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Mobile Broadband Slow?

June 28, 2010 in mentat notes, technology, toys and gadgets | 1 comment

I use Sun’s Mobile Broadband product and I have to admit that there are times when it crawls.  Literally crawls.  I can’t surf any website let alone connect to any of the 5 instant messaging networks I login to everyday.  But thanks to the tricks I’ve learned through the months I’ve been using the service, there are ways to boost your speed to remove your frustrations.

  1. Edit the network settings of the Huawei modem softwafe
  2. Relocate the dongle to a better position (usually involves an extension cable)
  3. Use a frying pan as signal catcher
  4. Learn the best times to connect
  5. Refresh DNS/IP address

Let’s take a look at each of the methods I’ve enumerated.

Network settings: Go to TOOLS / OPTIONS / NETWORK / REGISTRATION MODE and choose Manual.  Search for your network and click REGISTER.  Then move to the NETWORK TYPE tab and choose WCDMA PREFERRED.  Click OK to save everything then connect.

Note: you can only do this if you’re still not connected to the network.  Effect is doubtful but it works for Denmark and me.  This tip came from him, actually.
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Iron Man 2 [Thoughts]

May 3, 2010 in entertainment, robotics, science, technology | 1 comment

Just finished watching Iron Man 2 and re-watched Iron Man 1.  Woohoo!!!  Iron Man rocks!  Great movie!  Lots of action and lots of Iron Man.  Love Pepper Pots and Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff.

But story aside, I couldn’t help but think about Tony Stark’s comment to Senator Stern.  “The Iron Man suit isn’t a weapon, it’s a prosthesis.”  It’s very interesting to note that there’s a Japanese company by the name of Cyberdyne Systems that manufactures the HAL-5 “Iron Man” suit to help people and there’s also another similar suit made to help the paraplegics walk again.  So in a way, his statement corroborates the reality of such technology.

Another interesting thing I noticed, and this is in no way truth, just an observation after having read the blog posts below, is the similarity of the story to the current tech wars.  A few weeks ago Apple sued HTC for patent infringement and soon after Google stepped up behind HTC to lend support.  Then Microsoft comes in to lend its support to HTC, as well.  The imagery is a little too similar to Iron Man 2′s storyline. (a few spoilers)

Justin Hammer goes after Tony Stark.  Whiplash attacks Iron Man.  Hammer allies with Whiplash.  Iron Man fights off the Hammer/Whiplash combo.  Then comes SHIELD to help Iron Man’s fight by going after the people behind the drones.  Then lastly enter War Machine, helping Iron Man defeat Whiplash.  Pepper, of course, brought down Hammer.

Interesting coincidence?  Or was it by design?  Lest my maternity ward accuse me of thinking too much over 5 bottles of beer, I will end this post now and leave you with your thoughts.  If you care to share yours, the comment form is open below.  Fire away!   :D

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Deposit Checks Using Your Phone [Redux]

March 21, 2010 in business, financial, technology | No comments

In August 2009 I wrote about USAA offering their depositors the ability to use their iPhones to deposit checks from the comfort of their home or wherever they may be.  The technology allows people to be free of the tedious chore of going to their bank to cash their checks.  It also allows them to have more freedom to go further with their bank, business wise.

A few days ago on Slashdot, the story re-emerged.  This time with more banks joining up on the offering for their customers.  The report doesn’t say when the ability will be available to their customers but it will be soon.

Applications to do just that are already available for Apple’s iPhone and other gadgets from USAA, a company that provides insurance and banking mainly for military veterans. Chase, Bank of America and Citibank are among the banks planning to release similar applications this year.

This is now happening thanks to government legislation and maturing technologies.  The specific technology to be used is called remote-deposit capture.

Here’s how it works. When you take a picture of a check, a computer that receives the image looks for the amount, the check number and the digits on the bottom with information on the check writer’s account number and the bank’s routing number. A photo of the back of the check verifies that it’s been signed by the recipient.

A banking clearinghouse then routes the funds from the check writer’s account to that of the recipient. That also prevents the same check from being deposited multiple times.

Of course, this is in the USA.  Where laws exist to enable the use of such technology.  What about the Philippines?  Do we have laws for this?  Existing or in the works?  I don’t know.  Our politicians are more interested in turf fighting and primping themselves for mass adulation and self mortification right now.

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