Replace your Blackberry Screen (9700)

How many times have you had a dead screen or cracked it?
Loads right? Personally I like to sort things out myself.

I was is a hurry the last time I cracked my screen. It happened on the video shoot for 'One'. All that lifting and closing the boot trying to get the perfect shot. I checked my messages during a break and the director came back in a hurry saying that the battery on the camera would die any minute. I lifted and cosed the boot and heard a crack.... I left my phone resting screen side up in the boot doorway.

Needless to say the screen was messed up. I had a million things to do and needed my phone to work ASAP so the next day I went to a local repair place in Stratford to get the screen fixed. They charged me £35 for the crappest, cheapest screen that didn't fit into the housing properly and had a poor quality faded display. Everything looked high in contrast and I found it hard to see icons properly, let alone read anything. I got ripped off. For £30 I thought I could probably get a new screen from Ebay with much better quality and including the tools to do the job myself.

It turns out I was right. I ordered my screen on a Saturday and it arrived on Tuesday. The packaging was great, the product is well protected and I think it is an original screen not some cheap imitation. This is where I got my screen and tools from: http://r.ebay.com/KyH9vd.

I found a nice little video which walks you through disassembly and reassembly.

You need the two screwdrivers provided in the ebay link, the pry tool and a flat head screwdriver. I used a sim card to do some of the things the tech in the video did with his blue pry tool. I know other techs that use credit cards, just be careful and you'll be fine it is really simple.

When I asked for a refund from the rip off repair shop, the salesman offered to replace my screen with one directly from a phone that they had for sale (what screen would the next sucker be buying then?). I'm glad I refused and got to repair it myself. I've learnt a new skill and I've got the tools to do the job again if I need to. If you're not feeling confident about fitting it yourself holla at your boy and I'll hook you up for a small fee.

Condoms for Computers

The image is a snapshot of the source code from my website kalsereousz.co.uk.

I have no idea where that vb script came from, or where the exe file it calls is, but this is very serious. That script calls a trojan dropper which is malicious software that will download all sorts of programs to your computer. What happens after that? God knows, the point is someone has gained access to your machine.

I was lucky enough to be experimenting with some new anti-virus software and running a scan after a new install. The scan picked up the problem and quarantined my website file which I recently downloaded from the server that hosts my site. I thought I might as well check the online copy on the server, just incase its not a simple local virus I might have got from a usb stick or something. Boy was that a good idea.

The new Antivirus software I trialed was Kaspersky Pure 2.0. I've used other Kaspersky products before and Pure is a typically solid piece of software. Easy to use, full of advanced functions and very very good. It has a 'safe run' mode that allowed me to visit the site and not be in danger of downloading a virus. Before the page loaded, a pop up notified me the website has a trojan downloader. Cracking stuff if you want to trial out a potential dodgy website.

Well I'm off to edit this source code and try to save my site. If you're looking for an anti-virus, Kaspersky will have you well protected. Stay strapped love birds.

Touch Me Tease Me - Tactile Screen

Ever found it difficult to type on a touch screen? The world's first consumer tactile touchscreen is here to solve this.

Tactus Technology have developed a screen that morphs into a tactile keypad. Little lumps are formed on the touchscreen forming a querty keyboard at your command. Another command makes them disappear returning your smooth surface. This will be available for mobile devices and can even be used in cars. We are told the mobile device tactile keyboards will be integrated with the best selling popular brands and on sale late in 2013.

The speaker doing the demonstration at CES 2013 tried not to give away too much concerning their partners but he did let the word Android slip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xhXJWEth18&feature=youtube_gdata_player

British Tech

British Gas have come up with a couple of usb devices that allow customers to top up their home energy from their computer.

Its about time energy companies started to give customers more options in they way they pay for services. Approaching what is reported to be the coldest part of the winter, its great to not need to brave the elements for a topup.

These gadgets ooze convenience and are very simple to install. Utiluzing plug and play technogy, you simply insert your gas card or electricity key into a reader, plug your reader into a usb port and log into the british gas website.

You need to setup an account and can pay via debit/card (and I think paypal but dont quote me on that). I've saved my card details and can topup my device in seconds, if you have a British Gas gas card or electric key system give them a call and order yours for free.