PlayOn for Windows 7 64bit

PlayOn is software that you run on your desktop PC, that allows you to view Hulu, YouTube, CBS, and other online video streams directly on your Xbox or similar device. If you haven’t heard of it, check out playon.tv to learn more.
So I installed PlayOn in Windows 7 64bit, and thought it would just show up right away on my Xbox 360. That wasn’t quite the case. My Xbox didn’t recognize the device as on the network. I knew my network should support how I was attempting to do this, because prior I had tested out the software on a local VM and had no issues. After a bit of searching Google, I figured out that it was just Windows firewall trying to prevent my fun. Here are the steps to get in business:

-Close PlayOn Server
-Open up Control Panel>System Security
-Select Allow a Program through Windows Firewall
-Change Settings
-Scroll down to MediaMall Server, and check the box for Home/Work

After you change the above settings and fire back up the server, you should be set. I am assuming this bug will be fixed in a soon to be released edition of the software, but for now, this is what works!

-DPollitt

Blackberry Storm Tip: How to turn your Storm into a flashlight

Sure, you might be saying, turn on the screen and its a great flashlight. Well, there is a better way. If you have played with the camera at all, you know that the flash is extremely bright. But you only get the flash for a second or two before you take the picture. What if you want to keep the flash on for 20seconds? The trick is to head to the Video Camera function, then to Options. From there select the option that says “Video Light” and set this to On. It will warn you that your battery life will be impacted by this, give it a “Yes“, and now you are set.

Now you will get a seriously bright flashlight.  If you rotate the phone, it will delay for a second while it rotates the screen, but the light will come back on.  Now if you add a shortcut on your home screen to the Video Camera, you’ll have a free built in flashlight app!

-DPollitt

Resend Service Books – Blackberry Tip

If you ever do an upgrade on your BlackBerry, and lose your browser, app store, or other built in functions – try resending your service books.  It also can be used to fix issues with email sending and receiving. 

Just head over to your carriers BIS website:

Verizon - AT&T- Nextel - Sprint - T-Mobile 

Sign in, then select “Service Books” on the left, and resend.  After a few minutes your phone should get the books and automatically be setup.

-DPollitt

Windows Update Nagging

Familiar with the windows update “Do you want to restart your computer now?”  “Restart Now – Restart Later” prompt that will never go away till you actually shut down what you are working on and restart?  Or have you ever come back after leaving a project open to see your machine restarted on its own due to Automatic Updates?  Well, this is a real easy, quick fix that will permanently remove the most annoying windows feature.

Start> Run> gpedit.msc> Local Computer Policy> Computer Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Windows Update> No Auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations> Settings Enabled

If you still want the Nagging window to come up, but just want to extend the time between reminders, change the “Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations” option under the same tree.  Then you can select a value of a few hundred minutes if you prefer.

This will all take effect after a restart, which right now might not be what you want.  If this is the case you can head to Start> Run> cmd> net stop “automatic updates” .  This will temporarily disable the yellow shield and update naggings till you restart again.

More detailed instructions with screenshots of the process are available here(external link).

-DPollitt