Smart Bro prepaid internet was my first subscription before I switched to a stable internet connection at home. This was before the advent of unlimited packages. I used to spend at least P2000.00 per month (blame it to Smart Bro’s 30-minute block metering) because I am a heavy internet user. Until a friend suggested a hack to let me connect to the internet, unlimited, for FREE. Curious as I was, I tried to search tutorials that will allow me such opportunity.

Here’s a video tutorial I followed courtesy of tinkerbytes:

Disclaimer: I Am Jammed is not in any way associated with the uploader or creator of the video. Videos are posted for educational purposes only.

I have the latest interface of the Smart Bro dashboard so I used these steps:

1. Go to Tools then Options.
2. Click on the Profile Management Tab.
3. Create a profile name. In my case I used Smart Buddy.
4. On the APN option, click on Static, then type internet in the field provided.
5. Type *99# as access number under Authentication.
6. Click on the Advanced button below.
7. Choose PAP in the Authentication Protocol Settings.
8. Click OK.
9. On the Network tab, choose WCMA only under network type then All Bands. Click OK.
10. Save your new profile.

You are now done with tweaking your Smart Bro connection. Proceed to the Steps 2 and 3 referred to in the video tutorial.

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Image by clintonjeff via Flickr

I was so excited when I learned from Sir Abe of Yugatech.com that Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 has received an Android 2.3 Gingerbread update.  So I immediately updated my phone software using PC Companion. I was expecting a 2.2 Froyo update, but glad though that they jumped to Gingerbread.

I made a backup of my latest settings, bookmark, contacts, messages, application, etc., using the Backup and Restore app from Sony Ericsson.  However, when I finished upgrading, my saved backup file could not be retrieved.  The application as well was not running or could not be installed.  I was not able to save my data or sync it to my e-mails so I was panicking.  It turned out that the latest Backup and Restore app available at the SE website is not supported by Gingerbread.

So I tried to look for solutions and gladly found out these steps posted at the SE community forum:

1. Download the supported Backup and Restore app using this link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I5CJUPJV. Transfer the apk file to your Android phone.

2. To install it, you need to change the setting. Go to Settings, then click on Applications, then check Unknown Sources. This will allow you to download app available from sources other than the Android Market.

3. On your Android phone, download IO File Manager via the Marketplace.

4. Download the Backup & Restore app, transfer it to your SD car.

5. Use OI File Manager to find it. Tap on it, then install.

Problem’s solved.

Related articles

• How to update/upgrade Sony Ericsson Xperia x10i to Android 2.1 (Eclair)? (iamjammed.com)
• Sony Ericsson Releases Xperia X10 Gingerbread Update (pocketnow.com)
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Gingerbread Update Now Arriving (pocketnow.com)
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 gets Gingerbread (news.cnet.com)
• Gingerbread update for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is now available (jaygohel.wordpress.com)

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I was advised to upgrade the platform at an authorized SE service center but I didn’t find time to visit any so I had to update it myself, and I found out that upgrading was never that easy at first.  I had to install several software to go on with the updating process.  So I will share on you how I have finally upgraded to Android 2.1 successfully.

Software to download:

- Backup and Restore Android App installed to your phone. This can be downloaded directly to your Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i at http://m.sonyericsson.com/backup.
- Sony Ericsson PC Companion 2.0

Steps:
Note: Before starting on the update process, make sure to backup all your data. Updating will reformat your phone and all files will be lost – media files, contacts, bookmarks, etc.

Make sure your battery is at 50% level before starting the update.

1. Open PC Companion using your computer.

2. Connect your Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 phone to your PC. Once connected, PC Companion will automatic detect if your phone needs an update.

3. If you want to perform an update, click on the Support Zone.

4. Click on Phone Software Update.

5. Once update is clicked, you will be directed to the process page. You will then be reminded to backup your data. Processing update will appear. Wait until this finishes.

6. You will then be instructed to disconnect your phone from your PC.

7. Turn off your phone for at least 5 seconds.

8. Reconnect your phone to your PC while simultaneously pressing the cancel/back button. The status light will appear green. This means that the update is already going on. Wait until it finishes.

9. You will then be prompted with a successful update message.

10.  If you connect your phone to your PC again, PC Companion will detect if it is up-to-date.

Android 2.3 will soon be coming to Sony Ericsson Xperia x10.  Basically, the update process will be just the same.

