Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Its possible that, like most people, you think your windows look just fine. But windows, like anything else in a home, have an expiration date and you can reasonably expect yours to last about 20 to 25 years before you begin to think about replacing them.

There are other ways to know when theyre reaching the end of their usefulness and when you should consider calling a professional. For instance, when you begin to feel cold air wafting in, or hear whistling winds around the frame, it could mean your aging windows are letting drafts into your home.

At that point, it can be nightmarish for your heating bill in the wintertime, since your furnace will have to compensate for all the extra cold air making its way into the house. Youll also start to see steep utility bills in the summer months when the air conditioner has to work harder than it should. With all the extra money youll be expending to manage the situation (not to mention time and frustration!), it would be better spent in a solid investment in new windows.

Another potential sign that its time to replace your windows: faulty mechanisms. If windows are difficult to open and close or an absolute workout! it means something is not right. Yes, your lock should be sealing to prevent air from escape, but it shouldnt be next to impossible to jimmy a window open. If it is, it may be time for new windows!

Excessive condensation and buildup of moisture can also be a sign of aging windows. If your windows are frequently fogging or frosting up, its a sure sign that theyre not doing their job as well as they once were. And if your windows are double-paned, you can tell your seal is cracked and your windows need replacing if moisture is frequently collecting on the outermost pane.

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Occasionally new windows will fog up too but that means theyre doing what theyre supposed to be doing and keeping the cold air out. The difference is, with new windows the condensation should remain on the outside. But when the condensation appears to be on the inside, then its cause for homeowner concern.

If youre concerned about controlling moisture levels in your home, you can always install vent fans or employ a dehumidifier. But keep an eye on any condensation on your windows in case it turns out to be a sign they arent energy-efficient and need to be replaced by a professional.

Another thing to notice is whether theres too much noise traveling into your living space. This is particularly a problem with older, single-pane windows which offer little by way of soundproofing your home. With time and age, youll start hearing more and more subtle noises outside and it may drive you to distraction. Replacing single-pane windows or any older window letting in excess noise will not only reduce your energy bills by keeping out outside air, but it will increase your homes livability by keeping outdoor ambient noise where it belongs: outdoors.

There are more visible, aesthetic signs that you should be thinking about replacing your windows. If theyre warped, foggy, damaged, or cracked, then they arent able to do the job theyre meant to do of protecting your family from wind, cold, weather conditions and UV rays. Window frames, too, are prone to damage and rot, since theyre exposed to so much moisture on a regular basis. Examine yours closely to see if theyre deteriorating or if theyre growing mold. Replacing your windows can only improve the curb appeal and market value of your home, so its worth considering if you have any doubts at all about the longevity and serviceability of your current windows.

Once youve decided to replace your windows, its important to shop around for a company that you feel comfortable with. Youll find numerous window options at your disposal: double-hung windows, sliding windows, garden windows, awning windows, bay and bow windows, hurricane windows, casement windows, picture windows, and so many more. Black windows are another trend that is popular in Texas that doesnt seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

There are pros and cons of every style. Double-hung windows are among the most common and are available nearly everywhere, as well as easy to open and close unless their springs wear out and require replacement. Casement windows, which open horizontally and are among the best at keeping out unwanted drafts, but can potentially be broken off by inclement weather. Awning windows are one of the best at protecting against intruders, but dont always let in a cool breeze as well as other types.

Whatever you decide, youll want to speak with a professional to help assess whether your windows are due for a replacement and then decide what kind of replacement to look into!

Once you do, a simple renovation like replacing your windows will become a feature of your home that you can enjoy for decades to come.

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How to tell if your windows need replacing - mySA

LAKE SUPERIOR, MI - After a harsh winter storm blew out a window in the very remote Stannard Rock Lighthouse in Lake Superior, a team from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alder recently hitched a ride on a Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City to make the icy repair.

Teams had been worried the missing window could threaten the electronics inside - and even the working light - at the historic lighthouse that sits off the eastern shore of Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula.

Built 24 miles from the Upper Peninsula shoreline, Stannard Rock is considered the lighthouse farthest from shore in the contiguous United States. That has earned it the grim moniker as The Loneliest Place in the World.

The Coast Guard is sharing with MLive readers their photos from last weeks helicopter and repair trip.

Stannard Rock sits 24 miles from the Upper Peninsula mainland, making it the farthest from shore of any lighthouse in the contiguous United States.

