Category Archives: Technology

Protect your privacy with a VPN – Cloudnymous reviewed

Technology

In Jan of 2015, the Canadian government enacted a new law targeting illegal downloaders.  See one article here.

Under the provision, copyright holders — such as movie studios — send a notice to ISPs to inform them about alleged infringements. The ISP, in turn, is required by law to forward that notice onto the customer. But the ISP isn’t allowed to reveal the identity of the person to the copyright holder without a court order.

If you want to protect your privacy, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.  Initially used a secure way for mobile workers to connect to their office networks, this technology is now commonly used to protect privacy.  By privately connecting to a server in another part of the world, your internet traffic will be routed to that server and will appear to originate from that location.  As long as that service does not log your IP address, you can use the internet with a fair amount of anonymity.

Though privateinternetaccess.com is one recommended company that provides this service, I use cloudnymous.com since it is pay per use.  You can select a server based on location and the rates vary depending on its location (either daily, monthly or per gB).  A typical daily rate is 15 cents.

Cloudnymous uses the openvpn protocol and provides an app which shows a map of the world with the servers pinpointed.  There a few free servers that you can try before committing to buy credit.

Though only some servers officially support P2P, I’ve found as long as you have the .torrent file downloaded, P2P will work.  Switching servers if speeds are slow can also help.   I’ve also had some connections disconnect so I would wait to see if you have a steady connection before walking away.  With Vuze, you can bind the program to a connection but I’ve found the connection name may change each time.

VPN’s can also be used to view websites that restrict video based on your location though they could be blocked.  There are proxy services such as Hola and Proxfree that could be used to bypass geo restrictions.  Proxies don’t encrypt your connection to the server like a VPN and typically only work with HTTP (web browser) traffic.

Update Mar 2016 – I notice servers disappearing and went to the cloudynmous website to discover they were shutting down by the end of the month.  Looks like I need to find another provider.  Private Tunnel charges by the GB and has an unlimited plan for $30/yr.

 

cloudy

Huawei Ascend Y330 Y530 Budget Android Smartphone Review and Tips

Android, Technology

If you are looking for a budget smartphone, consider the Huawei Ascend Y330 (discontinued) or Y530.  Huawei (pronounced waa-way) is a large telecom company in China.  These phones are available on pay-as-you go plans in Canada on GSM networks like Rogers (7-11 Speakout and Petro Canada), Bell, and Virgin Mobile .  The phones are easily unlocked online (search ebay for huawei unlock).  Regular retail price is around $90 but these phones have been on sale for as low as $45.  Keep your eyes on the flyers for Visions, Superstore or Best Buy if looking for a deal.

Both of these models are similar and the main differences are that the Y330 has a 4″ display with Android 4.2 while the Y530 is slightly larger at 4.5″ with Android 4.3.  Both models feature  dual -processor cores,  512MB RAM ,  4GB storage, GPS, Bluetooth and FM radio.  Cameras on both models are pretty crappy.  An earbud/microphone (which also doubles as the FM antenna) are included.

With both the limited RAM and storage, you have to be careful not to have too many apps stored or running in the background.

To optimize memory, here are a few tips.

  1. Buy a microSD flash memory.  16GB or 32GB can be found relatively cheaply and can expand the storage on you smartphone.  Under Settings->Storage, change the Default storage location to SD card and when transferring files like pictures, video and music, store these on SD card.  Make sure apps that save files like your camera are set to store to SD card as well.  Under Settings->Manage Apps, you can select an app and it may be possible to Move the app to SD card.
  2. Disable bloatware.  The Bell/Virgin Mobile branded Huawei Y530 has a lot of bloatware that can’t be uninstalled but can be disabled under Setting->Manage Apps.
  3. Don’t install too many apps.  Even if you have installed an SD card, most apps can only run from installed memory.  An app like Facebook is a known memory hog and could bog down your phone considerably.
  4. For GPS, I used the paid GPS Navigation and Maps app since it works offline without requiring a data connection.  Since the maps are fairly large, I make sure they are saved onto my SD card.  I also use the GPS Status app since there is no built in app for GPS.

To conserve battery life, turn off wifi, gps and bluetooth unless you are using that feature.   At home, I have a tablet running gmail so don’t need wifi running on my phone.   If you are travelling and using your phone as a gps, put the phone in airplane mode which will shut off the cellular radio.

If you need more performance in a smartphone, consider the Moto G which has 1GB RAM and a quad-core processor but will be quite a price jump from the Huawei models.

