New Acer ePowerMgt

I'm not sure what version that ePowerMgt ships will acer laptops, but mine is 1.8xx (Acer 5560) which looks like this;



A new version 2.00 is available at Acer Taiwan (English version) under the Aspire 5550 model (although my model is 5560, this works fine!).

http://stkts.sertek.com.tw/notebook...iew&Start=90&Count=60&ExpandView&catex3rd=847

Screenshot

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new9gp1.jpg

It has a new interface, and a lot of bug fixes (compared to ver 1.8!!!)
It works fine on my laptop, not sure if it will work with other acer laptops...
Also, the whole empowering suite has been updated there too, but i'm most interested with the power management after all the complaints in this forum...

Among the fixes are;
========================================
ePower 2.00.2017 Release note 2006/04/04
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
Bug fixed
1. The trayicon will show batery pinformation
2. Symplify the procedures while resume from S3/S4
3. Fix the bug while adjusting if the platform support C4onC3 function
4. Will prevent some error while updating batery information
New platform
1. Garda5

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. LCD brightness shows inconsistent information.
duplicate procedure:
i. Change brightness from UI page
ii. Change brightness from tray icon.
iii. The brightness in UI is not consistent with tray icon.

-------------
Installshield
-------------
None

========================================
ePower 2.00.2016 Release note 2006/03/30
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. While unistalling ePM , ePM should set
(a) CPU : maximum speed
(b) C4onC3 : Off
(c) LAN , 1394 , Cardbus : On

2. Delete all error messsages about initializing ePower_DM

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. After clicking load default button, recover CPU and LCD track bar.

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. Compile mof file and wait it until success. This could avoid ePower initial WMI failed.

========================================
ePower 2.00.2015 Release note 2006/03/28
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. While enterig S3/S4 , ePM will do nothing when system sned powerbroadcast event
2. While update ODD staus , ePM do not check the huristic settings

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. Fix ePower widget launch too slow in DC.
2. Fix confused odd picture box.

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. Modify Odd registry to 1 in all power scheme.

========================================
ePower 2.00.2014 Release note 2006/03/28
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Suppotr new ATI graphic card for powerplay functions.
2. While resume fm s3/s4 , ePoer_DMC will update the batery information again

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. Modify help file: add ODD (optional) on help file.
2. Modify wording "Battery fully charged" to "Battery Fully Charged"

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. None

========================================
ePower 2.00.2013 Release note 2006/03/21
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
Fixed Bug
1. Remove message box while set WMI flag failed.

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1."Load Defaults" wording error.

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. None

========================================
ePower 2.00.2012 Release note 2006/03/17
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
Fixed Bug
1. Compal reboot test will pop up "Hidden NotifyIcon Target Window" message.
Solution: Use windows default UI component.
2. ePower will show "Error initiating ePower_DMC"
Solution: Get wmi object failed. Move this code to WMI constructor.

New platform
1. Grapevine2

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. None
-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. None

========================================
ePower 2.00.2011 Release note 2006/03/16
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Show ODD devic in context menu while limited user log in.

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. None
-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. Enable hibernation after installing ePower

========================================
ePower 2.00.2010 Release note 2006/03/13
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. No change.

-------------
ePower_UI
-------------
1. Pop different Language pack installation prompt from local language packs while launch help file.
Root cause: Set charset error in html files.

========================================
ePower 2.00.2009 Release note 2006/03/08
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. To identify Acer platform by both Type1 and Type2 manufacture name of SMBIOS

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. Turn on LAN/cardbus/1394 before uninstalling ePower.

========================================
ePower 2.00.2008 Release note 2006/03/03
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Will launch UI while user launch ePower by 2 ways:
a. Launch ePM by Hotkey (Fn+F3)
b. Start -> All programs -> Acer Empowering Technology -> Acer ePower Management

---------
ePower_UI
---------
1. Fix the bug while try to open help file in limited user or guest

========================================
ePower 2.00.2007 Release note 2006/03/02
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Will update the battery remaining time while UI send "EPM_PROP_REMAINING_TIME" to DMC and
return an updated remaining time
2. After finishing the processor vender ID access by WMI, release everything will get some error.
3. While the ACPI bios is not implemented, ePower_DMc will show an error message
4. Sub-menu does not appear after lefe click on menu.(bug from compal)
5. The action of left-click is set the same as right-click

New platform
1. Cheela (In cheela platform, will change the default setting of LCD for each power schemes)
2. Bodensee3

---------
ePower_UI
---------
1. If system does not support standby, disable standby trackbar and standby trackbar.
2. Send battery information query after device status change on UI.
3. If battery remaining time is equal to 0 or larger than 600, don't show it on battery label

========================================
ePower 2.00.2006 Release note 2006/02/23
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Bug: Exception occurs while guest account log out.
Root cause: ePower_DMC receives WM_EndSession and write registry. The writing registry action will cause exception.
Solution: Do not read or write registry after receive WM_EndSession.

========================================
ePower 2.00.2005 Release note 2006/02/22
========================================

----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. Check OS version. If installed OS is not Windows XP, ePower_DMC closes itself.
2. Support new project.
i.Bodensee2
ii.Navarro

---------
ePower_UI
---------
1. Support AMD platform. There are only three CPU speed level(Maximum, High, and Medium) on AMD platform.
2. Check OS version, if installed OS is not Windows XP, disable all component on UI.

-------------
Installshield
-------------
1. If user selects launch ePower UI after first installing, Launch it.

==============================
ePower 2.00.2004 Release note
==============================
Fixed Bugs:
----------
ePower_DMC
----------
1. (Project:Myall2) i. ePower_DMC shows error message (exception)
2. i. ePM will pop error message when login in as Guest Account.
3. (Project: Geneva II)Can't turn on\off 1394 in ePM tray menu.
---------
ePower_UI
---------
1. i. Adjust LCD Brightness.
ii. Save as a new power scheme.
iii. This action will also change brightness in previous profile.
2. i. Disable ""Wired Lan"" then reboot. (1394 -> Enable)
ii. After reboot 1394 will show disable in ePM.
iii. But the function is normal.
3. i. Remove Battery (AC only)
ii. ePM will show ""Battery fully charged"".
iii. Close ePM windows then open again.
iv. ePM will show ""AC Only"".
v. At the same time,Power status on e Bar is not match real status.
4. ePM profile status confused.
i. AC mode --> Create new AC profile & name ""AC""
ii. Unplug AC adapter
iii. Click profile menu.
iv. The icon Maximum Performance & AC are incorrect.
v. Entertainment profile can be deleted."
5. "Max Battery Life Power option status can not match real status.
i. DC mode --> change profile to ""max Battery lfe""
ii. Plug-in AC adapter.
iii. Choose max battery life profile to see the status.
iv. ePM will show default settings not modifed one."
6. i. Create a new profile and name ""123""
ii. Apply ""123""
iii.Delete ""123""
iv.ePower will pop error message."

==============================
ePower 2.00.2003 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:

- ePower_UserControl
- Support limited user to view power setting.


==============================
ePower 2.00.2002 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:

- ePower_UserControl
- Reduce CPU usage while change brightness on ePower UI
- Speed up the action of change brightness on ePower UI
- Will not pop error message when login in as Guest Account
- Plug in / Pull out AC adapter the "Profile and Remaining battery Life" not change correct mode.
- Click "Load" button in "Advanced Settings -> Load Defaults", check power options reset as default. <DC - Entertainment> fail in "Cardbus" / " Wired LAN" / "Fireware(1394)"
- ePM show "BattFull" at widget mode.Please help check if it's correct. Or "Battery fully charged" is better.
- The symbol should be "~" not "rectangle" symbol.
- Critical Battery's alarm level can large than Low Battery's.

==============================
ePower 2.00.2001 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:

- ePower_UserControl
- The performance of ePower plugin CreateInstance() issue.
- UI launches tray icon and do not wait ePower_DMC initialization finish.
- Only launch one help file, if user click "?" many times.
- Boot .exe error while guest acount login.
- Changing brightness too slow if user click keyboard to adjust LCD trackbar.

==============================
ePower 2.00.2000 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- ePower_DMC
- Close ETF launcher while MobileMark 2005 or MobileMark 2002 running

- ePower_UserControl
- In Japanese and ePM mode, the word of "Profile" will isn't align left
- In Chinese (PRC) and ePM mode, the word of up-side overstep by battery information
- In Chinese (PRC) and ePM mode, the help function connected is error
- In Chinese (taiwan) and ePM mode, the help language is not chinese (PRC)
- In Chinese (taiwan) and ePM mode, the word of up-side overstep by battery information
- After load default, ePower main ui does not refresh device setting and cpu setting
- Word processing cpu speed should be high
- No enable hibernate function in Windows default power option while install ePM.


