Metroid II

Check this out:


http://forums.selectbutton.net/viewtopic.php?p=1384825#1384825

Lenovo Yoga Hard Drive

This is the hard drive that was in a Lenovo Yoga laptop in our district:

It's a WD Black ultra slim tablet solid state hybrid drive. 500GB traditional and 16GB SSD.


It was in the device for around 2 months and has malfunctioned. I would recommend going all in on a solid state drive if you can afford it and skip these hybrid type drives completely.

Adobe Suing Forever 21 Over Pirated Software

It looks like clothing giant Forever 21 is facing some troubles for pirating copies of software by Adobe, Autodesk, and Corel:

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/29/7948241/forever-21-pirating-photoshop-adobe-corel-autodesk


Not sure why this would happen, but it doesn't surprise me either.

This is why it's important for companies to know just what is happening on their computer systems and use techniques such as the principle of least privilege to try and prevent these cases.

XBOX 360 Netflix Hidden Menu

Next time you're on Netflix on a 360 try this.

Using the D-Pad on the controller, hit:

Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-Up-Up- Up-Up

Hidden menu has now been accessed! Enjoy those new power user features. 

QNAP TS-870 Pro

Today I got to load up some 2TB drives into a new QNAP TS-870 Pro 8-bay NAS:

The QNAP TS-870 Pro

I really like the form factor and everything went together well. This NAS is advertised towards personal cloud and media use. If you're in the market for one, you can check out more about it at:

http://www.qnap.com/i/in/product/model.php?II=108

Redbox Text Fail

Got these 2 texts from Redbox the other day...

Well, at least it realized the mistake and fixed it haha.

Flashing a Nexus 7 to Android Lollipop

Recently I got to take a Nexus 7 tablet running Android 4.4.4 KitKat and flash it up to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. It took me a while at first, but had I known which image was correct to use, I could have completed this task in probably less than 15 minutes.


Here are some terms to cover:

Root - Gaining root access to a device. Then you're able to run the sudo command/enhanced privileges.

ROM - Modified Android version.

Flash - Installing a new ROM or kernal onto a device.

Brick - "Break" device during flashing or rooting. Device will appear non-responsive or not allow any actions. Most "bricked" devices can be fixed.

Bootloader - Runs the code necessary to start the operating system.

ADB - Android Debug Bridge. Communicate between computer and Android device.


Here's some software to get first that we will use:

Minimal ADB and Fastboot - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790

Nexus Root Toolkit - http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/

Nexus Factory Image - https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

      Note: I got the razor 5.0.1 image. Yours may vary depending on model.

Many great Android resources. If you get stuck, ask here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/


Now we can get started.

USB cable and Nexus 7 ready to go

Install the Minimal ADB and Fastboot. Install the Nexus Root Toolkit from above.

Note: It is possible to do this without the Nexus Root Toolkit. I think it's way easier though using the toolkit and will be more friendly to users that haven't rooted devices before. If you're interested in these methods, Google is your friend.

Nexus Root Toolkit 

Plug the Nexus in via USB and let the drivers automatically install. I'm using Windows 7 and had no issues.

On your device, go to Settings > About Device > find Build Number.

Tap on the Build Number section multiple times until it tells you that Developer Mode is enabled.

Go under Developer Mode > Enable USB Debugging and make sure it is checked.

Now we can unlock the bootloader on the device to allow us to flash our images onto the device.

Open Nexus Root Toolkit. Click the Unlock button > click OK > chose Yes.

Chose yes when this appears on your device

Your device may reboot a few times. When it is booted back up. go to the Settings menu and enable Developer Mode and select USB Debugging again.

Go back into the Nexus Root Toolkit and chose Flash Stock + Unroot. Pick the option to use an image that you've already downloaded.

Once you tell it to install give it some time to complete. It will look like this:

Flashing the Nexus 7

Note: If the above screen gives you an error about signature mismatch, you most likely have downloaded the wrong factory image. This happened to me and my Nexus was "bricked" as it would not load anything. It looked like this:

Uh-oh

If this happens, hold the power and up volume keys down until the device shuts off. Now hold the power  + down volume in at the same time so that the device enters Fastboot mode. Now go back and download a different image to try. You can leave the device in Fastboot mode while you go back into Nexus Root Toolkit and go through the Flash option again trying the new image you downloaded.

For more on Fastboot mode, see: http://www.android.gs/how-to-enter-google-nexus-7-fastboot-mode/


Once completed, your device will reboot. This process may take 5-10 minutes so just let it do its thing.

Once rebooted you should see the setup screen:

Congrats!

Now you will go through the initial setup, connecting to wifi and adding your Google account in.

You will be left with a 5.0.1 device running Lollipop! Check About Tablet under settings to verify.

5.0.1 running! 

   

Lollipop in action

Dell Latitude E5410 Keyboard Replacement Guide

Today I had the chance to replace a keyboard in a Dell E5410 laptop. The cursor was constantly moving on part of the scree as a key had gone bad. It's a very simple process and can be easily done. The replacement process will take around 10 minutes to complete. Once you replace this model of keyboard once, you can easily move that time down to around 5 minutes or less.