A comparison of Android 2.1 Eclair and Android 1.6 Donut is available here to guide you in deciding whether to update or not.

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My main reason for upgrading to a VPS was the CPU usage issues, so when I had to downgrade, I had to fix a similar issue.

First option: To upgrade. But with the financial gain of my blog due to my irregular blogging activities, I disregarded this option immediately.

Second option: To uninstall some unnecessary plugins. I had to deactivate most of them. Sources say that the Google XML sitemaps, Akismet, CompleteRSS are among the plugins with high CPU usage.

Third option: To install W3 Total Cache.  It is the fastest and most complete WordPress performance plugin. As claimed by the publisher, it dramatically improves the speed and user experience of your site. It adds browser, page, object and database caching as well as minify and content delivery network (CDN) to WordPress.  I just installed this plugin so I am yet to see its effect on my blog.

Best option though is to follow these steps suggested by CravingTech.com.  Currently, I am still observing my site for more account suspensions. If things comes to worst, I may have to upgrade to a semi-dedicated or a VPS account.

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A sluggish internet connection is always frustrating so I’ve been looking for ways on how to boost my internet speed. Thanks to a commenter on this post who suggested this simple way of boosting up your Smart Bro Plug-it Modem.

1. Buy a USB extension cable (1.5m) or the one with a signal booster (5m). This is applicable to the previous versions of the Smart Bro modem (the ZTE-manufactured ones).

2. Put it in a water proof container, then place it on your rooftop or the highest portion of your house.

3. Then after everything is installed, go to Network Settings, choose 3G only. The commenter recommends a ZTE mf627 model because you can choose either 850 or 2200 mhz band. Choosing two different bands may affect your your connectivity or signal because it will tend to transfer your connection on each band.

Thanks to jainess for these tips.

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One convenient way is to register through your mobile phone.  You can go to your Smart Menu on your phone then click Account Balance.  An SMS will be sent to your phone stating your latest balance.

Another way of checking your Smart Gold or Smart Bro account balance is registering to http://smart.com.ph/connect using your mobile number.  With Smart Connect, you can start viewing your:
* Account Balance
* Billing Statements
* Payment Center Directory where you can locate any payment or Bayad centers nearest you.
* Bill Tracker where you can see if they sent the billing statement to your registered address. This allows you to change your correct billing address immediately so no more delays in the delivery of your billing statements.

Smart also offers e.Statement service where a subscriber can opt to receive billing statements through his/her e-mail, in return, he/she will receive 500 points Smart Rewards if he/she is a good payer. With e.Statement service, you can save papers used in printing the hard copy of your bills.

It’s a great thing that Smart has this innovation for the convenience of its subscribers.

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Probably one of the lacking feature of Facebook as the number one social networking site is the inability of the users to change their Facebook profile backgrounds and colors. Unlike its then competitor, Friendster, Facebook users are unable to modify their profile background. We are seeing the same boring news feeds, comment wall, and the ads on the right side. Good thing their are Firefox tools and addons that lets this feature available for Facebook users.

These are the five easy steps to change your Facebook profile color:

- Firstly, this Facebook background modifier is browser dependent. Currently this works only with Mozilla Firefox.

- Secondly, you have to download and install Greasemonkey, a Firefox addon that lets you enjoy this feature. You can visit https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/748.

Greasemonkey is a Firefox extension that allows you to customize the way a webpage displays using small bits of JavaScript.

- Thirdly, after installation of Greasemonkey, you have to restart Firefox to make the addon work.

- Fourth, you have to download the script – the Facebook Auto Colorizer found at http://userscripts.org/scripts/source/3626.user.js.

- Fifth, then your’e done!

That’s five simple steps to change your Facebook profile color without the hassle of changing your CSS layout or posting codes or html layouts. You only need to download, install and click. Enjoy your new Facebook profile.

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I availed of their SIM only plan, since I already have their USB modem. However, when I tried the new SIM, a Smart Gold SIM, it did not work. So my other option at that time was to buy a new Smart Bro usb modem. Good thing that I’ve read that it is actually possible to unlock your USB modem for free online, or at several cellphone repair shops. I opted to do the latter. So I went to SM San Lazaro and had my Huaiwei modem, which is Sun-locked, unlocked. I can now use my Smart Sim using my Sun Broadband modem. I saved P999.00 for doing it.

