I was using Windows XP and iTunes.

After searching the web I found that there is an issue with XP and synchronising your iTouch if your laptop/computer has been in hibernation.

So I closed iTunes and restarted it and unplugged the USB and then plugged it back in again and hey presto synchronisation worked like a dream and put my iTouch back in the correct year, day and time

So basically – if you are going to hibernate your machine – shut iTunes down before hand to reopen it when you want to synch again

Truphone is available for a few different devices, the iPod Touch, the iPhone, Nokia and Blackberry. Other devices like LG, Sumsung and so on are on the list for future availability. You can register your interest in having the Truphone on your mobile device on their website - http://truphone.com/devices .

ipod touch, voip, wireless, mobile, wireless

I’ve had a little issue installing it on Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron but it seems more like that I made the system unatable before I attempted to install.

For download and instructions please visit http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/

Using Remote Desktop Connection to access a remote computer whilst away has been around for a bit, but what if you want to connect to a Mac from a PC or vice versa – or want to access your Windows/Mac machine from Linux?

I came across a bit of software recently that seems to seamlessly allow either a Mac or PC (be it Linux or Windows) to access the remote computer.

LogMeIn comes in a bewildering number of flavours, but the one that interested me (naturally!) was the free version. Although lacking some features that the paid for version has (remote printing etc) the free version seems be an excellent choice for general all-round use. Simple to install, I will let you know if I come across any problems, but so far so good.

The Mac version is a bit tricky to find, but a ‘preview’ version is available here:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/mac

The developers say:

Can I use a Mac OSX computer to control a LogMeIn computer?

You can use a Mac to access a computer via LogMeIn, as long as the Mac is running OSX.

If you are running 10.4 or higher, we have a plug-in that will allow you to control a PC or a Mac. You will be prompted to install this plug-in automatically when you first connect to the PC. There are some known issues when using Firefox initially, so please use the Safari browser when installing the plug-in.

Currently, support for older versions of OSX (10.3 and older) is limited to using LogMeIn in Java mode. In order to do this, the OSX machine being used to control the LogMeIn machine will need the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). You will also need to
use the Mozilla Firefox browser.

More information available here:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

Last week, Belfast-based UniquePhones joined several others in claiming it had cracked the code which locked iPhone into AT&T’s network. But a middle-of-the-night phone call from AT&T’s lawyers has forced the firm to rethink its plans. It will now take legal advice to assess the ramifications, the firm said.

According to UniquePhones, it received a 3am call from a lawyer claiming to represent AT&T and warning it that selling unlocking software could constitute copyright infringement and illegal software dissemination.

“A substantial delay caused by any legal action would render the unlocking software a less valuable commodity as well as creating unforeseen security issues for the company,” UniquePhones said in a statement.

Apple response

Interest in the iPhone, Apple’s first foray into the mobile world, has been intense since it was launched in the US in June. On Friday it was reported that a 17-year-old US hacker had unlocked the iPhone and used it on rival T-Mobile’s network. George Hotz said that the method he used took two hours and involved both tinkering with the software and some soldering.

A website called iPhonesSimFree also claimed to have cracked the code with a software solution that it would begin selling imminently. Analysts believe Apple may still have time to modify the iPhone to tighten its locks before the phone is launched in Europe.

Any reported cracks would have ramifications for Apple’s European partners which, it is rumoured, the firm may announce at IFA 2007, a consumer electronics show being held in Berlin next week.

Tech blog Engadget thinks UniquePhone’s should make their unlocking solution available to the public.

“Here’s to hoping that, should UniquePhones not find themselves able to actually sell their software, at very least the unlock method they’ve discovered gets opened up to the public. After all, there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t be able benefit from this knowledge just because one company isn’t able to sell it,” it said in a blog entry.

Extracted from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6966600.stm

One of the interesting things about this kind of recall is that analysts estimate that it almost instantly wiped 1% off the value of Nokia’s shares with a total of £half a billion just ‘disappearing’. With an individual battery costing no more than £2 it is striking how sensitive business reputations can be to something so small…

Google has refused to deny mounting speculation that it is working to produce its own brand mobile phone. Reports suggest that the web giant is developing a series of”GPhones”, centred on its mobile services, such as search, e-mail and maps.

In a statement, Google said it was working with carriers, phone makers and content providers to “bring its services to users everywhere”.

The firm would not say if its efforts included plans for a handset.

The Google statement said: “What our users and partners are telling us is that they want Google search and Google applications on mobile, and we are working hard every day to deliver that.”

Extraced from BBC Website read full report here

OpenMoko is a GNU / Linux based open software development platform. Developers have full access to OpenMoko source and they can tailor their implementations to underlying hardware platforms.

The Design of the NEO1973 might not be everyone’s choice but there’s history behind this choice of design as I’ve just found out. The name Neo1973 is a reference to Dr. Martin Cooper, who made the first mobile phone call in 1973, but there’s a nice description of the concept behind the design at http://openmoko.com/products-neo-base-01-pictures.html

The handset is manufactured by FIC (First International Computer, Inc.), a Taiwanese OEM that makes notebooks for HP and Gateway.

The developer’s version has been launched and the consumer version is to be available in October, acording to openmoko.com.

The hardware specs:

FIC Neo1973:
* 120.7 x 62 x 18.5 (mm)
* 2.8″ VGA (480×640) TFT Screen
* Samsung s3c2410 SoC @ 266 MHz
* Global Locate AGPS chip
* Ti GPRS (2.5G not EDGE)
* Unpowered USB 1.1
* Touchscreen
* micro-sd slot
* 2.5mm audio jack
* 2 additional buttons
* 1200 mAh battery (charged over USB)
* 128 MB SDRAM
* 64 MB NAND Flash
* Bluetooth (2.0)

OpenMoko.org (Wiki, projects, Bugzilla, Lists)
openmoko.com – News and Shop

I use this for checking out www.nrl.com because that site normally takes about 30-45 seconds to load (and I have 6mb broadband) but with this tool from Google it only takes about 4 seconds!

It seems that Google really is trying to make the web more accessible from mobile devices – which they will find useful if their bid to join the mobile industry is successful