Gadget Scraps
Everything about Gadgets…
Posts tagged Tips & Tricks
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.
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…
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…
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.
MP3 Players and PMP’s Power Saving Tips
Jun 25th
Save the Power on your MP3 Players and PMP’s (Personal Media Players) by using the following Tips:
- Reduce the screen brightness
- Set the screen to switch itself off in 5/10 seconds.
- Video playback on low batter is NOT desirable, but if it is a must then do not use the loudspeaker and decrease the screen brightness as much as possible.
- Volume level should be kept a bare minimal
- With MP3 Players and PMP’s, even after the device shuts down on music/video playback, you can switch it back on and listen to FM Radio for a neat duration.
Mobile Phone or PDA Power Saving Tips
Jun 25th
Saving Power on Mobile Phones and PDA’s is another hefty task. But you can make use of the following tips to make sure you always get the maximum Power you need.
- Reduce the Brightness of the Screen, if possible, switch it off completely
- Turn off vibrating alerts
- Reduce the volume level in calls, ring tones, and text alerts.
- If possible, set the ring tone and text alert to a simple beep.
- Turn off Keypad tone.
- Disable the screen saver, if you’re using one
- Turn off Bluetooth.
- Disconnect GPRS (Disable the Always-On connectivity to GPRS)
- Stop using the phone as a modm as quickly as possible.
- Avoid playback of video and music (especially on loudspeaker)
- Minimal usage of camera or image related operation
Laptop Power Saving Tips
Jun 25th
Power Saving on Laptops will be really tough for the novice. But for a freak, it’sn’t tough at all. See some of the following tips & tricks that might come very useful to you.
- Reduce the brightness of the screen to the minimal level in viewing comfort
- Switch off Bluetooth. Many isn’t actually using Bluetooth much. Deactivate Wireless Connection when NOT in use.
- Avoid Power intensive tasks like Playing of Video, Music or running a CD/DVD
- Keep the sounds audible but as low as possible
- Close all running application and processes that is not being used (Start -> Run -> taskmgr or Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
- Switch to Portable/Laptop or Max Battery profile using the Windows Power Management settings (Start -> Control Panel -> Power Options)
And there is one more automated solution in a form of Software is available which is highly reliable one
Dachshund Software’s Battery Doubler 1.2.1
The same company also offers another famous Product named Hare 1.5.1. This product helps you to greatly improve the Performance of your Laptop.
Go on, have maximum fun at your Lappy!
Stolen Mobile Finder
Jun 1st
A resident of Visakhapatnam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA has lost not one not two but thirty mobiles.
The experience of losing so many cell phones got him thinking and he started experimenting with making devices that could track mobile thiefs.
N. V. Satyanaraian, an M. Tech and a scientist, finally managed to do something about it.
Hours of experimentation resulted in software called Stolen Mobile Finder, a unique device to track down mobile thiefs of which he now holds the patent.
This Visakhapatnam resident claims that once the software is installed, it is difficult to change the sim card of the phone. If the thief tries to change the software, the handset asks for a password and accepts whatever password the thief puts in. However, then the software starts its trick.
Rs 900 will be reduced every hour from the sim card and this will happen without the thief’s knowledge. It requires no operator help. The mobile will take care of this on its own and inform the real owner of the status of the phone, says he.
And there’s more. As soon as the theft is identified, the software transfers the entire address book to the actual owner of the phone within seconds and regularly communicates with the owner about incoming and outgoing calls.
It also uses some old fashioned psychological pressure. The software makes the mobile emit a loud alarm at odd hours even when the cell is switched off.
The incoming calls, outgoing calls and vibrator mode of the mobile is suspended and gets into the dormant mode. The thief’s voice can be picked up and his intentions can be monitored, says Satyanaraian.
Besides this mobile thief catcher, Satyanarain has another wonder up his sleeve.
He is developing a micro-windmill mobile charger, which harnesses wind energy.
The Research and Development Division of the Department of Science and Technology at the National Innovation Foundation and some venture capitalists fund his innovations.
Satyanaraian has already won a national award for his innovative inventions and is now negotiating with mobile phone makers to use his software, which he recently got patented.