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If your computer is running slow, and you are sure you do not have a virus, spyware or adware you may try using some of these Win XP tweaks. The more special effects you remove the better.

Some of the effects that slow your PC are:

1. Pictures on the desktop background. A blank wallpaper is the best. Animations or even sounds in the background slow PC even more. Remove Shortcuts on the Desktop. This will be described further below as well.

Right click on My Computer icon and select properties. Go to Advanced Tab, and select Settings next to Performance. Finally select Adjust for best performance. Click OK twice. That is one of the best Win XP tweaks.

2. Is your browser by default plain, or did you install many extensions, themes and cursor symbols? Those slow down speed, so removing them is the best solution if you have a slow PC.

Switch to Windows Classic Theme by right clicking on Desktop and go to Properties.

3. Sounds also cause speed problems, so removing them is another good tweak. These include also startup and shutdown sounds. Remove sounds from your control panel. Double click on the Sounds icon.

4. A lot of MsWord, Notepad, Image and similar files scattered around on your desktop or located in shortcuts can be removed or arranged.

Create new folders, and organise your files. A folder for MsWord documents, images, sounds and Notepad files so you do not waste space.

Shortcuts on your desktop, in start menu and anywhere else can be removed to tweak XP. These are unwanted and are safe to be removed. You know if an icon is a shortcut or not because once you click delete you can read:

“Are you sure you want to delete this shortcut?”

5. Use the search tool to find unwanted files. WIn XP search tool allows you to search for certain file types. For example you can search for only images .gif or .jpg. You can find all the images on your PC, and remove all the unwanted image files.

Same with sound files, documents and you will be amazed about this stuff that has piled up during the years. A brand new computer does not need to search for these files.

Be careful though when using this tweak. Do not remove files you are not sure what their use is. Some files may be system files useful for your PC to work well.

Doing so can damage your PC.

6. Bookmarks or favorites inside your web browser have their negative side too. Same with cookies, cache and browser history.

Remove unwanted sites from your favorites. In Internet Explorer remove cache, cookies and history by selecting Tools, Internet Options and clicking the desired action.

In other browsers these options can also be tweaked from the menu which is usually under Tools. Remove these unwanted files often, or weekly. A weekly or more often job is clearing your recycle bin which helps cleaning wasted space.

Those 6 tweaks will organize your PC for a faster performance. It is the basic for XP users who suffer from slow speed. Even if your PC is not slow, some of the tweaks are still useful in the long run.

by <a href=”http://www.deletespyware-adware.com/”>Karl Smith</a>

Article source: <a href=”http://www.articles4all.info/articles/computers_and_internet/article_63094.php/Who+Else+Wants+To+Tweak+Windows+XP+For+A+Faster+PC”>Articles4All.info</a>

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Upgrading could be the best option because you wouldn’t have to spend longer time deleting every unnecessary files you could find in your computer. But if your saving up for some more important things, it may be an impractical option.

Alternatively, you can:

1. Clean up your hard disk

- Empty your Recycle or Trash bin always. Even though, you have deleted a file or a program, it still adds up space in your hard drive unless you delete it completely from your Recycle Bin.

- Clean your temporary files. The system periodically creates temp files that are documenting the system operation. These temporary files are safe to clean

- Defragmentation. It reduces the amount of fragmentation in file systems. It does this by physically reorganizing the contents of the disk to store the pieces of each file close together and contiguously. It also attempts to create larger regions of free space using compaction to impede the return of fragmentation. Some defragmenters also try to keep smaller files within a single directory together, as they are often accessed in sequence. According to a survey, 42% of PC users fail to defrag their system regularly, adversely affecting system performance. Wikipedia.org

2. Use online storage to securely save your files. Some of the best online storage sites include:

- Mediamax lets you store files securely on the web with as much as 25 GBs of FREE online storage.

- Humyo is a free unlimited internet hard drive.

- Xdrive offers 5GB of space for FREE.

- FreeDrive.com gives you 6GB for FREE.

- Diino serves as your internet desktop. It lets you save store files with their free 2GB storage.

The best thing with online storage are you can use this space to back up your valuable files such as your music, photos and more, automatically and conveniently access all your files from anywhere and easily share your files with friends and family.

3. Resort to online music streaming. Sometimes what fills up your hard disk is to many downloaded music which you can avoid by listening to music free.

I also encourage readers to suggest ways.

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