windows users who wish to make the Windows system on the Mac mimic a Windows PC. The PC is connected to the Mac with a USB cable, and once the Transporter utility runs it copies the user’s Windows files and customizations to the virtual machine on the Mac. The new Windows system on the Mac then looks just like the Windows PC. I haven’t used this method, preferring a basic Windows installation on the Mac without transferring anything. My documents are on the Mac, and Parallels allows easy access to them on the Windows side.

The Parallels virtual machine that’s home to the Windows install is seen by the OS as a dedicated computer running that OS. Windows does not work differently this way than it does installed on a real computer. Parallels adds hooks into the Windows install that makes it easy for the OS X system to interact with the Windows side of things. It is like having two computers tightly networked together, all running on the Mac.

Parallels Desktop 6 has some new features not found in previous versions, most notably a healthy performance increase according to the developers. They claim a 40 percent improvement in both Windows boot time and system performance. I haven’t run any benchmarks, but it’s definitely faster than Parallels Desktop 5. The system has been so snappy that I was surprised to see that Parallels had allocated the Windows 7 virtual machine only 1 GB of memory. My MacBook has 4 GB of memory and a dual-core CPU and I thought about bumping the memory allocated to Windows (it’s user configurable) up to 2 GB, but performance was so good I left it at the default level.

Parallels in Use

The Windows virtual machine can be run in OS X in a Mac Window or in full-screen mode. The whole Windows desktop is in a regular Mac window in the former, and takes over the whole display in the latter. Full-screen mode is handy on setups with multiple monitors with Windows on one screen and OS X on the other. Those using Spaces on the Mac can do the same thing on single display systems and use a simple key sequence to toggle between the two OSes.

I actually prefer the third method that Parallels provides to run Window. The Coherence mode hides the Windows desktop completely, and programs run in Windows appear on the Mac desktop as a simple window. This facilitates having Windows and Mac apps on the screen side-by-side, and dragging objects between them. Parallels has an option to make Windows apps use frames just like Mac apps for those who want everything to look Mac. I prefer to have Windows apps display in a Windows frame so I can tell at a glance which OS I am dealing with. The Windows Start Menu is available on the Mac system bar at the top of the screen, and Windows programs appear as a folder in the dock.

Since the Windows virtual machine is a full implementation of the OS, everything you can do on a Windows PC can be done in Parallels on the Mac. Microsoft Office 2010 programs run very well on the Mac, and it’s handy to have access to full versions of Office without leaving the Mac environment. Outlook users will be happy with that program running on the Mac in a Windows on the desktop.

I’ve been running Parallels Desktop 6 on a unibody MacBook, not a Pro. It doesn’t have the dedicated graphics option that Pros have, but the performance has still been quite good. I’m running Windows in Coherence mode all the time, with programs running on my Mac desktop. I don’t have any issues with performance, and both OSes have played nicely together. The developers claim that Parallels Desktop 6 provides better 3-D game play than earlier versions. I haven’t tried that, but our friends at TheAppleBlog have done some testing that questions those claims.

Running Windows on the MacBook hasn’t taken an appreciable toll on the battery. There’s certainly a small hit due to having both CPUs running all the time and more memory allocated, but it’s not enough to be a concern. This makes the Parallels solution for running Windows particularly attractive to mobile professionals. I’ve covered using the iPad as a second display while traveling, and this works well with Parallels. It is quite a sight to have Windows running on the iPad next to the MacBook.

Parallels Desktop 6 will be widely available on Sept. 14, but owners of earlier versions can upgrade now for $49.99. The full version is $79.99, and there’s a special version for Windows to Mac switchers for $99.99.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): Are You Empowering Your Mobile Work Force?

The ability to run Mac and Windows programs side-by-side is useful for some folks, and PD6 is designed to make that experience very fluid. The Windows desktop in PD6 can be used in several ways: a resizable window, run in full-screen mode that toggles between Windows and OS X, or run in the Coherence mode which has Windows programs appearing on the Mac desktop like native apps. Professionals using Windows at work and OS X at home can access files and programs on the Mac once Parallels is installed. I made a video of the previous version of Parallels to demonstrate how well it makes Windows and OS X play together.

The new version will be available for purchase on Sept. 14 for $79.99, with upgrade pricing of $49.99 for existing Parallels owners. Customers who have purchased the previous version recently may qualify for a free upgrade.

