Posts Tagged hack
Controlling Android App Permissions on CM7
If you’ve been using Android for any length of time, no doubt you will have seen a list of ‘permissions’ requested when you install applications on your device. These are generally required for the app to operate normally. They can include access to your contact list (for a replacement SMS handler), access to your current location (for GPS applications) as examples.
It’s a good idea to pay attention to the permissions required by applications, as it can be helpful. If you download a game and it’s asking for access to send SMS’s, or make calls from your phone, there might well be a legitimate reason for it (like Burn the Rope’s SMS-based billing system [which has since been removed]), but the warning bells should be going off since it’s an unusual permission for that type of application. When used properly, the permission notification system is an extremely powerful tool.
OK, so what if you want to install an application, but you don’t want it access some permissions? Example: you’re wary of privacy issues and don’t want applications tracking your rough location for targeted marketing purposes? Or if want to restrict internet access for an app to reduce your mobile data use? Until now, it was an all-or-nothing approach, you couldn’t install the application. Enter CyanogenMod 7.1, which allows for individual permission editing for apps.
It’s easy:
Settings => CyanogenMod Settings => Application => Permission Management => On
Go to Settings => Applications => Manage Applications
Select the application in questionWhere you previously have seen the list of permissions the app uses, you can now press on the permission itself and a strike-through appears, revoking the permission.
A superb addition to an already great third-party ROM. An all-or-nothing approach to admin rights can often lead to dire consequences, especially on machines which hold sensitive private information. Also note that if your device is not listed on CyanogenMod site, there often are ports of it to other devices by third-party developers.
Caveats: Note that some applications actually DO required certain permissions to operate correctly, so use with care. It’s important to note that this is NOT related to permission spoofing, which is the faking of device details, such as IMEI and IDs (which can have serious consequences). The above is purely permission denial/control.
Need access to Google Buzz? Here’s a hack!
Posted by CeeTee in Tips and Tricks, Twitter on February 10, 2010
Ok, this post has been shamelessly ripped from Aalaap’s blog. So I guess I owe him one!
You probably don’t have Google Buzz in your Gmail yet. So here’s how you can use it on your PC without having to beg for invites.
Fire up Firefox.
Install the “User Agent Switcher” add-on and restart Firefox.
Go to Tools > Default User Agent > iPhone 3.0.
Visit http://google.com/buzz and start buzzing!
Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location with the website. Say yes!
When you’re done buzzing, switch back the user agent to default.
How does this work? It’s so simple, I feel shitty writing this. Google Buzz isn’t available in Gmail for everyone yet, but mobile web access to it is open. At least for those using the iPhone. You can login, post updates, follow people, comment on others’ updates, get updates from nearby and all of that. So you get Firefox, make it pretend that it’s an iPhone using the UA Switcher add-on, and use the mobile version of Buzz through it. Voila. An added advantage is that Firefox also supports geo-location – the same HTML5 API that’s used on the iPhone – so you actually get location-aware information.
Build a wifi signal booster (Hint: Me on national TV!)
Posted by CeeTee in Gadgets, Random Thoughts on January 11, 2010
So here goes!
I had posted an article on my blog on how to boost your wifi signal with stuff you find easily around the house (for 10 bucks or less!)
I did a collaborative segment on Bloomberg UTV with Aalaap (who has been hosting this blog for me) and here goes!
How to boost your Wifi signal strength for cheap! [DIY] [Updated]
In the new age of computer networking, the most basic things that people have switched to is Wireless internet (Wifi).
People say that once you get hooked on to Wifi, it is quite difficult to get off the addiction of trying to search for a wifi network around.
Now that I have moved to a new house (2 storeyed penthouse) in New Bombay, the very first thing I did after subscribing for an internet connection was to put together a Wireless access point.
I have bought quite a few gadgets that support wifi. The wifi-enabled devices at home I have are:
1. My Nokia E71
2. My Dell Latitude D620 laptop
3. Dad’s Lenovo C300 laptop
4. Mom’s Dell Latitude D620 laptop
5. My new gift to dad – A Blackberry 8520
6. Mom and sister’s iPod Touch 2G 8GB
The general problem with Internet connections these days are that the ISP guys pull a wire from outside the window and you are forced to keep your router/modem right next to it. i.e. No wifi connection throughout the house.
I searched quite a bit on the internet on extending the wireless signals right from stock additional antennaes, buying a new router to be added as an access point, upgrading my router firmware to DD-WRT or Tomato with a high amount of risk of bricking my router, etc.
I was in no mood to buy such expensive devices just to get the extra strength, so I thought of a DIY (Do It Yourself) method, which is EXTREMELY cheap, components can be found easily in the house, etc and WORKS wonders!
This DIY method for wifi booster DOES work, and the signal strength from the opposite corner of the house went up from 40% to 90%
The trick is to bounce off the wireless signals inside the house instead of letting the router send out signals out of the window (quite literally!)
Feel free to drop in your comments if you find it useful
There are 2 parts to the Wifi booster. One is the reflector surface (wedding card with tin foil on it) and the other makes the parabolic shape (the template)
What you need:
1. Old wedding card
2. Glue
3. Pair of scissors and a cutter blade (be careful while handling)
4. The will to DIY! 
The How-To:
Download the template by clicking on this link
Print it out (I prefer increasing the size to 200% of the original) – Make sure you do NOT mess up the aspect ratio of the image
Glue it to the back of a thin (flexible) cardboard (I prefer an old wedding invitation card)
Trim the cardboard
Cut out the slots pointed out
Glue tin foil to the back of the reflector surface (Aluminium foil) – Ask your mom, she should have some in stock in the kitchen. Keep it under the bed for a while to let it dry (I prefer 2 layers of tin foil)
Use more glue to stick the curve the reflector surface to the parabolic template
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