Abstract: A text communication device (300), and corresponding methods, that receives textual information associated with one or more an attributes, for example, a source or topic attribute, the device converts the textual information to an audio signal, produces sound based on the audio signal, and spatializes the sound based on the one or more attributes with which the textual information is associated.

Abstract: A method and system to collect device information and detect errors in devices of a computer system in a pre-boot environment. The firmware of the computer system queries a plurality of devices for health data during the pre-boot phase of the computer system. The firmware provides a pre-boot device manager based on the health data received from the plurality of devices. The pre-boot device manager enables a user to reconfigure the devices during the pre-boot phase. In one embodiment, the firmware of the computer system operates in accordance with the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) framework standard to collect device information and detect device errors.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for providing personalization parameters to allow an operating system to install itself on a computer system with the provided personalization parameters. A first operating system personalization file is used by the operating system to configure itself. A personalization parameters file is provided and read by an operating system installation process which is initiated in the computer system. The operating system installation process then displays a graphical user interface from which a user to selects personalization parameters with which the operating system is to configure itself. An editing module is executed to edit the operating system configuration file to include at least a portion of the selected personalization parameters so that the operating system is configured with the selected personalization parameters when it installs itself.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for providing personalization parameters to allow an operating system to install itself on a computer system with the provided personalization parameters. A first operating system personalization file is used by the operating system to configure itself. A personalization parameters file is provided and read by an operating system installation process which is initiated in the computer system. The operating system installation process then displays a graphical user interface from which a user to selects personalization parameters with which the operating system is to configure itself. An editing module is executed to edit the operating system configuration file to include at least a portion of the selected personalization parameters so that the operating system is configured with the selected personalization parameters when it installs itself.