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Lower PC sales may also partly be a result of the iPad and the coming glut of Android tablets, as netbook inventor ASUS has already warned investors. High sales of the iPad have resulted in lower PC sales, and as Android tablets are poised to appear on the market in great numbers, the impact should be even greater. These tablets use less DRAM than conventional PCs, instead using Flash RAM for the primary memory.

Samsung is one of the largest suppliers of DRAM globally. Kwon Oh-hyun, head of Samsung’s chip business, gave the warning at a conference in Taipei. He did not indicate a long-term slowdown was expected, but did state the glut is a result of the expectation of lackluster end-of-year holiday PC sales.

Sales of servers had a strong second quarter according to Intel, and Samsung is no doubt hoping that segment continues to perform well through the end of the year to minimize the affect on the DRAM market.

Image credit: Samsung

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SuperSpeed USB, a faster bus implemented in USB 3.0, provides a high-speed transfer mode reaching 5 Gbits/second. This fast transfer is perfect for large HD video files, as a 25 GB file can be transfered in just 70 seconds; this compares to a transfer time of 14 minutes using existing USB 2.0 technology.

USB 3.0 has a benefit for mobile device owners aside from the speed improvements, as the technology allows charging devices through the USB port on laptops without impacting performance. Most smartphones are using either microUSB or miniUSB connections for power, and USB 3.0 provides a faster charge time for such devices.

Laptop makers are just beginning to produce devices with USB 3.0 technology onboard. New interface technology is slow to roll out due to the “chicken and egg” situation: A lack of USB 3.0 peripherals slows the need to put such connections on laptops. OEMs will be slow to make peripherals with the new technology as few computers have the connections. The adoption of USB 3.0 by the camera industry is important, as it will push computer makers to start using it. Our Mobilize event next month will highlight all aspects of the mobile scene — perhaps we’ll see some USB 3.0 in action.

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I’m a big fan of both the lowly computer mouse and the MacBook trackpad. I carried a mouse in my gear bag to use with notebooks for years, until getting the unibody MacBook with its large trackpad. I liked that trackpad so much I stopped carrying a mouse in my bag, although I kept one on my desk in the home office. The MacBook sits on an elevated stand on my desk, which makes using the trackpad not impractical. When Apple announced the Magic Trackpad, I ordered one right away to give it a try.

I work at my computer at least eight hours a day, and I’m trying to provide an ergonomic setting for that prolonged usage. My Bluetooth keyboard sits on a tray designed for that purpose, and is a good height for proper ergonomics. The mouse I used until the Magic Trackpad arrived sat next to the keyboard. As good a setting as this is for prolonged work, at the end of the day, my right wrist would often feel a little pained, and sometimes a bit numb. My only reason for getting the Magic Trackpad was to see if it would alleviate this discomfort at the end of the day.

Now that I’ve used the Magic Trackpad for a full week, I can state it achieved my goal. The discomfort in my wrist has disappeared; it did so in just a few days. The angle of the Trackpad and the method of working with it have improved the ergonomics nicely.

The Magic Trackpad was easy to set up; I unboxed it, hit the power button,and then paired it with the MacBook. It’s designed to sit next to the Apple wireless keyboard. The Trackpad is a full multi-touch device that’s large by trackpad standards — 5.17 x 5.12 inches. There are no mouse buttons; the entire Trackpad clicks when you press it as the sensors are integrated in the feet.

The Trackpad is configured by default to move the cursor with one finger, with two fingers used for zooming and right-clicking. You have to click the Trackpad to trigger a left-click, but there is an option to allow simply tapping the Trackpad for the click. I tried this for a while, but kept accidentally triggering clicks I didn’t want, so I went back to enforced push clicking.

One of the most useful settings of the Magic Trackpad isn’t active by default –the three finger dragging. Dragging items on the screen normally requires pushing the Trackpad down while moving the finger. It’s not that hard, but it’s much easier to enable this setting and drag things using three fingers on the pad. Don’t overlook this setting if you think it would be useful.

The Magic Trackpad has handled all aspects of my work very well. I can use it all day and never miss the old mouse; my wrist is happier with the mouse in the drawer. I find the Trackpad to be worth the rather expensive $69.

The only area where the Trackpad hasn’t done a good job is one I didn’t expect it to do well. Using it for gaming has been a mixed bag, and downright frustrating at times. I’ve recently started playing Starcraft 2, and when things get hectic in interstellar war, there’s no room for mousing error. I find the Magic Trackpad makes it too hard to jump around and click things very quickly. I’m now in the habit of turning on the Magic Mouse when it’s time to play some games.

