As I was learning the nuances of Android, I ran into an issue where any time I plugged in the phone via USB to my computer I could no longer use any phone applications that needed to access the SD Card. What perplexed me was that I was choosing, via HTC’s Sense UI popup, that I only wanted to charge the phone. What was even more frustrating was that any time I wanted to listen to music or watch a video from the phone’s SD Card I would have to unplug the USB cable. I could not charge my phone while using the applications I wanted to.

After looking through multiple settings on the phone, trying to find the cause of the problem, I finally stumbled on the cause and solution. I had, upon purchasing the phone, installed doubleTwist as my media player replacement. What I had not realized is that doubleTwist has an option to auto mount the SD Card any time you plug in a USB cable that is attached to a computer. As soon as I changed the setting in doubleTwist my problem went away. So what setting do you need to change?

Open doubleTwist on your Android phone. Open the Menu and choose Settings. Under the Settings look for Auto USB drive and uncheck the box. This should prevent doubleTwist from auto mounting your SD Card when you plug in your Android phone via USB.

Well, I’m a pretty patient person and can hopefully wait until they release a fix for this, however, today at work I realized that my leg and nether regions started feeling hot, really hot, and that’s when I hurried and pulled my iPhone out of my pocket.  As I grabbed it, it was so hot that it nearly burned me through the Rebel Serpent case I have on it.  I tried to hit the home button to try to see what was going on and it turns out I was getting the dreaded iBSoD.  I had to do a hard reset to get it to respond.  I had fully charged it the night before and had it unplugged and on only checking my email occasionally, but after the restart I was down to 26% battery life.  In total, it was maybe 2 hours after being unplugged that it was at 26% battery life.  I’m guessing some background process (some people are saying the battery life issue is caused by Push for emails being on) got stuck running like crazy in some infinite loop that caused the non-responsive phone, the battery drain, and the almost sterile male.

I tried to call iPhone technical support but sat on hold for so long that I was afraid that I’d either burn my ear off or end up looking like Two-Face.  Until they get this fixed, I think I’ll stick with using the speaker phone feature.  I think I’d rather have my face than a bunch of money from a lawsuit, but that’s just me.

Anyone else having this wonderful experience?  Is there an iPhone OS 3.1 please don’t burn my face and/or leg petition somewhere that I can sign? Post your feelings on iPhone OS 3.1 in the comments.

John Rennemeyer, MuvEnum

Hocus Pocus by Focus

Now, this would probably have to wait until Guitar Hero: Focus Edition which would allow you to get points using not only the guitar, but the drums, the flute, by yodeling (voice recognition like SingStar), and using face expressions with a facial recognition system and the PS3 Eye where your score is based on how close your facial expressions match that of the lead singer.  I know I’d definitely be first in line to buy it.  Heck, I’d take a GH3 downloadable song right now even though I could only play the guitar just to tie me over until the full release.  Any other takers?  Are there any other songs that are as good, if not better (though I doubt one exists) than this one that you’d like to see in a Guitar Hero game?

Anyone remember Hollywood Video?  Yes, I know they still exist, for some people, but I stopped renting there a long time ago thanks to Redbox and Netflix.  Hollywood Video had a Class Action Lawsuit brought against them back in 2004 for “additional rental charges” (read: excessive and incorrectly charged late fees).  I was one of the affected customers. 

The settlement stated the following:

“A nationwide settlement has been proposed in a class action lawsuit about additional rental charges at Hollywood Video stores. The settlement will ensure that at least $9,000,000 worth of certificates for free rentals at Hollywood Video stores will be issued and redeemed. The settlement resolves several lawsuits over charges for rentals not returned within the initial rental period at Hollywood Video stores.”

I remember finally getting an envelope in the mail with our “free rentals”.  I opened it up and started laughing.  It wasn’t a happy laugh and there wasn’t anything joyful about it.  In the envelope were a few COUPONS, not certificates.

They read as follows (paraphrased, because I don’t remember word for word):

“Rent One New Release, Get One New Release Rental FREE”

What a bunch of crap!  I think I still have them somewhere as a reminder of the levels of greed and idiocy a company can portray.  I wonder if there was ever a class action suit against the original class action suit settlement because I’m pretty sure that they issued that many forced to pay to get free rental(s), but they sure as hell didn’t have $9,000,000 worth redeemed.

Hollywood Video, if you are reading this, I’ll kindly take payment in the form of 6 months free service to Netflix and I’m pretty sure that every other person that took part in that settlement would as well.

Using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), we’ve been able to create a unique experience that fits well within the “album cover” concept

To become a beta tester, please send an email that includes your system specifications (OS, CPU, RAM) to beta@muvenum.com requesting to be a part of the “MuvUnder Cover Beta Testing Team”.

Each active beta tester will receive a free copy of both MuvUnder Cover: The Album Art Sleuth and MuvAudio2.

Once we have 20 beta testers, testing will begin. We’ve ironed out a lot of issues with our current internal testing team and hope to have the beta last for only a few weeks.

If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment and we’ll be sure to answer it

Here’s a quick sneak peek (user interface subject to change):

It turns out that it was a simple Windows Vista configuration error of not having Line 2 set as the default.  It appears that Steam/Team Fortress uses whatever Windows has set as the default recording device, and in my case it wasn’t set to anything.  I would click on “test microphone” and it would immediately turn on and then off without actually testing it.  As soon as I opened “Recording Devices” and chose Line 2 and clicked on “Set as Default” in-game voice chat started working.  Hopefully this post will help someone out.  Also, if anyone knows what you may install that would suddenly cause hl2.exe to crash constantly (regardless of being Team Fortress 2 or Counter Strike:Source) I would appreciate it.  I ended up just reinstalling Windows Vista and I’m sure there was a much easier method to fixing the issue.  Recently I had installed AIM, and the newest Creative Soundblaster X-FI drivers from October.

Where does a pirate go for lunch?  Arrrrrrrrrby’s!

Ok, ok… here’s another.  Why couldn’t the 11 year old get into the movie?   It was rated RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Well there you have it.  On another note, it seems that John has taken it upon himself to make his technical postings humorous so I’ll have to see what I can do to keep up.  Everyone enjoy “Talk like a pirate day”!