iPhone/iTouch Jail Breaking

I’ve been asked a whole lot recently since the courts ruled that jailbreaking is now legal about how to do this. So here are the links I HIGHLY recommend:
Hope this helps.
Latest exciting news:

Jailbreaking you iPhone/iPad just got even easier!

The Jailbreak Matrix is a massive chart of all the iOS devices and lists the various versions as well as the different firmware, baseband, and boot loaders that run on each. You check what you’ve got against the chart and it will tell you if the device/firmware combination is jailbreakable, what tools you need, what version of iTunes the said jailbreak technique has been tested with, and a step-by-step guide on how to apply the jailbreak.

As always check out these folks too!:
http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/jailbreak/

[great information is here:
Great new article from Gizmodo on jailbreaking iPhones and iPads]
————————————-
This is the site to start at!!:

http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/01/jailbreak-firmware-2-2-1.html

Forums which will tell you how to use the downloads below:
http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/01/jailbreak-firmware-2-2-1.html

QuickPWN
Software Version: 2.2.5-2
Creator: iPhone Dev Team and poorlad
Description: QuickPWN allows you to unlock and jailbreak your iPhone and jailbreak your iPod Touch so you can modify it, SSH into it, choose your own theme and many other cool things.
Downloads:
For Windows:
http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/01/jailbreak-firmware-2-2-1.html
Mac:
http://quickpwn2-2-1.googlecode.com/files/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg

iPhone Firmware
iPhone firmware 2.2

iPhone 2.2.1 firmware

iPhone 3G Firmware
iPhone 3G 2.2 firmware

iPhone 3G 2.2.1 firmware

iPod Touch Firmware

iPod Touch 1G 2.2.1 firmware

iPod Touch 2G 2.2.1 firmware

Software Downloads

WinSCP – WinSCP allows you to SSH into your iPhone/iPod Touch and add/remove/edit files and execute commands.

AND:

See Here:
http://www.ipodtouchhacks.com/ipod/touch/jailbreak/

Using Opera Unite to share files and media

Here is another really cool and fairly secure way to share files and or content with people you choose. Or even just access your own files whilst away. It is called Opera Unite. It is actually built into the Opera Web Browser!

I am still a huge fan of LiveSync/Skydrive as I have previously written about here and here. And I use them as my primary means of ‘cloud storage’.

But to just share some files with co-workers, family or friends Opera Unite looks really cool. And some might find it simpler.

With Opera Unite, your friends view the content that is sitting on your computer. You can stream music or video or share actual files. Since this is a ‘live’ connection to your system you will be using internet bandwidth; this may be a consideration if your ISP has very low limits. Also since it is a live connection to your system you should consider all the security implications.

To run Opera Unite applications (File Sharing, Photo Sharing, Media Player etc.), you need an Opera browser version 10.10 or later from http://www.opera.com and an Opera account.

To view or access most of your applications, your friends can use any browser.

Operating systems: You can use those supported by the Opera browser; Windows, Mac, or UNIX/Linux.

To get started with Opera Unite, you just need to install an Opera browser version 10.10 or later, start an application, and then you can begin sharing and collaborating.

Opera Unite applications make it quick and easy to share content. There is no need to upload anything; you share the content sitting on your computer. And, you do not need to configure anything else, such as DNS services or complex access controls. For example, you can install the Media Player application on your home computer for your favorite songs. When you get to work, you can visit your Media Player application and listen to the songs directly from your home computer. No download, no fuss.

How Opera Unite is different to traditional data sharing

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With more traditional content sharing, you have to upload the content you want to share, and this is then stored on a central, third-party server, out of your control. Your friends access this stored content from the third-party server.

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Enable Opera Unite

To enable Opera Unite for the first time:

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From the menu, select "Enable Opera Unite". A welcome dialog displays.

Select "Next".

To use Opera Unite, you need to have an Opera account. This is an account that you use for My Opera, Dev Opera (Opera’s developer-community resource site), or Opera Link. Your existing username cannot contain any symbols or spaces to work with Opera Unite.

If you already have an Opera account that does not contain symbols or spaces, select "I already have an account", if necessary, and type your existing username and password. Go to step 4.

