HTC EVO GPS fix on Cyanogenmod 7

After recently upgrading my HTC EVO on Sprint to the latest nightly builds I had major issues trying to get the GPS to work properly. I tried installing build number #54, #55, #57, #62, #64, I also tried installing stable release 7.0.3.1 and 7.0.2. But after installing all of these builds had a broken GPS within build.

I had read many possible solutions on the net but the only fix that actually worked was this one:

Warning: This is for advanced users. If you are not comfortable flashing and changing crap on your phone, don't do it. No one is responsible for messing up your phone other than you.

When on a Sense ROM (it can be stock, Fresh, Sprint Lovers, etc) do the following:

• MAKE SURE YOU DO A FULL BACKUP FIRST!
• Download MSL reader from the market
• Run MSL reader to get your MSL. Your phone may freeze up after you get your MSL. Your MSL should be 6 digits long.
• Flash to any Sense ROM. Unless you have a prior backup of Stock Sense or any other Sense ROM, I suggest flashing Fresh. Note: I had issues with Rom Manager version 3.0.0.5 while trying to flash a Sense ROM. If you have this issue also then you should flash an earlier recovery, I used 2.5.0.7 and it finally worked.
• In the dialer, dial: ##GPSCLRX# (##4772579#)
• Your phone will ask for a security number. This is the MSL. Input it here.
• Reboot
• After it has rebooted, test your GPS in Sense to make sure it works. If you need to, follow these steps again.
• While you are in Sense, go to settings > about phone > updates > update PRL.
• After the PRL is updated, go back to the updates and hit update profile.
• Once the profile is updated either reboot into recovery or use Clockwork Mod, then
• Flash your backup of CyanogenMod 7

Toyota Prius Hacks

One of the most annoying things about my Toyota Prius is the it beeps constantly while in the reverse gear. As in, it beeps the entire time you’re in reverse. If you’re like me, you just drove your new Prius home and you’re Googling for a fix. Look no further, my friend.
The second Prius hack (below) to disable the seatbelt beeping is meant to serve as a convenience feature only. I often put something heavy (non-human) on the passenger seat and the Prius will beep annoyingly to remind (my computer bag mostly) that it needs to wear its seatbelt. Obviously, you should always wear you seatbelt for safety reasons. As the sticker I recently saw on a UHaul said “Don’t get caught dead sitting on your seatbelt.”
To disable the reverse beeping on your Prius (tested on the 2009 model):

1. Without your foot on the brake, turn on your Prius and make sure you are in ODO mode (not Trip A or B). Power off the Prius
2. With your foot on the brake, turn on the Prius. As soon as the ‘Ready’ light is lit, press and hold the ODO button for at least 10 seconds.
3. Keeping the ODO button pressed, move the shifter to Reverse and release, then press the Park button again. At this point, ‘b- on’ should appear on your dashboard display.
4. You can now let go of the ODO button, and each press of the ODO button toggles between ‘b-on’ and ‘b-off’. To disable the reverse beep, simply set it to ‘b-off’, the power off the Prius.

And to disable each of the front seatbelt warning beeps, follow these instructions:

1. Be sure someone is sitting in the seat which seatbelt beep you wish to disable.
2. Without your foot on the brake, turn on your Prius and make sure you are in ODO mode (not Trip A or B). Power off the Prius
3. With your foot on the brake, turn on the Prius. As soon as the ‘Ready’ light is lit, press and hold the ODO button for at least 10 seconds.
4. Keeping the ODO button pressed, insert the seatbelt that you wish to disable the beep for. At this point, ‘b- on’ should appear on your dashboard display.
5. You can now let go of the ODO button, and each press of the ODO button toggles between ‘b- on’ and ‘b-off’. To disable the reverse beep, simply set it to ‘b-off’, the power off the Prius.

These instructions may work for earlier model years as well, although 2006 and earlier models may require no one be in the seat which seatbelt is being disabled.

UPDATE: I recently changed my starter battery in my Prius and I had to run through these steps again.  Seriously Toyota... You have a myriad of batteries in this car and you couldn't find one to hold these settings.  My kids toys have more capabilities that that! Yet another car manufacture #FAIL

Where's that sound coming from???

Learned today that it's not good to set the wireless Access Point on top of the computer amplifier.

I searched everywhere looking for power cables over the speaker wires then I finally figured out it was the AP sitting on top of the bass\amplifier under my desk.

Immediate satisfaction :)

Toyota's Seat Belt Chime\Alarm

First of all I would like to strangle Toyota for implementing the most annoying seat belt alarm. I can guarantee that does nothing to help with the safety of the car\truck. If poeple don't want to ware a seat belt an alarm isn't going to get them to start.

You know what Toyota, it's the their life if they choose not to buckle up. Me personally I always

buckle up; but yet they have succeeded in installing an alarm that is incredibly annoying even for people who use the seat belt.

So for any owner of a 2008 Toyota Tundra, here is how you disable the seatbelt alarm in less then 5 minutes. Shorter then the time I spent on this post :).

Steps:

• Detach the seat belt sensor from the back of the seat belt buckle by using a pointy object to push in this little black button and then pulling down on sensor from the seat belt buckle:

• Next all you have to do is remove th small spring that holds the white plastic piece up. This plastic piece would be pushed down if the seat belt was inserted into the buckle. Take a small piece of tape to hold it down, because I hear that it could disable your airbag if you don't. (kind of important).

Then it is simple to insert the sensor back into the seatbelt and viola! No annoying pointless beep!!!

I'm guessing this will work for any Tundra after 2007 seeing that was the last year they made major changes to the Tundra.

UPDATE: I have found that on my 2008 Tundra I can not do this on the Passenger seat because it will disable the passenger air bag.  But it does still work on the drivers seat.  Please beware when doing the passenger seat, I tried many times and it looked like I got it working without disabling the airbag but then about a day later the air bag was disabled and would not go back on until I put the spring back in.

-Ben

First Post

So I figured that I would start putting some of my thoughts down in the interwebs.... So people can search and read items that I think is necessary to post for all to read.

I can guarantee only one thing, I will not post things that everyone cares about.

Here are the topic's that interest me that I see myself posting on this blog:

1. Life Hacks - Anything to make your life easier
2. Cool products - Anything that people should consider for themselves
3. Stupid things - Things that I make no sense and should be abolished
4. Security related items - Seeing that my career is in the computer security realm

Enjoy!

-Ben