I’m pleased with the Magic Trackpad, but some folks who’ve tried it haven’t felt the same. Our buddies at TheAppleBlog, normally happy Apple fans, did not see the magic in the Magic Trackpad. I would recommend if you are curious about how your reaction might be, visit an Apple Store and play with one if possible. After all, there’s magic, and there is Magic. For the high price of the Magic Trackpad, you want to get the capital “M”.

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I remember sitting with a friend in a local coffee shop two years ago, and the topic of discussion was the HDD vs. SSD debate. My friend worked for Western Digital, a major supplier of hard disks for computers. I was predicting the death of the HDD, and warned him that his company better be prepared for the rise of the SSD. Western Digital didn’t make or sell SSDs back then, and my concern for his job is what led to the discussion. I remember clearly my friend looking at me and telling me that I was crazy, the HDD was too cheap and would remain so for the foreseeable future.

My friend was right. It’s two years later and still my prediction has failed to come true. That is further evident by a report out of Asia that a major supplier of SSDs for the computing industry is now predicting it will be another two years before the SSD will take off. This is what I was hearing two years ago. The reason it is still two years away is the same as my friend told me two years ago. Price. The flash memory used in the SSD is still much more expensive than the components used in standard spinning HDDs. It’s as if nothing has changed in the two years that has passed since my conversation with my friend. Will pricing for SSDs ever drop low enough to make it a serious threat to HDDs? I’m not so sure anymore.

Image credit: OCZ and Western Digital

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Microsoft Security Essentials. A good anti-virus/spyware utility is a must on Windows 7, and I like Microsoft’s latest free product. I have used other free products in the past, AVG and McAfee in particular, but I find Microsoft’s Security Essentials is easier to install on new systems and uses less system resources than any other.

Rocketdock. I use a lot of Windows systems with limited screen real estate, and the free Rocketdock is a good way to have one-click access to the programs I use the most. Rocketdock is fully configurable, and can be positioned on any edge of the screen preferred. It’s simple and indispensable once installed. And it’s the utility I am most asked about when showing off a system with it installed.

Batterybar. I only use portable computers, and keeping an eye on battery performance is critical. Batterybar is a free meter (paid version available) that sits in the taskbar and shows the battery gauge. It also tracks lots of stats about the battery performance, and over time is extremely accurate.

CCleaner. Windows 7 requires housekeeping, just like all the versions before it, if you want to keep it humming along nicely. CCleaner is a free utility that keeps the pesky Windows registry lean and mean, along with clearing out the jump web browsers leave behind.

Wireless Network Meter. Desktop gadgets were introduced with Windows Vista, and Windows 7 carries on the tradition. I live my work life online, so keeping an eye on the network performance is useful. Wireless Network Meter monitors the network bandwidth in real time. It provides useful network information to make sure hotspots are secure.

We have a request in to the folks at Nvidia for conformation or comment and will update upon reply. If true, the timing couldn’t be worse for Nvidia’s hardware partners. Apple is set to re-define the consumer slate market with the availability of its iPad in just two days. The first reviews are in and it sure doesn’t sound like the iPad will flop the way some would think. So that puts other tablets potentially behind the eight-ball already.

Those not interested in the iPad are pining for the Notion Ink, ICD Vega, and others that all run on the Tegra2 processor. While Nvidia doesn’t control the timeline of its hardware partners directly, it does so indirectly — if the chip isn’t ready for optimal experience in a device, a hardware maker is likely going to delay their product.

Perhaps the biggest “at risk” product is one that hasn’t officially been announced or detailed yet — last year, I heard from Nvidia that Google was working on Chrome OS devices powered by the new Tegra chip. Chrome OS products that have no true delivery date can’t technically be delayed, but this development might not bode well. It even makes me wonder: if true, will some opt not to wait and go the iPad route instead?

Update: I’ve just heard back from an Nvidia spokesperson and was told that the rumors are not true. Everything is on track for Tegra2.

Tired of slow-booting computers? Diskeeper has a solution, although consumers can’t get it directly. It’s called HyperBoot and is only available on certain notebooks. Diskeeper recently announced a deal to put the HyperBoot solution on ASUS notebooks — the second such deal with the company. Neither ASUS nor Diskeeper specified which notebooks are part of this partnership, however. The solution apparently learns about a device’s boot sequence and subsequently gets faster as it learns. Even computer shutdown speed is increased and the boot time reportedly doesn’t degrade over time.