If you do not have an account, or have one that contains symbols or spaces, select "I do not have an account", if necessary, and complete your details to create one.

Choose a unique and easy-to-remember username without any symbols or spaces. The username will become part of the link (Web address) for your Opera Unite applications, which your friends will use to access your content or communicate with you.

Select "Show" to read the terms and conditions, and check the box to indicate that you agree with them.

Choose a computer name from the drop-down menu. This name identifies the computer you are using, to distinguish it from other computers you may use. It also becomes part of the link for your Opera Unite applications. Choose an option that best describes how you use your computer, or write your own.

Select "Finish".

In the panel at the left, highlight an application that you want to use, and select the Start button at the top of the panel. The application start

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Scroll down

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The official guide is here: http://unite.opera.com/guide/

And after creating all this I found this super video!

Enjoy.

OS X Virtual Machines Two Methods

I recently had the need to test some ‘fixes’ for a co-workers iMac. Since I don’t like to make system changes on ‘live’ machines I went to my Virtual Machines (VM) and was able to easily test what I needed. I mentioned that to a colleague and they asked me to explain how I was able to create VMs of OS X.  So I thought I would put together some of my older tutorials I’ve created and update and add loads of information for those that want it.

I have three Virtual Machine solutions I use. One is based on the industry leader – VM Ware, another the open source (and much improving) Virtual box and finally Microsoft’s Virtual Server (now HyperVisor). I will not discuss Microsoft’s VM solution here because I have not used it to create OS X VMs.

There is lots of information on how do create an OS X VM on both of these VM platforms but I hope I can give some of you some direction. There are now some greatly improved and easier to use ‘boot loaders’ and patches (kexts) for getting OS X to run in a VM or as a Hackintosh as mentioned in some of my previous posts. For some information on that check out these sites.

Hackintosh.com

OSx86 Project

myHack

Chameleon OSx86

Here is my workhorse server System configuration and specs:
Windows 2003 Server SP2
QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Abit IP35 Pro
8GB RAM
1.5TB SATA HDD (7200RPM)
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB)
2 Realtek RTL8169/8110 Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Using VMwave Server Console:
Version 1.0.0 build 28343

First up the solution I have been using the longest – VM Ware. I have included as many screen captures where necessary to show some of the configuration changes I made. The VirtualBox solution is actually really easy now so I will explain that one last.

To get it up and running I followed the steps here:

I followed that fairly closely with some exceptions which are in the screen captures below and I will note later*. These guys are great and should be recognized.

Some other sites that were of great help:

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

I run an older version of VMware Server and so did not use the freely available VMware Player or the new VMware Server version2.x. Since my version is older, I suspect the newer free version would have worked as well. [After writing this and doing a lot of reading on the new – version 2.x of VMware Server- I now don’t think I would recommend it. Stick with the new free VMplayer/workstation version or VMWare server 1.5x or lower.]

I may try the new VMWare server versions on my other server eventually.  But if it’s not broke don’t futz with it.

VMware products are available here:

http://www.vmware.com/

http://www.vmware.com/download/player/

I own Virtual CD v9, Alcohol 120, and a few other CD emulators but I am sure you can find free ones. Here are a few:

DAEMON Tools lite

MS Virtual CD

MagicDisc

I have a few copies of Mac OS’s around from 9 on up to 10.5 (Legal for my Mac’s – some alive and some put to rest), But I decided to try a version that had already been prepped/patched for running on x86 – it is named the “Mac OS X 10.4.8 [JaS AMD-Intel-SSE2-SSE3 with PPF1 & PPF2].iso distro”. I some others I’m going to try too – “Kalyway_10.5.2_DVD_Intel_Amd.iso” and “JaS.OSx86.10.5.4.Client.Server.Intel.SSE2.SSE3.iso”

If you want those you will have to ‘hunt’ for them (there is a torrent of information available to you hunters our there…). There are continuing updates to some of these builds to include the latest loaders built in.

Also did an ‘upgrade’ with a new Snow Leopard disk I have.

And just so you know;

“Even though Apple suggests Mac users without Leopard buy the $169 Mac box set to get Snow Leopard, anyone can purchase the $29 Snow Leopard disc and install Snow Leopard in its entirety without having already installed Leopard. This means the $29 Snow Leopard DVD isn’t an "upgrade" at all; it’s the full-on Mac OS X operating system for 30 bucks.”

