One of my favourite applications on the iPad is called Talking Tom, you speak and he repeats what you say.
Oh, did I not tell you I’ve got an iPad!
The hints were there if you hadn’t spotted them!
Archive for the ‘gadgets’ Category
A reminder of visiting Chorley!
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Unlocking a 3 Mobile Broadband MiFi (Huawei E585)
Sunday, August 8th, 2010The Huawei E585 MiFi Moble WiFi Wireless 3G Modem is currently exclusively only available on the Three network and it’s SIM-locked to this network, if you insert another SIM from another provider O2, Voda UK, Orange or T-Mobile you’ll receive an “Insert SIM”, “Bad Sim”, “Sim Lock”, “Invalid SIM” or similiar error. If you would like to use this fanastic 3G Wireless Router on another network you’ll need to remove the SIM-LOCK. This is where you need to be very careful, there are various different ways of removing the SIM-LOCK, the correct way and the wrong way, some hacks have re-written the firmware, the result removes the SIM-LOCK, but leaves you with a E585 modem with modified firmware, and you’ll not be able to change the Connection Number from the default *#99# , if you have a provider where you need to enter a different Connection Number, you are stuffed.
This method reveals the true SIMLOCK code, and then you enter this SIMLOCK code into the E585 via the web interface.
Huawei 585 Hidden Unlock Menu
The method is very simple
- Insert SIM card from another network.
- Turn on MiFi (E585) Invalid SIM will be displayed.
- Connect MiFi (E585) to computer.
- Read and download flash contents from MiFi (E585).
- Unlock code is hidden in flash contents.
- Enter Unlock code in hidden menu.
- UNLOCKED.
- For details on unlocking and software please make a 10 GBP donation via PayPal.
- and by return I’ll send you the PDF document and software to unlock your E585.
- The donation pays for the hosting of this website, and thousands of hits and free information I’ve provided on unlocking Three Mobile Modems.
3G Killer Accessory - Huawei E585
Sunday, August 8th, 2010
Huawei E585 MiFi Mobile WiFi Wireless 3G Modem
If you have an iPadtastic iPad without 3G or have many mobile WiFi devices that could benefit from 3G connectivity, then the Huawei E585 MiFi Mobile WiFi Wireless 3G Modem is for you. The Huawei E585 has already won Best iPad Accessory, its sold exclusively by Three here :- http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiF.
It’s basically a WiFi router with in-built 3G mobile modem, rather than ADSL or Cable modem. At present, I’m finding I’ve got four devices that all require 3G mobile internet connectivity, Laptop, Netbook, iPad and PDA and trying to keep all contracts up to date is costing me, so this one device, I can use one mobile SIM contract, and up to five devices can connect to this mobile WiFi access point, and use 3G mobile connectivity.
It’s an excellent device, with clear excellent instructions if you need them, and good software and configuration available from a web gui.
Huawei E585 MiFi Mobile WiFi Wireless 3G Modem
Personally in the UK, I would continue using the network Three for data, using the loophole, I’ve blogged about before. This still makes Three the cheapest data mobile provider in the UK.
If Three’s not for you, and you want to try it on another network, the Three Huawei E585 is sim-locked to the Three network.
(I’ll post later how you remove the sim-lock).
How to beat the UK TV License and save £145.50 a year!
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010I’ve just received my new UK TV License for another 12 months, at a cost of £145.50 a year. I think everybody knows in the UK, if you use a service like BBC iPlayer to watch pre-recorded shows, what the TV License calls “on-demand”, a UK TV License is not required. What I didn’t know, and I’ve been told this by UK TV Licensing is if you purchase any computer or high tech mobile phone or games console your details (name and address) will also be sent to UK TV Licensing, I only thought it was TV receiving equipment, but on reading my new TV License it states “You’re now covered to do more than just watch TV at home on a TV set. You can also watch and record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV through your computer, games consoles, and digital box, DVD/VHS recorder, even your mobile phone”.
So therefore TV Licensing assumes that every household in the UK should have a TV License.
I’ve made some enquiries about the defintion of “on-demand” which doesn’t require a TV License, it doesn’t require a TV License because it’s pre-preorded content. The content was also not received by you, as you didn’t record it. In the same way, Homeowner A records a program for you as it’s broadcast, they are covered by their TV License to receive this program, they give the program to you on a USB stick, Homeower B doesn’t require a TV license to watch the program.
If you examine the above further, and watch a program, which is recorded elsewhere, not at your home, and transmitted/played-back 50 seconds later - no TV License is required.
I’ve just come off the telephone discussing this with Amie, TV Licensing on 0300 790 6055. The telephone conversation was recorded, she also stated that the Field Agents are also aware of this information.
So how do you save £145.50 a year,
- Firstly you must stop using your TV equipment, e.g. TV and Set-Top-Boxes that receive television through a UHF aerial (e.g. live broadcasts)
- Remove the TV aerial from the TV equipment.
- You do not have to remove the TV equipment from the premises (I’ve also discussed this with TV Licensing - they have to prove you are using it, and I was told, they would take your word that you are not using it!).
- Use BBC iPlayer, Sky Player, ITV Player, 4od, Demand Five to watch pre-recorded “on-demand” content from the Internet, either via computer, laptop or Internet connected TVs.
- Live Content use - TVCatchup - http://www.tvcatchup.com/ from your computer, laptop, iPhone or iPad.