==============================
ePower 2.04.1008 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- ePower_DMC
- Polling battery time while AC change to DC until battery time is stable.
- Turn on/off bluetooth at lastest order.

- ePower_UserControl
- Turn on/off bluetooth at lastest order.
- Do not show battery time while battery time is smaller than 0
- Database 0051: ePM icon error on widget mode

==============================
ePower 2.03.1007 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- ePower_DMC
- Reduce message passing while device status change
- ePower_UserControl
- Database009: System seems hang-up when launch ePM and select settings on DC mode
- Get low battery alarm failed while low battery alarm is disabled.

==============================
ePower 2.02.1006 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- Modify UI layout to suit multi-language wording.
- Combobox string over boundary
- Two buttons overlap
- 6 multi-language wording.
- Not response cliccking "?"
- [UI] ePM UI Layout issues
- Wrong version number format
- ComboBox text be cut
- Not response cliccking "?"
- Cannot launch ePM when portal launched

==============================
ePower 2.01.1005 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- Widget wording in English OS
- Install failed while install on English OS
- Support Silent Uninstall.
- InstallShield multilanguage message
- Refresh after load default
- Add 3 country language in multi-language xml


2. Other issue:
- There still 6 multi-language wording need to traslate.
- Modify UI layout to suit multi-language wording.
- Need new Cardbus icon
- widget dispear (need duplicate procedure)

==============================
ePower 2.0.0.7 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- Widget should update icon and charging icon rate while charging or no battery
- Click widget to launch ePower main UI.
- Maximum performance wording is too long for widget.
- Widget multilanguage
- Widget remaining time is not consistent.
- Portal could not get ePower icon while reboot
- Dynamic save settings for brightness , bluetooth, and wireless.
- Recover brightness setting while dynamic saving click "no".
- 2 exception messages
- Create forth profile issue
-Problem 0025: Battery information not consistent

2. Other issue:
- There still 6 multi-language wording need to traslate.
- Modify UI layout to suit multi-language wording.
- Need new Cardbus icon
- widget dispear (need duplicate procedure)

==============================
ePower 2.0.0.6 Release note
==============================
1. Fixed Bugs:
- Problem 0034:Icon color different from other ET applications
- Problem 0032:Suggestion: change "none" to "never"
- Problem 0031 :A spline is too thick
- Problem 0030 :Typo in "load default" page
- Problem 0029 :Segguestion: page name "Setting" -> "Settings"
- Problem 0028: Grammar error in "replace profile" dialog
- Problem 0027: Grammar error in password setting page
- Problem 0026: Grammar error in "save denied" dialog
- Problem 0024: "Apply" button not disabled when a non-applicable profile is selected
- Problem 0023: A duplicate profile name after deleting a profile
- Problem 0013: widget cannot display options properly
- Problem 009: Suggestion: re-layout seperate-lines
- Problem 007: Non-current profiles cannot be edited
- Problem 003: Shutdown fail when press power button
- Problem 003: A confusing string appear in the installation error message

2. Other issue:
- Problem 0025: Battery information not consistent
- Widget should update icon and charging icon rate while charging or no battery
- There still 6 multi-language wording need to traslate
- Maximum performance wording is too long.
- Main UI layout while multilanguage wording is too long.

 

That's some pretty cool info, I will try it as soon as I can as ePower is certainly giving me some trouble (like 50% CPU usage!).

Did you try the BIOS (v.1.17 or 1.15)? If so, does it do anything different?

 

anybody tried those programs in a 1691

 

This ePower does not reach 50% CPU on my laptop (in fact, the older version didnt as well). I have installed BIOS 1.17 (and 1.15 before that). BIOS 1.15 was required to install the new ATI driver v 8.3 ( i think), without it, you cant install the driver. BIOS 1.17 came with a KBC update, although after installing, i cant see any difference.

This new ePower gives me better battery life. Now i can get up to 2 hours 30min compared to the older version of up to 2 hours only. And, you can view the current battery status directly from the taskbar icon, unlike the older version.