Agave Mountain

This happened to me today. 

I bricked my BlackBerry by applying a recommended firmware update, when I followed the installation instructions.  The blackberry update utility failed with an error, and the Curve wouldn't show any signs of life except for a periodic red LED flashing.  Further, the BlackBerry software will not recognize the BlackBerry.

Obviously, I'm not the only one who has suffered at the hands of bad software.  The NVRAM boot code is still there, but you will have to re-flash the device over USB.  The problem is, the BlackBerry manager doesn't have a way for you to do this easily. 

To recover:

• Unplug your BlackBerry.  Pull the battery for good measure.
• Download and install the latest BlackBerry Manager software
• Download and install the latest firmware from your phone provider.   T-Mobile is HERE.
• Install the battery and plug in your BlackBerry with the USB cable. 

At this point you will be tempted to follow the instructions again.  Go ahead and try.  When you get tired, run a console (cmd.exe) and type the following to bring up the loader manually.

cd "\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader"
loader.exe /nojvm

Now you should run the wizard.  Check off the software you want to install no the device and you shouldn't have anymore problems.  Of course, I did.  I received the following error:

Unable to complete the loading operation: Unable to reconnect to the device during a multi-stage load operation.

Awesome. 

A search of the Internet showed that there is a utility that will allow you to wipe the BlackBerry, namely,  JL_Cmdr.  Use this utility to wipe the device.   Unplug, take out and reinstall the battery, and plug the device back in.  At this point, the USB driver should install/detect.  Next, manually run the loader (see above) and the device will be erased, flashed, and the updated software will be installed.

NOTE: Do not select any additional packages when running the application loader the first time.  I had to go through this process several times before I was successful.  The first the device kept spinning for over two hours on one of the files.  I interrupted it and restarted without checking any extra packages and the installation went fine. 

Labels: Gadgets, Nerdy, Tech

Posted by Joe Turner at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today I decided to move my personal blog under the ownership of my work email address, as I migrate from my personal gmail account to my permanent email address.  Here are the basic steps to transfer the ownership of a blog between Blogger accounts:

• First, log into your Blogger Account with the account that owns the blog (author).  From the dashboard, click on the blog, followed by Settings and Permissions.
• Under the Permissions tab, add the Blog Author to whom you want to transfer the account to.
• Send an invitation to invite that user to become a contributing writer.
• Log out.
• Check your email to see the blogger invitation code.  Click on the code and accept.
• Next log back into the Author's account and go back to settings and Permissions.  Choose to upgrade the new contributor as admin.
• Logout and login as the other account.  You can safely remove the original author now.

Simple.

Labels: Web development

Posted by Joe Turner at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

With some overseas travel planned, I started looking at universal chargers to replace a tangled mass of chargers for my Palm, BlackBerry, MBP, iPod, and rechargeable batteries.  After some consideration I decided to leverage my MBP as a universal charger -- and use USB as the conduit to charge everything -- at home, at the office, on the road and in the air.

The thought of lugging several travel chargers and a tangle of cables across the world wasn't appealing to me, so I started to investigate my options for consolidating my power needs on to a universal charging solution.  Previously, I had owned an iGo Everywhere that worked flawlessly with my old laptop and faithfully charged my portable devices.  Unfortunately, it died long ago.

First off all, there are no universal power chargers that offer a MagSafe tip to charge a MacBook or MacBook Pro.  Apple has forbidden any third party from manufacturing or selling the patented the MagSafe tip, due to the extraordinary markup on the chargers.  The workarounds are:

1. use a power inverter (which is inefficient and bulky) with your Apple charger; or
2. purchase an Apple charger cable and make your own tip (instructions HERE and HERE); or
3. purchase a MagSafe tip from someone who has butchered an Apple charging cable for you. 

I was ready to build my own, but to be honest, I'm simply too cheap to do it. 