 

 

Tweaks and Apps for Android

Android, Technology

“There’s an app for that”.  But there are also settings you can change without needing to install an app.  Here’s what I’m running for both by smartphone and tablet.

Apps

Hangouts Dialer – You will need Hangouts installed but with this dialer, you can make free phone calls within Canada and the US.  Your caller ID will show up as “Private Call” if your friends are screening their calls.  You can only get a free incoming number from Google Voice if you are in the US.

GPS Navigation & Maps – Since I don’t have a data plan for my phone, I use this app which supports offline mode.  The app is $1 and maps are about the same price.  Handy for travelling as well.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware – I run this lightweight antivirus program on all my PCs and have this installed on my Android devices.  You are more likely to get viruses if you install downloaded .apk files vs installing from the Play Store.

Missed Call Reminder – My old Razr phone would beep at me if I got a missed call or text and my smartphone doesn’t do this by default.  There are two apps named Missed Call Reminder and the one from DO Software works much better.

Call Blocker – This app allows you to block numbers.  I’m looking at you SFU alumni telemarketing fundraising.  However, I noticed spam calls are increasingly spoofing cellular prefix numbers.

GPS Status – Android doesn’t have a default GPS app which is probably why lost hikers can’t tell rescuers their location.  This app will tell you if your GPS is searching or locked and your position and speed.

Dailyroads Voyager – I am experimenting with this app which allows you to use your smartphone as a dashcam.

Android Settings

Battery percentage – I find it difficult to figure out how much battery level I have remaining with just a small icon.  Though there are many apps that let you display it as a percentage, you may be able to do this in Settings->Battery->Battery Indicator

Display date on the status bar – Settings->Bars->Clock and date.  This feature may not be available on all Android versions.

Increase your battery life – Bluetooth, GPS and Wifi all draw power when on.  To maximize battery life, turn these off when not needed. In Kitkat, the GPS is enabled by turning on Locations.

Put website shortcuts on your desktop – You can put shortcuts to your favorite websites on your desktop.  With Chrome, click on the settings icon on the top right and then “Add to Home Screen”

Screenshot_2015-09-20-13-05-55

Asus ME301T Android 4.4 Kitkat Installation

Android, Technology

Update: I highly recommend installing Lollipop 5.1.1 instead of Kitkat since it runs much better and is stable.   You can also remove all the GAPPS bloatware with a clean install.   You still need to follow the instructions in this post to install TWRP (backup and restore utility) but see the Lolliop installation post here.

The Asus ME301T tablet only supports the older 4.2 Jellybean Android OS.  I think that Asus wants you to buy a newer tablet if you want the latest OS.  Luckily,  third party ROM’s can be installed though this will void any warranty and there is a chance you could brick your device.  Here is the procedure I used to update my tablet.

  1. Make sure you have the latest firmware Settings->About Tablet->Build number should be US_epad-10.6.1.31_201xxxxxx for the US version.  Update the firmware on your table from the About Tablet menu if it’s not the latest.
  2. From your tablet, go to ASUS’s website to download the utility to unlock your boot loader.  Remember this will void the warranty.  Go to Settings->Security->Unknown Sources and enable it to allow apps to be installed from outside the Play Store.  Files are available here under the Utilities section.  The downloaded file needs to be unzipped, installed and then run to unlock your boot loader.
  3. Once the bootloader is unlocked, you will need to install the latest TWRP 2.8.1.x The procedure requires the utility fastboot for the PC, the proper drivers to connect to your tablet with Windows and USB debugging enabled on your tablet.  TWRP files available here.  Transferring the file should take seconds – try again if it’s not working.  Procedure can be followed here.
  4. To boot with the TWRP, first make sure your tablet is powered off (not sleeping).  Then hold the vol-down key and hold the pwr key.  When you see the startup messages let go of both buttons and press the vol-up key once with RCK (recovery) selected.  Vol-down cycles through the choices and Vol-up selects.  Wait a few seconds and you should see the TWRP menu screen.
  5. With TWRP, you want to backup your factory OS so you can restore it if necessary.   Backing up the data is optional but you should back up to an external micro SD card.
  6. Download the latest Omnirom for Kitkat (stable) and transfer to your tablet (do not extract).  Download from here.  If you want to experiment with Lollipop (pre-release), check here.
  7. Using TWRP, perform a wipe and then an install pointing to the omnirom package.
  8. Reboot and you should be running Kitkat

 

Hacking (Softmodding) your Wii 2015

Technology

Though the original Wii has not been produced since 2011, it is still a fun game system especially with younger kids.  Though it doesn’t have have hdmi, you can get better video quality buying a component video cable (ebay) and then change the system settings to 480p and widescreen mode.  The default with the standard composite cable is 480i and 4:3 ratio.  You can find used Wii systems for between $40-$80 on Craigslist.  Wiimote controllers are harder to find since they are still supported on the Wii U.  Motionplus controllers are a bit more expensive and not really necessary since fewer games require or support the extra accuracy.

