Posts Tagged tips&trick

You are holding your iPhone 4 the wrong way, you know!

Posted by My Cool Gadget in iPhone on July 1, 2010

Yesterday’s iPhone 4 launch was full of surprises – dead on arrival, yellow spots or white dots on the screen, lost reception signal and a bunch of happy users. It seems the yellow spots will disappear in a few days, what about the spotty reception?

There are numerous iPhone 4 users reports of the phone losing signal when you hold it covering the bottom left corner where the GSM and Wi-Fi antennas meet.

Apple states they know of the issue and their official statement is amazingly instructional:

“Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.”

Reportedly, Steve Jobs was even kind enough to reply to some user emails – briefly, but straight to the point:

“Just avoid holding it that way.”

Ok, we understand how clever it was of Apple to design the iPhone antennas in that way and we can accept new technology comes with its own quirks. But stating a right and wrong way of holding your phone with the latter able to leave you totally signal-less – well that’s plain wrong. Not to mention even THEY hold it the wrong way on their ads.

In this particular case what we don’t like is Apple’s attitude. Pretending such thing is not a big issue, saying it’s a normal thing for a cellphone to lose signal, and not admitting a design flaw – that’s arrogant. Fans will probably be willing to avoid holding the iPhone 4 that way. Being polite and confessing a wrong goes a long way. So does giving a bonus Bumper case to all affected. Just sayin’.

Source

,

No Comments

0.facebook.com launched, cuts on data charges and loads faster

Posted by My Cool Gadget in Blackberry, Google Android, Linux, Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone on May 21, 2010

Facebook, together with over 50 mobile operators in 45 countries around the globe, have just launched the new website 0.facebook.com. It brings all the key features of Facebook to people’s mobile phones, loads fast and comes for free. Yeap, zero data charges! But there’s a tiny little catch.

More than 100 million people are using Facebook’s services from their mobile devices but now, a lot of them will be able to continue doing that without having to pay for data charges.

In order to browse the zero-charges 0.facebook.com site for free, you need to be a customer of one of the operators listed below. Be aware that the free deal is valid only as long as you don’t open images and don’t click links to other websites. Doing any of that is still a paid thing.

Luckily, each time when you’re about to leave 0.facebook.com or to open an image, a notification will appear on your phone’s screen reminding you of the additional data charges that might apply if you decide to proceed.

The other advantage of the 0.facebook.com is that it’s optimized for use on mobile devices. So, it loads fast. But it still packs all the major features users would find on the traditional m.facebook.com mobile site as well as on the touch-optimized variety at touch.facebook.com.

Using 0.facebook.com, you can update your status, view the news feed, comment on posts or “like” them, reply to messages or write new ones, leave messages on the walls of your friends. Well, once again, there are no photos to see here. Those are still only a click and ? few cents away (data charges apply for images).

P.S. It seems that entering zero.facebook.com instead of the numeral address does the same job of getting you to the new mobile page.

Source

, ,

No Comments

iPad 3G – How To Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM with a Meat Cleaver!

Posted by My Cool Gadget in iPhone on May 20, 2010

This morning, my shiny new iPad 3G 64Gb arrived from the USA!  The only problem was, it had an AT&T MicroSIM and as yet there is no such thing in the UK.

So what’s the solution?  Get a chopping board, a meat cleaver and a pair of scissors – simples!

Above is a picture of the SIM cards – as you can see, they vary a lot, but the only parts that matter to us are the contacts which are common to the MicroSIM and SIM.  Electronically, the SIM and MicroSIM are the same so we can cut the rest away and not worry (so long as we are careful).

To begin with, line up the three contact on the MicroSIM with the same ones on the SIM card.  You can just look for the 2 centre lines and make sure they are in line and that the top of the MicroSIM is straight. Then get your meat cleaver and press down gently to score a straight line.

Cut along the score line carefully.  Once you have done this, line the top of the SIM with the MicroSIM and you should see that the contacts are aligned.

Turn the SIM & MicroSIM round 180 degrees, line up the bottom and repeat with the meat cleaver, then cut along the score line once again.

The SIM should now be the same height as the MicroSIM – we are halfway there!

Line up the centre of the MicroSIM with the SIM so that we can be sure it will be aligned within the iPad

Repeat the process with the meat cleaver and scissors, then you should have a SIM which is almost the right size, save for the top edge and corner.

Once again, repeat the process with the meat cleaver and scissors, then you should have a SIM which is the same size apart from the corner.

Cut off the corner of the SIM card – you can just use the meat cleaver for this if it is nice & sharp.

Your SIM card is almost ready to go in to your iPad.  As you can see, the AT&T MicroSIM has slightly rounded corners.

Use your meat cleaver to take off the tiniest of amounts.  Remember, you can take more off, but you can’t put it back on.

Your SIM should now fit in your iPad MicroSIM tray.

Gently insert it in to your iPad 3G.

You should see your network indicator change to the network of your SIM card – well done!

Go in to Settings, Cellular Data

Then go in to APN and enter the access point.  If you are using Vodafone in the UK, the APN is internet

Press the Home button on your iPad, go in to Safari and browse away with your new UK 3G iPad!

Source

,

1 Comment

Fun Characters for Blackberry

Posted by My Cool Gadget in Blackberry on May 11, 2010

Below is some fun characters that can be used in your Blackberry.

You should copy all the code below and save it in your Memo application, for future use.

When you need it, you can copy paste again to your Blackberry Messenger, for further use.

Note : most of the fun characters will appears like ‘weird’ characthers in your Memo application, it will appear normally when you paste it to Blackberry Messenger, so don’t be surprised.

Enjoy!   :-)

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

*IE**IQ**IR**IN**ID**IS**CI**JM**JP**JO**KZ**KE**KI**KW**LI**LY**LR**LS**LB**LV**LA**KG**LT**LU**MO**MK**MG**MW**MY**MV**MN**MC**MD**MX**MR**MU**MT**ML**MS**MA**MZ**MM**NA**NZ**NI**NE**NZ**PW**PK**OM**NO**KP**NG**PY**RU**ST**SA**RW**PE**PL**TC**SN**SL**KN**PT**PR**LC**SG**SK**VC**QA**RE**RO**SM**WS**SI**SO**SZ**SR**SD**LK**ES**KR**KY**ZA**SE**CH**SY**TJ**TZ**TH**BS**VG**FK**DO**CD**CZ**CK**CM**CF**KY**FO**SC**TT**TN**SB**GM**NL**TC**TZ**TR**AE**AN**CN**UK**TM**UG**US**PH**TW**CG**TO**TG**UA**UY**ZW**ZM**YE**VN**VE**VU**UZ*

??????????????°?•??¤????®©¿¡??????™?????????????????????????????????????????????????????˜????¨…?`?¢¶

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????^?ˆ???????????????????????????????????????????¦†‡—¯×¬????¯—?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????¦†‡×¬???

