Tips for setting up Nokia Messaging

• You need to create an account at http://email.nokia.com and install the application by sending yourself a SMS from your account.
• Make sure there is a packet data connection on your cellphone, it doesn’t have to be active. Nokia Messaging just needs a packet data connection to continue the setup.

More info http://betalabs.nokia.com/betas/view/nokia-messaging-for-s60-5th-edition and http://thenokiaguide.com/2009/08/12/problem-solved-nokia-messaging-requires-packet-data-connection-for-setup/

Setting up GPRS on Reliance GSM on E71

For real internet access without a proxy you need to setup Reliance Smartnet (smartnet) on your cellphone. This is different than RelianceWAP (rwap) which works via a proxy and won’t allow your applications to access the Internet. The official way of messaging “ALL” to 55100 did not work for me as my phone was not found in their database.  I had to contact the Reliance customer service (*333) a couple of times for them to send me the settings or enter them manually. Once I had smartnet settings on my cellphone I recharged my number with Rs.303 which gives me unlimited data for 30 days. After the recharge I was able to access the Internet and run applications (eBuddy, Nokia Email, Opera, Skype, Facebook etc.).

Setup Nokia Email Application with WiFi

A lot of users are having problems setting up the Nokia Email app on their S60 phones using only WiFi. The application doesn’t let you pick an access point during email account setup. Therefore, you need to be connected to a WiFi access point BEFORE setting up your email accounts. To do this connect to a WiFi network and start browsing, this will force your phone to establish an access point using WiFi. Next, hide the browser (do not exit the browser application) and go back to your home screen. Now you can start setting up your email accounts using the Nokia Email application.

I dig Digsby

I have been looking for an all-in-one client for IM but have never been satisfied with any. Each one of them had their own strenghts, some had good UI, some were too complex and support for IM’s was patchy. But finally here’s a client that can handle pretty much any IM, Social networking app AND even IMAP/POP accounts. It’s brilliant, the UI is simple and yet powerful .. It manages to be very advanced without being complex and confusing. Best of all, its cross-platform and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Get it here.

Update your ITI modem aka DNA-A211 firmware

There’s a firmware update for DNA-A211 also branded as ITI. Get it here.

Configuring BSNL DNA-A211 ITI router/modem to automatically connect

If you have a ITI branded modem from BSNL, you probably wont find much documentation about setting it up for multi-use. The unit is actually an OEM product from SEMINDIA model # DNA-A211. This how-to will show you how to setup the router so that it automatically connects to the Internet on start-up, so that you don’t have to dial a connection.

First we shall setup the DSL connection:

1. Connect  to the modem/router through Wired Ethernet and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar. When prompted enter your username/password. It should be admin/admin by default. If you have forgotten the username/password, you can reset the modem by pressing the reset button on the back of the router with a pin for 10 seconds. If you can’t access the modem at 192.168.1.1 try this.

2. Click on Advanced Setup -> WAN. You should see the following entries. The one we are interested in is the first one as shown. Click Edit.

3. Enter the settings as shown below and click next.

Now to setup your wireless access, goto Wireless -> Wireless Bridge and choose the following:

Also ensure that your wireless is enabled by going into Wireless -> Basic:

Also ensure that your DHCP is enabled by going to Advanced Setup -> LAN and checking that your DHCP is enabled as shown below:

Now go into Management -> Save/Reboot. This will save the settings and reboot your router. On restart the modem will establish the connection and you can simply connect to the wireless network.

Hope this helped. If you have any questions just ask in the comments section.

Picasa for Linux

I had been looking for a good photo manager for uBuntu but couldn’t find that one tool that did it all. I completely overlooked Picasa because I didn’t think Google had a Linux version, but they do which runs on wine and therefore looks just like the windows version. Great tool to manage albums and also upload them on picasaweb.

Google Gears for WordPress

Wow it does make a difference, I am running this on uBuntu 8.04 and Firefox 3.0.6. Websites like wordpress that are js and css intensive really benefit from Gears.

iPod Shuffle on Ubuntu with Banshee

My girlfriend got me an iPod shuffle on valentine’s day and I did not want to use iTunes (or windows for that matter) for managing it. I am running Ubuntu and use Banshee as my music manager. So I updated to the latest version of Banshee and plugged in my iPod, it was recognized instantly by Ubuntu and Banshee. The iPod status bar is like  iTunes and the rest of the interface is Banshee (example of copying what works well and still keeping its own identity).  Below is a screenshot :

Innovative Microsoft

Yea I know what you are thinking, Microsoft isnt really known for innovation but rather for immitation. Anyways I think they are taking a lead with a new technology called PhotoSynth, which ties together photos from different users and helps create a 3D view of the location. Take a look at the demo here, really cool stuff !!