I bought a few upgrade disks here, since I will be upgrading my physical a well as virtual/Hackintosh ones.

Below is a capture of my ‘vmx’ file with the changes I made:

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OS X ON VM Ware: Follow these instructions in the link I posted above. Just take note where I changed some options.

Here are some captures of one of my OSX ‘Virtual Machines’ running on my pc.

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I have reduced the plethora of VMWare VMs I was running to two for now (OSX and an Ubuntu desktop/client).

But I did have a couple of Vista’s instances, an Ubuntu Desktop, an Ubuntu Server, 2 WinXP, and Windows Server 2008 with Exchange 2007 and SQL2005(time limited) all running and talking to each other!

I use some of my images of existing (real world/live business servers – PDC, Exchange, SQL and other application servers) virtualized to experiment with upgrade/optimization strategies.

I just convert my recent images – (Acronis and Ghost type)together and converted to Virtual Machines [http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/get.html]. Big time and space issue now.

OS X on Virtual Box

First you will need the newest Virtual Box application, get it here. You will also need a ‘patched’ ISO version of OS X Snow Leopard such as one of the latest as mentioned above. Or  The group Hazard has put out a good patched Snow Leopard installer that should do fine (just search for it on Google). Of course, if you feel bad about downloading the ISO of Snow Leopard, you could always go buy a copy to feel a bit better, karmically.

Install VirtualBox.

Then click on New at the top left. At the Create New Virtual Machine window, click Next.

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At this window type OSX as the name and it will automatically change the system and version. The next window will let you choose your RAM amount:

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If you can spare it, crank it up as far as you can go, but 1024MB should be sufficient.

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This is where you’ll make your hard disk. 30GB should be enough so what it comes down to is dynamic or static. Dynamic will expand on use and Static will be a fixed 30GB no matter how much data is actually in it. Dynamic is better for not taking up your hard drive but static will give you better performance. I normally use dynamic. Click next unless you want to change it from dynamic or if you want to increase the disk size or file location.

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It will show a summary of your settings. Click Finish, then click Settings at the top.  Make sure you choose only one ‘core’ for processor too.

At this window click on System in the left pane and uncheck Enable EFI

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Now click on the Storage button on the left. From there click on Empty under the OSX.vdi, then click the folder with the green arrow on the right (next to "CD/DVD Device").

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At this window click the Add button at the top. Then find and add the OSX86 ISO (Hazard or other) you downloaded earlier. Then highlight it and click Select at the bottom.

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Then click OK, and hit the Start button on the left side of the main VirtualBox window.

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As it starts up, click inside the window and hit F8. Then at the boot: prompt type –v so you can see what exactly went wrong if something does go wrong. All the services will run and eventually you should come to the language screen. Choose your language then click next.

If you are unable to move your mouse around then hit Right-Ctrl + I.  To ‘free your mouse to move outside of the VM window hit the right ‘Alt’ key.

Click Continue and Agree. Next, start up Disk Utility by going to Utilities in the menu bar.

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At this screen highlight 20GB VBOX HARDDISK. Then click the Erase tab, name it what you want in the name box and click the Erase button on the bottom right of the window. It shouldn’t take long. Then click Disk Utility in your menu bar and quit it.

Now you’re back at the installer. Highlight the drive that is now showing up and click Continue.

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The next window is important!

Don’t click ANYTHING YET!

Click the Customize button on the bottom left. Expand the options (arrows) and check the necessary boxes for your processor.

AMD Users check:
Any Updates included at the top.
Drop down Kernels and choose Legacy kernel.
AMD option below System support.

Intel Users check:
Any Updates included at the top.
Drop down bootloaders and check the newest Chameleon.
Drop down Kernels and choose Legacy kernel.

Then click Done and hit the Install button. To speed up the process you can click Skip when the disc check pops up.

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As soon as it says "installation finished" and starts counting down to restart, press the right Ctrl key. Click on Devices at the top of the VirtualBox window, hit CD/DVD Devices and click Unmount CD/DVD Device.  Remember you will probably have  to hit the right ‘Alt’ key to ‘free’ your mouse! Do that before you get to the end of the install.

