Change mod+x and mod+shift+x (and w etc) to split v (not h). I do this more.

i3/config

@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ bindsym $mod+F2 exec pactl set-sink-volume 1 -5%; exec notify-send 'sink 1 volum
 bindsym $mod+F3 exec pactl set-sink-volume 1 +5%; exec notify-send 'sink 1 volume increased'
 
 # Screen brightness controls
-bindsym $mod+F6 exec "xbacklight -inc 5; notify-send \\"brightness up [$(xbacklight)%]\\""
-bindsym $mod+F5 exec "xbacklight -dec 5; notify-send \\"brightness down [$(xbacklight)%]\\""
+bindsym $mod+F6 exec xbacklight -inc 5
+bindsym $mod+F5 exec xbacklight -dec 5
 
 # Start Applications
 bindsym $mod+Ctrl+b exec terminal -e 'bmenu'
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ bindsym $mod+Mod1+s split h; layout stacking
 bindsym $mod+w layout tabbed;exec notify-send 'tabbed layout'
 bindsym $mod+Mod1+w split h; layout tabbed
 
-# special combo for vertical split of two windows next to each other
-bindsym $mod+x split h, layout splitv, focus right, move left, focus up
-bindsym $mod+Shift+x split h, layout splitv, focus left, move right, move up, focus down
+# special combo for horizontal split of two windows next to each other
+bindsym $mod+x split h, layout splith, focus right, move left, focus left
+bindsym $mod+Shift+x split h, layout splith, focus left, move right, focus right
 
 # special combo for tabbed split of two windows next to each other
 bindsym $mod+z split h, layout tabbed, focus right, move left, focus left
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ bindsym $mod+Shift+z split h, layout tabbed, focus left, move right, focus right
 bindsym $mod+f fullscreen toggle
 
 # several 16:9 resolutions binded for quick switching
+bindsym $mod+Shift+bracketleft exec xrandr -s 1024x576
 bindsym $mod+bracketleft exec xrandr -s 1280x720
 bindsym $mod+bracketright exec xrandr -s 1920x1080
 

i3status/.i3status.conf.py3status

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ order += "ethernet _first_"
 order += "cpu_usage"
 #order += "disk /"
 order += "diskdata"
-# order += "battery all"
+#order += "battery all"
 order += "battery_level"
 # order += "load"
 order += "timer"
@@ -101,12 +101,13 @@ battery all {
 }
 
 battery_level {
-	cache_timeout = 10
+	cache_timeout = 30
+  measurement_mode = "acpi"
   hide_when_full = "True"
 	hide_seconds = "True"
 	blocks = ""
 	color_charging = "#00ff00"
-	format = " {icon} {percent}% {time_remaining} "
+	format = " {icon} {percent}% ({time_remaining}) "
 }
 
 tztime local {