Logitech offers up to 15% discount on online purchases

18 gennaio 2012 di admin 2 commenti »

Logitech offers discounts on its entire range of keyboards and iPod/MP3 Docks.

Until January 30 2012 you can buy one of the many Logitech products in the catalog at a discount of 15%. Logitech is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals and accessories, consult the official website of the offer to find detailed information about each product, and then proceed to purchase at reasonable prices.

Particularly rich is the section on keyboards, where you can find several models in the catalog devoted to gaming, such as the keyboard G510 Gaming Keyboard with display for status, backlight for playing in the dark and USB audio to manage communications with VoIP during multiplayer matches. I can also find the futuristic solar-powered K750 keyboard with which you can really forget the batteries.

To get the discount, you must select the desired product and then proceed with your shopping session where you can enter the promotion code.

New DISCOUNT CODES are as follows:

Code: xoh9uxxzx
15% discount on the product category Keyboards, valid until 23/01.

Code: h769xm64j
15% discount on the product category iPod/MP3 Docks, valid until 30/01.

Take advantage of the new codes, … and rash, have limited time!

 

How to re-credit a check from AdSense

4 ottobre 2011 di admin Nessun commento »

To receive payments from Google based on what has been gained with the Ad-Sense ads you can choose between 2 methods:

  1.  Sending home a check
  2.  Crediting the amount to your bank account

A friend of mine has chosen option 1 and thus receive a check after a couple of weeks after reaching the minimum necessary amount.

But How to redeem?

The check can in fact only be redeemed by payment on a bank account and if someone does not have, then it must create them on purpose (and this is not shown on the help site of AdSense).

He then asked me to investigate how to collect it, and after much research I concluded that the most painless way is to re-credit the check on the AdSense account, then choosing as a payment method option 2, the credit on bank account. The first thing to do is to having the foresight to open a bank account ad-hoc as the card  Genius Card  by Unicredit which moreover has a very affordable price (5 € for activation and 1 € fee per month which can be even zero in some cases). Besides use with Ad-sense is also advertised on the site of Unicredit. To use it simply indicate in the settings on your AdSense payment card the IBAN and the BIC of the bank (as indicated on the website of Unicredit UNCRITMM BIC code), it is like a normal bank account but online.

If you choose the Genius Card you can not redeem checks, then the only way is to be re-credit check. In this case there are 2 ways:

  1. Wait 6 months so that the check expires
  2. Use the form provided by Google to request a refund

The quickest and most painless is definitely the 2, you can request a reissue of a check by contacting the service by following this link:

https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=158238

NOTE: For those who had difficulty finding the number of the check (or charge), just look in your AdSense account, Payment History by clicking on the details of the payment in question.

Once the form has been completed with all necessary data, the money is immediately re-credit. In this mode you can change the payment method by selecting the fastest and most secure credit on bank account.

For more information:

https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/topic.py?hl=it&topic=8452

How to build the USB data cable for APC UPS

20 settembre 2011 di admin 3 commenti »

In the past days I have found a UPS APC (more precisely a Back-UPS RS 1000) which had lost the data cable that allows you to connect to the computer, so you can monitor performance. The cable consists of a part of a USB plug type A and the other end of an RJ-50 10-pin (not easy to find).

After some research on the net I have found 3 possible solutions:

  1. Buy the original cable from APC with the modest cost of 35 €
  2. Buy a cable similar to the original, but from China, and the cost of 7 € (in this case the shipment may take up to 3 weeks and do not always get)
  3. Build my own with estimated cost of 3 €

Choosing the solution 3, I started looking for the terminal RJ-50 (I had already the USB cable with the terminal type A, however you can find it for 1 / 2 €). Electronics stores, seems not to have anyone the RJ-50, so I tried to look online, but the cost was too high (5 / 6 €) and, thanks to the fact that I had to use a special clamp from cost of 20 €, I gave up.

