./monroec

The iPhone 2G is the terrible result of fantastic marketing.

G-Code:

The “G” rating on the phone is arbitrary. 2G doesn’t mean anything. First off, the phone itself is a 1st Generation device (First Generation, platform 1.1). The EDGE network that it runs on, is commonly referred to as 2.75G. However, the prior 1G phone ran on the same infrastructure.

So then what was the purpose of the phone? It was a way for Apple to release a “new and magical” product that didn’t do anything different as they continued to work on their 2nd generation device: The iPhone 3G.

The media and consumers flocked to it . No news here….

MMS Frenzy:

In march of 2009, MMS support was finally added to the phone with the 3.0 OS. Apple cited AT&T as the bottleneck and most believed them. They also noted that the first two phones (1st Gen devices) would not support the feature.

Clearly Bullshit - I’ve been using an iPhone 2G(1st Gen) with native MMS for a few days now. There are guides all over the net, at least entertain those links.

Double Takes:

A few weeks ago, I was messing around with an unlocked Samsung device. The interface seemed very familiar and quite reminiscent to the iPhone OS. I wondered why Apple hadn’t threatened to sue. Upon further research, I realized that Samsung manufactures the internal hard drives for the iPhone.

Everything In Its Right Place:

The purpose of modular design is to create swappable pieces that make manufacturing and troubleshooting easier. The result is a series of “black boxes” whose function and capabilities are foreign to the user. The problem arises when companies like Apple uses this to their financial advantage. No aspect of the iPhone is modular (all batteries should be user replaceable). The iPhone’s capabilities are limited based on Apple’s Quarterly projections (release cycles are in place to maximize profits through gradual feature removal and aggregation).

I feel that Apple is preying on their user base.

I got a chance to cruise over to Huntington Beach after finishing up my wireless project in Buena Park, California.

I swam for a bit and walked up and down the boardwalk. Near Main street, there was a random group of people playing music. The tribal sound and its impromptu nature was awesome.

P1401 DM-TL Pump Motor Current - Voltage too high - What the fuck does that mean?

The Accent has a “Diagnostic Module for Tank Leakage” near the driver side rear wheel. It looks like this:

The module itself is supposed to pressurize the system to detect leaks.

The Hyundai service bulletin recommends replacing the associated air filter and (maybe) the DM-TL unit for the above trouble code. Since I took the whole assembly down, I decided to move on to replacing both units. The DM-TL will run you about $220 and the air filter $13 at the dealership. (I had no luck finding the parts online)

The assembly is held onto the car by 3 nuts. The DM-TL is a fiesta of silicone hoses that are prone to break.  Soapy water will help separate these hoses.

Disconnecting the unit is rather obvious so I won’t go into detail. As always, re-installing is the reverse process.

The 2003 Accent part numbers are:

• 31453-25510 - filter
• 31440-25510 - DM-TL

Here are some self explanatory images depicting the work:

Against my own judgment, I purchased a touch screen phone.

I have the bad habit of throwing phones, so the $179 price tag sold me. Here are the connection details for unlocked phones to work on T-Mobile.

T-Mobile picture messaging settings

• WAP GW IP Address: 216.155.165.050
• APN Name: wap.voicestream.com or epc.tmobile.com or internet2.voicestream.com
• NOTE: Use the first APN, and try to send an MMS message. If it does not work, try the second and then the third.
• Messaging Server: http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
• Data Mode: Connection Oriented

Samsung S5230 specific settings

• Set Name: T-Mobile MMS
• Access Name: wap.voicestream.com
• Auth Type: Secure
• User ID: (blank)
• Password: (blank)
• Protocol: HTTP
• Home URL: http://216.155.174.84/servlets/mms
• Proxy Address: 216.155.165.50:8080
• Linger Time: 300
• Advanced Settings: (blank)

Every phone’s interface is different, but that is the general idea: Gateway/Proxy IP address, APN name, login credentials, home/messaging server address.