In a video demonstration of HyperBoot, two identical laptops are continuously booted up and shut down over a 17-minute span. The machine with HyperBoot is the clear winner, with 24 boot sequences over the 11 cycles of the notebook without HyperBoot. Clearly, the solution speeds up the boot and reboot process and I doubt any of us would turn down this kind of improved performance. But this begs the age-old question of booting vs. sleep/resume.

Using a mobile device with Microsoft Windows Vista or 7, it’s fairly efficient to utilize the native sleep function and wake up the machine as needed — and that function is much more stable than it was with Windows XP. The initial boot is the pain point, then, and if you’re not booting as often, how much value does a solution like HyperBoot add? We probably have good representation of those using the boot and shutdown approach, hibernation throughout the day or liberal use of sleep and wake. The choice probably varies due to the situation, but which of the three is your preferred method to manage your mobile device? I’m a sleeper, myself.

Chrome OS is the operating system based on the Chrome browser that has generated a lot of interest from both enthusiasts and companies producing hardware since the Chrome OS announcement. It is intended to be an alternative OS for cheap netbook-like devices, and is aimed squarely at the mainstream consumer. Google expects to capitalize on its familiar brand, and use the Chrome OS to push its online services into the device category.

The Chrome browser is already available on Macs, and getting good reviews from enthusiasts. Apple’s core customer base is already exposed to Chrome, and liking it. Since the Chrome OS is the Chrome browser on steroids, it may appeal to loyal Mac customers, too. That’s a direct threat to Apple.

The impending launch of Chrome OS probably has Apple a bit concerned, but I suspect Google’s desire to see a Chrome OS Tablet hit the market ratchets that concern up to a decent level. A Chrome OS Tablet will compete directly with the Apple iPad, and Apple has a lot riding on the iPad. A Google Tablet would compare feature-wise with the iPad, and possibly surpass it given the full OS nature of Chrome OS. It’s not just the iPhone OS grown up, it will be a full OS built on a real desktop browser. That’s got to cause Apple some discomfort.

So what does Chrome OS have to do with the HTC lawsuit? It is logical that Apple is suing HTC because they are the biggest maker of Android smartphones. HTC is the maker of Google’s own Nexus One. But the real target of the suit is the Android platform, as that is what is the basis of HTC’s features that are allegedly “infringing” on Apple’s patents. Google has already stated that Android and Chrome OS would likely merge in the future to form one platform, one that can run full computers and smartphones. That’s got to tie Apple’s undies in a knot.

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With the iPad, Apple Takes Google to the Mat

LogMeIn’s base function is to allow for the control of any computer remotely from any other one. This control is done securely over the web, and that is the primary strength of LogMeIn. You can sit in front of any computer, anywhere in the world, and control the host computer no matter where it is located. The remote computer screen appears on the local computer, and this is all done through the magic of the web browser.

LogMeIn for computers comes in several versions, with LogMeIn Free available at no cost (naturally). The premium versions add various functionalities, from the ability to copy files between computers to full-blown IT support services. The free version provides the sophisticated remote control functions to any computer, and most folks can likely get by with it.

Each computer that you wish to control remotely must have the local LogMeIn utility installed, to handle the secure login and connection. This only has to be done once and it takes few resources running in the background. Once LogMeIn is installed, that computer can be accessed from any computer, anywhere. Here are the top five ways to get the most out of LogMeIn, based in large part on the questions I am receiving about how to use it to maximum effect.

Display settings are key. When you use LogMeIn to control a remote computer, it uses the web browser as a window into the other computer. The computer you are sitting in front of becomes the de facto screen of the other computer, and you see everything you would see were you sitting in front of the other computer. LogMeIn provides a wealth of settings to handle the way the remote computer screen appears locally, but it is simple to get the maximum functionality. There is now a setting in the display drop-down box that automatically adjusts the remote screen resolution to that of the local computer. This is important as the two computers often have different display resolutions, which left on its own can make things difficult to see.

A common scenario for LogMeIn use has the user controlling the desktop system at home from a notebook computer somewhere else. Since most notebook screens run at a lower resolution than desktops with bigger screens, this resolution switching is critical. LogMeIn handles switching the host resolution (desktop in this example) to that of the notebook used to access it. It does this automatically and importantly it switches it back when you log out. That means the desktop screen switches back to a nice hi-res setting, without any user interaction.

