Mike Pegg's Blog —————————————————————————————Tech Talk

11Apr/100

Bookmarklets – Show passwords, small urls and QR Codes

A bookmarklet is a small tool that enables you do a quick tasks within the browser, they sit in the browser the same way as a traditional bookmark hence the name.

To use a bookmarklet drag one of the links below into your normal bookmark list, these are the three I use the most:

[Show Passwords]

[3.ly Shortcut]

[QR Make]

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11Apr/1042

Enable Voice to Text on the HTC Desire (Including keyboard)

*Updated to final version v.27, update for FroYo available from source if needed*

  1. Download 'Voice Search' from here or local, this will enable voice support
  2. Install the apk file on your Desire (this can be done with the free app Astro)
  3. Download the replacement keyboard (with mic) from local
  4. Install the apk file.
  5. Go to Settings, 'Language & keyboard' and tick 'HTC_IME mod'
  6. Press the search key on the Desire.
  7. hold down on the input box and select 'Input Method' from the popup.
  8. Select 'HTC_IME mod'.
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10Apr/109

How to get paid Android apps for free

The Astro File Mananger a free app on the Android Market enables you to backup your apps and appears also lets you backup paid apps BEFORE the refund period is over. Quite a large flaw in the refund scheme used in the Android Market, will keep testing as a few apps don't seem to be backupable.

1. Install Astro File Manager.
2. Purchase app.
3. In tools, application manager, backup check 'backup'.
3. Refund app.
4. The .apk install file is still in the backup directory for installing again, after the refund.
5. Free paid apps.

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8Apr/100

Free Voicemail – T-Mobile charging for voicemail on contracts

So recently I received a lovely new HTC Desire on T-Mobile UK, a couple of days later I notice T-Mobile UK are charging for using voicemail even on a contract, pretty outrageous really.

So, after googling for a good while this is the way to go to get free Voicemail, through a service called HulloMail. It's a free voicemail service that will not only be part of your contracted minutes but also email you a nice mp3 file of the voicemail left (they also do the standard calling the number).

You can sign up for free for HulloMail over here

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29Mar/109

How to get Harvard Referencing in Microsoft Word 2007

note: updated with how to add page numbers.

For most referencing the most common used is the Harvard standard and the most common used word processor used is Microsoft Word however, Microsoft Word does not come with Harvard referencing as standard. This How To is mostly sourced from here and is a shortened version to do this one task.

So, how to get Harvard referencing in Microsoft Word 2007:

  1. Download the 'BibWord styles' from here, listed under 'Recommended Download'.
  2. From that file extract the 'HarvardLeeds' file (I have found this one to cover the most of my references).
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11Mar/103

Bypass flickr image download block i.e. spaceball.gif

If you ever try to download an image from Flickr.com via the standard right click, save as steps you will instead be offered to download spaceball.gif. Here is the fastest way, simplest way I could find to bypass the block.

  1. Get Firefox
  2. Goto Tools > Page Info > Media
  3. Scroll down until you see the image you want
  4. Click the 'Save As' button.
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5Mar/1016

*working?* Free Orange Wednesday 2for1 cinema without an Orange account (if you have an iPhone/iPod Touch)

**Grant (in the comments) suggests this is still working
*They have sadly fixed this, next cheapest way would be to get a £1 Orange sim card and register that number in the app

Been using this one since November but will post it up here now :)

This does NOT require an Orange account, just a device that can run the 'Orange Weds' app from the Apple app store. It also doesn't charge for the ticket, like it does via the more traditional 'text message ticket' on Orange phones.

  1. Install the 'Orange Weds' app
  2. Inside the app, select '241'
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12Feb/104

Hack flash to enable fullscreen flash while working on another screen

update: (07/08/2010) This method no longer works, however this does

Flash has an annoying habit of exiting full screen if you do any action outside of the window. This is most annoying if you have dual screens and want one to run a full screen flash video whilst doing something else on the other.

Over the last few years how to hex edit out this function has been posted online between versions. Most people to fix this have used the pre-hacked flash drivers however, these drivers over here have not been updated since April 2009 and no longer support Flash 10.

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1Feb/1027

Updating the firmware on a Virgin WGR614v9 router

Having been a Virgin Broadband customer for almost two years and dealing with the routers frequent drop outs (appears to reach a maximum number of connections) when multiple users are using BitTorrent or likewise I had before searched for fixes for the WGR614v9 router. However, this router supplied by Virgin is locked to their own custom firmware (read: no improvements or even a new graphic). So how to update the firmware. Bit of googleing and came across this thread on how to do it, which is rather lengthy, misses some detail, an app and feedback. So, how to update:

Firstly:

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