An iGo Everywhere130 is roughly $150.  Add to that the cost of a new Apple charger is another $80.  On top of that, I would need to purchase tips for various devices for about $10 each.  After the expense and effort, I would end up with a solution that was far more expensive, heavier, and with more cables and parts to keep up with.  That just doesn't make sense for me.

Clearly, there has to be a better way.  There is -- forget the charging bricks and standardize on USB as a charging platform.  As a bonus, you can use auto or wall adapters to charge your USB devices.

Charging Batteries over USB

I have switched over entirely to rechargeable batteries.  While I'm not sure that purchasing rechargeable batteries is entirely cost effective for most people (including me), my Bose noise canceling headset eats enough AAA batteries (1 or 2 per week) to makes it seem worthwhile for me.  Better yet, I no longer have to make trips to the store or search for batteries -- I simply pop the drained batteries into the charger for a few hours and back into the device.

The only problem with this strategy is that most battery chargers tend to be bulky and take a long time charge.  Additionally, they usually come with their own power bricks and most don't work in the car without a power inverter. 

I have found one solution -- the Energizer Duo USB Charger.  The $14 device comes with two energizer AAA batteries, the charger, and an AC USB adapter.  Also -- you can use AC USB charger to power other USB devices straight from the AC outlet (USB wall chargers tend to be around $14 by themselves).  Likewise, if you have an auto USB adapter, you can charge your AA and AAA batteries in the car.

Cutting Clutter with Retractable Cables

My BlackBerry Curve, camera, and a few other devices use a mini USB connector.  For less than $15, I purchased a retractable USB to mini USB cable that is wound around a spring-tensioned spool.  The cable retracts to put an end to the clutter.  This covers my BlackBerry Curve, Camera, and USB disk drive.  I was also able to find a retractable USB charging/synch cable for my trusty Palm E2 for $9 plus shipping.

At a fraction of the cost, size, and weight this seems like a much better way to go over a universal power brick.

Labels: business travel, Nerdy, Tech, Travel Gear

Posted by Joe Turner at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

On behalf of everyone here at Agave Mountain, I want to wish all of you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Posted by Joe Turner at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Since I normally pay off my balances in full each month, I haven't been paying much attention to the "credit crunch" that so many small business owners lament and cry about.  Most of those business owners foolishly financed their businesses with high interest credit cards.  That was, until last Friday, when a collections agent called me from Advanta called to remind me that I was past due "60 days," and if I didn't immediately pay over the phone, my personal credit "would be damaged because I guaranteed the business credit".  

I sifted through my records and couldn't find a statement from last month, and couldn't I find a statement for the current month either.  When I called the Advanta customer service and fought through the automated attendant, I was told that the agent couldn't send me a copy of my current statement because it was "in process--" because the billing period had just closed. 

I was less than 30 days late and was turned over to collections.  I lost several billable hours sifting through stacks of papers, searching for a statement I apparently didn't receive.  I'm sorry, but that kind of frustration for a meager cash back rebate (which was wiped out by the late charge) is simply not worth it.  I electronically submitted payment and canceled the account.  I will be using my debit card from now on.

Less Credit for Only 37% A.P.R.

Well, it looks like I got off lucky.  There are numerous reports of Advanta jacking up interest rates as high as, get this: 37% A.P.R.  Advanta has been quietly resetting customer's interest rates from 1-3 points above prime to 15-20 points above without the business owner knowing it (unless they carefully check their statement).  In some cases, business owners are seeing their interest rates skyrocket to 20 - 31% A.P.R. overnight without any notice.

Credit card companies are jacking up fees, slashing credit limits, and increasing interest rates due to "market conditions."  Unfortunately, this new a trend is running throughout the credit industry -- an industry that is allowed to capriciously rewrite it's agreement with cardholders at will.  And they are: 

"[J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s Chase unit] will also start charging a new $10 monthly service fee to some cardholders who have been carrying large balances for at least two years, while raising their monthly minimum payments to 5% of their outstanding balance, from 2%. Citigroup Inc.'s Citibank unit and American Express Co. have been notifying groups of cardholders that they will be raising their regular interest rates by two to three percentage points. In addition, Amex is raising its rates on cash advances, late payments and defaults, increasing its foreign-exchange fees to 2.7% from 2% on its consumer and small-business cards and eliminating ways to earn rewards on one of its popular cards."

