Posts Tagged ‘hacks’

While I agree that spreading the word about SOPA and PIPA is a great idea, I definitely do not agree with a complete blackout of the most widely used reference site. If I were running Wikipedia, I would have made it so users would have to click a button to continue to their information. Wikipedia itself has said that this is not a total blackout, as they are still making the site completely accessible to mobile users. Of course, who wants to look up that information on a tiny screen? (Unless you have a tablet of some sort.) Sort of changing information in Firefox to access the mobile version, I stumbled across a much easier way. I found it on a Dropbox users page and the site is HERE. However, here is the jist of it. Wikipedia is just using some CSS to cover the page you need. With a little javascript, that CSS can be blocked. So you just drag the javascript link on the DropBox site into your booklet or bookmarks on Firefox, and when you get to the wiki with a SOPA/PIPA blackout, just click it and it takes care of the hard work for you!
Enjoy, but do not forget the dreadful, evil thing that is hanging over our heads.

I’ve been driving around Minnesota breaking their law about talking on cell phones while driving for a while now.  With the advent of my home state Wisconsin doing the same now, I figure I’d better start cracking down on my wayward ways.  I used to use a bluetooth headset for a while, but one thing always kept bugging me.  Every other day or so, the headset would run out of charge while I was in the car.  I’d have to take it in to charge and more often than not, I’d forget to bring it back with me into the car.  (Same thing as lunches, paperwork, and my identification badge.) So now that I have to drive through 2 states every day, it’s about time that I start using bluetooth AND charging it in the car.

So here is what I had to work with.  I’ve been given a Jabra GN Netcom headset along with a small compact base.  There was a larger base available, but I couldn’t see the need for it.  The output on the ac adapter lists output as 5-6v with a max of 5W (6v .3A).  A car’s voltage system is 12v and I already have an adapter to USB.  Easy enough, USB operates at 5v with 500-900ma.  Quite frankly, that is close enough for me.  I simply spliced the cable onto a usb end and there we have it, success.  Now I just need to dig out the usb car adapter, mount the small base in my car with removable adhesive and I will be all set.

Forum member RaZ0R put together a little tutorial to demonstrate how one would gain Administrator privileges on a Windows machine from within a limited user account.

In a few easy to understand steps, you can go from a limited account to power user in minutes.  This can be helpful if your administrator profile happens to be come corrupted, or if you just need to quickly get administrator access, for whatever reason.

Obviously, use this on computers that you own, on which you are permitted to have administrator access!

For those of you unfamiliar with the MyVu Personal Video Device, it resembles a set of sunglasses with video screens and a pair of headphones built in.  It’s a great little product, but forum member RetroPlayer did not like the fact that his MyVu was tethered only to his iPod.  He decided he wanted to liberate the mini-theater to allow it the ability to connect to any video player with a standard CINCH/AV output, aka an “RCA Output”.

He poked around for a bit, then finally ended up calling MyVu in order to try talking to an engineer.  Surprisingly, he was put through to one, and the engineer was quite accommodating.  He gave RetroPlayer a ton of information, which helped him overcome some issues he was having.

The hack works well, but isn’t quite complete yet.  RetroPlayer has posted schematics and all the details of his project, but has stated that he will continue working on it, taking it from the breadboard to an actual adapter.

Forum member Cerberus (aka Geek-Republic’s Jim) posted a tutorial on how to rig up an always-on USB charging port for your PC using a spare USB port, a resistor, and a few pieces of wire.

It requires a small bit of soldering know-how, but anyone who has used an iron at least one time can pull this off.  It is a great option for someone looking to reduce clutter while saving energy, since it enables and USB device to charge while your PC is turned off without the need for yet another wall wart.

I have this obsession of controlling all my audio video equipment from the comfort of my couch. I have a remote for my TV, audio system, cable box, Xbox 360, original Xbox (soon to include the power on hack) and PS2. Oh, I even have a remote controlled A/V switch which is pretty cool but not in use at the moment.

The real trick here is to get as many devices working with 1 single remote as best as they can. That means turning the TV, audio receiver, and cable box on and off at will with the push of a single button.
Continue reading “Comcast Remote Hack” »