Maybe I’m dumb, maybe I need new spectacles or maybe my mind just switched off itself.
Today, the 19th June 2009, a big day for Apple, because they are releasing a so called “major update” for their new phone, the iPhoneGS. I’ve been reading all about it for days.
The new specs are actually good in general. The CPU spec:

• ARM1176JZF chip with TrustZone (enables trusted computing environment for media, apps, network, OS, etc. — very bad for hackers)
• Can vary in clock speed up to 700MHz or more, depending on implementation
  
• ARM Intelligent Energy Manager (claimed to reduce power consumption 25-50% in portables)
• 16K / 16K cache
• Features vector floating point coprocessor (”for embedded 3D-graphics”)
• ARM Jazelle enabled for embedded Java execution (hmm…)
• SIMD, high perf integer CPU (8-stage pipeline, 675 Dhrystone, 2.1 MIPS)
• 0.45 mW/MHz power draw (with cache)

Sorry, the reason why I’ve talked about its CPU only is because all the other hardware specs are available on its website, while the CPU bit is what Apple doesn’t talk about.

Well, there was indeed a leak from T-Mobile Netherland, where they did accidently published the full hardware spec of the iPhoneGS. Its CPU is rated at 625Mhz with 256 Mb mobile RAM and a GPU which support OpenGL 2.0 for mobile devices. The drawback with OpenGL 2.0 is that it is not compatible with version 1.0 which is on the old iPhones, meaning game developers will have to re-write the whole game from scratch to make it compatible with the iPhoneGS GPU.

Now the funny marketing ploy which I’ve noticed today on the apple store UK website is….

Generally when a product is new, you label it as new to catch people’s attention. But not only have they labeled the new  iPhoneGS as new, but they’ve also labeled the old iPhone as new. Is is a mistake or a marketing ploy?

Apple normally pays loads of attention to details and I doubt it was a deliberate mistake. I’m sure it was there on purpose jsut to temp people in accidently buying the old one.

Don’t worry as if you are among those who have accidently bought the old one, you can still get a refund as per some UK laws for online shopping which gives you a period of 14days to get a full refund. NOTE: DO READ APPLE’S POLICY AS THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS!!!!

As for the prices… That’s a complete different story.

The prices in UK are nearly doubled as to the one in the States. Why?

It is the same hardware, USD is cheaper than GBP, so why it is more expensive in UK that in the states?

Below is a snapshot of Apple Stores US with their prices:

Have you come across this website: http://goosh.org/
It acutally allows you to browse Google in command line.
It is pretty nifty.
I like it, by the way, don’t get overly excited, it is not a real shell window.
Try typing “top” in the command line and see what happen.

If you come across any similar websites, let me know.

O2 has finally launched the windows Mobile 6.1 update for the XDA Stellar aka HTC TyTn II.

You will need to have an O2 mobile to be able to access the download page: http://www.my-xda.com/software_updates.jsp

The install process is straight forward.

Download, plug in your PDA to your PC. Establish a connection active sync (XP) or sync center (Vista). And run the file. Its as simple as that. Oh yeah, dont forget to back up your files as everything on the PDA’s onboard memory will be wiped out. The process takes about 10 minutes.

I have not idea how to execute this using linux. I guess that using WINE to emulate active sync and run the updater should work, but I haven’t tried it. If someone has tried updating their PDA using Linux or different platform, please do let us know the steps and the results.

Thanks!

Have you been wondering how to convert .DMG files made on MAC platform into .ISO or .IMG files so that it can be used easily in windows or Linux platform.

Well, I’ve come accross these tiny tools which does the job perfectly and its free. They are made by vu1tur.

dmg2img: Converts .DMG file to .IMG file.

dmg2iso: Converts .DMG file to .ISO file.

I’ve also noticed that MagicISO does handle .DMG files. I can open it, so I guess it can also generate an .ISO file for it. If you’ve got MagicISO and it worked for you, please let us know by adding a comment below. Thanks

Don’t forget once you’ve made your .ISO or .IMG file, save the world by avoiding burning unnecessary CD/DVD for single use only. Use a CD/DVD emulator like daemon tools which will save you time and money. Or if you got some money to spare and want a more powerful CD/DVD emulator, try Alcohol 120%.

Windows 2000 (with the Resource Kit installed) and Windows XP (natively) have an actual shutdown command that can be launched from a command prompt — and which, therefore, also can be launched from a shortcut. To see all available options for this command, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and click OK. Then, in the box that appears, type:

SHUTDOWN /?

You can also study the available options in the Microsoft KB 317371, “How to Use the Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000.” (The article is basically suitable for Win XP also.)

This command starts a 30-second countdown for a shutdown or restart, which permits you to abort it (with a shutdown -a command). It you want the command to execute, use the -t flag, which lets you set the time lapse in seconds. The examples below use a 1-second delay.

For a shortcut to RESTART Windows XP:
SHUTDOWN -r -f -t 01

For a shortcut to SHUT DOWN Windows XP:
SHUTDOWN -s -f -t 01

Unfortunately — especially on Windows XP — this option only shuts down Windows. It does not shut down your computer, at least on most hardware. For that, on Win XP (and for most Win 2000 users also), I recommend the freeware utility Shutdown.exe (not to be confused with the Windows utility by the same name) by MS-MVP Andrej Budja. I’ve seen several shutdown utilities recommended, but this is the only one that I’ve seen actually shut down Windows XP and then powerdown the computer behind it. For more information on the tool, see here. After you place this utility in the root folder of C:, the commands for a shutdown, restart, or hibernate (respectively), each without a time delay, would be shutdown -u -f -t 0 for shutdown, shutdown -r -f -t 0 for restart, and shutdown -h -f -t 0 for hibernate.

Using the TSShutDn Utility

If you don’t want to use a third-party utility, you may be able to get by with a lesser known utility in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The native commandline tool tsshutdn.exe was originally designed for shutting down servers, not work stations. It was introduced in Windows 2000, and retained in Windows XP. See MSKB 320188, “How to Use the TSSHUTDN Command to Shut Down a Terminal Server in Windows 2000 Terminal Services,” and MSKB 243202, “Windows 2000 Terminal Services Session Management Tools.” From a command prompt, type tsshutdn /? for a list of its subcommands and syntax. A command line of C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TSSHUTDN.EXE 0 /DELAY:0 /POWERDOWN will powerdown most Windows 2000 and Windows XP computers, though some (according to correspondent “perris,” who first turned me onto this native utility) will get an error message 1702

Have you spent days or hours in-front on the Internet, browsing and browsing but getting no-where.

Don’t worry you are not the only one:

And yeah… nowadays, Internet is becoming like an addictive drug for some. Mainly with all those social websites which try to manage our whole life and even better our friends. I wonder if in the future we will have to go to rehab for Internet overdose???

Hmmm…. All those clicks with the mouse and all those clucks on the keyboard. I wonder how’d that sound if I removed both:

I wonder if some real Internet addict do end up like this:

And mention not.. as if blogging is an easy thing.. well easy for the ones who write.. but have you ever wonder that your blog can look like spaghetti for some reader:

I had to hard reset my HTC Wizard today (not for the first time). I normally use Option 1 (see below). Then I remembered that these devices do have a hard reset option by having a sequence of keys pressed at the same time. Oh… I have used an iPAQ Pocket PC previously.

So here are the two ways to hard reset your HTC wizard:

Option 1:
Start > Settings > Clear Storage (then enter in the magic number it gives you and tap ‘YES’)

Option 2: [A bit complicated]

The sequence: Press the Comm Manager button (top left) + Voice Command button (top right) + Soft Reset button (middle right, below the IR Receiver).

The tricky part: Continue to hold the two side buttons (Comm Manager + Voice Command) and don’t let go. Release the Soft Reset button only and quickly press the Down button of the navigation pad for a few seconds until you find a prompt on the screen.

