Gadget Scraps
Everything about Gadgets…
Use BlackBerry as Modem to connect internet in your PC / Laptop
Nov 16th
BlackBerries are usually much more than a mobile device. However, what most people don’t know is that most BlackBerry handsets can act as Internet Modem allowing us to use the BlackBerry Internet connectivity to browse Internet from our PC or Laptop.
Well, this guide is for those who don’t know about it and would like to try the same.
How to unlock iPhone 2G to 2.1 Firmware on Windows
Oct 28th
DISCLAIMER: Unlocking iPhone is illegal in many countries and violates copyrights of Apple Computer, Inc. This post here is meant to be used by those unlucky people who got hold of an expensive iPhone but can’t use it with their desired cellphone networks without paying incredible charges for the genuine use. By providing this Post, I’m in no means encouraging every iPhone user to unlock their iPhones. The decision to unlock/jailbreak the iPhone is entirely by the User of the iPhone and any consequences therefore should be liable on that User only.
After searching in internet for various times and provided with loads of steps that either failed to work or entirely different when you try to execute them, I’ve finally hacked my iPhone 2G to the latest 2.1 Firmware by using the basic methods that are supported and reproducible at any point of time. For the benefit of Info Scraps readers, here is the full step by step guide to unlock your own iPhone 2G to 2.1 Firmware on Windows. Please NOTE that these steps may or may not work for iPhone 3G. Particulary the QuickPwn for Windows version mentioned here was not programmed to work with iPhone 3G according to the developers. So, please use these methods ONLY in iPhone 2G and of course on Windows only. Mac OS X users obviously have better and easier ways to hack the iPhone 2G or 3G which I will write in another post.
Portable DVD Player
Oct 5th
Portable DVD Players! The name itself brings a wide knowing smile across my face. Yeah, it’s been true that we can have good video viewing experiences in portable devices without compromising the video quality or video size. I can assure all you will know for sure what’s mobile media. At least, everybody with a multimedia capable mobile phone will knew it better. But the worst part of mobile media is being the smaller size of Videos and some compromise in the quality of the same. DVD-quality videos in a mobile device is still a dream to come true for us.
But before we feel unfortunate, we can count on certain portable devices other than the so called mobile. I’m not denying the fact that mobile devices are beginning to accommodate more crisp and clear videos. Yet, the viewing area is such smaller that it will make a pain in your neck if you truly watch a full-length movie in your mobile device. Read the rest of this entry »
BlackBerry Curve 8300
Aug 21st
I simply think I can’t live with just any Smartphone. I’m really a Gadget Freak! OK, what made me say this? I’ve just bought this excellent business toy two months ago and playing around with it. I guess at last, I’ve found the one which I will settle with for sure.
I don’t know how many of you out there know about BlackBerry services. For those who don’t, it’s a Push-Mail service offered by RIM (Research In Motion Ltd) in USA and UK along with cellphone carriers. In India, it’s newly launched with AirTel and Hutch. And as there isn’t many choices of BlackBerry devices so far, they’ve also offered BlackBerry Connect which is a similar service like BlackBerry but allows you to use any Push-Mail enabled mobile device such as Nokia E-series and Windows PDA’s. I’ve been using this BlackBerry Connect service for almost one year now and know it’s advantages and disadvantages. Though, BlackBerry Connect works similar to BlackBerry, it’sn’t just same. It supports only 34KB of attachments against 8MB supported by BlackBerry devices. And, so many other features that belong to the Email are only supported in BlackBerry devices. So, at last, I thought I should go ahead and buy a BlackBerry device. As usual, I always wanted the BEST in range and the newly introduced BlackBerry Curve 8300 is the one I found the BEST. Read the rest of this entry »
Is there a basic model phone that supports big fonts and clear screen?
Aug 2nd
My Father (age 57) is suffering from an disease, he is currently using Nokia 6800. He finds it next to immpossible to use any other phone as the font size of digits dailed, sms, contact list are of bigger font size thenany other phone. He has tried his hand on communicator, PDA’s like P910i etc but nothing comes close to Nokia 6800 as it is easy to use & basic phone. As I am unable to find this phone in market, I don’t know which phone to give him. I require a basic phone for him which has big bold font sizes for the menu,contact list, sms typing, reading.
Please suggest the phone to me which can solve my issue?
by Akhil Ahuja
Hi,
Based on your expectations, I can give you three solutions. Please choose the one that seems very significant to you:
Solution #1:
If you’re giving Nokia 6800 to your Father whom seems to be already having good experience using it, it is not hard to find a piece in the Market. It costs around Rs.10,000/- ($247.64) for a Brand New piece which you can find at eBay India.
Solution #2:
If you’re willing to spend good money for your Father, then, you can buy any Nokia Series 60 Phones and buy the Font Magnifier software from Psiloc for Rs.548.64/- ($13.57) which I’ve given as an Answer for Ashwin Chakkravarthy already. This software will help you increase the font at your will.