Once that setting is made and the host display is switched to the local resolution, LogMeIn allows for a “full-screen” mode. This lets the remote desktop completely take over the local screen, and once that happens it is just like sitting in front of the host system. There are still accessible controls on the edge of the screen should you need to do something on the local system. It is very well implemented and works seamlessly once set properly.

LogMeIn works in any web browser that supports Java; I have used it in Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox without issues. If you are using a Windows PC to access the remote system, I recommend using Internet Explorer. LogMeIn installs an ActiveX control the first time you do so, and this adds a lot of controls to make the session easier. It still works fine in the other browsers, but the ActiveX control makes it more like a native app in Internet Explorer.

remote iMovie video editing from a Windows system

Tap into computing horsepower. One of the potential benefits of using LogMeIn is to tap into a more powerful computer than the one you are currently using. Say you have a powerful desktop computer at home, but are using a less powerful netbook on the road. Using LogMeIn you can take over the powerful system and do more intensive tasks than the netbook will allow. I have used this method to do video editing and encoding remotely. These tasks are very compute intensive, and typically completely take over the system on which I perform them. Since I am using the compute power of the remote system, my less powerful local system lets me do this without impacting the local work.

Remote Virus scan on Windows

The same reasoning applies to intensive system maintenance functions, such as backing up entire systems or running a complete virus scan. These are often functions scheduled to happen in the middle of the night, but there are times when a manual scan or backup would be useful. Rather than do this when you get home and have that system tied up for an extended period, you can access it remotely via LogMeIn and fire off the maintenance. It doesn’t impact your local system, and the maintenance is all done when you get back home.

Support computers remotely. If you are like me you have the lucky designation among family and friends as the one to call when they have computer problems. You’ve likely spent many phone calls trying to explain to Aunt Sue how to install a new program, or figure out why her email won’t work. With LogMeIn, this situation is much improved. Simply log onto the other computer and install that program. Or you can see for yourself exactly what the problem is, and figure out how to fix it like you would on your own system. That the “email won’t work” quickly becomes a “Gmail is down” can save you an inordinate amount of time on the phone. You can also remotely run the maintenance that all family members seem to forget.

Access work computer from home. These days of Gmail it’s easy to forget that a lot of folks still have no way to access work email from home. Members of the “no BlackBerry” workforce often wish they could check the email at work while out of the office. If the corporate network allows access, you can use LogMeIn to tap into your work PC and get at that email. Or perhaps your work entails using specialized software. You can take over your work computer and run the program. This can be a big benefit when out of the office. Again, the corporate network would have to allow this, but it’s worth a try.

Use your home PC from any public PC. If you do a lot of traveling you’ve no doubt found yourself with some free time but without having your laptop handy. Maybe you’re passing by the hotel business center and realize you’d like to access your PC at home but you left the laptop in the room. No problem, just jump on the public PC in the business center and log into your home machine. You’ll have your complete home computing environment right there where you need it, including the ability to run any of your programs or access any of your files. Since LogMeIn uses a discrete browser session to handle things, when you log off the public system your information is gone. It’s like carrying your big desktop system everywhere you go.

These are by no means the only ways that LogMeIn can be leveraged, but they are the ways I find myself using it most often. The utility I get by accessing one of my computers when needed cannot be overstated. It’s like carrying all of my computers around with me, all the time. Just a lot easier.

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Everybody Hertz: The Looming Spectrum Crisis

As usual, the nebulous definitions of “always connected” and “subset of MIDs and netbooks” apply to the smartbook target. But there are also two very specific defining attributes in the ABI forecast: smartbooks run on a mobile operating system — still semi-nebulous — and they don’t use x86 processors. Did I just hear a virtual “uh oh” at Intel, or was that a passing sea breeze?

I’m not going to try and tell you what a “smartbook” is, but I’m inclined to agree with ABI on the non-x86 point. That doesn’t mean you won’t find “Intel inside” the smartbooks of tomorrow, but I believe that they’ll be relegated to a distant second when compared to how many smartbooks run on the ARM platform. This thought coincides with “the perfect storm” I see for ARM and why I predicted early on that Google’s Chrome OS devices would run on an ARM processor. When talking about the reasons for this shift to ARM in December, I used Chrome OS as an example:

Google’s Chrome OS is all about a browser and nothing but a browser. Multi-tasking is accomplished within tabs, but still in the browser. The web is your client and all of your apps are in the cloud. Will you really need the extra “oomph” of an x86 processor on this type of device at the end of 2010? For most web tasks, probably not. In fact, if you’re using the browser on a Palm Pre, Apple iPhone 3GS, Motorola Droid or Nokia N900, ARM is already powering your browser. And for streaming video with either Adobe’s Flash or inline with HTML5, a next-generation ARM processor ought to work well enough by then.