Then go to Machine > Reset and click Reset at the prompt. Next you’ll see the Chameleon loader , click inside the VM and hit and hit enter and then OS X will begin to boot.

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After it boots you will see the setup screens for OS X! You’re good to go.

On a side note if you use NAT for networking you can control your Virtual Machines from any computer on your network or even remotely using a multitude of remote access solutions.

Emoticons

I was recently asked by a person new to the internet. [Yes there are still some.] “What do the ‘little thingy’s after some of my comments mean?” So I thought I’d put up list of emoticons. This is by no means definitive but it has most of what I know of. Enjoy

Originals:
🙂 smile [colon :and close parentheses ) ]
🙁 frown [colon : and open parentheses ( ]
😉 wink [semi-colon ; close parentheses ) ]
😛 or :Þ tongue sticking out: joke, sarcasm or disgusting [colon : and letter P]
8) has sunglasses: looking cool [number 8 and close parentheses ) ]
:O surprised [colon and letter O]
:S confused
:'( shedding a tear
XD laughing, eyes shut (LOL)
XP Tongue out, eyes shut
^_^ smiley
^.^ see above, but rather than a wide, closed mouth, a small mouth is present
^_~ wink
>_< angry, frustrated
=_= bored
-_- annoyed
-_-‘ or ^_^’ or ^_^;; nervousness, sweatdrop or embarrassed.
¬_¬ or <_< "yeah, right…", looking around suspiciously
;_; crying
o_O Confused
O_O Shocked
O_< Flinch, wink, twiching
._. intimidated, sad, ashamed
$_$ Money Eyes; Thinking about Money
x_x Dead or Knocked Out
9_9 Eye Rolling
*_* Star-Struck
t(-_-t) or ,|,,(-_-),,|, Flipping off
=^_^= blushing, or a cat face
u.u duh, sarcastic "what do you think?" face
\m/>_<\m/ Rockin’ out

——————
Assicons:
(_!_) a regular ass

(__!__) a fat ass

(!) a tight ass

(_._) a flat ass

(_*_) a sore ass loser

(_o_) an ass that’s been around

(_O_) an ass that’s been around even more

(_?_) a dumb ass

(_o^^o_) a wise ass

(_E=mc2_) a smart ass

(_13_) an unlucky ass

( Y ) a butt

(_$_) money coming out of his/her ass

(_#_) taking an ass pounding

(_x_) kiss my ass

—————
Boobiecons:
.Y. flat boobies

(.Y.) curvy boobies

( . Y . ) fat boobies

( o Y o ) boobiecons

(.)(.) little boobies

(o)(o) regular boobies

( O )( O ) big boobies

( ‘ ) ( ‘ ) perky boobies

( , ) ( , ) droopy boobies

{.} {.} cold boobies

( @ ) ( @ ) hairy boobies

[ _ ] [ _ ] android boobies

( $ )( $ ) silicon boobies

——————-
More advance Emoticons:

    * @>–;– A rose
    * 0*-) Angel wink – female
    * :-Z Angry face
    * >:-( Annoyed
    * ~~8-O Bad-Hair Day
    * 🙂 Basic
    * :~-( Bawling
    * (:-{~ Beard – long
    * %-| Been up All Night
    * (:-) Big Face
    * (((H))) Big Hug
    * =|:o} Bill Clinton smiley
    * ?-( Black Eye
    * #-) Blinking
    * I:( Botox smiley
    * %-6 Brain Dead
    * :-E Bucktoothed Vampire
    * :-#| Bushy Mustache
    * })i({ Butterfly – an even prettier one
    * q:-) Catcher
    * ;-( Chin up
    * :-.) Cindy Crawford
    * :-8( Condescending Stare
    * H-) Cross-Eyed
    * :*( Crying softly
    * :-@! Cursing
    * %-} Dizzy
    * :*) Drinking every night
    * :#) Drunk
    * :-6 Eating Something Spicy
    * 5:-) Elvis
    * 0|-) Enjoying the Sun
    * >-) Evil Grin
    * l:-O FlatTop Loudmouth
    * =:-H Football player
    * :^{= Frank Zappa
    * /:-) Frenchman with a beret
    * *:* Fuzzy
    * ~~:-( Getting Rained On
    * :oÞ Grinning and sticking tongue out (type ALT+0222 on righthand number keypad)
    * :-}) Handlebar Mustache
    * :%)% Has Acne
    * :-`| Have a Cold
    * l^o Hepcat
    * (_8^(|) Homer Simpson
    * *^_^* Huge Dazzling Grin – it’s a straight-on smiley
    * :0 Hungry
    * %*} Inebriated
    * (8 { John Lennon
    * :-* Kiss on the cheek
    * >* Kitty doesn’t like taking its pill
    * :p Kitty with tongue hanging out
    * @(*0*)@ Koala – it’s a straight-on smiley
    * (-: Left Hand
    * >;-> Lewd Remark
    * ;-, Like, Duh
    * %+{ Lost a Fight
    * X-( Mad
    * :-(*) Makes Me Sick
    * @@@@:-) Marge Simpson
    * #:-) Messy Hair
    * 🙂 Midget
    * :-3 Mustache (Handlebar Type)
    * :-# My Lips Are Sealed
    * ):-( Nordic
    * 😯 Omigod!
    * 8> Penguin
    * 3:] Pet Dog
    * :—) Pinnochio
    * 3:[ Pitbull
    * +<:-) Pope
    * +:-) Priest
    * ?-) Proud of black eye
    * =:-( Punk Not Smiling
    * :-r Rasberry
    * :-C Real Unhappy
    * :-)) Really Happy
    * [:] Robot
    * 3:*> Rudolph the red nose reindeer
    * 🙁 Sad Turtle
    * :-y Said with a Smile variation
    * *<|:-) Santa Claus
    * :-@ Screaming
    * $__$ Sees Money
    * 8-0 Shocked
    * :-V Shouting
    * ~:-P Single Hair
    * ‘:-/ Skeptical again
    * O-) Smiley After Smoking a Banana
    * :-, Smirk
    * :- i Smoking a cig
    * :-Q Smoking while talking
    * 🙁 <| Standing Firm
    * %-) Staring at a Screen for 15 hours
    * /8^{~ Sunglasses, Mustache, Goatee
    * `:-) Sweating
    * :-0 Talkative
    * -(:)(0)=8 Teletubby
    * :- ? Tongue Sticking Out
    * :-a Tongue Touching Nose
    * }(:-( Toupee Blowing in Wind
    * x:-/ Uncertain
    * 😐 Unfazed
    * |:-| Unyielding
    * :-))) Very Happy
    * (:-( Very Unhappy
    * @:-) Wavy Hair
    * [:-) Wearing a Walkman
    * B-) Wearing Glasses
    * ]-I Wearing Sunglasses
    * :-1 Whatever
    * ;^? Wigged Out
    * ,-) Winking Happy
    * 8<:-) Wizard
    * :~) Wondering
    * l-O Yawning
    * :-(0) Yelling
    * $-) Yuppie

    * O:-) Angel
    * 0;-) Angel wink – male
    * :-{{ Angry Very
    * ~:o Baby
    * d:-) Baseball
    * :-{0 Basic Mustache
    * :-){ Beard
    * : = Beaver
    * :-)^< Big Boy
    * :-)8< Big Girl
    * :-X Big Wet Kiss
    * (:-D Blabber Mouth
    * (:- Blank Expression
    * :-] Blockhead
    * :-}X Bow Tie-Wearing
    * :-(=) Bucktoothed
    * :-F Bucktoothed Vampire with One Tooth Missing
    * }|{ Butterfly
    * }:-X Cat
    * C=:-) Chef
    * *<<<<+ Christmas Tree
    * *<):o) Clown
    * %) Confused
    * :`-( Crying
    * &:-) Curly Hair
    * >:-> Devilish
    * :3-] Dog
    * :-B Drooling out of Both Sides of Mouth
    * <:-l Dunce
    * (:-| Egghead
    * :-} Embarrassed Smile
    * >:) Evil
    * G(-‘.’G) Fighting Kid – it’s a straight-on smiley
    * :-! Foot in Mouth
    * :-W Forked Tongue
    * %*@:-) Freaking Out
    * 8) Frog
    * *:*} Fuzzy With a Mustache
    * 8*) Glasses and a Half Mustache
    * }:-) Hair Parted in the Middle Sticking up on Sides
    * :-‘ Has a Dimple
    * :(#) Has Braces variation
    * /;-) Heavy Eyebrows – Slanted
    * (_8(|) Homer Simpson
    * (^~^~^) Hot Ass Walking Away
    * %*@:-( Hungover with headache
    * o[-<]: I am a skater or I like to skate
    * (|):-)=II= Jewish Blonde
    * @:-} Just Back From Hairdresser
    * >^,,^< Kitty Cat – it’s a straight-on smiley
    * ~*= Kitty running away from you
    * >:-l Klingon
    * %OD Laughing like crazy
    * ?-: Left Handed Tongue Touching Nose
    * :-9 Licking Lips
    * 8:-) Little Girl
    * |-( Lost Contact Lenses
    * &-l Makes Me Cry
    * :-S Makes No Sense
    * @|-) Meditating Smiley
    * 8(:-) Mickey Mouse
    * :-{ Mustache
    * {:-{)} Mustache and Beard
    * (-) Needs Haircut
    * :/) Not Amused
    * :=) Orangutan
    * :^) Personality
    * :8) Pig
    * P-( Pirate
    * }:^#) Pointy Nosed
    * :-t Pouting
    * X:-) Propeller Head
    * =:-) Punk
    * <(-‘.’-)> Puppy dog – it’s a straight-on smiley
    * (((((:-{= Rave Dude
    * ~:-( Really Bummed Out
    * ([( Robocop
    * @};— Rose
    * 🙁 Sad
    * :-d Said with a smile
    * M:-) Saluting
    * :-> Sarcastic
    * )8-) Scuba Diver with Hair
    * :-i Semi-Smile
    * +-( Shot Between the Eyes
    * :O Singing
    * :-/ Skeptical
    * :-7 Skeptical variation
    * ):-) Smiley with Hair
    * ;^) Smirking
    * 😕 Smoking a pipe
    * ~~~~8} Snake
    * =%-O Stared at Computer Way Too Long
    * (8-{)} Sunglasses, Mustache, Beard
    * :0 Surprised
    * ,:-) Sweating on the Other Side
    * &-| Tearful
    * :-)— Thin as a Pin
    * :-& Tongue Tied
    * *!#*!^*&:- Total Head Case
    * <:>== Turkey
    * =):-) Uncle Sam
    * |:-) Unibrow
    * :-[ Vampire
    * %’) Very Tired
    * :-< Walrus
    * {(:-) Wearing a Toupee
    * 😎 Wearing Contacts
    * :-{} Wearing Lipstick
    * {:-) Wears a Toupee
    * :-" Whistling
    * ‘-) Winking
    * 😉 Winking variation
    * :-)8 : Woman
    * ,-} Wry and Winking
    * |^o Yawning or Snoring variation
    * =8-0 Yikes!

Google Voice Tips Tricks and Tutorials

I am a huge fan of Google voice. I use it for both my personal, and professional life. I am able to set up rules for contact groups that define many different scenarios. I like that I can give my Google voice number to my family and close friends and know that I can be reached no matter where I am – I can and do ring multiple phones. For business I can ring my office AND my cell ONLY during business hours and then after business hours only my office line is rung or people are sent right to voice mail. The list of really cool things that can be done is just limited to your imagination.

I am constantly asked for tips on how I do all this so I put together as many good and simple tips as I could find in this post. There are sure to be many many more if you just search for ‘Google Voice Tips’.

BIG TIP: To edit or create forwarding schedules you need to us “Legacy Google Voice” which is the old format.
Under that format, you can forward calls on a schedule (calls, edit, advanced settings).

To get a Google voice number you will of course need a Gmail/Google account.
You can get that here

Then sign up for Google voice here

Find and choose a number locally (or actually in any area code you prefer). I recommend doing a search for something that has a mnemonic – like ‘coffee1’ (263-3331) or some other easy to remember number.

And before you ‘set up’ your Google voice  number check out these articles and walk through’s.

