Install Windows Phone 7 Mango update on a non-rooted, non-developer-unlocked Dell Venue Pro (India)

Mango is the much awaited update for Windows Phone 7. The Mango update brings 500 new features, over the latest NoDo update. These features include multitasking, E-mail conversation view, Internet Explorer 9, Twittter and Linkedin integration and custom ringtones.

As of now Mango is in beta. The beta update is available to those with a developer account and pretty much limited to certain countries which does not include India. But my Dell Venue Pro bought in India is powered by Mango Beta now! It was earlier running official NoDo update (OS version: 7.0.7390). Following is how I updated my Dell Venue Pro without rooting it, unlocking it and without a developer account. Read the rest of this entry »

Authenticate osTicket against Zimbra LDAP

osTicket is a free online helpdesk/support ticket system. Zimbra Open Source Edition is a free groupware product which offers E-mail, Calendar, Tasks and Chat. Recently for a client I had setup these two products.

Zimbra stores the E-mail users’ credentials in its built-in LDAP server. Hence it made sense to authenticate the login of other services or products like osTicket against Zimbra’s LDAP.

Following is a short tutorial on how I achieved it. Read the rest of this entry »

Solved: Unable to call toll free numbers in India using Windows Phone 7

I recently purchased a Dell Venue Pro powered by Windows Phone 7. It has been about 10 days that I’m living with lack of apps, tethering, E-mail client with conversation view and a feature rich Twitter client. I’m hoping that most of these will be solved by future updates and upcoming apps.

On the other hand, I’m at war with issues on the phone due to lack of my familiarity with a Windows Phone. After all, I had been using Android for almost two years. One issue that bothered me the most was, I could not dial toll free numbers in India using my Dell Venue Pro. Read the rest of this entry »

Xbox Support in India: 3 Red Rings of death

While it has been a few months, I did not want this experience gone untold. And hence this blog post. This blog post can serve as a guide to those in India experiencing issues (esp. the red rings issue) with their Microsoft Xbox.

In my case, the issue sprung up on the night of 25th October. I switched on my Xbox after a long time, updated it (as prompted) and started playing a game. After a few minutes of playing, Xbox hung, all of a sudden. I rebooted the console. This time it hung immediately during the welcome animation. I did not miss to notice 3 Red Lights flashing on the front of the XBox. Red means something wrong, 3 Reds mean something screwed up. Read the rest of this entry »

Twitter Updates for 2010-04-03

• I complained about it too http://bit.ly/94TkFn RT: @vasudevg: Microsoft drops ‘Series’ from Windows Phone 7 name http://tinyurl.com/yb3azxs #
• @rabbitgirl034 ref: "same here", r u referring to Windows Mobile 7? in reply to rabbitgirl034 #
• Mars has been building momentum in your sign for several weeks… More for Leo http://twittascope.com/?sign=5 #
• The toll fee at Delhi Gurgaon Expressway increased to Rs. 20/- from Rs. 18/- for cars #
• Official Digg app for Android available for download from Android market. PS: It uses OAuth for login #
• @achitnis Yep! It was quicker today. Paid and accelerated #
• Commercial Open Source as a business model seems to work http://short.to/23jv8 #Alfresco #
• @tuxicon my tweet was for those who don't believe it and yes RedHat is a popular example in reply to tuxicon #
• @tuxicon yep ADP1 (Android Dev Phone 1) #
• @achitnis sahi hai sirrrr!!! With one, single, < 140 chars tweet u have shaken, uprooted the existence of commercial open source in reply to achitnis #
• @kbhargava Many Twitter clients have a "Reply All". Have it in Twidroid – the twitter client I use on my Android phone in reply to kbhargava #
• @achitnis hence the Commercial prefix to Open Source? Even Alfresco has an open source edition – don't pay to use #
• @achitnis no, U can download, use, modify Alfresco's open source edition without paying in reply to achitnis #
• @achitnis this started with u saying there is nothing like COS. Guess ur point is, if the same software+features is sold, then its not OSS? in reply to achitnis #
• @tuxicon yaar I have tried so many twitter apps 4 Android but keep coming back to Twidroid. But will surely try tweetcaster too. Let u know in reply to tuxicon #
• @tuxicon installing Tweetcaster. Also u may want to check out http://short.to/22f85 "3. Twidroid (free version)" to know why I like it #
• @tuxicon yea noticed. Installed it and this Tweet is frm Tweetcaster in reply to tuxicon #
• @tuxicon hey this "upgrade to pro" notification is annoying. Can it be hidden? It pops up even after closing it once in reply to tuxicon #
• @tuxicon hehe the play feature in the Tweetcaster widget is funky, kinda nice. Will try TC more. Thanks in reply to tuxicon #

