How to Transfer Blackberry Contact List to T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream)
If you’re trying to copy your Blackberry contacts to your new T-Mobile G1, don’t fret, it is possible, and fairly easy if you have broadband or WiFi on your Blackberry.
Sync your Blackberry contacts using Google Sync:
The first and easiest method is to use either your broadband or WiFi connection on your blackberry and go to http://m.google.com/sync. It should detect that you’re on a Blackberry and have a link for you to download the Google Sync app. Download Google Sync and install it, after that it should show up in your list of apps on the Blackberry.
Open Google Sync on your Blackberry, login to your google account, and there should be a Sync Now button at the bottom of the welcome screen once you login.
Once this sync is done, on your G1 click the Menu button and go to Settings > Data Syncronization, make sure the Contacts setting is checked, hit the menu button again and click Sync Now.
Sync your Blackberry contacts using a CSV file:
The other method is to export your Blackberry contacts to a CSV file, and import those into Gmail in order to do the sync.
Unfortunately I don’t have detailed steps on how to create the CSV file yet, but I’m working on that.
There should be a method in the Desktop Manager for the Blackberry to export your contact list, and if you can’t create a CSV file directly from the Blackberry, I know you can export them to Outlook and then export them from Outlook into a CSV file.
Once you have the CSV file, login to Gmail and go to the Contacts section from the menu on the left. In Contacts you should see an Import link on the top right, then a Choose File button in the center. Click on Choose File and you will navigate to and select your CSV file. This should start the import process and add all of your contacts to the My Contacts section of your Contacts list.
Once this sync is done, on your G1 click the Menu button and go to Settings > Data Syncronization, make sure the Contacts setting is checked, hit the menu button again and click Sync Now.
How to Reset HTC Touch Jade 3G Edition
The HTC Touch Jade 3G can be reset two different ways, either by a soft reset or a hard reset.
The soft reset will simply clear memory and restart the device, while the hard reset will wipe the device completely and set it back to factory defaults.
I would suggest the soft reset for most minor problems or if the device is locked up, and I would only use the hard reset if absolutely necessary.
To perform a soft reset on the HTC Touch Jade, do the following:
Take the back cover off, and look at the right side of the battery compartment, you should see a tiny reset button. Click the reset button with your stylus to perform a soft reset.
To perform a hard reset on the HTC Touch Jade, do the following:
First, make sure you’ve backed everything up on the device, because this will wipe all data and settings.
Also, make sure to backup the data on your memory card using Activesync or Windows Mobile Device Center if you have it set to encrypt your files, because once the hard reset is done those files will be unreadable otherwise. Once the reset it done, you can use the software to put the files back onto the memory card on the phone and they should still be readable.
Power off the device, then hold the Volume Down and Enter buttons at the same time, then press the Power button. A message should come up asking if you’re sure you want to do this, let go of the buttons you held down and press the Volume Up button to accept, or any other button to cancel the reset.
Screen Flipped Upside Down or Sideways?
One of the easiest and greatest gags to pull in the office, flipping someone’s screen upside down if they left their computer unlocked.
To flip the screen hold Ctrl + Alt and hit Down on the arrow keys to make it upside down, or Up on the arrow keys to make it right side up again.
Depending on your video card, you might be able to flip it 90 degrees left or right as well, using Ctrl + Alt and the Left or Right arrow keys.
This can actually be useful if you have a monitor that tilts sideways, if you would rather look at it in portrait mode instead of the default landscape mode.
By the way, you might want to lock your computer when you leave your desk, or this might happen to you too.
Hold the Window Key + L to quickly lock your computer.
How to Reset HTC Touch (P3450)
The HTC Touch can be reset two different ways, by a soft reset or a hard reset.
The soft reset will simply clear memory and restart the device, while the hard reset will wipe the htc touch and set it back to factory defaults.
To perform a soft reset, do the following:
Take your stylus and poke in the small hole on the bottom of the device.
To perform a hard reset, do the following:
First you’ll want to backup your data if you want to keep anything, because this will wipe the device entirely.
Hold the Talk and End buttons at the same time, and while holding these buttons press the reset button on the bottom of your device with the stylus.
Keep holding the Talk and End buttons until a message comes up on the screen asking if you really want to do this. Press the Enter key to accept and the device will be restarted and set to factory settings.
How to Reset the Zune
Like any other device, the zune can lock up from time to time requiring a reset.
To reset the zune do the following:
Hold down the back button and the up button at the same time, and keep holding until the screen turns black, which can take several seconds.
Once you see the zune logo and a progress bar start to fill, it should be booting up at that point, and the zune should be restarted so you can let go of the buttons.
How to Hard Reset Blackberry Curve
If you are having major problems with your blackberry curve, or you simply need to start fresh, sometimes the easiest fix can be a hard reset which will wipe the device back to factory defaults, just like it came out of the box.
To perform a hard reset on the blackberry curve, do the following:
In the blackberry menu go to Options > Security Options > General Settings and select Wipe Handheld.