When I wrote that bit, I didn’t even have something that I have today — a Google Nexus One powered by Qualcomm’s latest 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU. After using the handset daily for the past six weeks, I believe in my December statement even more. For most of the light duty tasks people need on a smartphone, the ARM processors of today can do the job, and do it well for hours. And it’s not just me that thinks so. Most of the new tablets and smartbooks out of the Consumer Electronics Show and Mobile World Congress were running on new ARM chips from Nvidia, Freescale, Marvell and Texas Instruments in addition to Qualcomm. The other elephant in the room is Apple’s iPad with it’s custom A4 chip, which just happens to be based on the ARM architecture, as well. To say that the ARM ship is starting to sail into the mainstream would be an understatement from where I stand.

Is there a place for x86 in the smartbook sector? There is for some and Intel has made great strides with their Atom chipset by offering a solid combination of performance with power efficiency. However, there’s more work to do there before x86 and ARM on are equal footing. And then there’s that “mobile operating system” phrase that ABI snuck into their definition. What qualifies as a mobile OS is subject to debate, but when most of us think x86, we think desktop OS and not mobile OS. Perhaps that’s why Intel recently merged its Moblin project with Nokia’s Maemo platform to create MeeGo. Building the chips for a smartphone is one thing — but also providing a mobile friendly and energy efficient operating system is as difficult as swimming against the tide.

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This morning I was reading up on the IEEE’s website and found a free Android application for this very situation. It’s called PowerTutor and comes by way of the University of Michigan. I installed the software on my Nexus One and while not exactly the most intuitive application to use, it does provide insight as to what’s using the most juice — radios, the display and even how much power is consumed by particular applications.

After just a few minutes of use, I’m finding that PowerTutor easily surpasses the native power consumption offering that’s native to Android. To see what Google currently includes, just tap Settings, About Phone, Battery Use in a recent version of Android. The native feature simply shows the percentage of battery use by component or application.

PowerTutor gets down to the nitty-gritty and can graph the actual power consumption over time at the component, software or radio level. And all things being equal, I’d rather use a less power intensive application over a similar one that eats up my handset battery at a faster rate. The differences in power usage might be small at a given point in time, but over time, they can add up.

Although consumers might find occasional use for PowerTutor, it’s likely to present a bigger benefit to developers. With a tool like this, they can monitor the power requirements needed for their software — and potentially optimize the code to reduce those requirements. If they can make the software run on less juice, it could be a compelling feature to tout.

PowerTutor was created for and “works best” on a G1 handset, but the U of M creators estimate that it’s still reliable on other Android devices. The application itself uses about 5% of a handset’s CPU, so running it all the time is likely to be counter-productive. Why run down the battery with software that measures the run down of the battery, right?

Image Credit: PowerTutor.org

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Green IT Winners of Losers in 2009

Microsoft Windows on a capacitive touch notebook just could be in your future. The same conducive display technology made popular by Apple’s iPhone has found its way into a 13.3″ panel made by LG Display. The company today announced the achievement, but it’s not just the creation of the display that’s important. Microsoft certified the panel with the official Windows 7 Touch Logo, meaning that it meets the requirements for touch support when used with Windows 7.

That’s key because it means drivers will be available and any device using the capacitive panel should offer all of the touch features and functions offered natively in Windows. I ran into driver problems back in 2006 when installing Vista on a touchscreen Ultra Mobile PC that wasn’t certified. As a result, I struggled to use the device until some HID touch drivers were cobbled together — a real pain when the device was a slate tablet without a keyboard.

The LG display is actually the first capacitive in-cell screen to gain Microsoft’s certification. By “in cell,” I mean that the touch sensors are actually built into the display itself, and not in a separate layer or film. This should help with outdoor viewing says LG, as it prevents light reflection and loss of brightness inherent in touch layer films. The integrated multitouch capacitive screen should arrive in products during the second half of this year. Blurry film layer or no, I foresee some capacitive touch Windows 7 notebooks this coming holiday season, although I’d rather see this produce used in smaller slate devices. I’m still not sold on touch displays for notebooks from an ergonomic standpoint.

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Is The Age of the Web Tablet Finally Upon Us?