Twitter Updates for 2010-03-22

• RT @drupal Drupal 7 alpha 3 is now available. Try it out now! http://short.to/1ow5n #
• @vinodunny yep #24 is entertaining in reply to vinodunny #
• @vinodunny opt 4 basic HTML version while accessing GMail over GPRS. Also theres a plugin which shows quick summary of mails. @bineshkutty ? #
• @bineshkutty U showed quick preview of new mails in GMail. What's that called? @vinodunny using Exchange. Winmob can't sync frm 2 sources. in reply to bineshkutty #
• #winmobile RT @bineshkutty @shekharg @vinodunny I've never had to opt for Basic HTML for #Gmail Push for Gmail also works without a glitch. #
• @vinodunny Hence Gmail labs Inbox Preview in reply to vinodunny #
• Ubuntu Lucid Lynx Beta 1 out @aseemsood #
• Microsoft OfficeTalk = Twitter within organizations http://short.to/1p0sb #
• @anindyar congrats!!! PARTY!!! in reply to anindyar #
• @anindyar yea rt. "welcome to my party and don't forget to bring ur own plates, food, daru and salad" Anyways congrats. Good move in reply to anindyar #
• It's challenging to stay true to your energy today because you… More for Leo http://twittascope.com/?sign=5 #
• @sharat_j Ref ur photo: http://short.to/1phr8 Another pic taken at same time, same place by anonymous http://short.to/1onor #
• @sharat_j @kbhargava not able to decide which one is better. Pls advise in reply to sharat_j #

Twitter Updates for 2010-03-20

• Watch out world, for you are on a roll today. It feels as if t… More for Leo http://twittascope.com/?sign=5 #
• @anilchop that's to irritate @bineshkutty in reply to anilchop #
• @vinodunny @achitnis @bineshkutty @anilchop so impressed with the emulator? in reply to vinodunny #
• Migration tool from Microsoft Exchange to Google apps http://short.to/1npkq #
• OpenSSO = OpenAM http://short.to/1q8oc #

Twitter Updates for 2010-03-07

• My article on Monit (an open source systems monitoring & repair tool) in PCQuest magazine (March 2010) http://short.to/1a4av #
• Never complained/fought with neighbours 4 parking. Friend told: now they try 2 park their/visitors cars such that I get passage @ late nite #
• Prado http://short.to/1a4cm PHP framework for ASP .Net developers. .Net Developers have coded Prado apps referring to MSDN docs! #
• Microsoft Hyper-V drivers for RedHat 5.x http://short.to/1a4w0 #
• Updated my Android Dev Phone 1 (ADP1) to Cyanogen ROM 4.2.15.1, over the air, using CM Updator app @cyanogen #
• Swipe keyboard trace does not seem to work with ADP1 1.6 + Cyanogen Mod. Anyone else got it working on ADP1? #Android #
• The anticipation may be making you crazy now that go-getter Ma… More for Leo http://twittascope.com/twittascope/?sign=5 #
• Thanks to @cyanogen and no thanks to @htc or @google that my Android Dev Phone 1 #ADP1 is still getting updated #

Microsoft Tag Reader for Android

What is Microsoft Tag? In simple words, Microsoft Tag allows you to store information in images (Tags). More on Microsoft Tag can be found here. My excitement about Microsoft Tag is, the Tag Reader app is now available for Android phones.  

I own an Android Dev Phone 1 (a.k.a. ADP1). It was just today that Microsoft Tag Reader app for Android was announced. The Tag Reader app allows to scan, extract and store information in Microsoft Tags using the phone’s camera. Read the rest of this entry »

Twitter Updates for 2010-03-04

• Each time you reach the end of your rope, you're surprised to … More for Leo http://twittascope.com/twittascope/?sign=5 #
• Updated my Android Dev Phone 1 (ADP1) to Cyanogen ROM 4.2.15, over the air, using CM Updator app @cyanogen #
• Playing with it on my ADP1 RT @vasudevg Microsoft Tag Reader for Google Android released http://tinyurl.com/yerwkuy #
• @vasudevg shared few pros & cons of Microsoft Tag Reader for Android http://short.to/19jrj #
• RT @kkumarkg Know a unique startup? Nominate it for our story in DARE mag on "Startups worth betting on" here http://short.to/19jy4 #