How to Hard Reset the iPhone
Like any computer, the iPhone has to be reset from time to time.
Press and hold the home button (large button below the screen) and the sleep button (the button on the top right of the device) for about ten seconds.
Once the screen goes black, the device should now be off. Turn the iPhone back on by hitting the sleep button again.
Use Orca MSI Editor to Edit MSI Files
Orca is a pretty sweet little program offered in Microsoft’s SDK package, but I have hosted the Orca msi editor here so you don’t have to download the entire SDK kit.
You can edit just about everything in the msi package with this editor, but you should naturally be careful not to edit anything that will damage the installation package.
I’ve edited one of the error messages below as an example.
There is an alternative program called InstEd which essentially has the same functionality, with a few extras like tabs, change hightlighting, better validation, and more. Check out InstEd if and see for yourself.
Management Console Error: MMC Can Not Open the File
If you’re trying to access a snapin in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) in Windows XP or 2000 and you’re getting an error that says:
MMC can not open the file, this may be because the file does not exist…
Try to just open the MMC console by itself and see if it opens:
Start > Run > MMC
If this opens ok, but just won’t load any snapins, then try to download the Microsoft XML Parser to reinstall it.
If MMC doesn’t open at all, thenyou might have to run the system file checker.
Start > Run > CMD > sfc /scannow
You’ll need your Windows XP disc to run this command, but it essentially means that some of your Windows XP files are damaged or missing, and this should replace them.
HTC Dream Keyboard Shortcuts
If you like keyboard shortcuts, then you’ll love that the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) has a lot of them, and most are customizable.
The first set of shortcuts are performed by holding the Menu key, and pressing a key on the keyboard. There are only a few of these, and I have not found a place to change or add to these, so here they are:
- Menu + A = Add to Home (add an app, shortcut, widget, or wallpaper to the home screen)
- Menu + S = Google Search
- Menu + W = Set Wallpaper
- Menu + P = Messaging
- Menu + N = Notification Window
The next set is the Quick Launch shortcut list, which is entirely customizable for just about every button on your keyboard. These are performed by holding the Search key (the magnifying glass) plus a corresponding key on the keyboard.
This list is just the default set which can be customized as you see fit. To modofy the Quick Launch shortcuts click the Menu button and go to Settings > Applications and click Quick Launch.
- Search + B = Browser
- Search + C = Contacts
- Search + E = Email (regular email, not the Gmail client)
- Search + G = Gmail Client
- Search + I = Instant Messenger
- Search + L = Calendar
- Search + M = Maps
- Search + P = Music
- Search + S = Messaging (text messaging client)
How to Enable GPS on the HTC Dream
By default the HTC Dream triangulates your general location using your wireless signal so your GPS isn’t always needed, which is fine most of the time since leaving the GPS on at all times can really drain the battery, and since GPS needs a view of the sky while your wireless signal does not.
The only problem is that your location via wireless signal is not as precise as GPS.
To turn on GPS click the Menu button and go to Settings > Security & Location.
Click on Enable GPS Satellites.
This should place a satellite dish looking symbol into your notification bar at the top when GPS is turned on.
Alternatively, if you need quicker access to this function, search the android market for an app called ToggleGPS. This app will allow you to create a shortcut on your home screen to enable and disable GPS much quicker.
How to Turn Off Call Waiting on the HTC Dream
Call Wating is turned on by default on the HTC Dream, but if you would rather not be disturbed during a call and send it automatically to voicemail instead, do the following:
Click the Menu button and go to Settings > Call Settings > Additional Call Settings.
From here just click on Call Waiting to remove the check from the checkbox.
How to Turn on BlueTooth on the HTC Dream
Bluetooth on the HTC Dream is turned off by default, and It’s generally a good idea to leave Bluetooth off when you’re not using it to conserve battery power.
To turn it on click the Menu button and go to Settings > Wireless Controls.
Click on Bluetooth to enable it.
Alternatively, if you need quicker access to this function, search the android market for an app called ToggleBlu. This app will allow you to create a shortcut on your home screen to enable and disable Bluetooth much quicker.
How to Turn on WiFi on the HTC Dream
The WiFi on the HTC Dream is turned off by default, and It’s generally a good idea to leave the WiFi off when you’re not using it to conserve battery power.
To turn it on click the Menu button and go to Settings > Wireless Controls.
Click on WiFi to enable it.
Alternatively, if you need quicker access to this function, search the android market for an app called ToggleWifi. This app will allow you to create a shortcut on your home screen to enable and disable WiFi much quicker.
How to Close Open Applications on the HTC Dream
If you own an HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) then you’ve probably noticed that you don’t really close applications, they stay running in the background. This isn’t normally a problem, but if you have found that something is hung up and won’t respond any other way, what do you do?
Go to the android market and search for an app called Close Everything.
This is a very simple app that just tries to close any open applications. You will still see any recent apps when you hold down the Home button, because this list is really just a recent apps list, not a currently running list.