Nice.  I think 2009 is going to bring more of the same: you are going to see more rewards/points devaluations, more fees, and more rate jacking as the credit card companies have to live with their bad financial decisions. 

At this point, I have to agree with Dave Ramsey's philosophy: cut up the credit cards and live debt free.  

References

• Credit-Card Users Face Higher Fees.  Wall Street Journal.
• Credit card rates jumping.  CNNMoney.

Labels: Business, Personal Finance

Posted by Joe Turner at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

The economy is hitting retailers hard this year and some are going out of business (or filing bankruptcy) after January 1st.  Many of these stores are still selling gift cards and have no intention of honoring the gift cards after the first of the year.

Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about:

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores 
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Lowes to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

Updates:

Movie Gallery isn't closing any stores.  The official response to my blog posting is HERE.

Labels: Personal Finance, Scams

Posted by Joe Turner at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Joe Turner at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Let me tell you when this suddenly happened to me, it was unnerving.  In my case, I accidentally must have pushed the secret hotkey combination to rotate the display 270 degrees.

The fix: Right click on the desktop, select Display.  On the settings dialog, go to advanced and navigate through the tabs to find a rotate display option.  This card may be on a tap inserted by the graphics card driver that you have installed.  The option will allow you to rotate the screen back to normal. 

On mine, I simply disabled it. 

Labels: Nerdy

Posted by Joe Turner at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tonight, I spent several hours tonight attempting to synchronize my Palm Pilot Tungsten E2 with Entourage (Microsoft's Mac version of Outlook), in such a way that would allow me to preserve the categories so I could implement GTD.  Unfortunately, I wasted several hours in the attempt and never succeeded 100%.

First of all, much of the information on this on the web is no longer correct.  Microsoft no longer distributes a palm conduit that allows you to synchronize your Palm directly with Entourage.  Instead, you must synchronize  your palm with iSync.

So the process is pretty simple:

1. Install the palm desktop software and synchronize with your palm.  This will validate that your HotSync utility is working.
2. Next, run the iSync application and select "Enable Palm OS Synching"  The Apple iSync package contains a Palm conduit.  Got back the Palm HotSync and change the conduit settings to synch with iSync.  Synch and you should see your calendar and tasks populate iCal.  
3. Finally, set Entourage to synchronize with iCal, etc.,

You are now done, except for one major problem: all of the appointments and tasks on your Palm are dumped into a single category ("Home").  Likewise, if you execute iCal, you will see that it has a new Entourage category.  If you make a change in Entourage, it will show up in iCal under the Entourage calendar.  Changes made to any other categories will not get synchronized with Entourage or the Palm.

In my opinion, that is simply retarded.  Of course, Apple blames Microsoft for not having a conduit of their own for Entourage, completely oblivious to the fact that all Palm data gets funneled into a single calendar category in iCal.

While their may be a workaround that involves plunking $40 down to purchase a third-party condiut, I'm not investing any more time in trying to get this to work.  It's back to Palm Desktop until I can get Outlook running under VMware Fusion to synchronize with the Palm.

Labels: Mac OS X, Time Management

Posted by Joe Turner at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

Not sure if this is legitimate, but according to the blurb I just read, Intuit's MyCorporation is offering free incorporation service next week:

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 from 6am to 6pm (pacific time), MyCorporation is offering a special promotion titled FREE FOR A DAY. For one day only, MyCorporation will process a new Corporation or Limited Liability Company for FREE. That’s a savings of $149 off regular service fees (note: document shipping, state fees, publication fees, and additional product fees are additional). This is the first time this promotion has ever been offered!

Posted by Joe Turner at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments