Archive for the ‘How-To’ Category

Ubuntu and Smart Telecom Internet (Philippines) thru Bluetooth

Posted by Mikko at 22 September 2008

Category: How-To, Linux

Tags: ,

Lately, I have been trying to amaze myself doing some weird stuff on Linux. Gladly, I thought of connecting my mobile phone to my Linux-running laptop for Internet.

I’d like to share it in case anyone might be concerned on how to do so.

Prerequisites

  1. A Bluetooth, GPRS and/or 3G (but preferably with 3G) capable mobile phone.
  2. A machine with a Bluetooth adapter.
  3. Bluez Bluetooth GNOME applet (the Bluetooth icon on your system tray).
    1. If not installed, may be obtained by typing sudo apt-get bluez-gnome.

This works pretty well on my Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron and Linux Mint 5.0 installation.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. First of all, enable Bluetooth for the mobile phone and workstation (laptop, desktop, etc). Make sure both devices are discoverable.
  2. On your workstation’s terminal (on Ubuntu, go to Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal), type hcitool scan .
  3. You should see your mobile phone’s name and address.
  4. Now, let’s bind your device to rfcomm. Type sudo rfcomm bind /dev/rfcomm0 <replace_this_with_address_of_device> <replace_with_channel> .
    1. Replace <replace_this_with_address_of_device> with the address you obtained from hcitool scan (the ones on the left of your phone's name).
    2. Try the values 1, 2 or 3 for <replace_with_channel>. In case the whole process doesn’t work, just unbind your device to rfcomm by typing sudo rfcomm unbind rfcomm0 and repeating the whole process again with another value.
  5. After doing so, click on the network icon in your system tray (near the clock) and choose manual configuration. Unlock it with your password. Change the settings of point-to-point connection by double-clicking the option.
  6. Check “Enable this connection”.
  7. Choose GPRS/UMTS as Connection Type. Change access point name to “internet” without the doublequotes. For account data, just enter any username and password.
  8. On the second tab named “Modem”, type /dev/rfcomm0 to modem port field.
  9. On the third tab, check “Set modem as default route to internet” and “Use the internet service providers’ nameservers”.
  10. Hit OK.
  11. Now, check the checkbox of point-to-point connection.
  12. By this time, you should have an internet connection on your workstation. If it doesn’t work, repeat the process. Note to try other channels (described in the fourth step).

That’s all. Hope it works.

11 Comments

WordPress 2.5.X: Your attempt to edit this page/post has failed. Please try again.

Posted by Mikko at 24 May 2008

Category: How-To, Wordpress Stuff

Tags:

Are you looking for a fix on the WordPress error: “Your attempt to edit/save this page/post: [post/page title] has failed. Please try again.”? If you are, you are on the right page!

Yesterday, my WordPress for this blog went problematic after the server reboot at my web host’s end. The first problem I encountered was the corruption of the table wp_options of my WordPress database which resulted to WordPress asking me to reinstall the blog. I fixed it using the Repair DB functions of cPanel.

The next problem I saw was that I can’t post or edit any page. It keeps on dumping “Your attempt to edit this post [post title] has failed. Please try again.” I tried searching for the problem in the Internet and learned that it is caused by the WordPress autosave function.

To fix it, you should have access to your WordPress blog from cPanel file manager or FTP. Browse to [blog_root]/wp-admin/ and locate the file post-new.php. After locating the file, edit it directly thru your File Manger (cPanel) or download it thru FTP. Edit the file using your favorite text editor such as NotePad if you downloaded it thru FTP. Continue reading “WordPress 2.5.X: Your attempt to edit this page/post has failed. Please try again.” »

27 Comments

Disk Knight Remover

Posted by Mikko at 29 March 2008

Category: How-To

Disk Knight is a beneficial virus I have encountered countless times. It’s annoying; especially its way of silent multiplication. It installs itself to the host computer; then infects every drive (usually the flash drives) the host computer gets direct contact to.

I’ve read several methods online on how to remove this nasty beneficial virus. One of the easiest method I found was to download a batch file by Islam Adel; execute it to your computer and poof, no more Disk Knight.

Here’s the file: Disk Knight Remover.

5 Comments

How to Speed Up Your WordPress With PHP Speedy

Posted by Mikko at 29 March 2008

Category: How-To, Internet, Wordpress Stuff

php_speedy_logo_medium.gif

Hey guys!

Loyal visitors of this blog must have noticed the sudden decrease of my blog’s load time. No, I did not switch to a new webhost. This speed-up is attributable to a new WordPress plugin – PHP Speedy.

PHP Speedy is a plugin that joins your JavaScript and CSS files before loading it to your browser. It also removes unnecessary line breaks to your rendered PHP or HTML files to save file size thus shortening load times.

Try it now and feel the change. :D

4 Comments

Funny UST Scandal

Posted by Mikko at 27 March 2008

Category: How-To

Are you looking for tools to remove the Funny UST Scandal virus? Then, you are on the right track.

