MyWi – iPhone internet for you and friends

Having jailbroken my iPhone a few months back. One of the most invaluable apps is MyWi.  MyWi creates a WiFi access point for your laptop (and the laptop of friends) to connect to.  No need to create an ad-hoc network, nada.

Performance is pretty decent.

Per http://speedtest.dslreports.com

Download

564 Kb/s

Upload

417 kb/s

Latency

238 ms

Per www.speedtest.net

Download

0.84 Mb/s

Upload

0.35 Mb/s

Latency

236 ms

NOTE: MiWi requires a jailbroken iPhone. See my prior post on blackra1n for information on quickly and easily jailbreaking your iPhone.

Windows 7 – Quick Review “I like it!”

Okay, so here’s the situation. A few weeks ago Dell replaced my aging e1705 laptop under warranty. (Was acting up, giving me a lot of BSODs, and memory parity issues. Had already been refurbished a couple of months earlier.)  They replaced it with a new model Studio 17(45).

Pretty nice setup, better performer, current tech and best of all it has a second hard drive bay. Can we say “Suh-wheat!”

It also came pre-installed with Windows 7.  I have done my best to avoid Vista.  I stayed with XP (& 2000 before that).  I like XP but it was still WINDOWS.

Now, I was really hoping Windows 7 would be  an improvement over Vista. But I was NOT suspecting that I might actually LIKE Windows 7.

Well, confession – I do!

In fact, the more I use it, the more I like it. There are a lot of little simple nuances that make me think that Microsoft is moving in the right direction.

Examples:

• Right-click on menu item and you can simply “pin” it to either the start menu or task bar.
• User configuration is now in a folder called users/userxxx
• It’s even aesthetically pleasing.
• Installed EasyPHP, threw an error. Why? Because the proper rights hadn’t been granted to the folder. So we’re making a decent step toward default security as well.

Microsoft, seems to have shunned the marketing driven Vista for one that actually has some decent improvements.  If you’ve been waiting to upgrade to Windows 7 and you’re using Vista. You might want to consider migrating.

- The Saj

iTunes WORST SOFTWARE

iTunes has got to be the biggest pain in the butt I have dealt with in several years. It is fine if all you’re going to do is use iTunes locally.  But it degrades if you do any of the following:

- Move your library to a NAS, as it quickly outgrows the available space on your meager laptop hd.

- Sync and manage an iPhone (iTunes tends to do a lot of whacky things, sometimes requiring a full restoration of your iPhone)

- Move to a new computer. Cause obviously everyone keeps the same computer forever. No one ever gets a new faster shinier machine.

How Apple has gone so long with iTunes numerous failings is a question for sages.  It was only recently that Apple implemented a hierarchy change to iTunes Media from iTunes Music. (It was rather annoying having applications, movies, etc in a music folder.)

But if you have never had to migrate a iTunes library to a new computer, or restore it after having to reformat and reinstall an OS. Then you might think iTunes a competent application.

IT’S NOT

Steve Jobs should be personally ashamed of the trash iTunes has become.  The backup options are so pitiful that one has to wonder what Apple was thinking. Yes, you can back up your iTunes library but only to DVD.  For most of us that would be about a week of popping DVDs in and out.

Why can I not backup to an external hard drive?  I should be able to have my old machine backup my library to my NAS and then have my new machine restore from the backup.

And have everything working. Have my playlists, my ratings, and my media.  I should be able to sync my iPhones.

Instead Apple has created a convoluted library that is unmanageable and untransferable. While one can easily re-import media. Synching is another matter.

Even if you succeed in manually migrating all your library, your iPhone backups, etc.  You still only have a 50/50 chance that iTunes will work. And are more than likely to launch iTunes only to find it “Not Responding”.

Thank you Steve Jobs, shame on you!

UPDATE: Clearly there is a problem with iTunes on Windows 7.  I thought it was all NAS related. I was trying to import playlists, taking forever. So presuming it was an issue with my NAS I copied the files to my local machine.  Trying to import 103K playlist, it’s now taking nearly an hour.