Doubting Thomas is a defunct, instrumental, side project composed of Dwayne and cEvin. As far as side projects are concerned, “The Infidel” is one of the best to come out of the bunch. cEvin and Ogre’s solo work are not easy to digest,  so I highly suggest picking this up. Dark electronic music flat out fascinates me.

The project is Industrial at heart but incorporates elements of Ambient, Break-Beat, and IDM. In fact, it is not far off from a “Download” album.

The new Massive Attack LP is a long awaited return to form. Their previous effort, “100th Window”,  was received as a bland solo effort. To be quite honest, it was. Two of the founding members had bailed, and the sound was significantly different.

With “Heligoland”, the duo brings back the sounds and textures more akin to “Protection” and “Mezzanine”. While the album is fantastic, it is no “Mezzanine” killer. It took three members to create Mezzanine, and we’re still one short.

If you don’t know Massive Attack, think again. You’ve already heard their music.

Awesome is relative. Nothing compares to the unique beauty of Utah.

I talk an awful lot of shit when it comes to music. So I’ve decided to put myself to the test. Let’s take a look at my 25 most played:

What we see here is somewhat of an identity crisis. For a self hating Chilean, I’m doing a terrible job at avoiding one of their most popular bands - La Ley.

La Ley (Spanish for “The Law”) was a Grammy Award and two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Chilean pop rock band formed by Andrés Bobe and Rodrigo Aboitiz with Mauricio Claveria, Beto Cuevas and Luciano Rojas. After a failed first album, Desiertos (1989), they released Doble Opuesto (1990), which appears as the official first album of the band. Singles like “Desiertos,” “Tejedores de Ilusión,” and “Prisioneros de la Piel” made them stars in Chile, Argentina and Mexico, especially after the release of La Ley, their second recording (1992). –WIKIPEDIA

Next, we see too much Assemblage 23. Ten years ago, I loved Assemblage 23 more than anything. Today, I’m sick and fucking tired of them. Every album is the same with the same god damned single.

Disappoing

“Did I disappoint you?
Did I let you down?
Did I stand on the shore
And watch you as you drowned?”

Collapse

“I’m suffocating with guilt
Asphyxiating on panic
And I can’t shake off this fear with which I’m bound”

SOMEBODY PLEASE GET THIS MAN AN OXYGEN TANK!

Lastly, I’m VERY disappointed (perhaps even asphyxiated?) that Paul Oakenfold is even on my list.

“Paul Oakenfold’s career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band.” — WIKIPEDIA

Maybe that is why his cuts don’t mix. Early Oakenfold was smooth as butter. The later CD’s felt like random mash ups to me. Take a look at this POS. The TRUE milk and potatoes are right here: A Voyage into Trance or even Live In Oslo.

The only conclusion I can come up with are:

1. I’m full of shit
2. I love to hate music.

I think #2 is the winner. I start hating artists because I look too deep into the whole music making process. I’m far from a musician or authority, but certain elements of design are universal. When that fourth wall is broken, the illusion goes away and pisses me off.

With the new year, I’m cleaning out some of the stale music on my file server (shitbox music == Media Center music) and replacing with other notables. I believe it’s no longer the “shuffle” feature that’s broken, rather my lack of new music loaded onto the iPod.

As I search through my music, I see that there are multiple albums I’ve yet to listen. For example: what the fuck band is called 7VWWVW? In parenthesis it says “mammal”. What the fuck does that mean? When and why did I get this? I sit here in shock that there are over 50 Fabric releases. That shock is quickly followed by fear that I’ve forgotten to keep up with the Global Underground series. I never know how much Tiesto I really have. Do I file it under  Tiesto? DJ Tiesto? VA? Case logic 92 CD holder or ripped onto MP3s? Why can’t I find my Leftfield CD? Oh wait, was that a Sasha’s Xpander CD? Why do I have so much Laibach?

This whole thing is retarded.