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????ÀÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏÐÑÒÓÔÕÖ×ÙØÚÛÜÝÞßàáâãäåæçèéêëìíîïðñòóõôö÷øùúûüýþÿ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Œœ????????????Šš??????????????????????Ÿ????Žž???????????????????ƒ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????‰?¹²³?¼½????ª?¾????????????????????????¢???????????????????€?????Ƶ??????????????????Ø????????ƒ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??A??????B??????C??????D??????E??????F??????G??????H??????I??????J??????K??????L??????M??????N??????O??????P??????Q??????R??????S??????T??????U??????V??????W??????X??????Y??????Z??????a??????b??????c??????d??????e??????f??????g??????h??????i??????j??????k??????l??????m??????n??????o??????p??????q??????r??????s??????t??????u??????v??????w??????x??????y??????z?????A????B????C????D????E????F????G????H????I????J????K????L????M????N????O????P????Q????R????S????T????U????V????W????X????Y????Z????a????b????c????d????e????f????g????h????i????j????k????l????m????n????o????o????q????r????s????t????u????v????w????x????y????z???????????????????????????????S??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????@?????????????o??O????????ø?????????????????????H???????????????ÿ?????B????????????ß????????????????????????????M????????????††?????????????????N????????????????????????????????????Z????z????G???????????????????.???????A??????B??????C??????D??????E??????F??????G??????H??????I??????J??????K??????L??????M??????N??????O??????P??????Q??????R??????S??????T??????U??????V??????W??????X??????Y??????Z??????a??????b??????c??????d??????e??????f??????g??????h??????i??????j??????k??????l??????m??????n??????o??????p??????q??????r??????s??????t??????u??????v??????w??????x??????y??????z?????A????B????C????D????E????F????G????H????I????J????K????L????M????N????O????P????Q????R????S????T????U????V????W????X????Y????Z????a????b????c????d????e????f????g????h????i????j????k????l????m????n????o????o????q????r????s????t????u????v????w????x????y????z???????????????????????????????S??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????@?????????????o??O????????ø?????????????????????H???????????????ÿ?????B????????????ß????????????????????????????M????????????††?????????????????N????????????????????????????????????Z????z????G???????????????????.?????

,

No Comments

Five reasons for buying a WM6.5 phone

Posted by My Cool Gadget in Windows Mobile on April 28, 2010

Early this year, Microsoft announced Windows Phone 7 (WP7), a complete revamp of its mobile operating system. Unfortunately, WP7 devices will debut only at the end of the year. In the meantime, smartphones using Windows Mobile 6.5 (WM6.5) will still be made and sold by manufacturers that license WM.

Now, we’ve mentioned time and again that the current iteration of WM feels outdated compared with new operating systems such as iPhone OS and Android. In general, if someone were to ask us for advice on whether to buy a WM or Android phone, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the latter. But that’s in general. There are still specific needs that can be fulfilled by WM6.5. Here are five reasons someone may still find a WM6.5 smartphone useful.

Native Outlook integration

For the longest time, WM has been using Microsoft Outlook to sync a phone with the desktop. Whether you do it through a USB connection or over the air using an Exchange server, what you get on your phone is what you see on your computer, too.

While support for Exchange is also available on other mobile platforms, the integration is usually not as tight. So, if Outlook is all you use for personal information management, WM is still a viable option.

Many form factors

Because it has been around for such a long time, there are many phones that make use of WM. Those looking for a specific design will probably find one that utilizes Microsoft mobile OS. For example, if you want a smartphone with a touchscreen and exposed QWERTY keypad, the Sony Ericsson Aspen or an old Samsung SGH-i780 will fit the bill. Whether it’s a numeric keypad, no keypad or slideout landscape-style QWERTY, there’s probably a WM phone out there already made to your liking.

Library of applications

This may seem surprising given iPhone OS and Android appear to command the bulk of mobile developer attention these days, but hear us out. Though WM does not have the wealth of apps and games available to Apple App Store and Google’s Android Marketplace, it still has many programs that users may find familiar.

Given the long history of WM, the large number of third-party apps available includes many that users will find useful or even indispensable. For example, someone who utilizes a remote access app on WM to access his computer workstation may find that continuing with a WM phone is best for his needs.

Inexpensive

The imminent arrival of WP7 also means manufacturers will not expect users to pay a premium for current WM6.5 devices. If you are looking for a smartphone and are being very pragmatic about it, a WM phone might best fit the value-for-money equation.

Bugs are less likely for basic functions

With new software come teething problems. Take the Nexus One. For quite some time, users complained about poor 3G reception. As of now, it seems Google has ceased investigating the claims. We are not saying WM is free from problems. But when it comes to basic functions such as call quality and optimizing data connectivity, manufacturers should have fewer problems with WM. It isn’t that the OS is inherently better, but simply because years of experience with WM would have given these phone makers the experience to make things work with fewer hiccups.

John Chan

,

No Comments