I was given a Wii with a non-reading CD drive by a friend and I was able to replace the drive by finding a guide online on how to disassemble it.  I had to purchase a replacement drive and special screwdriver on ebay.  The Wii then sat for several years since my friend had already replaced the broken one.  Here is one disassembly guide  https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Wii+Teardown/812

I decided to get it going for my nieces and found that it could be softmodded to run games off USB drives instead of CD.  There are lots of guides available and it can be difficult to sort through all the info.

Make sure your Wii is updated with the latest firmware 4.3U (US,  June 2010).  This allows you to use the latest hack (Letterbomb) which installs the Homebrew Channel.  Homebrew Channel allows you to run your own apps on the Wii.  Hacking requires a SD card formatted FAT32.  Earlier guides mention only using non SDHC cards smaller than 2GB but with the latest firmware, SDHC cards CAN be used.  I used a 8GB SDHC card.

To run games off a USB drive, you can look for  USB Loader GX app which is copied onto your SD card.   This app doesn’t support running games off the SD card but another loader, CFG Loader, can be used if you want to.

There is another tool called modmii which may simplify the procedure for hacking.

If you have a HTPC, you can play Wii games with the Dolphin emulator.  You will need a game-quality graphics card and a fairly fast computer to run the emulation.  Original wiimotes are recommended though there is a dolphin wiimote app for your smartphone.  To connect to the wiimote, a generic bluetooth dongle is needed (couple of bucks on ebay).  Check on ebay as well  for a cheap USB powered sensor bar but you can use two candles in a pinch.

 

Email and Password Security

Technology

With the vast amount of passwords we have to remember, there are a couple of tips to protect against hackers.

  1. For financial websites  like Paypal and banking, use long and unique passwords with symbols (if allowed), uppercase letters, numbers and non-dictionary words.
  2. Your email password needs to be very secure.  If hacked, the attacker could send spam or scam emails requesting money to your contact list or reset passwords on other websites including your bank.
  3. If using gmail, enable 2-factor authentication.  This will send a digital code via text to your mobile phone to enable login.  If travelling, you can pre-print a set of codes.  Twitter also supports 2-factor authentication.
  4. Do not reuse passwords for sensitive websites.  If it becomes compromised, hackers may try to use your password on other sites.

With leaks of many password databases including Ashley Madison, LinkedIn and Rockyou, hackers have access to the most common passwords which include ‘123456’, ‘12345’, ‘123456789’, and ‘password’.  There is no guarantee your password is stored safely nor will it be hacked or compromised.

Asus Memopad ME301T Touchscreen Problem

Android, Technology

I purchased a used Asus Memopad Smart 10 (ME301T) tablet recently as an upgrade from a 7″ and later 8″ tablet, mainly to help my eyes out with a larger screen.  Though released in 2013, it is currently still being sold but looks like it will be replaced by the Zenpad 10.  Upgrading from the Memopad 8, additional features include a charging LED on the power button and a micro HDMI port.  As a downgrade, the tablet was running Android 4.2 Jellybean.  My biggest issue with Jellybean was the inability to remove empty home screens though a different launcher would allow this.

After doing a factory wipe, I noticed that the touchscreen was occasionally unresponsive.  Swipes and taps had troubles registering which was verified by enabling “Show Touches” in debugging mode.

I decided to upgrade to a custom ROM which supported Kitkat 4.4 to see if performance could be improved.

After a lot of searching, I was able to piece together a procedure to unlock the bootloader, load the TWRP bootloader (which allows backup, restores and installs), and then load the Kitkat ROM.  See procedure here.

With Kitkat, the touchscreen performance was slightly better but the problem still persisted.  I finally found a fix which involved forcing an update of the digitizer firmware here.  I had to image back to the original Jellybean OS.  Remove the back cover.  Disconnect the digitizer/touchscreen flex cable.  Reboot and wait for it to update the touch firmware and interrupt it by unplugging the battery cable.  Plug the flex cable and battery back in and reboot again.

I still had one final problem with touches sometimes not being recognized which I traced to the Facebook app.  It is a big RAM hog and closing it does not remove it from memory.  It had to be uninstalled for my tablet to function smoothly.

See my tips for tweaking Kitkat here.