How to enable CNTRL-T tab in Flash

We’ve all been there.  Casually browsing online, viewing some Flash powered site. We see something and we want to Google or Wikipedia it. So we hit CNTRL-T.

Brain Crash!  Nothing happens and it seems like our brain is just hanging there in a suspended state waiting for the event to complete – but it never does.  Finally some try/catch error handling in our brains goes something like this.

Try CNTRL-T
Catch (failed to launch tab)
If Flash
Go Duh!
Click URL Bar
CNTRL-T

It’s always bothered me as I do not understand why this is so. Yes, I understand Flash is sandboxed. But come on…usability. Can’t anything be done?

Yes! Sort of…

Below is code to facilitate creating a new tab window. It’s not the prettiest solution, nor is it a complete solution. But blast it – it’s a START!

First you will need to listen for the “applicationComplete” event. Place the following code in your <s:Application> tag.

applicationComplete=”appCompleted()”

Next create a <fx:Script> tag and place the following code inside:

import flash.events.Event; //Imports Event class.

//On application complete event adds a listener to stage which listens for the key stroke down event.

private function appCompleted():void{

stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, monitorKeyStroke);

}

//Function called on key stroke down event. Evaluates keystroke, if CNTRL-T, launches a new tab.

private function monitorKeyStroke(event:KeyboardEvent):void{

if((event.charCode == 116) && (event.ctrlKey == true)){

ExternalInterface.call(“function newTab(){window.open()}”)

}

}

***

Please note, I have not evaluated this on the Mac platform now that I no longer have access to an OS X machine.

Set Me Free! Adventures in Jailbreakin my iPhone

This weekend I jailbroke our iPhones. It was actually a pretty painless adventure.

So what are the benefits?

- can now record video

- tether my iPhone to my laptop

- once again I have free memory tool

Disadvantage!

It opens you up to a iPhone worm that can infect jailbroken iPhones unless you update your root password.  Below I will give you the steps that I took. It’s quite easy and any moderately adept computer user should be capable of doing the following processes:

http://www.redmondpie.com/jailbreak-iphone-3.1.2-firmware-with-blackra1n-zni327/

1. First download the “blackra1n” which is an easy jailbreaking tool.

http://blackra1n.com/

(Select Windows or Mac)

2. Make sure your iPhone is updated to 3.1.2

3. Tether and run “blackra1n”, click “Make it rain!”

(This will install an app called blackra1n.)

4. Run app and install the three appls (Cydia, Rock, & Snow)

5. Launch Cydia and download an app called “Mobile Terminal”, this will allow you to change your root password. All iPhones have the same default password, making it easy for hackers to access root.

6. Run the terminal…

- Type passwd and hit enter

- Enter alpine for your old password

- Enter new password & confirm new password

DONE…

http://www.topiphoneresource.info/change-iphone-ssh-root-password/

7. Tethering – download an app call MyWi. Install and configure. You will now be able to turn your iPhone into a Wireless access point.

8. Free up memory – download and install MemTool. This app features a free memory function similar to what used to be included in iStat before Apple forced them to remove the feature.

9. Record video – download and install cycorder. You now can record video.

ENJOY a much better iPhone experience!!!!!

 

Did your Flash Bulder 4 Beta Expire

If you go here, you can enter a valid Flex Builder 3 license and get a license code to extend Flash Builder 4 Beta

https://freeriatools.adobe.com/flashbuilder4beta/

(Wish I knew this fact 2 months ago *LOL*)

How Apple is quickly losing my business

Below is a letter I have written and sent to several relevant government departments.  It expresses a recent situation I had with my iPhone that has left me quite livid.

–

Dear xxxx

I am writing to request that you investigate Apple Computer for fraudulent behavior and theft.

Let me explain the situation. I own an iPhone. I have purchased applications from the Apple Online Store. This is the only method of putting applications on your phone that is sanctioned and does not void the warranty.

Apple is engaging in monopolistic behavior. Restricting applications that might compete with it’s own applications (ie: Adobe Flash, Media Player, and even smaller utilities and features which they plan to add to the iPhone at a later date.)