Solution #3:
This is the most significant solution to your problem. If you need a Basic Model phone which supports big fonts and very clear display, please go ahead and buy Nokia 6070. This mobile supports big fonts and very clear display which makes it the ultimate device for any person with visual impairment. I guess your father will like it very much as it’s easy to hold than the Nokia 6800 and has big buttons too. This mobile costs around Rs.4,500/- ($111.43) for a brand new piece which can be bought from eBay India here.
Hope that helps…
Thanks for using GadgetFreak Answers…
HTC Touch – The iPhone Beater
Jul 29th
HTC might be unknown to many Indians due to their lack of products availability in India. But they’re actually one of the largest Windows Mobile based PDA providers in the world. But as they’re very much into the OEM behind iPAQ, O2, Dopod and i-Mate they didn’t came into the big picture. Now, they’ve acquired Dopod Brand and are very keen in the ever increasing Indian Market on global products. To start up their big plans for India, they’ve released this cute buddy HTC Touch in India along with AirTel (Bharti Cellulars Pvt. Ltd.)
As of now, this product in India is available ONLY to AirTel Customers as it’s locked to AirTel GSM SIM Cards. Considering the larger growth of AirTel in India and it’s huge consumer database, (including myself as I do hold an AirTel connection) it didn’t came as a minus point. At least, for me. 
At first glance itself this device suggested me greatly that it’s not any ordinary Windows Mobile PDA (not even O2). It comes with a revolutionary TouchFLO™ Technology developed exclusively by HTC for this beauty. The technology makes the touch screen distinguish between a Stylus and a Finger and acts differently according to that. You can scroll up and down or side to side with just a flick of your finger on the Screen in most of the applications that comes pre-installed in this device. Read the rest of this entry »
My Nokia N72 Mobile is lost. Please help me find it…
Jul 29th
by Hitesh and Chandrashekar
Dear Hitesh and Chandrashekar,
I don’t know how came two questions are placed on the same context with different mobile numbers and different names of same problem and same description. I guess it’s either one of you who’s so desperate to find the mobile that had you to post in my blog with two different names. Anyways, thinking you’re a genuine reader of The Gadget Freak, I’m answering you here.
First of all, please try to understand that Gadget Freak can only help people by giving answers to their questions. We can never give services like finding stolen mobiles. All we can give is the ways to find mobiles.
You can do two things. One is, you can ask the Idea company to block your SIM Card. The next one is asking them to track down your mobile. For the first one, you just need to provide a letter. For the second one, you need to file a Case with local Police Station and get the FIR of the Case and then with their help try to locate the phone if you remember the IMEI number.
If you don’t have or remember IMEI Number, there is two ways of finding it. If you have the handset, type *#06# and your IMEI Number will be immediately displayed. If you don’t have the handset as in your case, please find your original bill where they would’ve mentioned the IMEI Number (if it’s a genuine purchase).
Hope that helps…
Is there any way to increase font sizes in Nokia Series 60 Smart Phones?
Jul 29th
by Ashwin Chakkravarthy
Hi Ashwin,
Increasing the font sizes in Nokia Series 60 Smart Phones is only possible if the Series 60 is Version 3 interface (Like the N-Series and E-Series)
Psiloc company developed a software named Psiloc Font Magnifier which does exactly the same thing you’re asking for. It helps you to increase / decrease the font sizes on the Series 60 Smartphones. They offer a free trial version of the software which will cost you $13.57 (Rs. 548.64).
Try it…
Nokia N95
Jun 25th
Nokia N95 is a much awaited mobile of the year 2007 I can say. At last when I received a complimentary pack for reviewing that in here, I was so surprised. I never thought I will get my hands on this device until it’s another 6 or 8 months. Anyways, let’s see what it delivers.
At first when I unwrapped the package, I’ve been presented with the beautiful N95 in it’s pitch black casing. It seems just like Nokia N80 (the other one from N-Series which is also a slider phone). But when I took a closer look it revealed the efforts Nokia taken to make this mobile ultimate mobile computer device. The front-side of the mobile is fully dedicated to the large scree. The screen is simply superb. The screen provided excellent contrast, brightness and color depth. And what’s more? The screen has a small light sensor next to the Front VGA Camera which adjusts the brightness levels automatically according to the outside lighting conditions. I should say excellent! Read the rest of this entry »
Cameras and Camcorders Power Saving Tips
Jun 25th
Use the maximum power of your Camera or Camcorder by making use of the following Power Saving Tips:
- Reduce the LCD screen brightness.
- If Optical View finder is available, switch off the LCD and use it instead.
- Keep the image review option set at the shortest time available or better even turn it off.
- Set the camera to switch itself off when idle, at the shortest interval.
- Do not indulge in on screen image editing or deleting
- Make use of flash and zoom only if absolutely necessary.