Skowronek.org » Hardware

Hacking the iPhone

Skowronek — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:16:22 +0000

Got this from a friend today. Since I do not own an iPhone (but I do own a smartphone), this is a little disturbing to me.

Here is the original article on hacking the iPhone on FastCompany.com.

Note to self: How to perform “clean” reset an iPAQ hx2795

Skowronek — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:42:53 +0000

So I’ve overloaded my PDA. Apparently, installing too much in the main memory can cause it to halt, and then never boot again. The problem is that with Windows Mobile 5, it has this neat “feature” that keeps data in the RAM even after a “hard reset”. This does not really help me, since I have too much in the main RAM. So, you do whats called a “clean” reset. Thanks HP for the help.

On Windows Mobile 5.0 products, a hard (full) reset stops all running programs, but does not clear user data or applications because they are stored in ROM (Persistent Store feature). A hard reset also resets all hardware registers. Users can perform a Clean Reset, in which the product is cleared to its factory defaults. A clean reset returns the HP iPAQ to the default Windows Mobile 5.0 settings with no user data or applications.

To perform a clean reset please follow these steps:

Press and hold the Calendar button, the Power button, and the Messaging button.

While holding these buttons, use the stylus to lightly press the Reset button on the bottom of the HP iPAQ.

Flat panel mouse?

Skowronek — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:49:45 +0000

I was doing my daily dose of blog reading (during lunch of course) and ran across this article. Not sure exactly why you would ever do this other than to say you could. Hope you enjoy.

King of TAP Replacement Claims

Skowronek — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:46:30 +0000

I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be too proud of this title, as I have, for the 3rd time, cracked the display on my PDA. I have nothing to say other than, break out the wallet-book. (It happened while slamming the rear door shut in the Pathfinder.)

My ScanJet 3970 Debacle

Skowronek — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 07:29:59 +0000

Over the past couple of nights I have been battling a seriously messed up HP ScanJet 3970. The error: “Unable to communicate with the TWAIN device”. A once fully functional, trouble-free piece of electronic equipment turned maliciously evil. I write in hopes that someone out there will run across my finding BEFORE they spend hour upon painful hour attempting to troubleshoot the beast of burden.

Now, I don’t claim this will fix every ‘TWAIN’ communication error, but hopefully it will fix a few. Lets start shall we!

First off, the players:
1-HP ScanJet 3970 Flatbed Scanner (USB on-board)
2-Windows XP Professional SP2
3-HP ScanJet Software with latest patches, updates, etc.
4-ScanSoft PaperPort, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop (or any other TWAIN imaging software)

Steps to reproduce:
1-Launch imaging software application (in this case, PaperPort 9 Delux)
2-Place a non-image document on the scanner bed
3-Launch HP scan software from PaperPort
4-Modify settings to ‘automatically straighten scanned images’

5-Start a new scan (usually by clicking the ‘new scan’ button)

6-Notice how HP Scan software will ‘auto straighten’ your document scan but NOT automatically select an area like normal
7-Change ‘Output type’ to ‘Black & White (1-bit)’

8-Accept the scanned image
9-Notice the progress bar does not grow
10-Behold, the dreaded error message ‘Unable to communicate…’ or whatever default error message the imaging program you are using has.

Steps to resolve:
Well, this seems pretty simple now doesn’t it! Well, had it not cost me 8 hours sleep I might have been a bit more jovial. As you can see from the steps to reproduce, there appears to be a bug in attempting to auto-straighten 1-bit scanned images. So, the fix, un-check ‘automatically straighten scanned images’ when you plan on scanning 1-bit B&W images.

That’s it, unbelievable! This after 3 hours chatting with HP support (who were extremely helpful might I add). This is how I was able to resolve the dreaded ‘Unable to communicate with the TWAIN device’ error message.

Playstation 3 Pre-order on Amazon!

Skowronek — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 19:16:19 +0000

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/videogames/B0009VXAM0/ref=ase_gadgetmadne04-20/103-2264662-7474253

You heard correctly, PS3 is apparently available for pre-order (or pre-notification) on Amazon. Check it out.

Looking for a good Macintosh Mod

Skowronek — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 15:08:31 +0000

If you have ever needed an idea for modding your old G4 this is the place for you.

Update:
I decided to pull this link as the forum had some not-so-nice people posting rude and foul things. So sorry.

Looking for an alternative to an pricey PDA? Try Hipster

Skowronek — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 21:27:15 +0000

http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/introducing_the.html

Recently, I got sick of lugging my Palm V around, so I developed a vastly superior, greatly simplified device for capturing and sharing information. I call it “The Hipster PDA.”

I love it!

Super Tangent (Formerly Super Shuffle)

Skowronek — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 19:20:14 +0000

http://www.luxpro-corp.com/e_575d.htm

Prior to skowronek.org getting hacked, I had posted a link to the LuxPro Super Shuffle, a blatant ripoff of the iPod Shuffle. It appears the Apple folks have (rightly so) put substantial pressure on them as they have now renamed their blatant ripoff the ‘Super Tangent’.

iPod Super – MAC + PC

Skowronek — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 20:33:09 +0000

http://www.command-tab.com/index.php/ipod-super/

As I have recently acquired an iPod Mini, I thought this was quite a cool little tutorial on how to add additional disk space…300G to be precise!