However I had to find a solution, and thinking I decided to try with a more common RJ-45 8-pin connector normally used in LANs (obviously for this you need a special clamp). Magically enters into the connector on the UPS as well as the pins have the same distance between them that on the RJ-50.

The solution, however, often leads to other problems, in fact the 8-pin RJ-45 are not sufficient to cover the pins used on the UPS (it is perhaps one thing wanted by the same APC to force to buy his cable ???). In fact, there are pins 1 and 10 who remain outside, while pins 4,7 and 9 can be easily carried forward to the RJ-45:

APC Pin USB Pin Description
1 1 USB +5V (red wire)
4 Shield Chassis ground (yellow)
7 4 USB GND (black wire)
9 2 USB Data- (white wire)
10 3 USB Data+ (green wire)

The only solution is to move the pin 1 and 10 of the RJ-50 on the free pins of the RJ-45, going after to change the UPS’s circuit. The solution I found is to move the pin 1 to pin 2 of the RJ-50 (the pin 1 of the RJ-45) and moving the pin 10 to pin 8 on the RJ-50 ( the pin 7 of the RJ-45).

Here’s how the pins are mapped from RJ-50 to RJ-45 (the colors of the pins match the colors of the wires seen before in the table):

Here the design of the RJ-50 (10P10C) and 4-pin USB connector:

At this point, using the special clamp you can connect the wires of the USB cable to the RJ-45.

The last step is to modify the circuit so that even in the socket on the back panel the pins match. To do this, remove the back cover of the UPS by removing 6 screws and then doing a bridge between pin 1 and pin 2 and between pin 8 and pin 10 in this way:

The drawing shows the lower part of the circuit of the UPS in which is welded the RJ-50 jack and the blue lines are the welds that are used to change the pinout of the connector to adapt to the new RJ-45 .

Now you can connect the cable to the UPS and PC and check if there is a successful communication through the PowerChute program provided by the APC on its own site.

In this way you can either use the cable with RJ-45 and the original cable with RJ-50 (if I find it …), all at a cost of 3 €!

Guide installation custom firmware on PS3

27 gennaio 2011 di admin 4 commenti »

DISCLAIMER: This guide is not intended to encourage piracy, so I not take responsibility for what you do with this information. The guide was written for informational purposes ONLY. Use only regular backup copies of games purchased and which you have.

I present today a guide to install custom firmware and load back up on the Play Station 3 without the use of USB dongle or other (see PS3Jailbreak).

The change will be made only by software, so there will be no need to open the console. You will be able to go on the PSN and make backup copies of games on external hard drive to the console. However, the warranty expires and there are no guarantees that Sony in the future ban the modified consoles from the PSN.

The change is based on firmware 3.55 and runs on all consoles SLIM or FAT.

This change in 99% of cases does not cause the Brick (breaking) of the Console, but it is important not to make the proposed updates from Sony (eg 3.56).

Files needed:

  • Original firmware 3.55 Playstation 3 (if not already installed)
  • Custom firmware 3.55 by KMEAW
  • Gaia Manager or multiMAN (homebrew program needed to perform the backup)
  • Fix for the custom firmware

Links to the download does not appear for safety reasons, but all files are available for download here: evileon-ps3.blogspot.com

Note: Download md5sums to check the md5 of the file. Drag the firmware file over the icon md5sums.exe and check the MD5. On MacOS you can open the terminal and type md5 “file name”.

STEP 1: Update the PS3 firmware to 3.55

If you have not installed the firmware 3.55, the first thing to do is to update the console via USB.

Once downloaded the original firmware 3.55 (PS3UPDAT.PUP with md5 = ca595ad9f3af8f1491d9c9b6921a8c61) should be placed in the path \PS3\UPDATE\ in a USB stick and leave intact the file name.

The USB stick is inserted into the PlayStation 3 turned off. Only after turn on the PS3 and we move on Settings -> System Update.

Press X and select “Update via Storage Media”. Now the PS3 will try to update.