You will need 3 things to get started:

The replacement keyboard

1 Phillips and 1 straight screwdriver

Note: These need to be smaller sized screwdrivers. The straight screwdriver is for prying only. You can substitute in a plastic pry bar if you have one available. The straight screwdriver works better for prying as there is less chance of scratching the case up.

Let's get started.

1. By the power button, insert the straight screwdriver or pry bar into the crease of the plastic and begin to pry the plastic around the power button up:

Go slow so you don't scratch the laptop body up

2. Working from right to left, continue removing the plastic panel off. You want the laptop screen to be laying as flat down as you can get it as this will make prying the panel off easier:

Work from right to left

Lay the screen back flat for easier panel removal

3. Now  you will see the 2 small screws holding the keyboard in place. Use the Phillips screwdriver to take them out. They're very small so make sure you don't lose them:

2 screws hold the keyboard down

4. After the screws are removed, start at the top and place your hands/fingers underneath the keyboard and gently pry it upwards. It should begin to pop out of place:

Gently lift the keyboard out and it will disconnect from the bottom portion

5. Now take the replacement keyboard and snap the bottom of it back into place and moving towards the top, lay the keyboard down:

Connecting the bottom first

6. Screw the 2 screws back in. Now working from the left to the right, place the plastic panel back into place. You will hear it "snap" down into place. Make sure it is flush with the laptop and other components. You will easily see if a part of it is still sticking up somewhere:

Snapping panel back into place

7. The final step is to test the new keyboard to make sure it is working:

It works! Great job! 

You have now learned how to replace a keyboard in a Dell E5410! Congrats!

Getting a MicroSD Card into a Galaxy Tab 4 Tablet

I got a very good deal on a 16GB MicroSD card yesterday. I decided to put it in my Galaxy 4 tablet. I woke up today to see that the card had unmounted itself. The issue was that I wasn't getting the card seated all the way into the device. I kept trying with my fingers but could not push it down far enough so that it would "snap" into place.

I present you the best tool for installing a MicroSD card into a Galaxy tablet:

Seriously. The edge of the spoon end will push perfectly down on the MicroSD so that you can pop it into place. Now my card is installed properly and I don't have to worry about it popping out.

Code Insertion via Buffer Overlow on Nintendo Systems

I saw this today for the first time and thought it was pretty cool. Some people figured out a way to insert code into Nintendo games (Super Nintendo and Game Boy).

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/01/how-an-emulator-fueled-robot-reprogrammed-super-mario-world-on-the-fly/


The above link shows this happening in Super Mario World on the SNES.

This years attempts have been just as neat:

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/pokemon-plays-twitch-how-a-robot-got-irc-running-on-an-unmodified-snes/


From watching, these are tool-assisted speed runs where precise inputs are made at just the exact frames to make it appear that magical things are happening. A bot is used as human players could not input the controls fast enough on said frames. These frame manipulations are made in a way to alter the memory in a sort of buffer overflow so that code can be sent to the ROM.

In very easy terms, a buffer overflow occurs when a buffer runs out of storage room and adjacent memory becomes overwritten  to try and store everything.

So you do these things and put code into the ROM and then jump to that specific memory location and the code that has been placed there will run. Really neat stuff.

Stanley 4-in-1 Pocket Screwdriver Review

I just got my latest piece of gear that will be heading to work with me. It is the Stanley 4-in-1 pocket screwdriver. It is very compact and looks like a pen. I ordered mine from eBay, but you can find them from online retailers as well. At the time of this writing, Office Depot has them for only $2.79 a piece:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/486535/Stanley-Bostich-4-in-1-Pocket/?cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-Tools_Equipment-_-486535-VQ6-42102235676-VQ16c-VQ17-pla-VQ18-online-VQ19-486535-VQ20-99730391537-VQ21-

As a funny side story, I was telling my dad that I ordered one of these. He got up and walked over to a drawer where he got two of these exact screwdrivers out. He said that I should have just asked him before ordering one. Will make sure and reference that for the future.

The screwdriver features:

Multi-use with double-ended bits.
This screwdriver bit sizes are: 5/32", 1/8", 1PT, 2PT.


Here is a picture of mine for reference sitting on my desk:

The Stanley 4-in-1 Pocket Screwdriver

The cap easily comes off to reveal the screwdriver bit:

The bottom portion comes off as well, disclosing the storage compartment for the other bit:

Here you can see all pieces taken apart:

I really like having this screwdriver in the field as I can have it in my pocket. It fits comfortably enough to stay there all at all times. It would also fit nice in a shirt pocket or alongside writing utensils in a stationary holder. It will be a time saver, as there are times when I need to swap out a power supply or other part real fast and I'll have to stop and run out to my car to get into my tool bag.

You can see a picture of the screwdriver in my pocket as I'm sitting:

Another thing I like is how sturdy it feels. I've never been a huge fan of multi-bit screwdrivers because a lot of the ones that I've used feel loose. I've even had bits fall out on me. This feels much stronger and feels like a continuous tool rather than just part tool and part bit.