Early this afternoon, I was trying to compile an assembly program coded by me when it failed. I tried other assembly programs; the same thing happened. I was reconfiguring my IDE’s settings when I started to suspect my firewall of blocking the assembler. I turned off my firewall and poof, it worked.

AFTER the incident, I forgot to reactivate my firewall. I was clueless that something was happening inside our PC until…

I was conversing with a friend with Yahoo Messenger. I was horrified ’cause my mouse started to move in different directions; and it was typing something on my status bar. It was sending a message to all of my friends.

And it was the Funny UST Scandal.

If you’re looking for a fix, there’s this Visual Basic Application made by a Filipino. It reverts all the infections made by the virus; making your computer clean of traces of the nasty virus.

You can download the fix here. :D

Good luck.

14 Comments

How to Use Peter Answers?

Posted by Mikko at 23 March 2008

Category: How-To, Internet

Did your just friend introduce you to his psycho friend Peter? If you’re looking for ways to have successful telepathy with him, then you’re on the right spot!

What is Peter Answers?

For those who doesn’t have any knowledge about Peter Answers, it is a virtual tarot web application that can answer virtually any question. With the vast number of questions he receives everyday, you still have to type a petition for him to answer your question. Peter doesn’t mind if your question’s too serious, intimate or lame. Here’s a link to the web app.

What’s the trick behind it?

Obviously, Peter Answers has a trick behind it and there really is one.

Try typing a petition as instructed in the instructions and ask him a question. This way, he won’t give you a good answer. He’ll just say, “I will not answer if you doubt about me” or the likes.

Now, here’s how to let it work.

Requirements. First, you need a (1) friend to fool. Then, you need a (2) gadget (must support JavaScript, CSS and xHTML) with an (3) Internet connection. I bet by reading this, you have 2 and 3.

First, you go to PeterAnswers.com. Then, don’t type the petition right away. Ask your friend a question to ask Peter. Be sure to know the answer, or you may ask him to shout the answer to your internet-capable gadget.

Now that you know the answer to your friend’s question, you are ready to ask the petition. Ask the petition by hitting the letter ‘P’ to fool your friend that you’re typing something like “Peter, please answer:”. After that, hit the key “.” (that’s period) then type the answer. The answer will not appear on the text box but instead the textbox will be filled by a mock petition “Peter, please answer the following question:” depending on the length of the answer. After typing the answer, you have to hit the key “.” (period) to let him know that you have just finished typing the answer. Then, finish typing the entire petition. Don’t forget to end your petition with a colon (:).

Peter now knows the answer to your question. This time, you have to fill the question textbox  the question you want to ask Peter. Always remember to end a question with a question mark (?).

After hitting the question mark, Peter will show a mock-”loading bar”. Then, Peter will answer your question.

Weeee, that’s it. I hope you find it useful. It’s now time to trick your friends! :D

31 Comments

Incoming Freshmen: How to Confirm Slot in the University of the Philippines?

Posted by Mikko at 16 February 2008

Category: How-To

Hi.Just a while ago, I’ve confirmed my slot in the University of the Philippines. Confirming a slot is important because as we all know admission to the said University is stiff.

Now, what you’ll need is an internet connection and your UP Notice of Admission (it looks like the one below). Take note of your student number and your PIN (both fields are highlighted above). Keep your PIN as confidential as possible, someone might access your account thru that number. Continue reading “Incoming Freshmen: How to Confirm Slot in the University of the Philippines?” »

33 Comments

Withdraw PayPal Funds to Philippine Bank Accounts

Posted by Mikko at 27 January 2008

Category: How-To

I tried to log on my PayPal account a while ago to confirm what kuya James posted on his blog, Pinoy Money Talk, and indeed, PayPal funds can now be withdrawn to Philippine Bank accounts.

A really great news, right? But not a very good news for me because I’ve already paid 350 pesos for my UnionBank EON account registration fee. If I only knew PayPal was opening this feature to the Philippines, amf.

Withdraw PayPal funds to Philippine bank account

Now, we can enjoy withdrawing funds for a lower fee. That’s a cheap PhP 50.00 fee for withdrawals lower than PhP 7,000 COMPARED to the $5.00 (more or less PhP 200.00) withdraw-to-card fee.

Ooops, I’m running out of words so I’ll discuss kuya James’ post.

——————

Pinoy Money Talk is one of the first, probably the very first, to break this news to the blogosphere but expect other sites and blogs to write about this without giving us credit although they got the news from us. LOL. –Pinoy Money Talk

Is this reverse psychology? Hahaha. I’m sure you’re gonna gain some Technorati authority with this.

——————

P.S. I’m sure some people will again claim that this recent development was a fruit of their labor and lobbying. Cut it out people, PayPal offered this because they saw what a big market the Philippines is for them. It’s not only you who have been long clamoring for this. With or without you, PayPal will certainly offer this anyway! –Pinoy Money Talk

I’m with you. I used to join online petitions for the full expansion of PayPal’s functionality in the Philippines. LOL!

——————

To my other readers there who got lost of the post’s flow, GOOD LUCK.

——————

Whoa, PayPal has a new favico. :D

12 Comments
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