Great Google Voice information:

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFVXAqFNgic&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Q9MJdT5Ds&feature=player_embedded

http://lifehacker.com/5311254/how-to-ease-your-transition-to-google-voice

http://mycraniumdrain.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-on-google-voice.html

And here are some other excellent video demonstrations and how to’s. They are short, quick and easy to follow:

Call Screening:
Listen In

Block Calls

SMS

Place calls anywhere

Taking/Receiving calls

Phone Routing

Forwarding Phones

Voicemail Transcripts

Listen to voicemail

Notifications

Personalize Greeting

Share voicemail

Conference Calling

Call Record

Call switch

Mobile Site

GOOG-411

Manage Groups

WordPress 500 internal Server Error xmlrpc.php fix part 2

I had this issue previously and it appeared resolved. But it has returned after upgrading my WordPress installation to 3.x.

So I tried the simple thing of just disabling all my plug-ins but that didn’t do it this time.

I had to do that (disable my plug-ins as described here) and all this too!

I hope this helps some of you. Please make sure you have a complete backup of our MYSQL dbase AND your blog in case you hose something! I am a nut about backups and you should be too.

OK so..

Do this:
1. Using either FTP or CPanel, navigate to your WordPress root directory.
2. You should find the file “xmlrpc.php” there. Make a back up copy of it, just in case. Download it and then.
3. Open xmlrpc.php in an editor
4. Go to the end of the file.
5. Put your cursor after the final ?>
6. Delete anything there, including spaces, or blank lines.
7. Save the edited xmlrpc.php back to your WordPress root directory. [I also changed the permissions on this file to allow the Owner to ‘Execute’ too!]

image

Then:

If you don’t have one (php.ini) then create a text file and name it “php.ini” (without the quotes 😉 ) and with a single line of code in it:

memory=20MB

[If you have one just add that line.]
This file has to be placed into the root directory OR /wp-admin/ within your WordPress installation.
It caused me problems being in the /wp-admin/ directory so I deleted it from there and place it in the root of my blog /mysite/blog/
So keep that in mind!
Also if you are creating the file locally and then uploading it make sure you change the file to a .ini and it does not still have the .txt extension on it.

Then you might want to find your .htaccess file
[It is a hidden file! So if you are using an FTP client make sure you set your ‘filter’ with the ‘-a’ option to ‘see hidden files’ and directories.]
Add this line to the beginning of the file:

AddType x-mapp-php5 .php
AddHandler x-mapp-php5 .php
<Files xmlrpc.php>
SecFilterInheritance Off
</Files>

And lastly I did this

Run the following database query to change the data type on the post_parent column:

ALTER TABLE wp_posts CHANGE post_parent post_parent BIGINT;

So after a few hours of aggravation I can now publish posts with loads of content from Window Live Writer again!

UPDATE: This guy here has a new solution for 1&1 users that works well!

Obama’s out of control spending and oil spill response some perspective.

Consider that from Jan. 20, 2001, to Jan. 20, 2009, the debt held by the public grew $3 trillion under Mr. Bush—to $6.3 trillion from $3.3 trillion at a time when the national economy grew as well.

By comparison, from the day Mr. Obama took office last year to the end of the current fiscal year, according to the Office of Management and Budget, the debt held by the public will grow by $3.3 trillion. In 20 months, Mr. Obama will add as much debt as Mr. Bush ran up in eight years! And it is projected that with the ‘health care reform’, additional government programs and funding Obama is asking that number will double by the time his term is up!

Our federal debt vs. our GDP is the highest it’s been since the end of WWII.

usgs_line.php

[source: usgovernmentspenging.com]

And on employment:

A chart of unemployment since 1995

[Source for the unemployment figures: a spreadsheet taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Republican period: January 1995-December 2006. Democrat period: January 2007-June 2010.]

unemployment-chart-july-7-2010_01

click on image for full size

And now the kicker:

Whose response to disaster was more appropriate and timely?

Oil Spill Timeline from RightChange on Vimeo.

I could go on ad infinitum, but I am just tired. I hope people will get responsible and throw out all of our current politicians. It’s time for our government to get back in the hands of those it’s supposed to be in – ours. Not narcissistic ego maniacs drunk with power and privileged we ‘common folk’ could only dream of.