I’ve written before about how I obsess over my Windows Mobile Smartphone, so I won’t be switching over anytime soon, but Ben from Smash’s World switched yesterday and he’s already compiling the list of what’s wrong.

Here’s some topic highlights, read the article for the nitty gritty on each:

1. The overall lack of a [visible] filesystem, and web-browser limitations.
2. Why can’t I do [obvious task]?
3. You can’t type fast without a lot of practice, and entering passwords isn’t so private.
4. Messaging? What messaging? Sorry, distracted by all of the Junk E-mail.
5. Menu navigation blunders.
6. You need an adapter to use other headphones.
7. You cannot use the phone as a modem, or browse/transfer files via Bluetooth. Don’t forget your iPod cable!
8. Google Maps — Before I find where I’m going, let me find where I am. Hold on.

and more…

Of course, it may just be that there’s a slight learning curve and after a while its trained the user in how ‘the new world operates’ when it’s with an iPhone.

Time will tell, it’ll be fun watching to see if the goal of 10 Million units sold by end of 2008 comes to fruition and see the AAPL stock continue to soar.

This discussion from Ben’s blog was moved to a MacRumors: Forums here and the gripes with the phone are coming in, here’s a choice comment I hadn’t thought of before on the iPhone:

- Deadspots on my iPhone. I can’t hit certain keys like the add contact/talk/backspace button in the keypad; the 7, 8, and 9 keys when trying to set my voicemail password

Codecs have been a problem for most users at one time or another. This is because there has never been an ‘out of the box’ working solution that the average user could install and just have everything work properly from the start.

With Vista Codec Package, you won’t be wanting in the codec department with Windows Vista. See the bottom of this article for the list of 30 additional codecs added to your existing in-box codecs. Here’s the homepage for the product, scroll down a little to find the d/l locations for VCP.

Many user suggested default settings are implemented, the developer’s guidance is to ”Install these packages, and forget them. By default you won’t need to make any adjustments to enjoy your media content immediately.”

It does not contain a media player and it does not associate filetypes. With this package installed you will be able to use any media player, limited only by the players’ capabilities, to play DVD’s, movies and video clips of almost any filetype. Streaming video is supported in several formats in all popular web browsers. Users of the package have the ability to choose what is installed and where to install it using the public redistributable.

This package supports these 16 localized installations and the default is English:  Chinese Simplified/Traditional, Japanese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Swedish and Turkish.

- AC3File
- AC3Filter
- AudioSwitcher
- AVI<->AC3/DTS
- CDDA Reader
- CDXA Reader
- CoreVorbis Audio Decoder
- CyberLink QuickTime Source Filter
- DC-Bass Source
- DirectVobSub (auto-loading version)
- DivX Audio
- DScaler Mpeg2 Video Decoder - installed as required
- DTS/AC3/DD+ Source
- ffdshow Audio/Video Decoder
- ffdshow video encoder
- File Source (MP3)
- Haali Media Splitter (AR)
- Haali Video Renderer
- Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 VCM
- Mpeg Splitter
- MPEG4 Video Splitter
- Nero Digital Parser
- Nero FLV Splitter
- Nero QuickTime audio/Video Decoder
- Ogg Vorbis Audio CODEC
- Real audio/Video Decoder/Splitter
- ShoutcastSource
- Sipro Lab Telecom Audio Codec
- VP7 Decompressor
- XviD MPEG-4 Video Decoder

Is your laptop battery showing its age? If you’ve looked at a replacement like I had to last year then you’re already aware of how costly it can be, well over a hundred dollars U.S.

If you’re handy with a soldering iron and not afraid to take a crack at replacing the guts of the battery then you can save upwards of 75% of the cost of a new battery by simply replacing the Li-Ion batteries that comprise your laptop battery.

This video is a quick step by step tutorial to the process from Kipkay.

Additional references:

• http://www.summet.com/blog/2007/02/17/laptop-battery-refill/3/
• http://www.thedailyhack.net/2007/03/refill-laptop-battery-hack.html

The other day I told you about the CIA docs released to the public and searchable from their site.

While browsing this treasure trove I stumbled across this one on ‘Counterintelligence Interrogation‘ techniques from 1965. It used to be a SECRET publication with the subtitle of ‘A collection of articles on the historical, operational, doctrinal and theoretical aspects of intelligence’.

Wow, this is the kind of stuff Sgt. Joe Friday would have written, I could hardly contain myself as I dug into it.

I could summarize it as:

It’s a good quick read, I recommend it as bathroom material and something to consider in your RPG if you find yourself on the receiving or giving end of an interrogation.

Here’s a little more info:

It’s 18 short pages of Do’s and Don’ts for the prospective counterintelligence interrogator. Includes legal paperwork you should consider to dot your i’s and cross your t’s beforehand so information gleaned is admissible evidence, special considerations for interrogating females, how to harass and isolate your target, employ divide and conquer techniques, building your story, how to deal with the ’smash and grab’ type of interrogators from competing gov’t orgs (i think hinting at the FBI), leveraging two-man teams and employing indigenous interrogators when operating overseas, etc…

It ends with this:

Never forget that some day the subject may have an opportunity to tell his side of the story to the press or other public medium, friendly or hostile. He will certainly talk to individuals. What he should honestly be able to say about us is that we are tough but fair. If he decides to paint us in other colors falsely, he probably won’t be convincing.

Give some applause for Viral, who figured out the last WIT image as a SIM card slot for a cell phone!  Wow, I’m not able to pull the wool over you guys, am I?  Well, I’ll keep trying

Back in my teens, I used to have a good time trying to figure out the images that the GAMES Magazine had on their monthly issue.  I try to draw inspiration from my memories of those times, not having any old mags around,or a local place to buy it, I have to rely on my old noggin.  But one thing remains constant, I try to bring only images that relate to technology in some degree.  If you have any suggestions in that area, feel free to drop us a line, and we’ll give you props in the next WIT post for your idea.

Without further adieu, behold:

Comments below!