But Apple has gone a step further. You see, I bought a little application called “iStat” made by a company called Bjango. The application had a “free memory” tool. This allowed me to free up available memory (for the non-computer saavy, think of it as emptying the garbage can when it’s full). It worked great. Many of the performance issues (sluggishness, crashes, freezes) I was having with my iPhone were resolved thanks to this tool.

Apple forced Bjango to remove this feature from their application. This has led to my iPhone suffering many crashes and freezes. Furthermore, I contacted Apple at 5pm today, expressing my dissatisfaction and requesting a refund. They refused my refund. So wait a minute, I bought an application, Apple forces the developer to remove the feature that I bought the application for, and then refuses to give me a refund when they have invalidated the value of the software for me.

Essentially, they reached into my phone. A device I OWN, not Apple. And took away a feature. Not from their software, but from software of another company.obs arse.

Sincerely,
Jason

–

Yes, I know I didn’t have to update. Yes, I am sure some pretentious person will say I should have read what was in the update. But let’s be realistic. Numerous iPhone apps are updated every couple weeks.  No one has the time to go through and read what dozens of apps state as the updates on a given basis. Nor should someone expect key significant features of an application to be removed in an update.

And hence, the entire problem with the iTunes store.

Unemployed? How about a free Flex Builder license?

Adobe is offering for a limited time a personal license for Flex Builder for those that have fallen on hard times (ie: unemployed).  The license is intended to be for learning only, and no production, but I am fine with that.  When the time for production arrives, the $$$ for a license should shortly follow.

https://freeriatools.adobe.com/learnflex/

First off, I have to say a heartfelt thank you to Adobe. Adobe you rawk!

Being one who is currently unemployed, and wanting to further my skills. I found myself getting concerned with the upcoming expiration of my trial edition of Flex Builder.  This just eliminated one significant area of stress.

$11 million in taxpayer money for Microsoft’s new bridge?

Many Americans have lost their jobs, including many within the IT community.   In a time when America is struggling financially, when many companies have found themselves in difficulty and government intervention is on the rise – trust is key.   Americans are struggling with trusting both their government and the big corporations.  The management and actions of both often of questionable judgment.

So when Americans see  a company with as deep pockets as  Microsoft

Microsoft is building a bridge across the interstate in order to connect their two campuses.  In fact, from looking at the picture in the article at CNN, it’s quite a nice bridge.  But when nearly half the funds are coming from taxpayers at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.  Americans are left with a lot of questions.

1) Why are we paying for a bridge to Microsoft.

2) If the funds are not there, why are they designing a designer bridge? Would not a simple ordinary bridge be suitable?

3) Isn’t this the time for those corporations with deep pockets to be contributing to the community, not taking away. 

The claim is  that there will be additional traffic from people other than Microsoft employees.  According to a study which purports that only 40% of the traffic will be Microsoft employees.  Such studies often have questionable track records. Who funded the study? Were there counter-studies done? 

With Microsoft struggling with a bad image since Vista. And hoping for a significant turn-a-round come Windows 7.  It seems to me this bridge has the potential to turn into really bad publicity. Americans are getting a bit tired of our tax money being handed out like political candy, especially in a time when so many of us are struggling, facing unemployment or worse.  Bailing out a company with billions in the bank just seems wrong. 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/31/bridge.microsoft/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

UPDATED: Microsoft’s response here…

Inaugural meeting of SVFUG

We will be having our first meeting of the Susquehanna Flash/Flex User Group (SVFUG) next Tuesday, January 27th @ 6:15pm.

SVFUG is a community group for sharing knowledge regarding Adobe Flash based products and auxiliary tools catering to the York/Lancaster area.  Each meeting will usually have 1-2 sessions at varying educational levels and differing topics.  We will also be providing pizza/soda during a break.

I know a number of individuals have already expressed interest in furthering their knowledge of Flash and/or programming. I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to attend.  This is a great opportunity to learn, and potentially, to network with others in our community.

If you are interested (and live in the area), I suggest you click here, create an account at groups.adobe.com, and join SVFUG at the following link

http://groups.adobe.com/groups/f8d9c4add8/summary