That’s it: Once you get the prompt, release all buttons and press the Talk Button (send button).

Follow the instructions on the screen and you should be ready to go with a refreshed device.

Please do add a comment below to say whether this worked for you or not. Thanks!

Are you using Firefox 3 or Firefox 3 beta and are you having problem with Google maps not showing up?

I think I might have the solution to this problem.

By the way, are you using Skype also?

If you are using Skype, then, this blog will help you fix your problem with Google maps not downloading.

If you are not using Skype, then try disabling some add-ons which make use of Java Script, that might help.

Ok, lets start.

Open Firefox 3 and go to Tools | Add-ons.

Look for the Skype extension . It will probably be version 2.2.0.86 or earlier! Right?

If it says version 2.2.0.89 or above, then its bad news, stop reading this blog as it will be of no help.

If its says version 2.2.0.86 or earlier, try disabling the extension … and Google Maps will then work. I tried it, but it didn’t got disabled. If you manage to disable yours, do let me know. Anyway, I didn’t have much time to fiddle with it.

Now go to https://developer.skype.com/SkypeToolbars/

Scroll down till and download the “SkypeFFPlugin.2.2.0.89.exe” [at time of writing, newer version might be out] file of click here.

Install the file and restart Firefox.

That’s it!!!

Reopen Firefox 3 and Google Maps will work.

If that doesn’t solve it, then, search the web for help or use Yahoo Maps!

Please do add a comment below to say whether this worked for you or not. Thanks!

I’ve just received a PicooZ as a birthday gift from a friend by post.

Thanks Vich!

In the past, I’ve seen many kids playing with it, but I was never tempted to buy one myself. I thought I was too old for it. I had fun back in the days, playing with RC cars, racing them and modifying them. I even won a competition for modifying one of them. I guess that these new Micro copters are taking over the RC cars in this generation. Moreover, they do bring a sparkle to any kids’ eyes.

I thought that the PicooZ was just a waste of money. But I was so wrong. It does look cheap and it is not made of solid materials, but the fun you get out of it worth every single penny.

The thing which I hate about it is that you can’t make it move forward or backward. It only goes up, down and rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise. However, some people with loads of practice did find ways to get it moving forward. If you are one of them, please let me know how! Just add a comment.

The reason why the PicooZ does not move forwards & backwards / left & right is because in the design feature does not allow either collective or user-input cyclic control, which would have allowed the user to freely fly it forwards & backwards / left & right on demand throughout the horizontal plane. The rotor blades on a fixed plane with a simple rocking hinge, and have no swash plate. Because of this limitation, the user must add left or right control inputs and rely on torque-induced precession (also known as gyroscopic precession) to transition to forward flight. I’m still struggling to master this.

The specs of the one I’ve got are:

• Product Dimensions: Main Rotor Diameter 130mm (5.25″)
• Length 170mm (6.5″) excluding rotors. Rear Rotor diameter 30mm (1.25″)
• Product Weight: Only 10g, including Flight Battery
• Rechargeable Flight Battery: High capacity integral Lithium Polymer battery
• Charger: Integral Transmitter/Charger supplied with LED indicator/Auto shut off
• Simply plug in and charge, with easy to use connections
• Charging Time: 20-30 minutes for full charge
• Flight Duration:5-10 minutes between charges
• Batteries Required: 6 x 1.5v AA Alkaline Batteries for Transmitter/Charger
• Control Specification: Supplied completely assembled and already charged ready-to-fly, with pre-installed 2 Channel Proportional Infra Red Control System
• Take off, hover and descend, turn left and right with fixed forward movement

After half a day, I’ve already broken its tail rotor due to many critical crash landings. Luckily there was a spare one in the box.

Verdict: It is a good toy. I wish its battery lasts longer (about 30min).

Hey, if you mange to destroy it accidentally, you can use it as a table fan. Its main rotor is quite powerful. More powerful than a CPU fan.