Click OK to confirm. We accept the terms of the contract, and we start the update.

After the restart, it will install the update.

STEP 2: Patching the firmware 3.55 by kmeaw [Optional]

Warning: If you downloaded the firmware already patched and ready from the site mentioned above, then you can skip this step.

Download Download Custom firmware PATCH by kmeaw and BSDiff to apply the patch to the original firmware.

To patch the original firmware, we will use BSdiff for Windows. Unpack the program into a directory, eg. C:\BSdiff\ and put into the directory, the files “PS3UPDAT.PUP” (the original firmware 3.55) and the file “patchfile”.

Click on START -> Run and type cmd then click OK.

In the command prompt that is open, type cd C:\BSdiff\ to move into the directory where you unzipped the program.

To apply the patch to the firmware, write bspatch.exe PS3UPDAT.PUP PS3CFW.PUP patchfile

At this point, you created the file PS3CFW.PUP (md5 = 2be5e87a22bf1e7f48e98fcabd38977b) representing the modified firmware with which to update the console.

STEP 3: Install the custom firmware 3.55 kmeaw

Take the USB stick, and in the location PS3\UPDATE\ delete the file PS3UPDAT.PUP (if any) and copy the modified firmware PS3CFW.PUP obtained in step 2 or downloaded from the link given at the beginning.

Rename the file PS3CFW.PUP in PS3UPDAT.PUP otherwise the console will not find it. Start the PS3, go to Setting-> System Update with the USB stick inserted, the screen will show you that found the new firmware and is the firmware 3.55-kmeaw.

Continue accepting the contract and wait for copying files, restarting the PS3 and the subsequent installation.

—————–

WARNING! If the PS3 displays a message informing you that it can not install because you already have the latest firmware, you must install the update from the recovery menu.

To access the recovery menu:

With the console turned off, hold the power button until the console comes on and goes off again, release the power button. Press and hold the power button again and wait until you hear a “beep” followed by two “beeps” in a row. Then, connect the joypad and press the PS button. If you have problems to update the PS3 to the custom firmware (or want to reset the console in its original condition using original firmware) you select System Update from this menu.Now insert the USB stick with the firmware in the correct location (PS3\UPDATE\PSUPDAT.PUP) and press start + select together, following the instructions on the screen until the PS3 will give 4 “beeps” and turns off by itself. Turn on the PS3 with THE POWER BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE, and therefore do not use pad or remote control.

—————–

Your console is now upgraded with the firmware 3.55-kmeaw that allows the installation of software unsigned.

STEP 4: Install the Fix for the permissions

To proceed with the (if you have problems with black screen for example), download the package FIX_CFW_355. Insert in a USB stick and install from the menu Install PKG Files.

STEP 5: Installation of GAIA Manager or multiMAN (you can install them both to remedy any shortcomings of either, the procedure is the same for both)

Now you have your console with two new sub-menu of the game menu, including “Install PKG Files” that will allow you to install any kind of homebrew or program by any other party. To install programs on the PS3, simply copy it to the root of the USB stick and it will automatically find by the console.

For example, we copy the Gaia Manager that allows us to perform backups and maintain even the dump (copy from Blu-ray to hard disk) of our original games.

Unpack the archive you downloaded Gaia Manager and copy only one of three files in the USB stick. The last part of the name of these files, indicate the directory in which then will be stored and will read the backups on the hard disk.

All games must be in a directory GAMEZ on the hard disk.

Reconnect the USB stick to the console and press Install PKG files in the Game menu.

You’ll see a list of the possible .pkg to install on the console. Select the one related to Gaia Manager copied just before.

STEP 6: Start the FIX for the permits

Start the FIX_CFW3.55 and wait for you back to the XMB after which you can uninstall it.


STEP 7: Start-up backup copies

Take a hard disk (the games take an average of 15, 20 GB) and connect to the console. You can also use the internal hard disk of the PS3. Boot Gaia Manager from the menu Game.

To make a dump of a game on the hard drive (and then save it in the directory GAMEZ) just put in Blu-ray and press O and then decide the destination (internal or external hard disk).

If we already have a saved game on computer, simply copy the directory of the game, directly in GAMEZ in Gaia Manager you can view this.

To start a backup, from both internally and external hard drive, simply select the title from the list and press X. You will be returned to the main menu of the Playstation 3. Enter any original game (it does not matter which one) to start the backup from the menu:)

As for backup, for now, Gaia Manager provides for the exclusive use of a hard disk formatted in FAT32. This means that many games that have files larger than 4GB can not be started in any way from the external hard drive. This kind of games, will have to be copied on the hard disk inside the console before they can be started.

PeTo circumvent the problem of large files on external drive formatted in FAT32, it is recommended to use OpenSplit or split4g designer.

The internal drive provides high performance but a more intense use can cause the risk of damaging the console, external hard drives have the performance a bit ‘less high (but still double compared to a blu-ray disc), but some games only work on external hard drive.

You will need to save the game in the folder in the root disk GAMEZ (internal, external or both) each game must be saved in a separate folder, such as Final Fantasy XIII will be called the default MRTC00003, BLES12345, BLUS12345 or even BCES12345 and Each of these folders will contain the folders PS3_GAME and PS3_UPDATE within which are stored files of the game, while PS3_DISK.SFB is not always present.

If you have these 3 files and you do not know the identifier of the game to create the folder BLESXXXXX, simply go to the folder PS3_GAME, and you will find a file named PARAM, you open this file with this software: PBP-unpacker and see the BLESxxxxx that will be the name of the folder.

If you have an ISO instead:

1. Open with notepad the file “PS3_DISC” and inside you will find the Game ID (eg: BLUS-30279);

2. Create a new folder and name it “GAMEZ” on the desktop;

3. Create another folder inside GAMEZ with name the Game ID of the game;

4. Put in the folder (eg BLUS30279) the following folders: PS3_GAME, PS3_UPDATE, PS3_DISC and PS3_CONTENT;

5. Get GAMEZ and copy the folder on an external HDD;

Otherwise it can be done automatically using a custom program: http://www.mediafire.com/?9euumojh8umejzr*

Just do [Open] and select the iso. After you click [Extract] and extract everything in the folder you created (GAMEZ), then follow step 5.

NOTE: All games are not compatible with the external hard drive. If you have a black screen at startup check if you have disabled the automatic start of the disc.



INFO 1: How to download updates without signing up on PSN

This is a way to get any updates for any game updates directly from the server then just run the downloaded file, do not even need to access the PSN. Just go to the browser PS3 and go on PS3PKG or use the application PS3 Game Updater.


INFO 2: How to appear offline on PSN

1. Go to the FTP server on your PS3 and filezilla on PC

2. Go to devhhdd0/home / (profile to be viewed offline) / friendIM

3. Replace “mecomment.dat” with this: Multiupload (A mecomment.dat different that makes you appear offline)

4. Close the FTP connection.


INFO 3: How to open an FTP connection

1. On your PS3 console launch Black Box FTP server.

2. Then, on your PC, open FileZilla.

3. On the PS3 with the FTP server running there should be an IP address on the screen.

4. Now type the IP address in the box in the upper left corner (‘host’) on FileZilla on your PC. Once this is done click on the “QuickConnect”.

Hostname: (IP showing on your screen of blackboxFTP on PS3)
Username: FTPD12345 (must be present, not just a random)
Password: / (NO, empty, empty, leave blank)
Port: 21
File Protocol: FTP

At this point you can access the contents of the files on the hard disk of the PS3 eg. dev_hdd0/GAMES.
Once the transfer is complete you can reboot the PS3.

Disservice Xoom - Virgilio

18 gennaio 2011 di admin Nessun commento »

With this post I apologize to all that follow this blog, for the problem that occurred for two weeks in late December 2010 and early January 2011.

During this time the blog was not accessible due to updates of the hosting service of Xoom that because of the holiday has taken longer than expected.

Besides that problem, the engineers of the portal were not available for clarification, making it even more incomprehensible. The problem occurred on my part with the relative error in WordPress was:

“Error Establishing a database connection”

Only a few days ago I managed to fix the problem by updating the data in the file wp-config.php in agreement with the updates made by the hoster Xoom.

However, I am disappointed with the service offered by Xoom about the lack of reports from the staff and I hope that in future these updates are notified in some way to warn users.

Theme optimized for mobile phone

23 dicembre 2010 di admin 1 commento »

Very often I surfing the Internet using a mobile phone, than I decided to use a theme optimized so that when you are using a browser on a phone, is used this theme lighter, and if you access the blog normally will be used the old theme.

To make this change I used the plugin WPMS Mobile Edition, a very useful plugin which identifies the browser used and apply the right theme.

The theme used is the Carrington Mobile, a theme light and easy to use for navigate faster.

After trying it I must say that greatly facilitates the use of blogs on small screens.

So I hope it is useful to everyone.

Guide to connecting your camcorder Philips VCM 8935/OOT to a TV

13 dicembre 2010 di admin 4 commenti »

Looking in my old things I’ve discovered a video camera from Philips VCM 8935/OOT a closed circuit type:

The camera in question was no longer have the connector and even the instructions needed to understand how to connect to a TV.

Then I started to look on the internet to find at least a PDF with explanations for the connections.

However, after several hours I came to the conclusion that the only manual available is the base (owners manual), while the full (service manual) is only by payment: Philips’s site

Then, armed with good patience, I decided to open the casing of the camera to try to figure out how to connect it.

The ground I found just trying to connect to the metal housing of the camera.

For the power i look which wire was connected to the positive pin of the capacitors.

The remaining wire instead I discovered by experiment with an amplified speaker in order to find what was for the audio and of course the remaining would be for the video.

The proper wiring sequence is:

  • Orange wire -> AUDIO
  • Red wire -> GROUND
  • Black wire -> VIDEO
  • Green wire -> POWER (12Vdc)

At the end I found the TV that was connected to the camera: the VSS2285/OOT.
With this TV so I could test the actual correctness of connections.

I hope this guide will help someone.

Instructions for using the wireless network at the Uninsubria of Varese on Symbian OS

26 novembre 2010 di admin 2 commenti »

Uninsubria Wireless is a service that provides access to Internet sites through the use of the wireless network of the University.

To connect to this network using a mobile phone based on Symbian S60 operating system just follow some simple steps.

To ensure the access to the network for students throw insubria-studenti you must:

Enter the menu Symbian >> Tools >> Settings:

Select Connection >> Access points:

Select Options >> New access point >> Use default settings:

Name the connection: in this example, “insubria-studenti.”

Type of data transfer: Wireless LAN

WLAN network name: insubria-studenti (in small letters entered manually or search for available networks)

Network Status: Public

WLAN Mode: Infrastructure

WLAN protocol mode: WPA/WPA2

Select Options >> Advanced Settings and select:

Proxy server address: proxy.uninsubria.it

Proxy port number: 3128

You have now an access point to wifi public network for “insubria-studenti.”

All students enrolled and active (essentially for those who were issued with an e-mail domain studenti.uninsubria.it) may access the wireless network using the same credentials used to access Web Services Student Office. Also within Web Services Student Office (http://uninsubria.esse3.cineca.it/ )  you will get the key (WPA Pre Shared Key), required to connect to the network.

The wireless network is managed by the SIC using the security mode “WPA-PSK” with data encryption TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) which guarantees complete encryption of all traffic.

To receive technical support for the use of WiFi Uninsubria Wireless  you can contact us at: wifi@uninsubria.it

For more information, click Information.