If you have a Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, and have been fed up with the slow GPS lock times, then there is a solution.  Firstly, you need to install the new OS firmware (Diablo) onto your machine using the Nokia Internet Tablet Firmware Updater (Windows only).  Then, you need to install the A-GPS additional program. The A-GPS program, will help locate you whilst the GPS continues to try to lock.  You give the application a very rough location in the world (by clicking on a map), and it will then use an internet connection to improve that link.  However, as well as supporting a link via Bluetooth to a mobile phone (which will use the phone’s cell tower IDs to locate you), it’s also possible to locate you via WiFi.  It achieves this by feeding the initial GPS data back to a central computer at Nokia which helps process those fragments of GPS information to produce a location faster than the lock.

This update makes the Diablo update well worth applying.  Although things are perfect yet (most apps need the author to confirm compatibility and provide their applications to the new application repositories), you can still access the old “Chinook” software respositories (unlike the last major OS jump, everything is binary compatible this time).

Now the only thing remaining is for Nokia to have a word with Wayfinder and get them to update the actual maps.  The maps included with the tablet are from 2006/7, and since then Nokia have updated the Nokia Maps (for Symbian) a couple of times, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t sort this out.  In the meantime, you may want to look at Maemo-Mapper, which uses OpenStreetMap map data, which is constantly being added to and updated, and because Maemo-Mapper uses the built in GPS support, it also benefits from the new A-GPS faster lock times.

berble.com have found a useful application, it allows you to copy files to and from your iPhone / iPod Touch on either a Windows or Mac OS X computer. This saves you carrying a USB flash drive as well, and even better, it’s free!

Head over to berble.com to read more, and then visit the manufacturer’s website here to download DiskAid.

Dopplr, the traveller’s social networking site, has reported that Heathrow has changed it’s baggage restrictions. They have lifted the one bag carry on restriction, which means you can now take a bag and a laptop bag onboard as hand luggage. Also, you no longer need to remove the computer from the bag as a matter of course, as they have rolled out improved scanners. Given all the bad press around the opening of Terminal 5, it’s nice to see some good news for Heathrow.

The Linutop 2 has been announced by French mini PC vendor Linutop. It features a 500MHz Geode processor, 512Mb RAM and 1Gb of Flash. The Linutop 2 measures 5.5 x 1.4 x 5.5 inches (14 x 3.5 x 14 cm), and weighs 20 ounces, and takes about 8 Watts of power. The OS, that’s preinstalled, includes Firefox and OpenOffice by using a version of the Xubuntu LiveCD image in the Flash. One neat feature is the ability to mount it behind a monitor using the VESA mount (although this may be nothing more than a bit of folded steel with a few holes in the right place).

However, at the price of roughly £210, we feel the VIA ARTiGO we covered here, and available from Linitx.com may be better value, and more suitable as an every day small PC.

Specs from Linux Devices.

The VIA ARTiGO Pico-ITX Builder Kit is now available from LinITX.com. This is a DIY PC Kit, but based on the Pico-ITX motherboard form factor. This allows you to build a very small, but powerful PC for your use. LinITX are offering the Kit with a range of memory and Hard Disk options. For those looking for a ultra compact PC for locating in a lounge, bedroom, or even a HiFi cabinet, this may be the PC for you…

Virgin are apparently about to start the process of upgrading (for free) it’s broadband customers from 4Mb to 10Mb. This upgrade process will start in February, and take until the Summer to complete. As part of this, they are also upgraded the upload speed to 512Kb. More information here.

Story courtesy of TechDigest.

Wacom have introduced a new widescreen 20″ pen display.

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If our previous news stories from LinITX.com (covering VIA low energy motherboards and USB Message Boards) weren’t enough to get you to head off to LinITX.com for a wide variety of Mini-ITX and In-Car computer components, gadgets, and many other things, then maybe their Christmas Special Offer of Free Delivery for orders over £100 will.

DigitalSpy report that Virgin Media have confirmed they are planning to launch a 50Mbps Broadband service in 2008.  It’s currently being trialled, and those trials are proving successful.

VIA announced in London today a new range of low power motherboards. These run at an average operating power of 2 Watts, with an absolute maximum of 20 Watts.

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