Matt's broadband and smartphone help

  • How to unlock the HTC Desire for free

    Here's a quick tip on how to SIM-unlock an HTC Desire smartphone to be used with any network without paying £20 to one of those dodgy online unlocking services... This technique uses a tool created by Sieempi (he also has a thread about the application on XDA Developers). All it needs is the phone, USB cable, few bits of software and a Windows PC. It does not require your phone to...

    by Matt on 11 December 2011

  • Rooting the Samsung Galaxy S2

    Having recently reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S2 we took the opportunity to look into rooting Samsung's latest handset before it had to be torn from our grasp. This involves fewer steps than we encountered on our adventures with rooting the HTC Desire, though complicated slightly by the various methods available and a few other matters which arise during the process.   The hard work has...

    by Matt on 07 September 2011

  • Install Android 2.3 Gingerbread on your HTC Desire

    It seems HTC just can't make up its mind about updates for the original HTC Desire. First it was getting Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), then it wasn't, apparently due to a lack of memory, and the next day the smartphone maker changed its mind again. Assuming Gingerbread ever shows up for the Desire an update may be months off and then it could take even longer for the networks to distribute. If...

    by Matt on 19 June 2011 5 Comments

  • Top 10 tips and tricks for improving Gmail

    A common query we see on our forum is from people wondering what will happen to their email account if they change internet service providers. In most cases, swapping providers will also mean swapping email addresses so there can be some hassle if you've had the address for a while. Webmail is a much better alternative, it's not linked to internet services so it doesn't matter which ISP...

    by Matt on 29 May 2011

  • Privacy and security tips for safer surfing

    Sony's recent security troubles have demonstrated that no matter how big the organisation, anyone is at risk. The hack attack potentially exposed the details of millions of Playstation Network users including some credit card info, opening up the possibility of harassment and fraud for people who just wanted to play games online. PSN users felt that storing their details with Sony was safe, trusting...

    by Matt on 13 May 2011

  • How to customise your Android smartphone

    Samsung is currently being sued by Apple for copying the 'look and feel' of the iPhone with its Galaxy smartphones. If this is true it's hard to understand why they'd bother, aside from the hope that someone might pick up a Galaxy thinking it was an iPhone. There's a lot of good things about the iThings but the interface, with screens full of pretty rounded icons, isn't exactly ground-breaking....

    by Matt on 23 April 2011

  • Tweaks and tips for Firefox 4

    Open source web browser Firefox hit version 4 last month, introducing a slick redesign and new features aimed at making browsing easier and more enjoyable, ensuring we waste even more of our time staring at stupid web sites. Whether you're new to Firefox or an old hand, download it from the official Firefox site (it'll update existing installations and retain your settings) then read on...

    by Matt on 09 April 2011

  • How to: securely wipe files, flash drives and mobile phones

    A study last week revealed that huge numbers of mobile phones were being sold on with the previous owner's personal information still intact and readily available. As smartphones are being used to organise our entire lives and acting as a replacement for media players and digital cameras this is a huge security risk. What's most surprising is that the phones they bought from eBay included SIM...

    by Matt on 27 March 2011 3 Comments

  • The Broadband Genie guide to email

    It may now be slightly less relevant for day to day communication thanks to Facebook, Twitter, text messages and IM, but email is still an essential requirement for everyone. Not only for contacting friends and family, you'll need an email address to register for web sites, shop, play games and all that other good stuff. Even if you have email already maybe you've just bought a mobile broadband...

    by Matt on 13 March 2011

  • Remote control a PC with a smartphone

    With this guide we'll show you how to control a computer with a smartphone. Not only another cool thing to show off the capabilities of a modern handset but also really useful for administrating your PC remotely, helping out friends with technical problems and setting downloads going so they're ready when you get home. It's not too complex to setup, will work on most current smartphones and...

    by Matt on 01 March 2011