Treo 700p

I know...I said I was a converted berry berry fan...however, I missed all my Treo applications...so I'm back on the Treo...but upgraded from the Treo 650 to the 700p...ahh...I'm in geek heaven again!

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iTunes 7.4.1 released, disables ringtone trick

Apple in it's infinite wisdom to please shareholders...in making a profit that is...has released iTunes 7.4.1 which appears to serve no purpose other than disabling the trick that allowed files renamed with an .m4r extension to be used as ringtones without separate purchase under iTunes 7.4 (released earlier this week).

Meanwhile, iToner -- a tool for transferring ringtones to the iPhone without hacking or jailbreaking -- has been updated (version 1.0.1) to resolve an issue where ringtones transferred by it were deleted by synchronization with iTunes 7.4.

So...if you want the ability to rename files for use as ringtones for the iphone...don't upgrade your iTunes software, stay on 7.4.

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Albany Times Union newspaper still rules!

Sometimes...when I read the news online at http://www.timesunion.com/ and I want more in depth information, I revert to the old fashion way of reading the news....the newspaper...and today's three iphone articles: Boomer takes baby steps with iPhone , iPhone clicks with a Gen Xer and Our reporters compare iPhone features...actually...the Albany Times Union newspaper always provides a refreshing look at technology....it's a keeper!

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Netgear SC101 400gb Storage Central back from the dead!

You would think I would have learned my lesson about buying netgear products from my experience with the MP101 but here I go again.

After 2 years in the basement bin an old paperweight comes back to life...that's right...I could never get this storage central to work...that is...until netgear released some new beta firmware (did I say beta?)...yup...something is something...the paperweight ---opps...the SC101 is storing music, photos and videos for the kids...and believe me kids these days do need their own data storage!

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Yamaha RX-V4600 foundation and empire!

The very foundation of any home entertainment system is the audio. My receiver of choice is the Yamaha RX-V4600 combined with a Carver Magnetic Field Amplifier AV-64. I thought alot about this combination maybe in need of an upgrade but the more I listen to other receivers the more I am still amazed at the sound and built quality of this receiver and amplifier...HDMI inputs...HD radio is superb!!! and well...dolby digital audio...blows your socks off!

It is the foundation of my home entertainment system...they are a one-two knockout punch...it's a keeper!

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ViaTalk to the rescue!

It wasn't long after SunRocket closed down that I was able to port my phone number to ViaTalk all for the same $199 a year price plus 2 phone lines and 3 months free...here we go again...riding the digital phone bandwagon!

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Blackberry 7130e with Verizon...email can be so easy!

Okay...so my kids think the Samsung u740 is cool for text messages...but I just needed something better for emails...and thus...I'm a converted berry berry fan...yes...I got the 7130e and immediately put the iphone theme on it...upgraded the OS...heck..installed some free apps...and yes..it has no camera...no music...but it does two things very well..email and phone quality is excellent. My phone of choice...until the 8130e from Verizon comes along...yes...another blackberry!

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SunRocket where art thou?

At $199 a year --$17 a month for unlimited U.S. digital phone service...SunRocket rescued me from Verizon's $59 a month phone bill...I rode this train to the end...but all good things must come to an end...and so did SunRocket...closing it's doors and declaring bankruptcy...RIP

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Gefen EXT-HDMI-142 more HDMI switching!

Now I needed to send the signal from the HDX-501 to two sources instead of one, my tv and receiver. I had the receiver connected directly via digital optical from my HD-DVD. Now I wanted to experience digital audio via HDMI. I needed a reliable switch and everyone recommends gefen, so I purchased the Gefen EXT-HDMI-142 (1 HDMI input and two HDMI outputs). Expensive...but worth every penny $299.

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Transformers movie opening day!!!

Reminds me of the opening day for Star Wars...lines everywhere...awesome special effects...this is the summer blockbuster for 2007!

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Toshiba HD-A2 720p high definition on a budget!

Okay...I joined the HD-DVD camp not because it's better than Blu-ray...nope...all because of one thing only...PRICE!

Heck...same video & sound quality as Blu-ray but for one third the cost...$199 at my favorite geek place - retailer...Best Buy in Crossgates Mall!

Oh...did I mentioned...with 5 free HD-DVD movies!!! It's a keeper!

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Apple releases the iPhone...no verizon...at&t only!

Well today apple releases the iphone and nothing...and I mean nothing compares...apple once again destroys the competition...no cell or smartphone comes close to what apple has done with ma bell's phone.

Revolutionary? Yes....just like the iPod....the creative folks at apple did it again! Too bad verizon...the iphone is only for at&t...I will start preping the kids...we are going to AT&T...bye bye verizon...too bad I have to wait 1 year...until my family plan is over with verizon!

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The BEAST gets Windows Vista Ultimate!

Not satisfied with installing Windows Vista Enterprise on the BEAST, I decided to go all the way with Vista Ultimate on my HP Pavilion a465c home server...what an ordeal you say? Nope...upgraded the video to a AGP 8x radeon x700 Super 512MB DDR2 graphics Card , added a 500gb hard drive -- thats right...added...I kept the 160gb in it, added 2gb of 400mhz DIMM memory to bring it to 4gb of memory and the BEAST ate Ultimate like it was hungry...not a single problem...well there was on slight problem...I had to reopen the case...cause I left my small flashlight in it!

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Windows Vista Enterprise upgrade two HP Pavilion's a1118x and a1228x

Well. when Windows Vista came out I couldn't stop myself from the opportunity of upgrading my kids computers to the latest microsoft offering. Did they need new pcs? Nope! I knew I had a project on my hands. It was time to upgrade the hardware for vista. I successfully upgraded an HP pavilion a1228x and a pavilion a1118x to Windows Vista Enterprise. Ok...so I thought enterprise sounded cool! Heck...I even loaded up the new windows office student 2007 edition and yes itunes...music...photos...videos... kids these days...gosh do they accumulate alot of data! --their pc's are up and running....did I say... and faster!!!

These are the steps I took:

1- Increase memory on motherboard from 512mb to 2gb (low density memory)
2- ran the windows vista upgrade advisor
3- uninstalled all programs that the upgrade advisor deemed "not compatible" with the red X
4- the upgrade advisor will indicate that the radeon x200 is okay for vista (it will run slow but leave it be for now)
5- make sure the computer is directly connected to a BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTION
6- Vista will stay connected to the internet thruout the installation downloading drivers for the a1228x before the full installation
7- Once Vista boots up (completed install) do a windows update
8- after windows update, reboot computer
9- disabled the internal radeon x200 graphics chip (disable in bios setup at boot time)
10- turn computer off
11- install a radeon x700 Super 512MB DDR2 graphics Card ($59 on ebay)
12- reboot computer
13- go to device manager for the new graphics found hardware and let windows update the device driver for the x700
14- Go to the ATI site and download the catalyst software for the x700 and new drivers
15- reboot and install your applications, restore the data, etc..
16- reboot one last time and you're good to go

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