You can turn your iPad into a TV with TVCatchup iPad Service.
World of Mouth! 35% of bloggers post opinions about products or brands ONLINE
Sunday, July 18th, 2010ORANGE Do you like what I am saying?
NEWSFLASH! Evicted from The Orange Shop, 16/17 Coney Street, YORK TODAY!
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
I went into The Orange Shop, 16/17 Coney Street, YORK today at approx 14:00 to make an enquiry about the iPhone 4 32GB Black on an Orange Contract. I was greeted by a Sales Person called Mark.
He was quick to explain to me, that Apple fix the prices of the iPhone 4.0 32GB Black, and Mobile Airtime companies cannot set the price of the phone, he asked if I wanted it on Pay As You Go or Contract, I replied I was interested in a Contract, he told me the cost of the phone was £319, and monthly costs of £35, for 18 months.
I told him the monthly cost was tool high, and I mentioned Tesco Mobile at £20 a month,
and in his next breath Mark said
“if you go with Tesco Mobile you’ll get no signal, because Orange have more transmitters across the country than Tesco Mobile“
Personally, when a Sales Person resorts to this sort of tactic to make a sale, it make me suspicious, I always remember a old friend/work colleague, when I worked in Sales, hundreds of years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, telling me NEVER disrespect the competitor to make a Sale.
When Mark told me this, I gave him my mobile phone, and asked him to tell me what current network it’s on, it happens to be Orange (he didn’t know this before I handed him the phone, he didn’t even bother to ask me). I then reminded Mark, that I’ve probably been with Orange as a Customer, longer than he’s been an Employee, which now is about approx 11-12 years, and I don’t have reception at home with Orange, but I do with O2, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3! So I don’t think what he’s saying is valid and I don’t like the way he’s slagging off the Competition, at this point he asked me to LEAVE THE SHOP! He then started stating I’m now SLAGGING him off!
I pointed out as I left the Shop, I was surprised they were happy to lose a potential sale, and told him I would make him famous, and Tweet later about this incident! I don’t know why Mark lost his rag with me, and I hadn’t even had my Red Bull for the day!
So Happy Sales Mark……..
Looks like I’ll be joining Tescos Mobile then…..so much for 11 years Customer Loyality! (not that Mark would know, he didn’t ask the question!)
PS Mr Orange/Mr Tescos if your reading this, iPhone 4 32GB Black on Contract in the post would be very nice Free of Charge!
Super Talent Hardware Encryption Update - STU32GPCGE
Monday, April 26th, 2010What a day!, Still Broadband issues - worse than ever, Hard Drive RMAs, Flash Failures, well at least I finally got the Super Talent hardware encryption working on the PICO-C 32GB with help from Super Talent Support, a new update was required. Thanks to Super Talent for respoding so quickly on this one! More than can be said, for one ISP!
Securelock software after password entered correctly AES Secure Unlocked for use
Securelock software, after logging out or USB flash drive inserted into computer, AES Secure area locked
and at last British Telecom Wholesale have removed the bloody CAP from our broadband! Just have to work out why, it was done in the first place!
USB Flash drive with a bit of bling!
Monday, April 26th, 2010I received a sample Super Talent Pico C 32GB flash drive today (Model STU32GPCGE).
Nice Packaging
and once it’s opened it reveals
Super Talent Pico C Gold 32GB Flash Drive inside
Flash drive accessories, a chain and security bracelet!
it's tiny!
You can see by the scale of the 50 pence coin, that this flash drive is tiny, I understand why it comes with a chain and security bracelet, it’s tiny, and easily lost and yes that’s 24 karat gold!
This flash drive supports seamless hardware AES encryption of data on the flash drive, and since a few of my clients are investigating and trialing flash drive encryption and hard disk encryption for laptops it seemed the ideal choice, despite the bling!
The only problem is, when trying to setup the hardware encryption using a program called Securelock, this occurs!
Whoops! Faulty!
Salavaged from the tip BBC Micros BBC Masters Spectrums
Sunday, April 11th, 2010A friend of mine is moving house in a few months, and has decided not to take vintage computers he’s collected over many years, and he was going to scrap them and take them down the skip, unless homes were found. So I collect a car load of vintage stuff
I collected the following:-
- 10 BBC Micros ‘Beebs’
- 4 BBC Masters
- 3 Cumuna dual 5.25 floppy disk drives (horizontal)
- 2 Cub Monitors
- 2 Spectrum+3 128k
- 2 Cherry Teletext keyboards
- Teletext Adaptor
- Prestel Adaptor
- 6502 Second Processor
Teletext, Prestel and Second Processor for BBC Micro
Prestel Adaptor
6502 Second Processor
Teletext Adaptor
WiFi Charger software for PDA, iPhone and Smartphones
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
I found this new software app on the Internet that converts WiFi signals to electricity to charge your PDA, I understand the iPhone, iTouch applications will be in the AppStore shortly. I’m just having issues with using it with my old 802.11b access points, it doesn’t charge very well, but if I use on my new Belkin ‘N’ series, as you can see in the screenshot, it charges very fast. The only issue is my battery gets very hot, because it says it blast charges it, I think the instructions are not very well laid out, not written in good english. The software vendor WireFree A/S is appearing at Gadget Show 2010 Live next week on stand OZ56.
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