Newsgroup Downloading

An alternative to using Torrents to download stuff is Newsgroup downloading

BBC iPlayer on PS3 outside of UK

I have tried a few different proxy servers and VPN's to access both UK and US based TV on demand services but wanted to use the PS3 to access the BBC iPlayer.  If you want to access the BBC iPlayer and other TV on demand services then read on.

Cyprus Cyta Internet using own router

I have spent many hours trying to configure my own router to work with Cyta Internet in Cyprus and today I was successful.  It turns out it is really easy and means you no longer have to put up with the rubbish Thompson TG585 supplied from Cyta (and I think you get a discount for using your own equipment if you return the Thompson one).

Renewing Car Tax in Cyprus

Unlike most things in Cyprus renewing you car tax is relatively straight forward when you know how.  Car tax expires at the end of December or June regardless of when you first taxed your vehicle.  First go to:-

https://www.jccsmart.com/index.aspx?ci=en-GB

Click on car tax, you may need to create an account.

Then enter you vehicle registration and the last 3 numbers of your vehicle registration number, this can be found on you vehicle registration document (all in Greek, on mine it was C.9 and was the last three numbers of my service number but might be your passport number).  Then enter your payment details and print out the tax disc.

Easy

IPod Touch Recovered after accidental hard reset

Today I stupidly did a hard reset on my IPod Touch, after just completing a half marathon.  I desperately wanted the run data in Nike + IPod to sync but my itunes wanted to restore my ipod (clearing all data).  Using the blackra1n jail breaking software I managed to re-jailbreak it and it restarted as if I had never accidentally done a hard reset, result!!

Sony Vaio VGN-AW21XY Laptop Dies and Comes back to live

Yesterday my Sony  suddenly took a nose dive in to the laptop grave, I have only had about 10 months so was less than impressed.  The stupid thing just died, power failed and every time I tried to power it back up it would just power off again a few seconds later.  If I left it for an hour it would last a couple of minutes before powering off so I assumed it was something to do with the battery or charger.  Tried running it with no battery, same result, tried running it just on battery, same result.

XBMC Remote

Had to post about XBMC Remote from collect3, if you have XBMC running on any device and own an ipod touch or iPhone this is a must have app. The app basically uses the http server functionality built in to XBMC to control XBMC. A remote control I hear you say, no, much more than a remote control. With this app you can see your whole media library, control XBMC in many ways and do it all from anywhere in the house (or world). The fun part of this means you can freak everyone out by stopping and starting playback from the kitchen but the serious part means when your young kids disturb you to come and put a different film on and you are upstairs, whip out the trusty ipod and start a new film, happy kids, happy you!!!