Petty Officers Craig Campomizzi and John Ziemba, part of the Aids to Navigation Team aboard the Duluth-based cutter Alder, made the Jan. 26 trip out to Stannard Rock with help from the Traverse City-based chopper crew.

The weather wasnt the most conducive at single-digit temperatures and frequent snow squalls, but thanks to the keen skill and professionalism of the air crew, they were able to make five hoists using a rescue basket to get Petty Officer Ziemba, myself, and our gear safely onto the icy structure, Petty Officer Campomizzi told MLive. While Petty Officer Ziemba ensured the light was operating within specified parameters and the structure was sound, I got to work boarding up the missing window until the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy can get out there in the spring to affect a permanent window replacement.

Built in 1883, the Stannard Rock station is well-known among Great Lakes lighthouse lore lovers. Its exposed crib - or base structure - is considered one of the Top 10 engineering feats in the U.S., according to the National Park Service. And it was built to mark a huge underwater reef that was considered one of the most dangerous obstacles to shipping in Lake Superior. The top of a large underwater mountain was found to sit just 4 feet from the surface of the water in some spots.

As such a remote lighthouse, Stannard Rock was considered one of the stag stations, where male keepers and assistants could work, but could not bring their families like they could at other assignments.

Heres a little more history to give you a feel for this place, courtesy of a recent social media post from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marquette: The old keepers told terrible tales of life on the Rock. Violent northwest storms sent 30-foot waves smashing into the tower and spray cascading over the lantern room 110 feet above the Lake. Louis Wilks from Marquette holds the record for consecutive time spent on the Rock 99 days. No other keeper even approached this remarkable feat. The men were rotated off the Rock, three weeks on and one off. In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard took over the lighthouse and overwhelming loneliness remained a problem.

The broken window that put the electronics inside Stannard Rock Lighthouse at risk.

The lighthouse was automated in 1962, a year after a fatal fire and explosion that left survivors stranded at Stannard Rock for days until they were noticed by a passing ship. In 1971, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a working aid to navigation and can be seen by boat, airplane or - last weeks case - a winter helicopter ride.

There is a lot of interesting history that accompanies this lighthouse and its very rewarding to be able to get out to, the loneliest place on the continent to help out another agency on behalf of the U. S. Coast Guard, Campomizzi said.

Air Station Traverse City gave a shout-out to its helicopter team for making the trip possible: Our crew from Air Station Traverse City hoisted the ATON team, along with their gear, down to the lighthouse allowing them to ensure the light was in good working order and to board up the broken window. Great job on a successful mission!

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City pilot aboard the Jayhawk helicopter used to take an ATON team out to Stannard Rock to fix a window and check the lighthouse.

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Coast Guard flies out to fix remote Michigan lighthouse known as the Loneliest Place in the World - MLive.com

A sheet of transparent new material at a University of Maryland lab looks like it might be plastic. But its actually woodand it could eventually be used to make energy-efficient windows or even see-through buildings.

Compared to glass, wood has lower thermal conductivity, and its lighter, stronger, and more environmentally friendly, says Liangbing Hu, a materials science professor at the University of Maryland and one of the authors of a new study of the material. The idea is to employ the material in buildings. With a window made from transparent wood instead of glass, for example, a building would take less energy to heat and cool. Because of the structure of the wood, the windows could also reduce glare from the sun while allowing in natural light.

Researchers have experimented with transparent wood in the past, but the new method is more sustainable. Other methods usually soak the wood in a chemical compound called sodium chlorite to remove lignin, part of the wood that gives it structure. But this can weaken the wood, and it produces waste that is hard to recycle. Hu and his team tweaked the process so it doesnt fully remove the lignin. By brushing hydrogen peroxide over the wood and leaving it under a UV light, they removed only the parts of the lignin that give it color. The result is transparent wood that can be coated in epoxy.

Its just one of a number of ways scientists and engineers are rethinking how we can use this renewable resource in construction. Skyscrapers made entirely out of wood are gaining popularity in cities around the world. And scientists recently discovered a technique to grow wood in a lab, opening up the possibility of using wood without having to chop down a forest.

The transparent wood is 50% stronger than previous transparent wood and could even be used to build load-bearing walls in a building. It could also potentially be used in other ways, such as layers used in solar cells. A new spinoff company called InventWood is working to commercialize the technology.

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Impact This see-through wood could replace glass windows - Fast Company

According to IBISWorld, nearly 15 million windshields are replaced in the U.S. each year, generating some $5 billion in revenue for more than 16,000 businesses.In Phoenix alone, there are nearly 400 auto glass repair companies not surprising, as Arizona leads the nation in windshield replacements.