Overall, I would say that is a great buy considering the price and build quality. I've seen a lot of sub $5 screwdrivers and this one impresses me by far the most. I'll probably end up getting a few more just to leave around in the cars and one for at my desk.

Datamation Systems Netvault-IP-40 Security Cart for iPads - Setup and Review

Today at work, we had the chance to setup a Datamation Netvault-IP-40 security cart for use with some iPad Airs. The cart manufacturer website can be found here:

http://www.pc-security.com/

The particular cart model that we worked with can be found here:

http://www.ipadcarts.com/solutions/DS-NETVAULT-IP-40.htm

This cart will secure up to 40 iPads or tablets via a three-point locking system. This is a charge-only cart (will not sync to iTunes) and is currently listed on their site for $1,425.00 + shipping costs. The cart weights in at 120 pounds. Cart dimensions are 24"D x 20"W x 35" H. The cart feels solid and heavy, but is very easy to move and the size makes it nice to maneuver through doors.


The cart includes these outlet adapters pictured below:

The included adapters

The adapters all connect together or can be used individually. We weren't sure at first what they were for until we got to the bottom row of the cart. They can be used to extend an outlet to provide multiple outlets for remaining devices.

The included dividers were of good quality and easy to snap into place. Instructions recommend placing dividers at 4 slot intervals. The dividers are pictured below:

Cart dividers

The installation process was made easier by first getting all of the chargers connected into the outlets in the back of the cart

Unpacking chargers

20 iPad Airs ready for a new home

The included instructions were detailed, I feel like they could be better written. The only time I referenced them was to read about the 4 slot intervals for dividers.

Instruction sheet 1

Instruction sheet 2

My quick setup guide would include the following:

1. Unpack all chargers. Plug the chargers in first to avoid having to go around the dividers.

2. Put up a divider at a time, placing an iPad at a time.

Starting the process of getting the iPads placed was slow at first, but becomes easier after the first couple as you'll develop a rhythm. This is a picture of the top row when we first started out. The bottom row went way faster, as we plugged in all chargers beforehand. 

2 down - 18 to go

Overall, the construction of the cart is well done, but a few of the outlets are tricky to reach. I like the finish and look of the cart door lock as well as the foam handle for moving the cart around. The cart really feels sturdy enough that it could withstand hitting or bumping into things with no problem. 

Front door lock panel

Foam handle makes cart moving easy

The entire setup process took right around an hour with two of us. This was our first experience with this brand and type of cart. I can definitely see the setup of future carts like this being quicker since we found a way to streamline the process. The final outcome looked like this:

20 iPad Airs with room to spare - ready for classroom activities

I would say that this was a successful installation as we ran into no problems other than some outlets being awkwardly placed. Cart construction is good quality and I would recommend a cart like this to anyone looking for a solid way to secure up to 40 devices.

What's Inside an iPad 2?

    Recently at work, there was a pair of iPads that were acting up. The screen wasn't working on one and the other had a distorted screen. I got to test out our iFixit toolkit and open up one of them. This was what I found inside:

     You can see for yourself that there isn't much involved. The screen portion is in the top of the photo with the glass cover to the left and the insides to the right.


     Oddly enough, taking them apart like this and placing everything back together fixed the issues on both. I'm guessing something was just popped loose at some point.

     Taking them apart was easy enough, but if you try it be sure to go slow when prying the glass screen apart because it can crack and spider out across the screen VERY easily.

Xbox 360 Error Code: 42FE-0000-3080-0504-8007-0070 Fix

I recently came across another Xbox 360 error code that proved to be quit frustrating. The error occurred on my brother's Xbox and would not allow him to apply an update for Xbox Live. Without this update, he could not play games online or even add time to his account. It would say an update was available, but when you chose update it would look like it was working for a few seconds, only to error out with the error code of: 42FE-0000-3080-0504-8007-0070.

I saw everything on this issue from checking network connections, checking amount of free hard drive space, and clearing the system cache. None of these fixed the issue. Finally I was able to find the fix rooted deep within an Xbox forum post.

Once my brother got a new controller (one of his buttons was broke) we were able to try this fix and it fixed the issue and he was then able to play over Xbox Live again.

To apply the fix for the above error,

1. Go to Settings  >  System Settings  >  Storage  >

2. Now highlight the main system hard drive unit of your machine.

3. When highlighted, press the follow button combination on the Xbox 360 controller:

LB, RB, X, LB, RB, X

4. Go through any prompts that appear and you should then be able to download the update and get your system back to running properly.


Hopefully, a few people will find this useful if it happens to their machines and can quickly find this information without having to root around like I did.

Blogging Thoughts

Howdy.


I've been thinking lately about the direction I want this blog to go in. Until now it has mostly been technology based. I've played with the idea of making other blogger pages about different topics, but I believe that I could fit them in here just as well.

From now on you may notice posts involving things other than technology. I'd like to be able to share cool pictures, gaming information (video games, magic the gathering, etc.), as well as possible experiments. I feel that having my content all in one place will be easier than trying to span across multiple platforms.

While these changes may occur, this blog will remain technology based at it's core and I'll continue to post reviews, neat tricks, and how-to guides.

As always, thanks for reading,




Michael