The competition for this business is fierce among the national chains, independently owned, local businesses, franchises, auto repair shops, car washes, and mobile-only businesses. The cost of entry to the market is minimal;Entrepenur.com and various franchise operations quote start-up costs as $2,000 $10,000 with the ability to operate your business from your home, in a mobile-only model, on a full or part-time basis.

Many, in fact, most of these companies feature Cash Back Offers to attract customers. This article addresses these offers, how they work, and how to select an experienced, reputable glass repair company that provides quality materials and service a companythat partners with and is trusted and respected by the major insurance providers and their clientele.

Obviously, there is a cash back component to the offer. In Phoenix, google cash back windshield replacement, and the amounts range from $100 $500! But buyer beware. If a deal seems too good to be true it probably is. Disreputable companies are notorious for windshield replacement scams. Some of their tactics:

One important rule is to get your agreement in writing and read the fine print! Although these scams may not cost you directly,insurance losses are passed along as increased premiums to everyone.

The first step of your due diligence process is to ensure the company you select is experienced, reputable, and trustworthy. The Windshield Replacement Cash Back Offer by SunTeccomes from a locally owned and operated, company with more than twenty years online in the Arizona market auto glass business.

How SunTecs Windshield Replacement Cash Back Offer Works

Suntec knows the price range insurance companies are willing to pay for a new windshield from years of experience.As a trusted partner, SunTec handles the entire process, bills and reclaims the money from the insurance company, and rebates a portion of the funds back to you.

What determines the amount of your cash back?

SunTecs expert technicians can assess any glass situation and determine if a repair or replacement is required, always in accordance with the appropriate Arizona Statutes. If possible, your technician will always recommend a more economical repair if chips are smaller than a dime and cracks smaller than a quarter provided theyre not too deep or near the edge of your windshield.

The SunTec Cash Back Promo includes expert, full-service window replacement by our hand-selectedtechnicians,famous for their knowledge, work ethic, and reliability.

In addition to cash back and full-service window replacement, SunTec will meet or beat any valid offer. If youve been comparing offers for the best cash back windshield replacement in Phoenix, check out SunTec.

We have found that not all insured customers are interested in cash back, so we also offer Free Gift Cards to restaurants, groceries, and movie tickets to local businesses. If you prefer this option, simply advise our representatives, and a coupon/promo booklet will be sent out to you within fourteen days after the windshield replacement service has been completed.

We hope this article has helped explain the nuances of cash back promos, what to look for, and what to avoid in auto glass replacement offers. Informed consumers always make our best customers.

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Cash Back Windshield Replacement in Phoenix What You Need to Know - IMC Grupo

I never thought Id hear the phrase Windows 7" ever again, but a Lifehacker reader recently reminded me that, yes, some people are still using Microsofts end-of-life operating system. Its not that they wouldnt want to upgrade, I assume, but some people just cant; they probably tried, were met with an error message, and gave up.

Is clinging to Windows 7 going to be a security problem going forward, though? Lifehacker reader Suzann asks:

I have an old computer running windows 7 and cant be upgraded. I only it for a few things like printing my bank statements, emails, word documents, storing photos, stuff like that.

I was worried that I dont have the safest WPS3 and unable to get it. I currently have WPS2 psk or something like that. Am I at risk? Do I need to buy a new computer?

Heres the deal: regular people using Windows 7 arent getting any more updates for the operating system, save for incredibly critical and rare issues that Microsoft identifiesand I doubt those updates will land via Windows Update. Youd have to hear about them, visit some website Microsoft hosts, and download and install the update yourself. Most people wont do this, nor would I expect it to be something that happens with any regularity in the coming years.

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What does this mean? Your PC is a ticking time bomb, of sorts. Theres certainly a chance that some future vulnerability will be found and exploited by those looking to take advantage of an operating system that wont ever be able to stop them; theres also a chance that your system will completely fly under the radar and youll be fine to continue your basic activities.

Is it a risk you should take? I dont think so. But Im also not going to fault you for continuing on, because not everyone has the time, budget, or interest in buying a brand-new computer to keep doing basic tasks that worked just find on their older, paid-for machine.

Before I get to the real advice, though, heres one quick and easy answer: Dont worry about WPS3"really, WPA3, which is a security standard for wireless networking. The WPA2 youre using to encrypt your wireless network is more than sufficient, Id argue, as long as you have a reasonably strong password. I doubt anyone is sitting outside your house or with a laptop to your shared apartment wall, trying to brute-force their way into your wireless network. Just make sure youre using WPA2-AES, not WPA2-TKIP or WPA2-TKIP+AES, for the best possible wireless speeds.

But back to Windows 7. I have another hesitation with suggesting you should continue using the operating system, which is that, eventually, your browser will stop receiving security updates. That just adds one more unpleasant vector that attackers can use to mess up your digital life. You might have a year; you might have two yearsbut one day, your web browsers manufacturer will stop updating it for Windows 7 machines. That is definitely the time Id recommend upgrading to Windows 10or pulling out some other crafty trick.

Lets talk about those crafty tricks. Have you tried upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 recently? I would give that one last shot before you throw in the towel, using the simple use a USB key for the installation media technique Ive previously described. Its possible that youll have better luck now.

If not, I would go a second route: Back up all of the important stuff on your system, even if that means buying an external drive to do itsomething you should already have on-hand and be using to regularly back up your data. Dont create a full image of the drive, as thatll cause some havoc later, but copy all your important files somewhere else, either using good ol Windows Explorer or any number of free backup tools.

Once youve done that, use that very same installation media (your flash drive) to attempt a clean install of Windows 10. That means youll be wiping your drive of all its data during the installation process and installing Windows 10 on a fresh digital canvas.

If that works, great. You might be able to activate it for free if you use your old Windows 7 key, too. If it doesnt work, though, dont worry.

Since you dont do very much on your system, you could also explore installing Linuxyes, Linuxwhich would give you security updates and an experience thats pretty similar to your existing desktop. Its a different operating system entirely, which means some things will be a little weird (and some esoteric apps might not work). However, it would suit you for all the basic tasks you described.

I recommend using Linux Mint, which is both easy to install and easy on the eyes, or something like Ubuntu Mate. Youll need to use your laptop (or borrow a friends) to make the USB key for this if youve already wiped your Windows 7 system. Youd install Linux Mint basically the same way you attempted to install Windows 10, and once its up and running, you should be able to pull up your external drive (or favorite cloud service, or whatever) and restore your data.

Again, this would take a little getting used toits not Windows, after allbut it would be a much more secure prospect than sticking with Windows 7 for the next few years. If this all sounds like way too much work, you could always pick up a new budget Windows laptop or cheaper Windows desktop. Its not an approach I love, given that your old PC should be good enough to do what you do, but its an option.

No matter what, make sure youve backed up your dataideally in multiple placesbefore you start messing with your Windows 7 PC. I cant stress that enough. Dont lose the best parts of your existing setup because you were mucking around. In fact, you might want to have a Windows 7 installation disc (or flash drive) on standby in case you throw your hands up and want to go back to the way things used to be.

Do you have a tech question keeping you up at night? Tired of troubleshooting your Windows or Mac? Looking for advice on apps, browser extensions, or utilities to accomplish a particular task? Let us know! Tell us in the comments below or email david.murphy@lifehacker.com.

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Do I Need to Replace My Windows 7 Computer Yet? - Lifehacker

Over the past summer, Cloverdales Good Shepherd Episcopal Church began replacing all of the glass windows in the church with stained-glass ones each window a reflection of the beauty surrounding Cloverdale. One window, located in the front entrance of the church, has a slightly different story it was found in a Healdsburg antique shop and donated to the church by Gene and Carolyn Marcinkowski after they realized that it would be a perfect fit for the space.

The Marcinkowskis stumbled upon the window while they were perusing the antique shop, having stopped because Gene remembered the shop had a silver candy dish like the one they had at their wedding 65 years ago.

While the Marcinkowskis didnt leave with the candy dish, they eventually left with their other find. After seeing the old window, Gene measured it, came back to Good Shepherd and measured the window space and found that it would be a perfect fit.

I said God intended it to be here, Gene, senior warden of Good Shepherd said, walking through the church on a tour of the new additions.

Before the stained-glass installation, the space the antique window now fills had been occupied by a plain window. Now it matches its newly installed counterparts. The throng of new stained-glass windows in the main chamber of the church arent traditional ones. Gene said that Good Shepherd didnt want windows that depicted saints. Rather, it sought windows with some religious imagery that also depicted landscape scenes common in Sonoma County.

Though all the current stained glass windows are staying, the church, started in 1888, has had its fair share of upgrades and has seen its fair share of window-changes.

According to the Reveille archives, the church installed its Senior Warden window during a major renovation in the 1990s in it, California stained glass artist Bruce St. John Maher depicted Jesus wearing blue jeans and work boots, sitting on a log in front of rolling hills of vineyards. That iconic piece is now joined by new stained-glass counterparts.

Through the up and down years of the church, we finally this year were able to get enough money to put the windows in, Gene said.

So, when he and Carolyn stumbled upon a window that would fit the church, the Marcinkowskis couldnt pass up the change to welcome it into the congregation.

We both fell in love with it and I envisioned it in our narthex right above the old organ. After some measurements of the window and then at the church, it fit perfectly. It was meant to be, Gene wrote in an email to the Reveille, describing how the Marcinkowskis happened upon the window. By the look of the lead and glass this window must've come out of an old church built around the same time as ours. We are so pleased for it to now be a welcome part of our church.

In addition to this new round of colorful windows, the church has seen a lot. Gene recounted reading about how the church operated during the 1918 pandemic, holding little to no services. Now, over 100 years later, the church is going through the same thing its closed for services, with its priest and deacon instead uploading a full service to YouTube.

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Good Shepherd gets a window makeover | News | sonomawest.com - Sonoma West

The vast majority of consumers have a poor understanding of data privacy issues yet think they are proactive in protecting themselves, according to a survey of US and UK residents.

More than 83% of 1,000 people surveyed said they were proactive in maintaining their data privacy however, they did not take basic precautions to protect their data -- showing a lack of education without a corresponding drop in confidence.

The survey from Entrust, a US Identity management and data privacy company, also found that 64% are willing to share personal data if it makes it easier to access key services.

And a whopping 83% say they are comfortable storing their biometric data with apps or third-party identity verification systems such as those at airports.

Consumers exhibited a split personality in that they had high confidence in their abilities to protect their personal data but 79% also said they were somewhat or highly concerned about their data.

About one third (34%) of consumers were very pessimistic saying that they believed they had little control over their data and nearly one-quarter said the issues were too complex to understand and 30% did not know where to begin.

A key difference between countries: UK consumers had a significantly higher trust in their employers, banks and government agencies to hold their personal data secure.

Major Internet platforms have come under fire for their use and misuse of consumer personal data. In 2021 US and UK lawmakers are looking at potential regulations to control the use of personal data. This will have huge consequences on multi-billion dollar online advertising markets and data sellers.

The Entrust survey shows that voters will need to become better educated to be able to understand and support upcoming data privacy regulations.

More survey findings are here.

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Privacy survey: Consumers have poor understanding of data privacy yet think they are taking proactive steps - ZDNet

Windows 10 offers a Quick Access menu in File Explorer's sidebar. However, the folks using the File Explorer since Windows 7 prefer the Favorites menu in the sidebar. Thankfully, you can replace Quick Access menu with Favorites in Windows 10.

You will need to tweak a few files in the Registry Editor to bring back Favorites from the dead. We recommend taking a backup of Registry Files before moving on, as it could break how your system works. Another way is to make a restore point, which also works great.

Let's begin.

You will need to tweak a few files in the Registry Editor to bring back Favorites from the dead. We recommend taking a backup of Registry Files before moving on, as it could break how your system works. Another way is to make a restore point, which also works great.

Step 1: Search for the Registry Editor in the Start menu and launch it.

Step 2: Drill down to the below folder structure.

Step 3: Create a new key under the NameSpace folder and name it as:

It should look something like this.

Step 4: Now, navigate to the below folder structure.

In the right window-pane, right-click in an empty area to select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value (even if you are running 64-bit version) and name this file with the same key that you created above in Step 3 like this:

Step 5: Double-click on the newly created file and set the Value data to 1. Save changes.

Step 6: At this moment, you should view the familiar Favorites menu at the bottom of the File Explorer.

You need to move it to the top to access it easily. To do so, navigate to this folder structure in the Registry Editor.

And create a new sub-key by the same name again. Right-click on CLSID to do so just as before.

Step 7: Under the newly created key in step 6, you will create a DWORD (32-bit) Value file and name it:

Step 8: Double-click to open the newly created file and set the Value Data to 4.

The Favorites menu should be visibly higher in the sidebar inside File Explorer.

So, we shared how to hide the Quick Access menu and bring back Favorites in the File Explorer sidebar menu. But we are not done yet. The problem is that you can access everything that's inside the Favorites folder, but you still can't expand it in the sidebar. Clicking on the arrow (that expands a folder) yields nothing, and the arrow disappears when you try.

This is where we will switch to CMD or Command Prompt. We will then use a Windows tool called 'mklink,' which is a command-line tool. It allows users to create a symbolic link allowing us to link one folder to another's location. It can be useful in several conditions.

Step 1: Search for and open CMD from the Start menu and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Give the below command to change the directory.

Step 3: I will be adding the Downloads folder and name it Downloads123. Here's the command syntax for that.

Replace SomeName with the name of the link that you want to be and SourceFolder with the location where the link should point to. So for linking to the Downloads folder, the command should look like this:

It created a new folder in Favorites named Downloads123 but more importantly, the dropdown menu works perfectly.

Can't find folder path? TreeSize (link below) is a cool little app that will help you find the correct path for any folder structure quickly and easily.

Download TreeSize

Quick Access is not so bad, but many users are used to the old ways, and we understand that. This is why we found a way to fix it for you. The steps can be a little complicated, and there are certainly quite a few. I suggest you go through the steps once before actually doing anything and then start afresh. That way, you will understand what we are doing and why. Take it one step at a time and check where your screen looks and functions like the one shown in the screenshots.

Let us know in the comments if you got the Favorites menu back. Found another or a better way to fix the issue? Again, do let us know in the comments section below.

Last updated on 1 Feb, 2021The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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How to Replace Quick Access With Favorites in Windows 10 - Guiding Tech

When NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover went on a spacewalk on February 1st, they wrapped up a multi-year effort to replace the aging nickel hydrogen batteries on the ISS with new lithium-ion models. The International Space Station Program approved the development of lithium-ion batteries to replace the stations aging power storage system back in 2011. Battery production started in 2014, and the first lithiumion replacements flew to the station aboard JAXAs Kounotori 6 resupply flight in December 2016. Now, four years after that flight and 14 spacewalks with 13 different astronauts later, the upgrade is finally complete.

Ground controllers used the Canadarm2 robotic arm to position some of the batteries for installation. However, some required additional spacewalks for the locations the arm couldnt reach. The batteries arent quite like the lithium-ion were used to, with their space-grade lithium-ion cells and radiant barrier shield. Since lithium-ion technology has greater energy density than nickel-hydrogen, only 24 new batteries were needed to replace the 48 old ones.

The ISS uses batteries to store energy harnessed from the sun with its solar panels, and it taps into those reserves every time it doesnt have access to sunlight. And that happens often, since the station passes between sunlight and darkness every 45 minutes. That stored power is necessary to keep everything working on the ISS, including the stations life support systems. Aside from providing the station with muchneeded power, the batteries could also give us the insight needed to improve lithium-ion safety.

Now that this particular upgrade is complete, the ISS program will shift its focus to replacing the stations solar arrays. Six new arrays will be flying aboard SpaceX flights over the next few years to replace the current ones near the end of their 15-year lifespan.

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NASA astronauts complete multi-year project to upgrade batteries on the ISS - Engadget

Over its lifespan, Googles Android TV has seen two core designs that the company has built on top of. Google TV is set to replace what Android TV established over the next year, but now Google is bringing a lot of that experience over to current hardware. The Android TV homescreen is being updated with new personalized recommendations, a Discover tab, and more.

Starting today and rolling out over the next few weeks, Android TV devices will see an update to the homescreen, which delivers an experience thats a whole lot closer to whats seen on Google TV. Its not an exact copy, but the similarities are obvious.

The biggest change here is that, like Google TV, the Android TV homescreen is getting three tabs Home, Discover, and Apps. The main home tab (seen above) acts a lot like what Android TV already offers. It shows the sponsored row at the top with Favorite Apps and Play Next below. From there, youll have rows packed with content from apps installed on your Android TV.

Android TV also gets a new Discover tab, which is entirely new to the experience. This tab is whats most reminiscent of Google TV. Like the For You tab on those devices, whats found here includes movies and TV shows that are trending on Google Search as well as personalized recommendations. As far as we can tell, though, the Watchlist feature that makes Google TV so good is nowhere to be seen here. Finally, theres an apps tabs, which shows all installed apps as well as a link to the Google Play Store.

Google says that this redesigned homescreen will be rolling out in the United States as well as Australia, Canada, Germany, and France with more countries to follow.

This comes at an interesting time, as Google has previously said that the goal is to transition current Android TV hardware to the Google TV UI over time. Still, Google did previously tease that some features of the new UI would be ported back to Android TV, and it seems that this is the fulfillment of that promise. In a way, this also acts as a stopgap for the TVs and set-top boxes that wont be updated to the Google TV UI as a whole.

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Android TV homescreen gets another revamp, this time w/ some Google TV goodness - 9to5Google